South Africa Population History
1960 - 2026
South Africa's population has grown from 16,440,172 in 1960 to 64,007,187 in 2024, a total increase of 289.3% (3.89x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2024.
1960 Population
16.4M
2024 Population
64.0M
Total Growth
289.3%
Peak Year
2024
Population by Decade
1960
16.4M
1970
22.3M
1980
29.5M
1990
40.7M
2000
47.2M
2010
52.3M
2020
60.6M
2024
64.0M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+3.03%
1965-1970
+3.14%
1970-1975
+2.89%
1975-1980
+2.82%
1980-1985
+3.49%
1985-1990
+3.06%
1990-1995
+1.80%
1995-2000
+1.15%
2000-2005
+0.97%
2005-2010
+1.13%
2010-2015
+1.62%
2015-2020
+1.32%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | +794,803 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | +833,974 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | +875,807 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | +940,222 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | +974,496 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | +974,884 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | +977,839 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | +375,611 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | +536,014 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | +1,128,699 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | +916,047 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | +896,224 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | +787,362 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | +651,154 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | +615,535 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | +613,917 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | +586,015 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | +530,307 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | +508,244 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | +498,612 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | +491,073 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | +480,933 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | +452,615 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | +407,081 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | +429,384 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | +506,455 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | +557,042 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | +543,820 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | +581,464 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | +537,415 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | +706,983 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | +853,647 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | +755,611 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | +941,630 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | +1,117,693 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | +1,147,926 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | +1,154,459 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | +1,145,675 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | +1,138,422 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | +1,149,305 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | +1,153,484 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | +1,123,965 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | +1,074,295 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | +1,022,187 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | +884,695 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | +764,655 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | +750,555 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | +723,502 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | +704,510 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | +701,832 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | +694,845 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | +684,807 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | +667,313 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | +662,159 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | +665,308 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | +657,389 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | +643,221 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | +623,979 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | +600,707 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | +578,019 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | +556,797 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | +536,042 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | +510,487 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | +467,863 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | — |