What is the population of South Africa?

The population of South Africa is projected to reach approximately 65,453,084 in 2026, according to UN projections.

What is the life expectancy in South Africa?

Life expectancy at birth in South Africa is projected to be 66.7 years in 2026.

What is the fertility rate in South Africa?

The total fertility rate in South Africa is projected to be 2.17 children per woman in 2026.

What is the median age in South Africa?

The median age in South Africa is projected to be 28.9 years in 2026.

What is the age distribution in South Africa?

South Africa's population is projected to be 25.6% children (0-14 years), 67.3% working age (15-64 years), and 7.1% elderly (65+ years) in 2026.

What is the GDP of South Africa?

South Africa's GDP is $480.0 billion (current USD) as of 2026, according to IMF data.

What is the GDP per capita in South Africa?

The GDP per capita in South Africa is $16,740 (PPP) as of 2026, according to IMF data.

What is the inflation rate in South Africa?

The inflation rate in South Africa is 3.9% as of 2026, according to IMF data.

What is the unemployment rate in South Africa?

The unemployment rate in South Africa is 32.5%, which is relatively high as of 2026, according to IMF data.

South Africa

Today's demographic activity

Estimates based on 2026 annual rates

Births today

3,197

Deaths today

1,669

Net migration today

360

As of today, South Africa has approximately 65,453,084 people. Estimated births today: 3,197; deaths: 1,669.

Watch South Africa's population change in real time. These counters estimate births, deaths, and migration activity every second based on annual demographic rates.

Key terms

Real-time counters: — Live estimates derived from annual demographic rates evenly distributed throughout the year.
Natural change: — Net change from births minus deaths (excluding migration).
Net migration: — Balance of people moving into vs. leaving the country.
Population growth: — Total change combining births, deaths, and migration.

Major Cities

(95)Projection

#	City	Region	Population	Area (km²)	Density
1	Johannesburg	Gauteng	7.17M	1,459	4,917
2	Cape Town◇ Legislative Capital	Western Cape	4.59M	723	6,344
3	Durban	KwaZulu-Natal	3.18M	724	4,391
4	Pretoria★ Capital	Gauteng	1.86M	430	4,333
5	Klipgat	Gauteng	1.32M	324	4,064
6	Tembisa	Gauteng	1.32M	141	9,356
7	Evaton	Gauteng	782.7K	125	6,262
8	Gqeberha	Eastern Cape	661.4K	144	4,593
9	Masetjhaba View	Gauteng	535.6K	76	7,047
10	Bloemfontein◇ Judicial Capital	Free State	501.6K	115	4,354
11	Chief Albert Luthuli Park	Gauteng	458.4K	60	7,614
12	Polokwane	Limpopo	452.5K	115	3,934
13	Edendale	KwaZulu-Natal	344.4K	109	3,171
14	Kanyamazane	Mpumalanga	296.1K	110	2,697
15	Kimberley	Northern Cape	280.7K	66	4,280
16	Madadeni	KwaZulu-Natal	277.7K	69	4,013
17	Paarl	Western Cape	265.2K	49	5,435
18	Vanderbijlpark	Gauteng	260.2K	66	3,930
19	Centurion	Gauteng	260.0K	90	2,889
20	Somerset West	Western Cape	244.6K	55	4,481
21	Reeston	Eastern Cape	244.5K	65	3,761
22	Rustenburg	North West	223.7K	78	2,868
23	eMalahleni	Mpumalanga	223.2K	58	3,848
24	Botshabelo-N	Free State	223.1K	63	3,552
25	Lenasia	Gauteng	217.8K	41	5,261
26	Ennerdale	Gauteng	214.3K	45	4,804
27	Middelburg	Mpumalanga	212.4K	57	3,726
28	Diepsloot	Gauteng	198.4K	11	17,718
29	Phuthaditjhaba	Free State	182.3K	91	2,003
30	Vosman	Mpumalanga	182.1K	22	8,129

1975

2026

2050

Population figures are urban agglomerations (the contiguous built-up area), which can be larger than city-proper municipal boundaries.

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) · Creative Commons license CC BY 3.0 IGO

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100). Updated December 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of South Africa?: The population of South Africa is projected to reach approximately 65,453,084 in 2026, according to UN projections.
What is the life expectancy in South Africa?: Life expectancy at birth in South Africa is projected to be 66.7 years in 2026.
What is the fertility rate in South Africa?: The total fertility rate in South Africa is projected to be 2.17 children per woman in 2026.
What is the median age in South Africa?: The median age in South Africa is projected to be 28.9 years in 2026.
What is the age distribution in South Africa?: South Africa's population is projected to be 25.6% children (0-14 years), 67.3% working age (15-64 years), and 7.1% elderly (65+ years) in 2026.
What is the GDP of South Africa?: South Africa's GDP is $480.0 billion (current USD) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the GDP per capita in South Africa?: The GDP per capita in South Africa is $16,740 (PPP) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the inflation rate in South Africa?: The inflation rate in South Africa is 3.9% as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the unemployment rate in South Africa?: The unemployment rate in South Africa is 32.5%, which is relatively high as of 2026, according to IMF data.

Today's demographic activity

Estimates based on 2026 annual rates

Births today

3,197

Deaths today

1,669

Net migration today

360

As of today, South Africa has approximately 65,453,084 people. Estimated births today: 3,197; deaths: 1,669.

Watch South Africa's population change in real time. These counters estimate births, deaths, and migration activity every second based on annual demographic rates.

Key terms

Real-time counters: — Live estimates derived from annual demographic rates evenly distributed throughout the year.
Natural change: — Net change from births minus deaths (excluding migration).
Net migration: — Balance of people moving into vs. leaving the country.
Population growth: — Total change combining births, deaths, and migration.

Major Cities

(95)Projection

#	City	Region	Population	Area (km²)	Density
1	Johannesburg	Gauteng	7.17M	1,459	4,917
2	Cape Town◇ Legislative Capital	Western Cape	4.59M	723	6,344
3	Durban	KwaZulu-Natal	3.18M	724	4,391
4	Pretoria★ Capital	Gauteng	1.86M	430	4,333
5	Klipgat	Gauteng	1.32M	324	4,064
6	Tembisa	Gauteng	1.32M	141	9,356
7	Evaton	Gauteng	782.7K	125	6,262
8	Gqeberha	Eastern Cape	661.4K	144	4,593
9	Masetjhaba View	Gauteng	535.6K	76	7,047
10	Bloemfontein◇ Judicial Capital	Free State	501.6K	115	4,354
11	Chief Albert Luthuli Park	Gauteng	458.4K	60	7,614
12	Polokwane	Limpopo	452.5K	115	3,934
13	Edendale	KwaZulu-Natal	344.4K	109	3,171
14	Kanyamazane	Mpumalanga	296.1K	110	2,697
15	Kimberley	Northern Cape	280.7K	66	4,280
16	Madadeni	KwaZulu-Natal	277.7K	69	4,013
17	Paarl	Western Cape	265.2K	49	5,435
18	Vanderbijlpark	Gauteng	260.2K	66	3,930
19	Centurion	Gauteng	260.0K	90	2,889
20	Somerset West	Western Cape	244.6K	55	4,481
21	Reeston	Eastern Cape	244.5K	65	3,761
22	Rustenburg	North West	223.7K	78	2,868
23	eMalahleni	Mpumalanga	223.2K	58	3,848
24	Botshabelo-N	Free State	223.1K	63	3,552
25	Lenasia	Gauteng	217.8K	41	5,261
26	Ennerdale	Gauteng	214.3K	45	4,804
27	Middelburg	Mpumalanga	212.4K	57	3,726
28	Diepsloot	Gauteng	198.4K	11	17,718
29	Phuthaditjhaba	Free State	182.3K	91	2,003
30	Vosman	Mpumalanga	182.1K	22	8,129

1975

2026

2050

Population figures are urban agglomerations (the contiguous built-up area), which can be larger than city-proper municipal boundaries.

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) · Creative Commons license CC BY 3.0 IGO

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100). Updated December 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of South Africa?: The population of South Africa is projected to reach approximately 65,453,084 in 2026, according to UN projections.
What is the life expectancy in South Africa?: Life expectancy at birth in South Africa is projected to be 66.7 years in 2026.
What is the fertility rate in South Africa?: The total fertility rate in South Africa is projected to be 2.17 children per woman in 2026.
What is the median age in South Africa?: The median age in South Africa is projected to be 28.9 years in 2026.
What is the age distribution in South Africa?: South Africa's population is projected to be 25.6% children (0-14 years), 67.3% working age (15-64 years), and 7.1% elderly (65+ years) in 2026.
What is the GDP of South Africa?: South Africa's GDP is $480.0 billion (current USD) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the GDP per capita in South Africa?: The GDP per capita in South Africa is $16,740 (PPP) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the inflation rate in South Africa?: The inflation rate in South Africa is 3.9% as of 2026, according to IMF data.
What is the unemployment rate in South Africa?: The unemployment rate in South Africa is 32.5%, which is relatively high as of 2026, according to IMF data.

Major Cities

Frequently asked questions

Mozambique

Zimbabwe

Namibia

Botswana

Lesotho

Eswatini

Major Cities

Frequently asked questions

Mozambique

Zimbabwe

Namibia

Botswana

Lesotho

Eswatini