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Demographics of South Africa
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Population density in South Africa (darker color = higher density)
According to the 2022 census, the population of South Africa is about 62 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages , and religions .[ 1] The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.[ 4]
In 2011, Statistics South Africa counted 2.1 million foreigners in total.[ 5] Reports[specify ] suggest that is an underestimation. The real figure may be as high as five million,[ 6] including some three million Zimbabweans .[ 7]
Historical population of South Africa
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(January 2022 )
Earlier Censuses, 1904 to 2011[ edit ]
South African population figures for the 1904 Census.[ 8]
Colony
Pop. Group
Cape Colony
Natal
Transvaal
Orange River Colony
Total
Percent
Black
1,424,787
904,041
937,127
225,101
3,491,056
White
579,741
97,109
297,277
142,690
1,116,805
Coloured
395,034
6,686
24,226
19,282
445,228
Indian
10,242
100,918
11,321
253
122,734
Total
2,409,804
1,108,754
1,269,951
387,315
5,175,463
% of S. Africa
Sources: Statesman's Year-Book 1967–1968;[ 9] Europa Year Book 1969[ 10]
Province
Pop. Group
Cape of Good Hope
Natal
Transvaal
Orange Free State
Total
Percent
Black
3,011,080
2,199,920
4,633,378
1,083,886
10,928,264
White
1,003,207
340,235
1,468,305
276,745
3,088,492
Coloured
1,330,089
45,253
108,007
25,909
1,509,258
Indian
18,477
394,854
63,787
7
477,125
Total
5,362,853
2,980,262
6,273,477
1,386,547
16,003,139
% of S. Africa
1904–85 national census numbers[ edit ]
Bantustan demographics were removed from South African census data during Apartheid and for this reason official figures on the national population of the country during that period will be inaccurate.[ 11]
Population Size by Race, 1904–85 (1,000 people)
Year
Blacks
Whites
Coloureds
Asians
Total
Popu- lation (1,000 people)
%
Popu- lation (1,000 people)
%
Popu- lation (1,000 people)
%
Popu- lation (1,000 people)
%
Popu- lation (1,000 people)
Area included
1904
4,019
1,117
445
122
5,174
South Africa
1911
3,490
1,276
525
152
5,972
South Africa
1921
4,697
1,521
545
163
6,926
South Africa
1936
6,596
2,003
769
220
9,588
South Africa
1946
7,830
2,372
928
285
11,415
South Africa
1951
8,560
2,642
1,103
367
12,672
South Africa
1960
10,928
3,088
1,509
477
16,002
South Africa
1970
11,891
3,759
2,039
630
18,319
South Africa - excluding Transkei , Bophuthatswana , Venda & Ciskei
1970
15,340
3,773
2,051
630
21,794
South Africa
1980
13,135
4,221
2,459
748
20,563
South Africa - excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana & Venda
1980
16,992
4,512
2,688
803
24,995
South Africa - estimate
1985
15,163
4,569
2,833
821
23,386
South Africa - excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda & Ciskei
1985
19,052
4,837
2,396
879
27,704
South Africa - estimate
Year
Blacks
Whites
Coloureds
Asians
Total
Area included
Source: The People of South Africa: Population Census, 1996 [ 12]
map
Population Group →
Province ↓
Black
White
Coloured
Indian/ Asian
Other
Total
% of S.A.
1
Northern Cape
278,633
111,844
435,368
2,268
12,208
840,321
2
Western Cape
826,691
821,551
2,146,109
40,376
122,148
3,956,875
3
Eastern Cape
5,448,495
330,294
468,532
19,356
35,849
6,302,525
4
KwaZulu-Natal
6,880,652
558,182
117,951
790,813
69,423
8,417,021
5
Mpumalanga
2,497,834
253,392
20,283
13,083
16,120
2,800,711
6
Free State
2,223,940
316,459
79,038
2,805
11,262
2,633,504
7
Gauteng
5,147,444
1,702,343
278,692
161,289
58,654
7,348,423
8
Northern Province (Limpopo )
4,765,255
117,878
7,821
5,510
32,904
4,929,368
9
North West
3,058,686
222,755
46,652
10,097
16,635
3,354,825
South Africa Total
31,127,631
4,434,697
3,600,446
1,045,596
375,204
40,583,573
Percent
Population Group →
Black
White
Coloured
Asian
Other
Total
% of RSA
Source: Statistics South Africa: Census 2001 [ 13]
Province
Pop. Group
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Western Cape
Total
Percent
Black
5,635,079
2,381,073
6,522,792
8,002,407
5,128,616
2,886,345
293,976
3,358,450
1,207,429
35,416,166
White
304,506
238,791
1,758,398
483,448
126,276
203,244
102,042
244,035
832,901
4,293,640
Coloured
478,807
83,193
337,974
141,887
10,163
22,158
424,389
56,959
2,438,976
3,994,505
Indian /Asian
18,372
3,719
218,015
798,275
8,587
11,244
2,320
9,906
45,030
1,115,467
Total
6,436,763
2,706,775
8,837,178
9,426,017
5,273,642
3,122,990
822,727
3,669,349
4,524,335
44,819,778
% of S.A.
Source: Census 2011: Census in Brief [ 14]
Province
Pop. Group
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Western Cape
Total
Percent
Black
5,660,230
2,405,533
9,493,684
8,912,921
5,224,754
3,662,219
576,986
3,152,063
1,912,547
41,000,938
Coloured
541,850
83,844
423,594
141,376
14,415
36,611
461,899
71,409
2,840,404
4,615,401
White
310,450
239,026
1,913,884
428,842
139,359
303,595
81,246
255,385
915,053
4,586,838
Indian /Asian
27,929
10,398
356,574
756,991
17,881
27,917
7,827
20,652
60,761
1,286,930
Other
21,595
6,790
84,527
27,170
8,459
9,597
17,903
10,444
93,969
280,454
Total
6,562,053
2,745,590
12,272,263
10,267,300
5,404,868
4,039,939
1,145,861
3,669,349
5,822,734
51,770,560
% of S.A.
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Source: Census 2022 Statistical Release [ 15]
Province
Pop. Group
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Western Cape
Total
Percent
Black
6,189,075
2,630,556
12,763,312
10,535,830
6,341,601
4,898,063
679,383
3,562,524
2,884,511
50,486,856
Coloured
547,741
78,141
443,857
183,019
18,409
32,100
563,6059
60,720
3,124,757
5,052,349
White
403,061
235,915
1,509,800
513,377
167,524
185,731
99,150
171,887
1,217,807
4,504,252
Indian /Asian
37,568
12,978
329,736
1,157,542
35,958
25,882
10,824
2,654
84,363
1,697,506
Other
48,339
4,274
35,890
27,442
7,172
440
2,667
5,894
115,235
247,353
Total
7,225,784
2,961,864
15,084,595
12,417,210
6,570,664
5,142,216
1,355,629
3,803,679
7,426,673
61,988,314
% of S.A.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
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Historical population Year 1 100,000 — 1000 300,000 +0.11% 1500 600,000 +0.14% 1600 700,000 +0.15% 1700 1,000,000 +0.36% 1820 1,550,000 +0.37% 1870 2,547,000 +1.00% 1904 5,175,463 +2.11% 1911 5,972,757 +2.07% 1913 6,153,000 +1.50% 1921 6,927,403 +1.49% 1936 9,587,863 +2.19% 1946 11,415,925 +1.76% 1950 13,683,162 +4.63% 1955 15,384,557 +2.37% 1960 17,396,367 +2.49% 1970 22,502,502 +2.61% 1980 29,077,143 +2.60% 1990 36,793,490 +2.38% 1995 41,426,810 +2.40% 2001 44,819,777 +1.32% 2007 48,502,063 +1.32% 2011 51,770,560 +1.64% 2016 55,653,654 +1.46% 2022 62,027,503 +1.82% Note: Population estimates (1 AD - 1870 AD) are deduced from quantitative macroeconomic historical calculations. 1 (est.), 1000 (est.), 1500 (est.), 1600 (est.), 1700 (est.), 1820 (est.), 1870 (est.), 1913,[ 16] 1904[ 8]
1904-1946,[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] 1950-2010,[ 20] 2001 , 2011 , 2015[ 21]
Historical and projected population for the years 1 to 2022 [ edit ]
UN Age and population estimates: 1950 to 2030 [ edit ]
According to the 2019 revision of the United Nations Secretariat 's World Population Prospects , South Africa's total population was 55,386,000 in 2015, compared to only 13,628,000 in 1950. In 2015, 29.3% of the people were children under the age of 15, 65.7% were between 15 and 64 years of age, and 5.0% were 65 or older.[ 22] All population estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Year
Total population
Percentage in age bracket
under 15 years old
15 to 64 years old
at least 65 years old
1950
13,628,000
1955
15,207,000
1960
17,100,000
1965
19,385,000
1970
22,070,000
1975
25,195,000
1980
28,557,000
1985
32,679,000
1990
36,801,000
1995
41,436,000
2000
44,968,000
2005
47,881,000
2010
51,217,000
2015
55,386,000
2020
59,309,000
2025
62,803,000
2030
65,956,000
UN population projections: 2019 to 2100 [ edit ]
U.N. Population projections Year 2019 58,558,000 — 2030 65,956,000 +1.09% 2050 75,518,000 +0.68% 2100 79,191,000 +0.10% Note that the average percentage changes are per year (per annum ), and not the total change over the period between estimates Source: United Nations Secretariat [ 23]
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[ 24] [failed verification ]
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Statistics South Africa: From 2002 to present [ edit ]
The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Statistics South Africa :[ 25]
Population estimates for South Africa 2002-2020
Average population
Live births
Deaths
Natural change
Crude birth rate (per 1,000)
Crude death rate (per 1,000)
Natural change (per 1,000)
Total fertility rates
2002
46,355,083
983,092
596,983
386,109
21.2
12.9
8.7
2.45
2003
46,806,354
991,067
617,135
373,932
21.2
13.2
8.0
2.42
2004
47,310,050
1,057,881
645,841
412,040
22.4
13.7
8.7
2.54
2005
47,860,360
1,102,207
673,977
428,230
23.0
14.1
8.9
2.59
2006
48,446,414
1,137,157
696,827
440,330
23.5
14.4
9.1
2.63
2007
49,088,699
1,171,370
696,160
475,210
23.9
14.2
9.7
2.65
2008
49,794,560
1,196,958
686,582
510,376
24.0
13.8
10.2
2.66
2009
50,544,931
1,203,604
643,045
560,559
23.8
12.7
11.1
2.62
2010
51,328,662
1,203,967
603,347
600,620
23.5
11.8
11.7
2.58
2011
52,129,117
1,192,033
561,381
630,652
22.9
10.8
12.1
2.51
2012
52,930,356
1,184,320
544,956
639,364
22.4
10.3
12.1
2.46
2013
53,751,095
1,179,957
535,678
644,279
22.0
10.0
12.0
2.42
2014
54,574,401
1,177,893
521,005
656,888
21.6
9.5
12.1
2.39
2015
55,406,634
1,167,002
525,739
641,263
21.1
9.5
11.6
2.35
2016
56,252,336
1,145,354
517,030
628,324
20.4
9.2
11.2
2.29
2017
57,097,857
1,168,092
515,722
652,370
20.5
9.0
11.5
2.33
2018
57,939,226
1,182,107
516,635
665,472
20.4
8.9
11.5
2.35
2019
58,775,022
1,178,116
518,613
659,503
20.0
8.8
11.2
2.34
2020
59,622,350
1,173,943
519,865
654,078
19.7
8.7
11
2.33
2021
60,142,978
1,166,304
695,913
470,391
19.4
11.6
7.8
2.31
2022
62,027,503
1,175,776
663,075
512,701
18.95
10.69
8.26
Mid-year population estimates for South Africa by population group and sex, 2020
Population Group
Male
Female
Total
Number
% Distribution of Males
Number
% Distribution of Females
Number
% Distribution of Total
Black African
23,519,474
80.7
24,634,253
80.8
48,153,727
80.8
Coloured
2,555,204
8.8
2,692,536
8.8
5,247,740
8.8
Indian/Asian
787,662
2.7
753,451
2.5
1,541,113
2.6
White
2,266,535
7.8
2,413,235
7.9
4,679,770
7.8
Total
29,128,875
100.0
30,493,475
100.0
59,622,350
100.0
Mid-year population estimates for South Africa by province, 2020
United Nations estimates, 2019[ edit ]
The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[ 22] (Natural increase or decrease over a time period is the difference between that period's live births and deaths, before accounting for inward or outward migration.)
Period
Live births per year
Deaths per year
Natural Increase per year
Crude Birth Rate (per 1,000 per year)
Crude Death Rate (per 1,000 per year)
Natural Increase (per 1,000 per year)
Total Fertility Rate (over av'ge woman's life)
Infant Mortality Rate (per 100,000 live births)
1950–1955
606,600
292,400
+ 314,200
42.1
20.7
+ 21.8
6.05
134
1955–1960
669,400
293,800
+ 375,600
41.4
18.2
+ 23.3
6.05
121
1960–1965
740,200
304,600
+ 435,600
40.6
16.7
+ 23.9
6.00
112
1965–1970
810,600
313,600
+ 497,000
39.1
15.2
+ 24.0
5.80
103
1970–1975
896,000
315,400
+ 580,600
37.9
13.3
+ 24.6
5.50
89
1975–1980
967,400
309,800
+ 657,600
36.0
11.5
+ 24.5
5.05
71
1980–1985
1,099,200
311,000
+ 788,200
35.9
10.2
+ 25.7
4.90
56
1985–1990
1,147,400
299,400
+ 848,000
33.0
8.6
+ 24.4
4.40
46
1990–1995
1,074,600
318,000
+ 756,600
27.5
8.1
+ 19.3
3.51
41
1995–2000
1,026,600
448,000
+ 578,600
23.8
10.4
+ 13.4
2.88
47
2000–2005
1,051,600
626,800
+ 424,800
22.7
13.5
+ 9.2
2.61
54
2005–2010
1,166,200
671,400
+ 494,800
23.5
13.6
+ 10.0
2.62
48
2010–2015
1,207,200
557,200
+ 650,000
22.6
10.5
+ 12.2
2.55
33
2015–2020
1,185,000
546,000
+ 639,000
20.7
9.5
+ 11.1
2.41
27
2020–2025
1,159,600
573,200
+ 586,400
19.0
9.4
+ 9.6
2.31
24
2025–2030
1,143,400
604,400
+ 539,000
17.8
9.4
+ 8.4
2.22
21
Total Fertility Rate = average number of children over a woman's lifetime; Infant Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births
Age and sex distribution [ edit ]
Population pyramid, 2011
Age group
Male
Female percent
Female
Total
Percent of RSA
0–14
7,969,880
49.6%
7,842,388
15,812,268
31.3%
15–64
15,538,934
51.8%
16,696,600
32,235,534
63.7%
65+
1,006,222
51.8%
1,532,733
2,538,955
5.0%
All ages
24,515,036
51.5%
26,071,721
50,586,757
100%
Age group
Male
Female percent
Female
Total
Percent of RSA
under 5
2,867,585
49.6%
2,817,867
5,685,452
11.0%
5–9
2,425,181
49.7%
2,394,570
4,819,751
9.3%
10–14
2,344,275
49.0%
2,250,611
4,594,886
8.9%
15–19
2,498,572
50.1%
2,504,905
5,003,477
9.7%
20–24
2,694,646
49.9%
2,679,896
5,374,542
10.4%
25–29
2,542,682
49.7%
2,516,635
5,059,317
9.8%
30–34
2,036,206
49.5%
1,992,804
4,029,010
7.8%
35–39
1,709,347
50.7%
1,758,420
3,467,767
6.7%
40–44
1,402,328
52.4%
1,546,291
2,948,619
5.7%
45–49
1,195,740
54.4%
1,424,543
2,620,283
5.1%
50–54
1,011,349
54.4%
1,206,940
2,218,289
4.3%
55–59
811,950
54.8%
985,458
1,797,408
3.5%
60–64
612,364
55.8%
773,404
1,385,768
2.7%
65–69
401,548
58.1%
556,256
957,804
1.9%
70–74
293,498
60.8%
454,832
748,330
1.4%
75–79
165,283
65.7%
315,984
481,267
0.9%
80–84
100,694
68.8%
222,222
322,916
0.6%
85-plus
75,543
70.5%
180,130
255,673
0.5%
TOTAL
25,188,791
51.3%
26,581,769
51,770,560
100%
Number of children 0–14
Number of women 15–49
Proportion
Fertility Rate
15,812,264
13,866,489
1.14
2.35
Age and race distribution [ edit ]
Age distribution within each racial group [ edit ]
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
Others
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
0–14
15,100,089
12,702,324
1,311,811
771,187
258,602
56,164
15–64
33,904,479
26,502,329
3,085,684
3,165,965
939,379
211,126
65-plus
2,765,992
1,796,285
217,906
649,686
88,949
13,164
All ages
51,770,560
41,000,938
4,615,401
4,586,838
1,286,930
280,454
% of SA
Racial composition of each age group in 2015 (estimates)
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
0–14
16,612,043
14,244,663
1,288,601
789,492
289,285
15–64
35,465,499
28,170,797
3,299,771
3,026,475
968,649
65-plus
2,879,378
1,812,535
244,544
718,041
104.068
All ages
54,956,920
100%
44,227,995
4,832,916
4,534,008
1,362,002
% of SA
By five-year cohorts [ edit ]
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
under 5
5,936,350
10.80%
5,156,508
11.66%
426,156
8.82%
254,978
5.62%
98,708
7.25%
5 to 9
5,537,225
10.08%
4,746,115
10.73%
430,666
8.91%
263,378
5.81%
97,065
7.13%
10 to 14
5,138,468
9.35%
4,342,040
9.82%
431,779
8.93%
271,136
5.98%
93,512
6.87%
15 to 19
5,124,373
9.32%
4,292,220
9.70%
437,412
9.05%
295,733
6.52%
99,007
7.27%
20 to 24
5,302,246
9.65%
4,461,515
10.09%
426,013
8.81%
306,415
6.76%
108,304
7.95%
25 to 29
5,232,254
9.52%
4,437,570
10.03%
389,429
8.06%
287,485
6.34%
117,771
8.65%
30 to 34
4,307,693
7.84%
3,535,173
7.99%
366,955
7.59%
281,358
6.21%
124,206
9.12%
35 to 39
3,774,921
6.87%
3,001,989
6.79%
376,488
7.79%
279,439
6.16%
117,005
8.59%
40 to 44
3,204,952
5.83%
2,444,972
5.53%
368,886
7.63%
288,370
6.36%
102,725
7.54%
45 to 49
2,738,580
4.98%
2,004,009
4.53%
307,363
6.36%
335,434
7.40%
91,774
6.74%
50 to 54
2,297,586
4.18%
1,619,249
3.66%
264,593
5.47%
332,977
7.34%
80,767
5.93%
55 to 59
1,942,942
3.54%
1,334,800
3.02%
209,933
4.34%
328,999
7.26%
69,210
5.08%
60 to 64
1,539,953
2.80%
1,039,301
2.35%
152,698
3.16%
290,075
6.40%
57,879
4.25%
65 to 69
1,153,159
2.10%
737,581
1.67%
105,403
2.18%
265,818
5.86%
44,357
3.26%
70 to 74
805,114
1.46%
511,723
1.16%
65,465
1.35%
198,876
4.39%
28,949
2.13%
75 to 79
502,005
0.91%
313,800
0.71%
41,978
0.87%
128,675
2.84%
17,552
1.29%
80-plus
419,100
0.76%
249,431
0.56%
31,698
0.66%
124,672
2.75%
13,210
0.97%
All ages
54,956,920
100%
44,227,995
(100%)
4,832,916
(100%)
4,534,008
(100%)
1,362,002
(100%)
% of SA
100%
80.48%
8.79%
8.25%
2.48%
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
under 5
5,936,350
5,156,508
86.86%
426,156
7.18%
254,978
4.30%
98,708
1.66%
5 to 9
5,537,225
4,746,115
85.71%
430,666
7.78%
263,378
4.76%
97,065
1.75%
10 to 14
5,138,468
4,342,040
84.50%
431,779
8.40%
271,136
5.28%
93,512
1.82%
15 to 19
5,124,373
4,292,220
83.76%
437,412
8.54%
295,733
5.77%
99,007
1.93%
20 to 24
5,302,246
4,461,515
84.14%
426,013
8.03%
306,415
5.78%
108,304
2.04%
25 to 29
5,232,254
4,437,570
84.81%
389,429
7.44%
287,485
5.49%
117,771
2.25%
30 to 34
4,307,693
3,535,173
82.07%
366,955
8.52%
281,358
6.53%
124,206
2.88%
35 to 39
3,774,921
3,001,989
79.52%
376,488
9.97%
279,439
7.40%
117,005
3.10%
40 to 44
3,204,952
2,444,972
76.29%
368,886
11.51%
288,370
9.00%
102,725
3.21%
45 to 49
2,738,580
2,004,009
73.18%
307,363
11.22%
335,434
12.25%
91,774
3.35%
50 to 54
2,297,586
1,619,249
70.48%
264,593
11.52%
332,977
14.49%
80,767
3.52%
55 to 59
1,942,942
1,334,800
68.70%
209,933
10.80%
328,999
16.93%
69,210
3.56%
60 to 64
1,539,953
1,039,301
67.49%
152,698
9.92%
290,075
18.84%
57,879
3.76%
65 to 69
1,153,159
737,581
63.96%
105,403
9.14%
265,818
23.05%
44,357
3.85%
70 to 74
805,114
511,723
63.56%
65,465
8.13%
198,876
24.70%
28,949
3.60%
75 to 79
502,005
313,800
62.51%
41,978
8.36%
128,675
25.63%
17,552
3.50%
80-plus
419,100
249,431
59.52%
31,698
7.56%
124,672
29.75%
13,210
3.15%
All ages
54,956,920
44,227,995
4,832,916
4,534,008
1,362,002
% of SA
80.48%
8.79%
8.25%
2.48%
Racial composition of each age group in 2020 (estimates)[ edit ]
Source:[ 26]
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
0–14
17,050,955
28.60%
14,605,416
30.33%
1,408,553
26.84%
742,913
15.87%
294,073
19.08%
15–64
38,941,221
65.31%
31,368,174
65.14%
3,487,284
66.45%
2,988,634
63.86%
1,097,129
71.19%
65-plus
3,630,174
6.09%
2,180,137
4.53%
351,903
6.71%
948,223
20.26%
149,911
9.73%
All ages
59,622,350
100%
48,153,727
(100%)
5,247,740
(100%)
4,679,770
(100%)
1,541,113
(100%)
% of SA
100%
80.76%
8.80%
7.85%
2.58%
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
under 5
5,743,450
9.63%
4,940,751
10.26%
476,322
9.08%
226,715
4.84%
99,662
6.47%
5 to 9
5,715,952
9.59%
4,890,895
10.16%
475,518
9.06%
249,991
5.34%
99,548
6.46%
10 to 14
5,591,553
9.38%
4,773,770
9.91%
456,713
8.70%
266,207
5.69%
94,863
6.16%
15 to 19
4,774,579
8.01%
4,031,704
8.37%
411,056
7.83%
243,267
5.20%
88,552
5.75%
20 to 24
4,823,367
8.09%
4,043,432
8.40%
423,180
8.06%
254,465
5.44%
102,290
6.64%
25 to 29
5,420,754
9.09%
4,586,780
9.53%
435,746
8.30%
267,654
5.72%
130,574
8.47%
30 to 34
5,641,750
9.46%
4,769,499
9.90%
431,274
8.22%
296,160
6.33%
144,817
9.40%
35 to 39
4,798,293
8.05%
3,962,780
8.23%
381,858
7.28%
308,959
6.60%
144,696
9.39%
40 to 44
3,733,942
6.26%
2,988,999
6.21%
316,611
6.03%
306,414
6.55%
121,918
7.91%
45 to 49
3,169,648
5.32%
2,393,317
4.97%
312,665
5.96%
352,648
7.54%
111,018
7.20%
50 to 54
2,571,263
4.31%
1,834,191
3.81%
302,224
5.76%
337,839
7.22%
97,009
6.29%
55 to 59
2,211,309
3.71%
1,546,674
3.21%
264,967
5.05%
314,423
6.72%
85,245
5.53%
60 to 64
1,796,316
3.01%
1,210,798
2.51%
207,703
3.96%
306,805
6.56%
71,010
4.61%
65 to 69
1,408,665
2.36%
918,604
1.91%
150,941
2.88%
281,318
6.01%
57,802
3.75%
70 to 74
1,007,174
1.69%
619,106
1.29%
97,127
1.85%
248,673
5.31%
42,268
2.74%
75 to 79
637,062
1.07%
365,409
0.76%
56,822
1.08%
188,123
4.02%
26,708
1.73%
80-plus
577,273
0.97%
277,018
0.58%
47,013
0.90%
230,109
4.92%
23,133
1.50%
All ages
59,622,350
100%
48,153,727
(100%)
5,247,740
(100%)
4,679,770
(100%)
1,541,113
(100%)
% of SA
100%
80.76%
8.80%
7.85%
2.58%
Age group
All races
Black African
Coloured
White
Indian or other Asian
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
under 5
5,743,450
4,940,751
86.02%
476,322
8.29%
226,715
3.95%
99,662
1.74%
5 to 9
5,715,952
4,890,895
85.57%
475,518
8.32%
249,991
4.37%
99,548
1.74%
10 to 14
5,591,553
4,773,770
85.37%
456,713
8.17%
266,207
4.76%
94,863
1.70%
15 to 19
4,774,579
4,031,704
84.44%
411,056
8.61%
243,267
5.10%
88,552
1.85%
20 to 24
4,823,367
4,043,432
83.83%
423,180
8.77%
254,465
5.28%
102,290
2.12%
25 to 29
5,420,754
4,586,780
84.62%
435,746
8.04%
267,654
4.94%
130,574
2.41%
30 to 34
5,641,750
4,769,499
84.54%
431,274
7.64%
296,160
5.25%
144,817
2.57%
35 to 39
4,798,293
3,962,780
82.59%
381,858
7.96%
308,959
6.44%
144,696
3.02%
40 to 44
3,733,942
2,988,999
80.05%
316,611
8.48%
306,414
8.21%
121,918
3.27%
45 to 49
3,169,648
2,393,317
75.51%
312,665
9.86%
352,648
11.13%
111,018
3.50%
50 to 54
2,571,263
1,834,191
71.33%
302,224
11.75%
337,839
13.14%
97,009
3.77%
55 to 59
2,211,309
1,546,674
69.94%
264,967
11.98%
314,423
14.22%
85,245
3.85%
60 to 64
1,796,316
1,210,798
67.40%
207,703
11.56%
306,805
17.08%
71,010
3.95%
65 to 69
1,408,665
918,604
65.21%
150,941
10.72%
281,318
19.97%
57,802
4.10%
70 to 74
1,007,174
619,106
61.47%
97,127
9.64%
248,673
24.69%
42,268
4.20%
75 to 79
637,062
365,409
57.36%
56,822
8.92%
188,123
29.53%
26,708
4.19%
80-plus
577,273
277,018
47.99%
47,013
8.14%
230,109
39.86%
23,133
4.01%
All ages
59,622,350
48,153,727
5,247,740
4,679,770
1,541,113
% of SA
80.76%
8.80%
7.85%
2.58%
Fertility rate (The Demographic Health Survey)[ edit ]
Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate ):[ 27]
Year
Total
Urban
Rural
CBR
TFR
CBR
TFR
CBR
TFR
1998
21.90
2.90 (2.3)
19.2
2.25 (1.8)
25.4
3.92 (2.9)
2016
22.3
2.6 (2.0)
21.9
2.4 (1.9)
23.1
3.1 (2.4)
Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) by ethnic group.
Year
Total
Black African
White
Coloured
Indian/Asian
1998
2.9 (2.3)
3.1 (2.4)
1.9 (1.5)
2.5 (2.1)
2016
2.6 (2.0)
2.7 (2.1)
1.5 (1.2)
2.5 (1.9)
1.7 (1.6)
Life expectancy at birth from 1950 to 2020 (UN World Population Prospects ):[ 28]
Life expectancy in South Africa
Life expectancy in South Africa 1950–2020 (per 5 yr clusters)
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org .
Period
Life expectancy (years)
1950–1955
48.5
1955–1960
51.3
1960–1965
53.0
1965–1970
54.8
1970–1975
56.7
1975–1980
57.3
1980–1985
58.4
1985–1990
61.0
1990–1995
62.3
1995–2000
59.2
2000–2005
53.8
2005–2010
53.1
2010–2015
59.5
2015–2020
63.7
Life expectancy in South Africa 1950–2021 (per 5 yr clusters)
[ 29]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org .
Dominant population groups in South Africa.
African
Coloured
Indian or other Asian
White
None dominant
Little or no population
Ethnic groups South Africa (1911)
Racial groups South Africa (2022)
Other (0.4%)
Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.[ 30] The 2011 census figures for these groups were African at 80.2%, White at 8.4%, Coloured at 8.8%, Indian /Asian at 2.5%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.[ 31]
The white percentage of the population has sharply declined. The first census in South Africa in 1911 showed that whites made up 22% of the population. This declined to 16% in 1980,[ 32] 8.9% in 2011 and 7.65% in 2022.[ 33] : 21 Coloured South Africans replaced Whites as the largest minority group around 2010.
South Africa has twelve official languages :[ 34] isiZulu [ 31] 24.4%, isiXhosa [ 31] 16.3%, Afrikaans [ 31] 10.6%, English [ 31] 8.7%, Sepedi [ 31] 10.0%, Setswana [ 31] 8.3%, Sesotho [ 31] 7.8%, Xitsonga [ 31] 4.7%, siSwati [ 31] 2.8%, Tshivenda [ 31] 2.5%, isiNdebele [ 31] 1.7% and South African Sign Language .[ 35]
In this regard, it is third only to Bolivia and India in number. While all the languages are formally equal, some languages are spoken more than others. According to the 2022 census , the three most spoken languages in the household are Zulu (24.4%), Xhosa (16.3%), and Afrikaans (10.6%).[ 1]
Between 1996 and 2022, the proportion of Afrikaans speakers declined from 14.5% to 10.6% and English held steady at 8.7%, whle isiZulu grew from 22.8% to 24.4%, and Xhosa declined from 17.9% to 16.3%[ 36]
The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe , Fanagalo , Khwe , Lobedu , Nama , Northern Ndebele , Phuthi and San .[ 37] These unofficial languages may be used in certain official uses in limited areas where it has been determined that these languages are prevalent. Nevertheless, their populations are not such that they require nationwide recognition.
Many of the "unofficial languages" of the San and Khoikhoi people contain regional dialects stretching northwards into Namibia and Botswana , and elsewhere. These people, who are a physically distinct population from other Africans, have their own cultural identity based on their hunter-gatherer societies. They have been marginalised to a great extent, and many of their languages are in danger of becoming extinct .
Many white South Africans also speak other European languages , such as Portuguese (also spoken by black Angolans and Mozambicans ), German , Serbian and Greek , while some Indians and other Asians in South Africa speak South Asian languages , such as Bhojpuri , Tamil , Hindi , Gujarati , Urdu and Telugu . Although many South Africans are of Huguenot (French) origin, South African French is spoken by fewer than 10,000 individuals country-wide. Congolese French is also spoken in South Africa by migrants.
The primary sign language of deaf South Africans is South African Sign Language . Other sign languages among indigenous peoples are also used.
In 2011, the first language was Zulu for 28.1% of Black South African residents, Xhosa for 19.8%, Sepedi for 11.2%, Tswana for 9.7%, Sesotho for 9.3%, Tsonga for 5.5%, siSwati for 3.1%, Venda for 2.9%, English for 2.8%, Southern Ndebele for 2.6%, Afrikaans for 1.5%, while 3.4% had another first language.[ 38]
Among whites, Afrikaans was the first language for 59.1% of the population, compared to 35.0% for English. Other languages accounted for the remaining 5.9%.[ 38]
This section needs to be updated . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2020 )
Religion in South Africa (2022 census)[ 39]
Other (1%)
According to the 2022 national census, Christians accounted for 85.3% of the population.[ 1] This includes[when? ] Protestant (36.6%), Zionist Christian (11.1%), Pentecostal /Charismatic (8.2%), Roman Catholic (7.1%), Methodist (6.8%), Dutch Reformed (6.7%), Anglican (3.8%); members of other Christian churches accounted for another 36% of the population. Muslims accounted for 1.5% of the population, Other 2.3%, and 1.4% were Unspecified and None 15.1%.[citation needed ]
Muslims are largely found among the Coloured and Indian ethnic groups. They have been joined by black or white South African converts as well as immigrants from other parts of Africa.[ 40] South African Muslims claim that their faith is the fastest-growing religion of conversion in the country, with the number of black Muslims growing sixfold, from 12,000 in 1991 to 74,700 in 2004.[ 40] [ 41]
The Hindu population has its roots in the British colonial period , but later waves of immigration from India have also contributed to it. Most Hindus are of South Asian origin, but there are many who come from mixed racial stock. Some are converts due to the efforts of ISKCON .
Other minority religions in South Africa are Sikhism , Jainism , Baháʼí Faith and Judaism .[ 42]
87.9% of black residents are Christian, 9.5% have no religion , 0.2% are Muslim, 0.1% are Jewish , 1.22% are Hindu and 2.3% have other or undetermined beliefs.
71.8% of white residents are Christian, 23.8% have no religion , 0.2% are Muslim, 1.4% are Jewish, and 0.0% are Hindu . 2.7% have other or undetermined beliefs.
Other demographic statistics [ edit ]
Demographics development according to the United Nations
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.[ 43]
One birth every 27 seconds
One death every 56 seconds
One net migrant every 4 minutes
Net gain of one person every 44 seconds
The following demographics are from the CIA World Factbook [ 44] unless otherwise indicated.
57,516,665 (2022 est.)
55,380,210 (July 2018 est.)
Population pyramid of South Africa in 2020
0-14 years: 27.94% (male 7,894,742/female 7,883,266)
15-24 years: 16.8% (male 4,680,587/female 4,804,337)
25-54 years: 42.37% (male 12,099,441/female 11,825,193)
55-64 years: 6.8% (male 1,782,902/female 2,056,988)
65 years and over: 6.09% (2020 est.) (male 1,443,956/female 1,992,205)
0-14 years: 28.18% (male 7,815,651 /female 7,793,261)
15-24 years: 17.24% (male 4,711,480 /female 4,837,897)
25-54 years: 42.05% (male 11,782,848 /female 11,503,831)
55-64 years: 6.71% (male 1,725,034 /female 1,992,035)
65 years and over: 5.81% (male 1,351,991 /female 1,866,182) (2018 est.)
18.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 77th
19.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 78th
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 52nd
9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 57th
2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 90th
2.26 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 91st
Population growth rate [ edit ]
0.93% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 103rd
0.97% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 114th
Total: 28 years. Country comparison to the world: 142nd
Male: 27.9 years
Female: 28.1 years (2020 est.)
Total: 27.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 144th
Male: 27.2 years
Female: 27.6 years (2018 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate [ edit ]
54.6% (2016)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 98th
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 138th
Total dependency ratio: 52.5 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 44.8 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio : 12.9 (2015 est.)
Urban population: 68.3% of total population (2022)
Rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 66.4% of total population (2018)
Rate of urbanization: 1.97% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [ edit ]
Total population: 65.32 years. Country comparison to the world: 202nd
Male: 63.99 years
Female: 66.68 years (2022 est.)
Total population: 64.1 years (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases [ edit ]
Degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
Food or waterborne diseases : bacterial diarrhea , hepatitis A , and typhoid fever
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 ) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 6 June 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,968,205 cases of COVID-19 or 6,690.7 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,317 cumulative deaths or a rate of 170.83 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 36.33% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Black African 80.9%, colored 8.8%, white 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
note: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years
Map showing the dominant languages in South Africa
isiZulu (official) 24.7%, isiXhosa (official) 15.6%, Afrikaans (official) 12.1%, Sepedi (official) 9.8%, Setswana (official) 8.9%, English (official) 8.4%, Sesotho (official) 8%, Xitsonga (official) 4%, siSwati (official) 2.6%, Tshivenda (official) 2.5%, Khoi, Nama, and San languages 1.9% isiNdebele (official) 1.6% (2017 est.)
note: data represent language spoken most often at home
Education expenditures [ edit ]
6.8% of GDP (2020) Country comparison to the world: 22nd
6.1% of GDP (2017) Country comparison to the world: 34th
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 95%
Male: 95.5%
Female: 94.5% (2019)
Total population: 94.4%
Male: 95.4%
Female: 95.4% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)[ edit ]
Total: 14 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24[ edit ]
Total: 59.4%
Male: 55.4%
Female: 64.1% (2020 est.)
South Africa hosts a sizeable refugee and asylum seeker population. According to the World Refugee Survey 2008 , published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants , this population numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007.[ 45] Groups of refugees and asylum seekers numbering over 10,000 included people from Zimbabwe (48,400), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (24,800), and Somalia (12,900).[ 45] These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg , Pretoria , Durban , Cape Town , and Port Elizabeth .[ 45] Many refugees have now also started to work and live in rural areas in provinces such as Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal .
Statistics SA assumes in some of their calculations that there are fewer than 2 million immigrants in South Africa.[ 46] Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.[ 47] [ 48] [ 49] [ 50]
Main countries of immigration in South Africa according to the 2011 Census and 2022 Census:
Source: 2022 South African census [ 51]
Place of birth
Population, 2011
Population, 2022
Difference
Zimbabwe
672,308
1,012,059
339,751
Mozambique
393,231
416,564
23,333
Lesotho
160,806
227,770
66,964
Malawi
86,606
198,807
112,201
United Kingdom
81,720
61,282
-20,438
Ethiopia
28,230
58,131
29,901
Namibia
40,575
36,140
-4,435
India
31,165
27,350
-3,815
Nigeria
26,341
24,718
-1,623
Zambia
30,054
24,625
-5,429
Congo
26,061
23,328
-2,733
Bangladesh
19,696
20,894
1,198
DRC
25,630
17,635
-7,995
Somalia
26,116
15,838
-10,278
Pakistan
17,241
15,006
-2,235
Germany
20,494
12,139
-8,355
Botswana
12,316
8,976
-3,340
Portugal
15,626
7,615
-8,011
Immigration assumptions by Statistics South Africa to South Africa based on race. Negative numbers represent net migration from South Africa to other countries.[ 52]
Immigration to SA by Race (Negative values indicate net migration from SA elsewhere)
Year
African
Asian
White
1985-2000
632 633
36 908
-202 868
2001-2006
565 916
25 310
-99 574
2006-2011
815 780
43 222
-106 787
2011-2016
972 995
54 697
-111 346
2016-2021
894 365
49 584
-90 956
"Urban areas contain about two-thirds of the population; many of these consist of huge informal or squatter settlements ."[ 53]
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^ The Europa Year Book 1969, Volume II: Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australasia , Europa Publications, London, 1969, page 1286
^ Ogura, Mitsuo (1996). "Urbanization and Apartheid in South Africa: Influx Controls and Their Abolition" . The Developing Economies . 34 (4): 402–423. doi :10.1111/j.1746-1049.1996.tb01178.x . ISSN 1746-1049 . PMID 12292280 .
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^ The Statesman's Year-Book 1977–1978 (ed. John Paxton), St. Martin's Press, New York (& Macmillan, London), 1977, page 1296
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^ Lehohla, Pali (5 May 2005). "Debate over race and censuses not peculiar to SA" . Business Report . Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013 . Others pointed out that the repeal of the Population Registration Act in 1991 removed any legal basis for specifying 'race'. The Identification Act of 1997 makes no mention of race. On the other hand, the Employment Equity Act speaks of 'designated groups' being 'black people, women and people with disabilities'. The Act defines 'black' as referring to 'Africans, coloureds and Indians'. Apartheid and the racial identification which underpinned it explicitly linked race with differential access to resources and power. If the post-apartheid order was committed to remedying this, race would have to be included in surveys and censuses, so that progress in eradicating the consequences of apartheid could be measured and monitored. This was the reasoning that led to a 'self-identifying' question about 'race' or 'population group' in both the 1996 and 2001 population censuses, and in Statistics SA's household survey programme.
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