Population in South Africa

Population and total fertility rate (births per woman), yearly, for about 200 countries (UN estimates). All figures for South Africa

Latest population in South Africa
Measure	Latest	Period	Rank	vs median	Among countries with data
Population	64,747,319 people	2025	24th highest of 216	+57,968,997 people	Lowest 9,492 peopleHighest 1,463,865,525 people
Fertility rate	2.21 births per woman	2024	94th highest of 216	+0.30 births per woman	Lowest 0.58 births per womanHighest 6.03 births per woman

Where South Africa stands

Every country with data, highest first

Population (people) · 24th highest of 216

India1,463,865,525
China1,406,585,000
United States341,784,857
Indonesia285,721,236
Pakistan255,219,554
Nigeria237,527,782
Brazil212,812,405
Bangladesh175,686,899
Russia143,513,328
Ethiopia135,472,051
… 13 more
South Africa64,747,319
… 182 more
Liechtenstein41,024
Gibraltar40,126
British Virgin Islands39,732
Monaco38,341
Marshall Islands36,282
San Marino34,109
Saint Martin24,941
Palau17,663
Nauru12,025
Tuvalu9,492

Population

All 66 values: Population

Period	people
2025	64,747,319
2024	64,007,187
2023	63,212,384
2022	62,378,410
2021	61,502,603
2020	60,562,381
2019	59,587,885
2018	58,613,001
2017	57,635,162
2016	57,259,551
2015	56,723,537
2014	55,594,838
2013	54,678,791
2012	53,782,567
2011	52,995,205
2010	52,344,051
2009	51,728,516
2008	51,114,599
2007	50,528,584
2006	49,998,277
2005	49,490,033
2004	48,991,421
2003	48,500,348
2002	48,019,415
2001	47,566,800
2000	47,159,719
1999	46,730,335
1998	46,223,880
1997	45,666,838
1996	45,123,018
1995	44,541,554
1994	44,004,139
1993	43,297,156
1992	42,443,509
1991	41,687,898
1990	40,746,268
1989	39,628,575
1988	38,480,649
1987	37,326,190
1986	36,180,515
1985	35,042,093
1984	33,892,788
1983	32,739,304
1982	31,615,339
1981	30,541,044
1980	29,518,857
1979	28,634,162
1978	27,869,507
1977	27,118,952
1976	26,395,450
1975	25,690,940
1974	24,989,108
1973	24,294,263
1972	23,609,456
1971	22,942,143
1970	22,279,984
1969	21,614,676
1968	20,957,287
1967	20,314,066
1966	19,690,087
1965	19,089,380
1964	18,511,361
1963	17,954,564
1962	17,418,522
1961	16,908,035
1960	16,440,172

Fertility rate

All 65 values: Fertility rate

Period	births per woman
2024	2.21
2023	2.22
2022	2.23
2021	2.25
2020	2.26
2019	2.26
2018	2.27
2017	2.28
2016	2.26
2015	2.36
2014	2.42
2013	2.43
2012	2.45
2011	2.44
2010	2.45
2009	2.50
2008	2.68
2007	2.55
2006	2.55
2005	2.51
2004	2.44
2003	2.36
2002	2.32
2001	2.37
2000	2.41
1999	2.56
1998	2.63
1997	2.73
1996	2.99
1995	3.17
1994	3.26
1993	3.37
1992	3.48
1991	3.62
1990	3.72
1989	3.98
1988	4.18
1987	4.35
1986	4.41
1985	4.50
1984	4.57
1983	4.63
1982	4.70
1981	4.71
1980	4.78
1979	4.82
1978	4.85
1977	4.94
1976	5.07
1975	5.19
1974	5.30
1973	5.41
1972	5.49
1971	5.57
1970	5.63
1969	5.72
1968	5.78
1967	5.85
1966	5.91
1965	5.89
1964	5.96
1963	6.01
1962	6.05
1961	6.08
1960	6.11

Cite this figure

allfigures, “Population, South Africa, 2025: 64,747,319 people”. Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators) (CC BY 4.0). https://allfigures.xyz/data/population/south-africa, retrieved 23 Sep 2026.

Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators), licence CC BY 4.0. Compiled 23 Sep 2026.