Population · Africa
South Africa population 2026
Right now · estimate
South Africa population right now
65,690,266
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 979,911
- Births minus deaths this year
- +468,372
South Africa has an estimated 65,453,084 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 705,765 more than a year earlier (+1.09%). It is the 24th most populous country in the world. It is still growing and is projected to reach 79.2 million by 2050 and 94.3 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
South Africa in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 1.2 million 3,197 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 610 thousand 1,669 a day
- Net migration
- +132 thousand more arrivals than departures
- Growth rate
- +1.05% growing
- Fertility rate
- 2.17per woman above replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 28.9years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 66.7years
- Aged 65 and over
- 7.1% 11.3% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Area
- 1,219,912 km² 25th largest of 237
- Population density
- 54per km² 165th most crowded
- Urban population
- 64.0% 70.9% by 2050
- Men and women
- 31.8 million / 33.6 million 94.7 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 70.2years men: 63.1 years
- Infant mortality
- 21.9per 1,000 births under-5: 29.9
- Birth rate
- 17.8per 1,000 death rate: 9.3
- Net migration rate
- +2.0per 1,000 net arrivals
Population of South Africa, 1950–2100
Still rising in 2100 on the UN medium projection. By 2050: 79.2 million (+21.0% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
94.3M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 13,038,491 |
| 1951 | 13,309,020 |
| 1952 | 13,595,543 |
| 1953 | 13,892,910 |
| 1954 | 14,203,779 |
| 1955 | 14,533,366 |
| 1956 | 14,880,686 |
| 1957 | 15,244,839 |
| 1958 | 15,620,418 |
| 1959 | 16,014,974 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 |
| 1989 | 39,628,576 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 |
| 2004 | 48,991,420 |
| 2005 | 49,490,032 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 |
| 2008 | 51,114,598 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 |
| 2012 | 53,782,566 |
| 2013 | 54,678,792 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 |
| 2024 * | 64,007,187 |
| 2025 * | 64,747,319 |
| 2026 * | 65,453,084 |
| 2027 * | 66,143,022 |
| 2028 * | 66,830,384 |
| 2029 * | 67,506,849 |
| 2030 * | 68,161,359 |
| 2031 * | 68,798,580 |
| 2032 * | 69,426,439 |
| 2033 * | 70,040,481 |
| 2034 * | 70,641,572 |
| 2035 * | 71,234,752 |
| 2036 * | 71,816,379 |
| 2037 * | 72,387,814 |
| 2038 * | 72,949,617 |
| 2039 * | 73,496,159 |
| 2040 * | 74,035,624 |
| 2041 * | 74,575,448 |
| 2042 * | 75,111,901 |
| 2043 * | 75,641,513 |
| 2044 * | 76,164,460 |
| 2045 * | 76,681,450 |
| 2046 * | 77,199,548 |
| 2047 * | 77,716,655 |
| 2048 * | 78,215,322 |
| 2049 * | 78,699,586 |
| 2050 * | 79,177,328 |
| 2051 * | 79,652,213 |
| 2052 * | 80,115,432 |
| 2053 * | 80,557,028 |
| 2054 * | 80,994,204 |
| 2055 * | 81,427,426 |
| 2056 * | 81,844,863 |
| 2057 * | 82,252,531 |
| 2058 * | 82,658,549 |
| 2059 * | 83,056,837 |
| 2060 * | 83,443,514 |
| 2061 * | 83,818,398 |
| 2062 * | 84,187,506 |
| 2063 * | 84,556,165 |
| 2064 * | 84,918,442 |
| 2065 * | 85,261,576 |
| 2066 * | 85,591,617 |
| 2067 * | 85,916,397 |
| 2068 * | 86,231,080 |
| 2069 * | 86,539,583 |
| 2070 * | 86,857,023 |
| 2071 * | 87,183,488 |
| 2072 * | 87,486,535 |
| 2073 * | 87,766,053 |
| 2074 * | 88,046,049 |
| 2075 * | 88,323,147 |
| 2076 * | 88,589,554 |
| 2077 * | 88,858,009 |
| 2078 * | 89,132,767 |
| 2079 * | 89,403,956 |
| 2080 * | 89,674,092 |
| 2081 * | 89,944,244 |
| 2082 * | 90,208,634 |
| 2083 * | 90,469,061 |
| 2084 * | 90,721,519 |
| 2085 * | 90,957,536 |
| 2086 * | 91,196,448 |
| 2087 * | 91,444,345 |
| 2088 * | 91,687,476 |
| 2089 * | 91,926,610 |
| 2090 * | 92,160,724 |
| 2091 * | 92,399,701 |
| 2092 * | 92,635,394 |
| 2093 * | 92,860,583 |
| 2094 * | 93,085,412 |
| 2095 * | 93,300,481 |
| 2096 * | 93,502,148 |
| 2097 * | 93,695,466 |
| 2098 * | 93,893,514 |
| 2099 * | 94,101,366 |
| 2100 * | 94,314,448 |
* UN projection
Population of South Africa by year
47.2 million in 2000, 65.5 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 65,453,084 | +1.09% | +705,765 | +131,684 | 28.9 | 2.17 | 54 | 64% | 0.79% | 24 |
| 2025* | 64,747,319 | +1.16% | +740,132 | +146,370 | 28.7 | 2.19 | 53 | 64% | 0.79% | 24 |
| 2024* | 64,007,187 | +1.26% | +794,803 | +166,972 | 28.5 | 2.21 | 52 | 64% | 0.78% | 24 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | +1.34% | +833,974 | +228,222 | 28.2 | 2.22 | 52 | 64% | 0.78% | 24 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | +1.42% | +875,807 | +233,284 | 27.9 | 2.23 | 51 | 64% | 0.78% | 24 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | +1.55% | +940,222 | +458,246 | 27.6 | 2.25 | 50 | 64% | 0.77% | 24 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | +1.64% | +974,496 | +369,901 | 27.3 | 2.26 | 50 | 63% | 0.77% | 24 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | +1.66% | +974,884 | +331,124 | 26.9 | 2.26 | 49 | 63% | 0.76% | 24 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | +1.70% | +977,839 | +318,260 | 26.5 | 2.27 | 48 | 63% | 0.76% | 24 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | +0.66% | +375,611 | +343,146 | 26.1 | 2.28 | 47 | 63% | 0.75% | 24 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | +0.94% | +536,014 | −879,235 | 25.7 | 2.26 | 47 | 63% | 0.76% | 24 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | +2.03% | +1,128,699 | +641,150 | 25.4 | 2.36 | 46 | 63% | 0.76% | 24 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | +1.19% | +615,535 | +68,563 | 23.6 | 2.44 | 43 | 63% | 0.75% | 24 |
| 2005 | 49,490,032 | +1.02% | +498,612 | +31,286 | 22.1 | 2.51 | 41 | 60% | 0.75% | 24 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | +0.92% | +429,384 | −136,794 | 20.8 | 2.41 | 39 | 56% | 0.76% | 25 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | +1.22% | +537,415 | −98,403 | 20.5 | 3.17 | 36 | 53% | 0.77% | 25 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | +2.82% | +1,117,692 | +259,718 | 20.3 | 3.72 | 33 | 52% | 0.76% | 25 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | +3.39% | +1,149,305 | +244,940 | 19.4 | 4.50 | 29 | 49% | 0.72% | 28 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | +3.09% | +884,695 | +258,127 | 18.4 | 4.78 | 24 | 48% | 0.66% | 28 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | +2.81% | +701,832 | +38,809 | 17.9 | 5.19 | 21 | 48% | 0.63% | 29 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | +3.08% | +665,308 | +61,514 | 17.7 | 5.63 | 18 | 48% | 0.60% | 29 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | +3.12% | +578,019 | +82,514 | 17.8 | 5.89 | 16 | 47% | 0.57% | 30 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | +2.66% | +425,198 | +18,891 | 17.9 | 6.11 | 13 | 47% | 0.55% | 31 |
| 1955 | 14,533,366 | +2.32% | +329,587 | −2,747 | 18.6 | 6.13 | 12 | 45% | 0.53% | 31 |
| 1950 | 13,038,491 | – | – | +8,751 | 19.2 | 6.03 | 11 | 42% | 0.52% | 31 |
Population forecast for South Africa
UN medium-variant projection: 79.2 million in 2050 (+21.0% from 2026), 94.3 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 68,161,359 | +0.97% | +141,259 | 29.6 | 2.10 | 56 | 65% | 0.80% | 23 |
| 2035 | 71,234,752 | +0.84% | +160,676 | 30.2 | 2.04 | 58 | 66% | 0.80% | 22 |
| 2040 | 74,035,624 | +0.73% | +158,149 | 31.0 | 1.98 | 61 | 67% | 0.81% | 22 |
| 2045 | 76,681,450 | +0.68% | +163,729 | 31.8 | 1.94 | 63 | 69% | 0.81% | 24 |
| 2050 | 79,177,328 | +0.61% | +178,382 | 32.3 | 1.89 | 65 | 71% | 0.82% | 23 |
| 2060 | 83,443,514 | +0.47% | +188,240 | 34.0 | 1.84 | 68 | – | 0.84% | 25 |
| 2070 | 86,857,023 | +0.37% | +214,582 | 35.2 | 1.80 | 71 | – | 0.85% | 26 |
| 2080 | 89,674,092 | +0.30% | +203,365 | 36.2 | 1.77 | 73 | – | 0.87% | 26 |
| 2090 | 92,160,724 | +0.25% | +185,880 | 37.3 | 1.75 | 75 | – | 0.90% | 26 |
| 2100 | 94,314,448 | +0.23% | +199,038 | 38.3 | 1.74 | 77 | – | 0.93% | 25 |
Largest cities in South Africa
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannesburg | 7,173,199 | 8,916,021 |
| 2 | Cape Town (capital) | 4,585,729 | 6,127,476 |
| 3 | Durban | 3,179,346 | 3,157,978 |
| 4 | Pretoria (capital) | 1,862,152 | 2,329,108 |
| 5 | Klipgat | 1,317,564 | 1,691,727 |
| 6 | Tembisa | 1,317,315 | 1,651,801 |
| 7 | Evaton | 782,698 | 1,008,731 |
| 8 | Gqeberha | 661,405 | 657,010 |
| 9 | Masetjhaba View | 535,560 | 775,790 |
| 10 | Bloemfontein (capital) | 501,579 | 678,064 |
Age structure
Median age 28.9. 7.1% are 65 or older, 11.3% by 2050; 25.6% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
2.17 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.7 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.03 |
| 1951 | 6.06 |
| 1952 | 6.08 |
| 1953 | 6.09 |
| 1954 | 6.11 |
| 1955 | 6.13 |
| 1956 | 6.13 |
| 1957 | 6.14 |
| 1958 | 6.14 |
| 1959 | 6.13 |
| 1960 | 6.11 |
| 1961 | 6.08 |
| 1962 | 6.05 |
| 1963 | 6.01 |
| 1964 | 5.96 |
| 1965 | 5.89 |
| 1966 | 5.91 |
| 1967 | 5.85 |
| 1968 | 5.78 |
| 1969 | 5.72 |
| 1970 | 5.63 |
| 1971 | 5.57 |
| 1972 | 5.49 |
| 1973 | 5.41 |
| 1974 | 5.30 |
| 1975 | 5.19 |
| 1976 | 5.07 |
| 1977 | 4.94 |
| 1978 | 4.85 |
| 1979 | 4.82 |
| 1980 | 4.78 |
| 1981 | 4.71 |
| 1982 | 4.70 |
| 1983 | 4.63 |
| 1984 | 4.57 |
| 1985 | 4.50 |
| 1986 | 4.41 |
| 1987 | 4.35 |
| 1988 | 4.18 |
| 1989 | 3.98 |
| 1990 | 3.72 |
| 1991 | 3.62 |
| 1992 | 3.48 |
| 1993 | 3.37 |
| 1994 | 3.26 |
| 1995 | 3.17 |
| 1996 | 2.99 |
| 1997 | 2.73 |
| 1998 | 2.63 |
| 1999 | 2.56 |
| 2000 | 2.41 |
| 2001 | 2.37 |
| 2002 | 2.32 |
| 2003 | 2.36 |
| 2004 | 2.44 |
| 2005 | 2.51 |
| 2006 | 2.55 |
| 2007 | 2.55 |
| 2008 | 2.68 |
| 2009 | 2.50 |
| 2010 | 2.44 |
| 2011 | 2.44 |
| 2012 | 2.45 |
| 2013 | 2.43 |
| 2014 | 2.42 |
| 2015 | 2.36 |
| 2016 | 2.26 |
| 2017 | 2.28 |
| 2018 | 2.27 |
| 2019 | 2.26 |
| 2020 | 2.26 |
| 2021 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 2.23 |
| 2023 | 2.22 |
| 2024 * | 2.21 |
| 2025 * | 2.19 |
| 2026 * | 2.17 |
| 2027 * | 2.15 |
| 2028 * | 2.13 |
| 2029 * | 2.12 |
| 2030 * | 2.10 |
| 2031 * | 2.09 |
| 2032 * | 2.07 |
| 2033 * | 2.06 |
| 2034 * | 2.05 |
| 2035 * | 2.04 |
| 2036 * | 2.03 |
| 2037 * | 2.02 |
| 2038 * | 2.00 |
| 2039 * | 1.99 |
| 2040 * | 1.98 |
| 2041 * | 1.98 |
| 2042 * | 1.97 |
| 2043 * | 1.96 |
| 2044 * | 1.95 |
| 2045 * | 1.94 |
| 2046 * | 1.93 |
| 2047 * | 1.92 |
| 2048 * | 1.91 |
| 2049 * | 1.90 |
| 2050 * | 1.89 |
| 2051 * | 1.89 |
| 2052 * | 1.88 |
| 2053 * | 1.88 |
| 2054 * | 1.87 |
| 2055 * | 1.87 |
| 2056 * | 1.86 |
| 2057 * | 1.85 |
| 2058 * | 1.85 |
| 2059 * | 1.84 |
| 2060 * | 1.84 |
| 2061 * | 1.83 |
| 2062 * | 1.83 |
| 2063 * | 1.82 |
| 2064 * | 1.82 |
| 2065 * | 1.81 |
| 2066 * | 1.81 |
| 2067 * | 1.81 |
| 2068 * | 1.80 |
| 2069 * | 1.80 |
| 2070 * | 1.80 |
| 2071 * | 1.79 |
| 2072 * | 1.79 |
| 2073 * | 1.79 |
| 2074 * | 1.78 |
| 2075 * | 1.78 |
| 2076 * | 1.78 |
| 2077 * | 1.78 |
| 2078 * | 1.77 |
| 2079 * | 1.77 |
| 2080 * | 1.77 |
| 2081 * | 1.77 |
| 2082 * | 1.76 |
| 2083 * | 1.76 |
| 2084 * | 1.76 |
| 2085 * | 1.76 |
| 2086 * | 1.76 |
| 2087 * | 1.76 |
| 2088 * | 1.75 |
| 2089 * | 1.75 |
| 2090 * | 1.75 |
| 2091 * | 1.75 |
| 2092 * | 1.75 |
| 2093 * | 1.75 |
| 2094 * | 1.75 |
| 2095 * | 1.75 |
| 2096 * | 1.74 |
| 2097 * | 1.74 |
| 2098 * | 1.74 |
| 2099 * | 1.74 |
| 2100 * | 1.74 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Births outnumber deaths throughout the projection.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.1M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 534,108 | 281,293 |
| 1951 | 546,874 | 275,288 |
| 1952 | 559,047 | 269,518 |
| 1953 | 570,665 | 263,912 |
| 1954 | 581,444 | 257,799 |
| 1955 | 593,446 | 252,075 |
| 1956 | 604,746 | 246,575 |
| 1957 | 617,087 | 241,806 |
| 1958 | 630,445 | 237,465 |
| 1959 | 640,756 | 235,104 |
| 1960 | 654,647 | 233,377 |
| 1961 | 671,921 | 234,075 |
| 1962 | 691,059 | 235,424 |
| 1963 | 712,678 | 238,844 |
| 1964 | 733,055 | 242,442 |
| 1965 | 753,872 | 247,250 |
| 1966 | 786,790 | 251,936 |
| 1967 | 811,124 | 257,377 |
| 1968 | 834,361 | 262,519 |
| 1969 | 858,270 | 267,488 |
| 1970 | 877,296 | 272,204 |
| 1971 | 900,469 | 275,722 |
| 1972 | 917,234 | 278,473 |
| 1973 | 932,746 | 281,165 |
| 1974 | 941,247 | 282,790 |
| 1975 | 950,848 | 282,983 |
| 1976 | 958,964 | 283,951 |
| 1977 | 964,558 | 283,642 |
| 1978 | 977,732 | 283,388 |
| 1979 | 1,000,535 | 284,007 |
| 1980 | 1,023,204 | 284,796 |
| 1981 | 1,056,276 | 288,427 |
| 1982 | 1,100,132 | 292,565 |
| 1983 | 1,133,794 | 296,794 |
| 1984 | 1,170,227 | 301,221 |
| 1985 | 1,200,048 | 306,174 |
| 1986 | 1,215,553 | 311,905 |
| 1987 | 1,239,142 | 316,825 |
| 1988 | 1,230,450 | 321,239 |
| 1989 | 1,211,699 | 327,044 |
| 1990 | 1,170,837 | 335,441 |
| 1991 | 1,170,388 | 343,105 |
| 1992 | 1,146,706 | 352,290 |
| 1993 | 1,152,235 | 362,996 |
| 1994 | 1,081,586 | 382,979 |
| 1995 | 1,140,808 | 397,323 |
| 1996 | 1,121,611 | 410,766 |
| 1997 | 1,091,868 | 423,892 |
| 1998 | 1,070,114 | 443,106 |
| 1999 | 1,060,762 | 466,121 |
| 2000 | 1,017,081 | 490,137 |
| 2001 | 1,011,545 | 526,754 |
| 2002 | 1,004,942 | 574,032 |
| 2003 | 1,037,337 | 622,286 |
| 2004 | 1,084,498 | 641,920 |
| 2005 | 1,124,291 | 659,851 |
| 2006 | 1,157,144 | 669,557 |
| 2007 | 1,166,581 | 663,057 |
| 2008 | 1,243,597 | 648,293 |
| 2009 | 1,178,323 | 624,185 |
| 2010 | 1,160,896 | 594,053 |
| 2011 | 1,169,887 | 568,153 |
| 2012 | 1,189,588 | 545,855 |
| 2013 | 1,197,126 | 544,732 |
| 2014 | 1,211,091 | 536,325 |
| 2015 | 1,191,603 | 522,818 |
| 2016 | 1,160,623 | 519,286 |
| 2017 | 1,154,876 | 508,904 |
| 2018 | 1,163,460 | 515,166 |
| 2019 | 1,173,511 | 521,416 |
| 2020 | 1,182,285 | 586,414 |
| 2021 | 1,190,312 | 733,895 |
| 2022 | 1,190,146 | 586,476 |
| 2023 | 1,186,793 | 584,015 |
| 2024 * | 1,182,869 | 591,233 |
| 2025 * | 1,175,749 | 600,461 |
| 2026 * | 1,167,803 | 609,623 |
| 2027 * | 1,162,164 | 618,698 |
| 2028 * | 1,156,824 | 627,925 |
| 2029 * | 1,152,475 | 637,396 |
| 2030 * | 1,146,101 | 646,542 |
| 2031 * | 1,140,828 | 656,227 |
| 2032 * | 1,136,735 | 665,798 |
| 2033 * | 1,132,757 | 675,509 |
| 2034 * | 1,128,749 | 685,277 |
| 2035 * | 1,125,172 | 695,676 |
| 2036 * | 1,123,335 | 705,652 |
| 2037 * | 1,122,510 | 715,605 |
| 2038 * | 1,123,447 | 725,965 |
| 2039 * | 1,125,558 | 736,271 |
| 2040 * | 1,128,321 | 746,795 |
| 2041 * | 1,133,383 | 757,226 |
| 2042 * | 1,137,658 | 767,672 |
| 2043 * | 1,142,338 | 777,665 |
| 2044 * | 1,146,175 | 788,198 |
| 2045 * | 1,148,712 | 798,043 |
| 2046 * | 1,150,021 | 808,587 |
| 2047 * | 1,149,967 | 818,781 |
| 2048 * | 1,148,332 | 829,025 |
| 2049 * | 1,145,550 | 839,200 |
| 2050 * | 1,142,135 | 848,631 |
| 2051 * | 1,139,682 | 858,426 |
| 2052 * | 1,140,121 | 868,179 |
| 2053 * | 1,138,526 | 877,701 |
| 2054 * | 1,137,402 | 886,930 |
| 2055 * | 1,136,129 | 896,094 |
| 2056 * | 1,134,258 | 905,101 |
| 2057 * | 1,133,340 | 913,627 |
| 2058 * | 1,131,900 | 921,312 |
| 2059 * | 1,131,634 | 929,595 |
| 2060 * | 1,130,739 | 937,376 |
| 2061 * | 1,129,537 | 944,798 |
| 2062 * | 1,127,610 | 951,975 |
| 2063 * | 1,124,860 | 959,474 |
| 2064 * | 1,124,285 | 966,453 |
| 2065 * | 1,124,323 | 973,659 |
| 2066 * | 1,122,713 | 980,575 |
| 2067 * | 1,120,719 | 987,035 |
| 2068 * | 1,119,028 | 992,865 |
| 2069 * | 1,118,521 | 998,927 |
| 2070 * | 1,118,425 | 1,004,218 |
| 2071 * | 1,117,814 | 1,009,821 |
| 2072 * | 1,117,500 | 1,015,221 |
| 2073 * | 1,116,802 | 1,019,719 |
| 2074 * | 1,115,758 | 1,023,784 |
| 2075 * | 1,115,172 | 1,028,157 |
| 2076 * | 1,114,268 | 1,031,748 |
| 2077 * | 1,113,426 | 1,034,881 |
| 2078 * | 1,110,812 | 1,037,282 |
| 2079 * | 1,111,392 | 1,040,269 |
| 2080 * | 1,112,245 | 1,043,581 |
| 2081 * | 1,112,138 | 1,046,153 |
| 2082 * | 1,112,991 | 1,048,319 |
| 2083 * | 1,112,966 | 1,050,443 |
| 2084 * | 1,112,416 | 1,052,517 |
| 2085 * | 1,111,675 | 1,054,073 |
| 2086 * | 1,110,215 | 1,055,498 |
| 2087 * | 1,110,664 | 1,057,134 |
| 2088 * | 1,109,522 | 1,058,228 |
| 2089 * | 1,108,283 | 1,060,799 |
| 2090 * | 1,106,982 | 1,062,063 |
| 2091 * | 1,106,072 | 1,064,211 |
| 2092 * | 1,106,149 | 1,065,698 |
| 2093 * | 1,105,968 | 1,068,069 |
| 2094 * | 1,105,990 | 1,070,198 |
| 2095 * | 1,104,382 | 1,072,060 |
| 2096 * | 1,102,609 | 1,074,779 |
| 2097 * | 1,102,865 | 1,077,679 |
| 2098 * | 1,101,224 | 1,079,615 |
| 2099 * | 1,101,663 | 1,081,725 |
| 2100 * | 1,102,124 | 1,084,554 |
* UN projection
Economy of South Africa
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $489 billion 39th largest economy
- GDP per person
- $7,659 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 16,841 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +1.0% real GDP
- Inflation
- 4.4% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- 33.2% of the labour force
- Government debt
- 78.0% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.4%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
599B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 126,027,000,000 |
| 1991 | 135,227,000,000 |
| 1992 | 146,970,000,000 |
| 1993 | 147,236,000,000 |
| 1994 | 153,569,000,000 |
| 1995 | 171,736,000,000 |
| 1996 | 163,340,000,000 |
| 1997 | 169,004,000,000 |
| 1998 | 152,885,000,000 |
| 1999 | 151,426,000,000 |
| 2000 | 151,855,000,000 |
| 2001 | 135,527,000,000 |
| 2002 | 129,385,000,000 |
| 2003 | 197,017,000,000 |
| 2004 | 256,188,000,000 |
| 2005 | 288,749,000,000 |
| 2006 | 304,055,000,000 |
| 2007 | 332,650,000,000 |
| 2008 | 316,491,000,000 |
| 2009 | 331,184,000,000 |
| 2010 | 417,315,000,000 |
| 2011 | 458,708,000,000 |
| 2012 | 434,400,000,000 |
| 2013 | 400,877,000,000 |
| 2014 | 381,195,000,000 |
| 2015 | 346,663,000,000 |
| 2016 | 323,493,000,000 |
| 2017 | 381,317,000,000 |
| 2018 | 405,093,000,000 |
| 2019 | 389,245,000,000 |
| 2020 | 337,876,000,000 |
| 2021 | 419,878,000,000 |
| 2022 | 407,430,000,000 |
| 2023 | 381,334,000,000 |
| 2024 | 401,076,000,000 |
| 2025 | 427,141,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 489,083,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 517,579,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 537,157,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 556,473,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 577,290,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 598,930,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of South Africa
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 440 million tonnes 15th largest emitter
- Per person
- 6.87 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 1.14% 0.79% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +41% +6% since 2005
440 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 60.91 |
| 1951 | 65.07 |
| 1952 | 70.83 |
| 1953 | 70.97 |
| 1954 | 73.88 |
| 1955 | 82.93 |
| 1956 | 87.25 |
| 1957 | 89.64 |
| 1958 | 96.25 |
| 1959 | 94.47 |
| 1960 | 97.85 |
| 1961 | 102.12 |
| 1962 | 105.67 |
| 1963 | 109.72 |
| 1964 | 119.55 |
| 1965 | 128.14 |
| 1966 | 128.24 |
| 1967 | 133.76 |
| 1968 | 137.95 |
| 1969 | 143.14 |
| 1970 | 149.62 |
| 1971 | 168.41 |
| 1972 | 171.56 |
| 1973 | 173.35 |
| 1974 | 176.55 |
| 1975 | 185.00 |
| 1976 | 192.91 |
| 1977 | 199.74 |
| 1978 | 201.88 |
| 1979 | 218.67 |
| 1980 | 228.20 |
| 1981 | 257.08 |
| 1982 | 280.44 |
| 1983 | 291.91 |
| 1984 | 315.60 |
| 1985 | 323.87 |
| 1986 | 330.50 |
| 1987 | 328.67 |
| 1988 | 342.66 |
| 1989 | 340.71 |
| 1990 | 312.93 |
| 1991 | 326.03 |
| 1992 | 301.33 |
| 1993 | 320.35 |
| 1994 | 338.70 |
| 1995 | 361.71 |
| 1996 | 363.73 |
| 1997 | 385.21 |
| 1998 | 377.27 |
| 1999 | 374.87 |
| 2000 | 378.33 |
| 2001 | 371.60 |
| 2002 | 356.50 |
| 2003 | 404.41 |
| 2004 | 449.32 |
| 2005 | 416.20 |
| 2006 | 446.74 |
| 2007 | 465.03 |
| 2008 | 494.67 |
| 2009 | 474.51 |
| 2010 | 467.35 |
| 2011 | 474.27 |
| 2012 | 461.44 |
| 2013 | 456.19 |
| 2014 | 481.64 |
| 2015 | 457.47 |
| 2016 | 457.05 |
| 2017 | 440.01 |
| 2018 | 453.77 |
| 2019 | 470.73 |
| 2020 | 435.30 |
| 2021 | 439.46 |
| 2022 | 428.78 |
| 2023 | 436.60 |
| 2024 | 439.83 |
By source, 2024
- Coal84.4%
- Oil12.5%
- Gas1.8%
- Cement1.3%
- Flaring0.0%
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with Africa
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 65.5 million | +1.05% | 2.17 | 28.9 |
| Nigeria | 242 million | +2.03% | 4.20 | 18.3 |
| Ethiopia | 139 million | +2.48% | 3.72 | 19.3 |
| Egypt | 120 million | +1.44% | 2.68 | 24.7 |
| DR Congo | 116 million | +3.13% | 5.80 | 15.9 |
| Tanzania | 72.6 million | +2.79% | 4.41 | 17.6 |
| Kenya | 58.6 million | +1.89% | 3.07 | 20.3 |
| Sudan | 53.3 million | +3.03% | 4.13 | 18.8 |
| Uganda | 52.8 million | +2.62% | 3.97 | 17.1 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in South Africa today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for 9 cities, from Johannesburg to Benoni.
Questions
What is the population of South Africa in 2026?
65,453,084 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 65.5 million people, +1.09% on 2025.
Is South Africa's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 705,765 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 3,197 births and 1,669 deaths a day and net migration of +131,684 a year.
When will South Africa's population peak?
Not this century on the UN's medium projection: 79.2 million in 2050 and 94.3 million in 2100, still rising.
What is the fertility rate in South Africa?
2.17 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.
How many babies are born in South Africa every day?
About 3,197 a day (1.2 million in 2026), against about 1,669 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in South Africa?
66.7 years at birth in 2026: 70.2 for women and 63.1 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in South Africa?
About 31.8 million men and 33.6 million women in 2026, or 94.7 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of South Africa?
54 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 1,219,912 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of South Africa in 2000?
47,159,719 (47.2 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 39% since, to 65.5 million in 2026.
What will the population of South Africa be in 2050?
About 79.2 million on the UN's medium projection (79,177,328), +21.0% from 2026; 94.3 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in South Africa?
Johannesburg (7.2 million), Cape Town (4.6 million), Durban (3.2 million), Pretoria (1.9 million), Klipgat (1.3 million). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of South Africa in 2026?
$489 billion at current prices, the 39th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +1.0%.
What is South Africa's GDP per capita?
$7,659 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 16,841 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does South Africa emit?
440 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 6.87 t per person and 1.14% of the world total; coal is the largest source (84%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.