Read our Privacy Policy for more information about how we process your data.
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie icon in the footer.
South Africa counts 65,453,084 residents as of 2026. That is a 5-fold increase on the 13,038,491 recorded in 1950. It is expanding at +1.05% a year, adding about 689.9K people a year. Population density sits at 54 people/km². Half the population is younger than 28.9 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 32.3 by 2050. Women outnumber men, at 95 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections put it at 94,314,448, up +44% from 2026.
Total population
65,453,084
Density
54 people/km²
Median age
28.9 years
Growth rate
+1.05%
South Africa's population continues to grow, though at a moderate pace. The sex ratio of 95 males per 100 females is notably lower than the global average of ~101. The population is gradually aging, with median age projected to reach 32 by 2050 (up from 29 in 2026). UN projections show continued growth to 94.3M by 2100.