Republic of South Africa
Capital: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
Population:Â 62,027,5031
Currency: South African rand (ZAR)
South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and surrounding Lesotho entirely. It is known for its diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and complex history, including the apartheid era and its peaceful transition to democracy in 1994. The capital functions are divided among Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial), while the largest city and economic hub is Johannesburg. South Africa has the most industrialized and diversified economy in Africa, driven by mining, manufacturing, services, and agriculture, and is a major exporter of gold, platinum, and automobiles. It is a parliamentary republic and a member of the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), BRICS, Commonwealth of Nations, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Growth Rate
1.315
%
Fertility Rate
2.216
children born/woman
Crude Death Rate
9.239
per 1,000 people
Life Expectancy
66.1
years
Total Population in South Africa
This graph illustrates the total population of a country over time, while also depicting the sex ratio, which indicates the number of males per 100 females in the population.
Population Density
Population Growth Rate (%)
The population growth rate shows how fast a population is increasing or decreasing annually, influenced by birth rates, death rates, and migration in South Africa.
Life Expectancy (Years)
Life expectancy indicates the average number of years a person is expected to live.
Median Age (Years)
Median age represents the midpoint of a population’s age distribution, helping to assess whether a population is young, aging, or balanced.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality rate measures the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Net migration in 2023 (per 1000 people)
3.61
(-0.13)
Net migration represents the difference between the number of people moving into a country and those leaving.
Fertility Rate
Fertility rate represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime
Births vs Deaths
This graph compares the number of births and deaths each year.
Crude Death Rate
Crude death rate measures the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Source
Data is sourced from The World Bank, the United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision), and other collated datasets, including national statistical offices, Eurostat (Demographic Statistics), and the United Nations Statistics Division (Population and Vital Statistics Report, various years).
Note: The information in the KPI is from 2023; any data beyond this year is an estimate from the United Nations.
1Population figures for South Africa are based on the 2022 Census data published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). Source: Census 2022 Statistical Release.