The population of South Africa is expected to grow by 644,000 in 2026 and reach 63,415,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 20,000 people yearly. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.5 in 1980 to 50.5 in 2024.
| Current population | 62,850,479 people at present (Monday 9th of February 2026) | |
| Median Age | 30.8 years |
| Population density | 51.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 62,781,000 | 644,000 (1.0%) | 20,000 | 30.8 | 51 | 43,815,000 (69.8%) | |
| 2025 | 62,137,000 | 654,000 (1.1%) | 20,000 | 30.6 | 2.24 | 51 | 43,110,000 (69.4%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 40,000 | 30.4 | 51 | 42,398,000 (69.0%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 40,000 | 30.2 | 50 | 41,679,000 (68.5%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 40,000 | 30.0 | 50 | 40,955,000 (68.1%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 40,000 | 29.8 | 49 | 40,226,000 (67.6%) | |
| 2020 | 58,774,000 | 702,000 (1.2%) | 40,000 | 29.6 | 2.35 | 48 | 39,491,000 (67.2%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 60,000 | 29.4 | 2.38 | 48 | 38,751,000 (66.7%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 60,000 | 29.2 | 2.41 | 47 | 38,007,000 (66.3%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 60,000 | 29.1 | 2.43 | 47 | 37,258,000 (65.8%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 60,000 | 28.9 | 2.46 | 46 | 36,505,693 (65.3%) |
| 2015 | 55,011,977 | 865,242 (1.6%) | 60,000 | 28.7 | 2.49 | 46 | 35,648,311 (64.8%) |
| 2010 | 50,979,432 | 723,619 (1.4%) | 161,300 | 27.8 | 2.59 | 43 | 31,718,383 (62.2%) |
| 2005 | 47,606,670 | 604,969 (1.3%) | 125,500 | 27.1 | 2.68 | 40 | 28,343,107 (59.5%) |
| 2000 | 44,896,856 | 663,126 (1.5%) | 119,200 | 26.3 | 2.83 | 38 | 25,542,270 (56.9%) |
| 1995 | 41,426,810 | 868,315 (2.1%) | 62,700 | 25.3 | 3.11 | 35 | 22,571,812 (54.5%) |
| 1990 | 36,793,490 | 828,359 (2.3%) | 147,900 | 24.3 | 3.65 | 31 | 19,146,228 (52.0%) |
| 1985 | 32,983,013 | 778,061 (2.4%) | -25,810 | 23.8 | 4.32 | 28 | 16,284,373 (49.4%) |
| 1980 | 29,077,143 | 716,323 (2.5%) | 36,200 | 23.7 | 4.84 | 25 | 14,080,606 (48.4%) |
| 1975 | 25,698,856 | 657,916 (2.6%) | 14,663 | 23.8 | 5.29 | 22 | 12,363,463 (48.1%) |
| 1970 | 22,502,502 | 576,337 (2.6%) | 45,320 | 24.0 | 5.67 | 19 | 10,758,221 (47.8%) |
| 1965 | 19,813,947 | 505,781 (2.6%) | 39,703 | 24.0 | 5.92 | 16 | 9,361,694 (47.2%) |
| 1960 | 17,396,367 | 453,678 (2.5%) | 21,310 | 24.2 | 6.04 | 14 | 8,110,012 (46.6%) |
In 2025 the population of Republic of South Africa was 62,137,000 and the average age increased from 24.2 in 1960 to 30.6. Urban population has increased from 25,542,270 (56.9%) in 2000 to 43,815,000 (69.8%) in the current year. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.5 in 1980 to 50.5 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 40,000 | 29.6 | 2.35 | 48 | 39,491,000 (67.2%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 20,000 | 30.6 | 2.24 | 51 | 43,110,000 (69.4%) |
| 2030 | 65,255,000 | 603,000 (0.9%) | 20,000 | 31.6 | 2.15 | 53 | 46,558,000 (71.3%) |
| 2035 | 68,112,000 | 550,000 (0.8%) | 20,000 | 32.6 | 2.07 | 55 | 49,784,000 (73.1%) |
| 2040 | 70,679,000 | 486,000 (0.7%) | 20,000 | 33.6 | 2.01 | 57 | 52,737,000 (74.6%) |
| 2045 | 72,869,000 | 403,000 (0.6%) | 20,000 | 34.6 | 1.95 | 59 | 55,422,000 (76.1%) |
| 2050 | 74,608,000 | 309,000 (0.4%) | 20,000 | 35.6 | 1.91 | 60 | 57,778,000 (77.4%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 71.2 (68.5 years for male and 74.0 years for females). Population density will go up to 60.0 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Republic of South Africa constitutes of 32,042,000 women and 30,740,000 men, which means there are 959 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 35.6% of population (22,362,592) is 19 or younger, 57.8% of population (36,287,418) is between age 20 and 64 and 6.6% of population (4,124,712) is over 65.