The population of South Africa is expected to grow by 654,000 in 2025 and reach 62,781,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 20,000 people yearly. On average there are 1,135,554 births and 587,692 deaths in Republic of South Africa per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 0.88 percent per year. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.5 in 1980 to 50.0 in 2023.
| Current population | 62,175,816 people at present (Wednesday 22nd of January 2025) | |
| Median Age | 30.6 years |
| Life expectancy | 65.5 years | |
| Population density | 50.9 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 62,137,000 | 654,000 (1.1%) | 20,000 | 30.6 | 2.24 | 51 | 43,110,000 (69.4%) |
| 2024 | 61,483,000 | 663,000 (1.1%) | 40,000 | 30.4 | 51 | 42,398,000 (69.0%) | |
| 2023 | 60,820,000 | 673,000 (1.1%) | 40,000 | 30.2 | 50 | 41,679,000 (68.5%) | |
| 2022 | 60,147,000 | 682,000 (1.1%) | 40,000 | 30.0 | 50 | 40,955,000 (68.1%) | |
| 2021 | 59,465,000 | 691,000 (1.2%) | 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 2024 the population of Republic of South Africa was 61,483,000 and the average age increased from 24.2 in 1960 to 30.4. Urban population has increased from 25,542,270 (56.9%) in 2000 to 43,110,000 (69.4%) in the current year. The population density of Republic of South Africa has changed from 24.5 in 1980 to 50.0 in 2023.
| 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 | 62,137,000 | 654,000 (1.1%) | 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 31,707,000 women and 30,431,000 men, which means there are 960 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 35.9% of population (22,288,542) is 19 or younger, 57.7% of population (35,853,049) is between age 20 and 64 and 6.4% of population (3,995,409) is over 65.