The population of South Africa is expected to grow by 705,765 in 2026 and reach 66,143,022 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 131,684 people yearly. On average there are 1,173,247 births and 610,001 deaths in Republic of South Africa per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 0.86 percent per year. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.3 in 1980 to 52.8 in 2024.
| Current population | 66,039,059 people at present (Friday 6th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 31.4 years |
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | |
| Population density | 53.6 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 65,453,084 | 705,765 (1.1%) | 131,684 | 31.4 | 2.17 | 54 | 41,859,196 (64.0%) |
| 2025 | 64,747,319 | 740,132 (1.1%) | 146,370 | 31.3 | 2.19 | 53 | 41,318,761 (63.8%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 166,972 | 31.1 | 2.21 | 53 | 40,767,329 (63.7%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 228,222 | 30.9 | 2.22 | 52 | 40,191,932 (63.6%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 233,284 | 30.7 | 2.23 | 51 | 39,595,737 (63.5%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 458,246 | 30.5 | 2.25 | 51 | 39,023,643 (63.5%) |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 974,496 (1.6%) | 369,901 | 30.3 | 2.26 | 50 | 38,419,145 (63.4%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 331,124 | 30.0 | 2.26 | 49 | 37,786,302 (63.4%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 318,260 | 29.7 | 2.27 | 48 | 37,147,252 (63.4%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 343,146 | 29.3 | 2.28 | 48 | 36,500,987 (63.3%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -879,235 | 29.0 | 2.26 | 47 | 36,231,037 (63.3%) |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 1,128,699 (2.0%) | 641,150 | 28.8 | 2.36 | 47 | 35,854,741 (63.2%) |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 615,535 (1.2%) | 68,563 | 27.9 | 2.45 | 43 | 32,783,033 (62.6%) |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 498,612 (1.0%) | 31,286 | 27.1 | 2.51 | 41 | 29,607,004 (59.8%) |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 429,384 (0.9%) | -136,794 | 26.0 | 2.41 | 39 | 26,531,584 (56.3%) |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 537,415 (1.2%) | -98,403 | 25.4 | 3.17 | 37 | 23,738,963 (53.3%) |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 1,117,693 (2.7%) | 259,718 | 24.9 | 3.72 | 34 | 21,175,017 (52.0%) |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 1,149,305 (3.3%) | 244,940 | 24.4 | 4.50 | 29 | 17,240,710 (49.2%) |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 884,695 (3.0%) | 258,127 | 23.8 | 4.78 | 24 | 14,287,127 (48.4%) |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 701,832 (2.7%) | 38,809 | 23.5 | 5.19 | 21 | 12,348,934 (48.1%) |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 665,308 (3.0%) | 61,514 | 23.5 | 5.63 | 18 | 10,644,784 (47.8%) |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 578,019 (3.0%) | 82,514 | 23.6 | 5.89 | 16 | 9,040,594 (47.4%) |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 467,863 (2.8%) | 18,891 | 23.8 | 6.11 | 14 | 7,676,362 (46.7%) |
In 2025 the population of Republic of South Africa was 64,747,319 and the average age increased from 23.8 in 1960 to 31.3. Urban population has increased from 26,531,584 (56.3%) in 2000 to 41,859,196 (64.0%) in the current year. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.3 in 1980 to 52.8 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 369,901 | 30.3 | 2.26 | 50 | 38,419,145 (63.4%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 146,370 | 31.3 | 2.19 | 53 | 41,318,761 (63.8%) |
| 2030 | 68,161,359 | 654,510 (1.0%) | 141,259 | 32.2 | 2.10 | 56 | 44,058,804 (64.6%) |
| 2035 | 71,234,752 | 593,180 (0.8%) | 160,676 | 33.1 | 2.04 | 58 | 46,862,953 (65.8%) |
| 2040 | 74,035,624 | 539,465 (0.7%) | 158,149 | 34.0 | 1.98 | 61 | 49,776,488 (67.2%) |
| 2045 | 76,681,450 | 516,990 (0.7%) | 163,729 | 34.8 | 1.94 | 63 | 52,874,364 (69.0%) |
| 2050 | 79,177,328 | 477,742 (0.6%) | 178,382 | 35.5 | 1.89 | 65 | 56,153,950 (70.9%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 70.3 (66.7 years for male and 74.0 years for females). Population density will go up to 64.9 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 1.09% (740,132 residents, including 591,234 deaths). The demographics of Republic of South Africa constitutes of 33,616,039 women and 31,837,045 men, which means there are 947 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 33.9% of population (22,208,231) is 19 or younger, 59.0% of population (38,623,865) is between age 20 and 64 and 7.1% of population (4,627,533) is over 65.