Demographics of South Africa

According to the 2022 census, the population of South Africa is about 62 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. With a majority being Black Africans.^[3] The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.^[4]

Demographics of South Africa
South Africa population pyramid in 2020
Population	63 million (2024 est.)[1]
Density	48.1/km2 (125/sq mi)
Growth rate	1.33%[1]: 12
Birth rate	19.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)[1]: 7
Death rate	8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)[1]: 7
Life expectancy	66.5 years (2024 est.)[1]: 8
• male	63.6 years (2024 est.)[1]: 8
• female	69.2 years (2024 est.)[1]: 8
Fertility rate	2.41 children born/woman (2024 est.)[1]: 4
Infant mortality rate	22.9 deaths/1,000 (2024 est.)[1]: 8
Age structure
0–14 years	28.8% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
15–64 years	65.2% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
65 and over	6% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
Sex ratio
Total	0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)[citation needed]
At birth	1.02 male(s)/female[citation needed]
Under 15	1 male(s)/female[citation needed]
15–64 years	1.02 male(s)/female[citation needed]
65 and over	0.68 male(s)/female[citation needed]
Nationality
Nationality	South African
Major ethnic	Blacks (81.45%)[2] Zulus (N/D) Xhosas (N/D) Sothos (N/D) Tswana (N/D) Pedi (N/D) Others (N/D)
Minor ethnic	Coloureds (8.15%)[2] Whites (7.30%)[2] Afrikaners (N/D) Britons (N/D) Germans (N/D) Others (N/D) Indians (2.74%)[2] Others (0.39%)
Language
Official	Afrikaans · English · Xhosa · Sotho, Pedi · Zulu · Tswana · Swazi · Venda · Tsonga · Southern Ndebele
Spoken	Languages of South Africa

Population density in South Africa (darker color = higher density)

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]

History

Historical population of South Africa

The earliest creatures that can be identified as human ancestors in South Africa are australopithecines. The first evidence of this was a child's skull found in the Taung quarry site. This was in the modern day North-West province. More fossils australopithecines were found in limestone caves Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdaai. ^[8]

Further information: History of South Africa

Population

Earlier Censuses, 1904 to 2011

1904 Census

South African population figures for the 1904 Census.^[9]

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	67.5%
White	579,741	97,109	297,277	142,690	1,116,805	21.6%
Coloured	395,034	6,686	24,226	19,282	445,228	8.6%
Indian	10,242	100,918	11,321	253	122,734	2.4%
Total	2,409,804	1,108,754	1,269,951	387,315	5,175,463	100.0%
% of S. Africa	46.6%	21.4%	24.5%	7.5%	100%

1960 Census

Sources: Statesman's Year-Book 1967–1968;^[10] Europa Year Book 1969^[11]

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	68.3%
White	1,003,207	340,235	1,468,305	276,745	3,088,492	19.3%
Coloured	1,330,089	45,253	108,007	25,909	1,509,258	9.4%
Indian	18,477	394,854	63,787	7	477,125	3.0%
Total	5,362,853	2,980,262	6,273,477	1,386,547	16,003,139	100.0%
% of S. Africa	33.5%	18.6%	39.2%	8.7%	100%

1904–85 national census numbers

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.^[12]

Population Size by Race, 1904–85 (1,000 people)

Year		Blacks			Whites			Coloureds			Asians			Total
		Popu- lation	%		Popu- lation	%		Popu- lation	%		Popu- lation	%		Popu- lation	Area included
1904		3,490	67.3%		1,117	21.6%		445	8.6%		122	2.4%		5,174	South Africa
1911		4,019	67.5%		1,276	21.4%		525	8.8%		152	2.6%		5,972	South Africa
1921		4,697	67.8%		1,521	22.0%		545	7.9%		163	2.4%		6,926	South Africa
1936		6,596	68.8%		2,003	20.9%		769	8.0%		220	2.3%		9,588	South Africa
1946		7,830	68.6%		2,372	20.8%		928	8.1%		285	2.5%		11,415	South Africa
1951		8,560	67.6%		2,642	20.9%		1,103	8.7%		367	2.9%		12,672	South Africa
1960		10,928	68.3%		3,088	19.3%		1,509	9.4%		477	3.0%		16,002	South Africa
1970		11,891	64.9%		3,759	20.5%		2,039	11.1%		630	3.4%		18,319	South Africa - excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda & Ciskei
1970		15,340	70.4%		3,773	17.3%		2,051	9.4%		630	2.9%		21,794	South Africa
1980		13,135	63.9%		4,221	20.5%		2,459	12.0%		748	3.6%		20,563	South Africa - excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana & Venda
1980		16,992	68.0%		4,512	18.1%		2,688	10.8%		803	3.2%		24,995	South Africa - estimate
1985		15,163	64.8%		4,569	19.5%		2,833	12.1%		821	3.51%		23,386	South Africa - excluding Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda & Ciskei
1985		19,052	68.8%		4,837	17.5%		2,396	8.7%		879	3.2%		27,704	South Africa - estimate
Year		Blacks			Whites			Coloureds			Asians			Total	Area included

1996 Census

Source: The People of South Africa: Population Census, 1996^[13]

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	2.1%
2	Western Cape	826,691	821,551	2,146,109	40,376	122,148	3,956,875	9.7%
3	Eastern Cape	5,448,495	330,294	468,532	19,356	35,849	6,302,525	15.5%
4	KwaZulu-Natal	6,880,652	558,182	117,951	790,813	69,423	8,417,021	20.7%
5	Mpumalanga	2,497,834	253,392	20,283	13,083	16,120	2,800,711	6.9%
6	Free State	2,223,940	316,459	79,038	2,805	11,262	2,633,504	6.5%
7	Gauteng	5,147,444	1,702,343	278,692	161,289	58,654	7,348,423	18.1%
8	Northern Province (Limpopo)	4,765,255	117,878	7,821	5,510	32,904	4,929,368	12.1%
9	North West	3,058,686	222,755	46,652	10,097	16,635	3,354,825	8.3%
	South Africa Total	31,127,631	4,434,697	3,600,446	1,045,596	375,204	40,583,573	100%
	Percent	76.7%	10.9%	8.9%	2.6%	0.9%	100%
	Population Group →	Black	White	Coloured	Asian	Other	Total	% of RSA

2001 Census

Source: Statistics South Africa: Census 2001^[14]

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	79.0%
White	304,506	238,791	1,758,398	483,448	126,276	203,244	102,042	244,035	832,901	4,293,640	9.6%
Coloured	478,807	83,193	337,974	141,887	10,163	22,158	424,389	56,959	2,438,976	3,994,505	8.9%
Indian	18,372	3,719	218,015	798,275	8,587	11,244	2,320	9,906	45,030	1,115,467	2.5%
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	100.0%
% of S.A.	14.4%	6.0%	19.7%	21.0%	11.8%	7.0%	1.8%	8.2%	10.1%	100%

2011 Census

Source: Census 2011: Census in Brief^[15]

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	79.2%
Coloured	541,850	83,844	423,594	141,376	14,415	36,611	461,899	71,409	2,840,404	4,615,401	8.9%
White	310,450	239,026	1,913,884	428,842	139,359	303,595	81,246	255,385	915,053	4,586,838	8.9%
Indian/Asian	27,929	10,398	356,574	756,991	17,881	27,917	7,827	20,652	60,761	1,286,930	2.5%
Other	21,595	6,790	84,527	27,170	8,459	9,597	17,903	10,444	93,969	280,454	0.5%
Total	6,562,053	2,745,590	12,272,263	10,267,300	5,404,868	4,039,939	1,145,861	3,509,953	5,822,734	51,770,560	100.0%
% of S.A.	12.7%	5.3%	23.7%	19.8%	10.4%	7.8%	2.2%	7.1%	11.2%	100%

2022 Census

Source: Census 2022 Statistical Release^[16]

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	81.4%
Coloured	547,741	78,141	443,857	183,019	18,409	32,100	563,605	60,720	3,124,757	5,052,349	8.2%
White	403,061	235,915	1,509,800	513,377	167,524	185,731	99,150	171,887	1,217,807	4,504,252	7.3%
Indian	37,568	12,978	329,736	1,157,542	35,958	25,882	10,824	2,654	84,363	1,697,506	2.7%
Other	48,339	4,274	35,890	27,442	7,172	440	2,667	5,894	115,235	247,353	0.4%
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	100.0%
% of S.A.	11.7%	4.8%	24.3%	20.0%	10.6%	8.3%	2.2%	6.1%	12.0%	100%

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
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,[17] 1904[9] 1904-1946,[18][19][20] 1950-2010,[21] 2001, 2011, 2015[22]

Historical and projected population for the years 1 to 2022

UN Age and population estimates: 1950 to 2030

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.^[23] 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	38.2%	57.7%	4.1%
1955	15,207,000	39.5%	56.5%	3.9%
1960	17,100,000	40.8%	55.4%	3.9%
1965	19,385,000	41.9%	54.3%	3.8%
1970	22,070,000	41.6%	54.7%	3.8%
1975	25,195,000	41.2%	55.0%	3.8%
1980	28,557,000	40.9%	55.3%	3.9%
1985	32,679,000	40.8%	55.4%	3.9%
1990	36,801,000	40.1%	55.9%	4.0%
1995	41,436,000	37.3%	58.4%	4.3%
2000	44,968,000	33.9%	61.6%	4.5%
2005	47,881,000	30.9%	64.5%	4.6%
2010	51,217,000	29.7%	65.6%	4.8%
2015	55,386,000	29.3%	65.7%	5.0%
2020	59,309,000	28.8%	65.7%	5.5%
2025	62,803,000	27.4%	66.5%	6.1%
2030	65,956,000	25.8%	67.6%	6.7%

UN population projections: 2019 to 2100

U.N. Population projections

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
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[24]

Vital statistics

Vital statistics

The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Statistics South Africa:^[1]

  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	46,572,861	987,121	621,727	365,394	21.2	13.3	7.8	2.55
2003	47,005,180	975,304	639,556	335,748	20.7	13.6	7.1	2.48
2004	47,504,691	1,049,185	660,576	388,609	22.1	13.9	8.2	2.62
2005	48,060,577	1,113,332	683,422	429,910	23.2	14.2	8.9	2.74
2006	48,642,306	1,146,355	698,831	447,524	23.6	14.4	9.2	2.77
2007	49,264,665	1,170,206	690,859	479,347	23.8	14.0	9.7	2.77
2008	49,935,872	1,196,308	676,658	519,650	24.0	13.6	10.4	2.78
2009	50,653,813	1,197,835	644,046	553,789	23.6	12.7	10.9	2.74
2010	51,405,009	1,182,577	608,869	573,708	23.0	11.8	11.2	2.65
2011	52,217,038	1,194,399	572,658	621,741	22.9	11.0	11.9	2.64
2012	53,068,330	1,199,305	547,027	652,278	22.6	10.3	12.3	2.61
2013	53,940,104	1,195,484	529,404	666,080	22.2	9.8	12.3	2.56
2014	54,829,783	1,192,619	515,742	676,877	21.8	9.4	12.3	2.52
2015	55,710,675	1,177,128	513,781	663,347	21.1	9.2	11.9	2.45
2016	56,543,365	1,129,875	519,496	610,379	20.0	9.2	10.8	2.33
2017	57,366,323	1,119,165	523,259	595,906	19.5	9.1	10.4	2.28
2018	58,233,213	1,155,430	520,337	635,093	19.8	8.9	10.9	2.34
2019	59,131,136	1,184,110	522,734	661,376	20.0	8.8	11.2	2.38
2020	60,002,639	1,215,381	528,117	687,264	20.3	8.8	11.5	2.42
2021	60,641,542	1,223,452	675,121	548,331	20.2	11.1	9.0	2.42
2022	61,356,168	1,223,535	631,623	591,912	19.9	10.3	9.6	2.42
2023	62,180,391	1,222,387	540,620	681,767	19.7	8.7	11.0	2.42
2024	63,015,904	1,224,801	547,360	677,441	19.4	8.7	10.8	2.41

Total fertility rates by province

See also: List of South African provinces by fertility rate

Provinces by average fertility rate, 2001–2026

Province	2021–2026 (est.)
Limpopo	3.03
Eastern Cape	2.87
Northern Cape	2.63
KwaZulu-Natal	2.53
North West (South African province)	2.52
Mpumalanga	2.27
Free State	2.27
Western Cape	2.01
Gauteng	1.82

United Nations Population Estimates

The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.^[23] (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

See also: South African National Census of 2011

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

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

See also: South African National Census of 2011

Age distribution within each racial group

By generation

Age group	All races		Black African		Coloured		White		Indian or other Asian		Others
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
0–14	15,100,089	29.2%	12,702,324	31.0%	1,311,811	28.4%	771,187	16.8%	258,602	20.1%	56,164	20.0%
15–64	33,904,479	65.5%	26,502,329	64.6%	3,085,684	66.9%	3,165,965	68.9%	939,379	73.0%	211,126	75.3%
65-plus	2,765,992	5.3%	1,796,285	4.4%	217,906	4.7%	649,686	14.2%	88,949	6.9%	13,164	4.7%
All ages	51,770,560	100%	41,000,938	100%	4,615,401	100%	4,586,838	100%	1,286,930	100%	280,454	100%
% of SA	100%		79.20%		8.92%		8.86%		2.49%		0.54%

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	30.23%	14,244,663	32.21%	1,288,601	26.66%	789,492	17.41%	289,285	21.24%
15–64	35,465,499	64.53%	28,170,797	63.69%	3,299,771	68.28%	3,026,475	66.75%	968,649	71.12%
65-plus	2,879,378	5.24%	1,812,535	4.10%	244,544	5.06%	718,041	15.84%	104.068	7.64%
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%

By five-year cohorts

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)

Source:^[25]

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%

Demographic and Health Surveys

Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):^[26]

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

Life expectancy at birth from 1950 to 2020 (UN World Population Prospects):^[27]

Life expectancy in South Africa

  Life expectancy in South Africa 1950–2020 (per 5 yr clusters)

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)

^[28]

Ethnic groups

Main article: Ethnic groups in South Africa

Dominant population groups in South Africa.

  African

  Coloured

  Indian or other Asian

  White

  None dominant

  Little or no population

Ethnic groups South Africa (1911)

1. Black African (67%)
2. White (21%)
3. Coloured (9%)
4. Indian (3%)

Racial groups South Africa (2022)

1. Black African (81.4%)
2. White (7.3%)
3. Coloured (8.2%)
4. Indian (2.7%)
5. Other (0.4%)

Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.^[29] 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%.^[30]

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,^[31] 8.9% in 2011 and 7.65% in 2022.^[32]: 21 Coloured South Africans replaced Whites as the largest minority group around 2010.

• Maps of ethnoracial groups of South Africa
• 
  Blacks: 50,486,856 (81.45%)
• 
  Coloureds: 5,052,349 (8.15%)
• 
  Whites: 4,504,252 (7.30%)
• 
  Indians: 1,697,506 (2.74%)

Languages

Main article: Languages of South Africa

South Africa has twelve official languages:^[33] isiZulu^[30] 24.4%, isiXhosa^[30] 16.3%, Afrikaans^[30] 10.6%, English^[30] 8.7%, Sepedi^[30] 10.0%, Setswana^[30] 8.3%, Sesotho^[30] 7.8%, Xitsonga^[30] 4.7%, siSwati^[30] 2.8%, Tshivenda^[30] 2.5%, isiNdebele^[30] 1.7% and South African Sign Language.^[34]

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%).^[3]

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%^[35]

The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe, Fanagalo, Khwe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi and San.^[36] 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.

• Language maps in South Africa
• 
  Zulu language
• 
  Xhosa language
• 
  Afrikaans language
• 
  English language
• 
  Pedi language
• 
  Tswana language
• 
  Sotho language
• 
  Tsonga language
• 
  Swazi language
• 
  Venda language
• 
  Southern Ndebele language

By ethnicity

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.^[37]

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%.^[37]

Religion

Religion in South Africa (2022 census)^[38]

1. Christianity (85.3%)
2. Traditional African religions (7.8%)
3. Islam (1.6%)
4. Hinduism (1.1%)
5. Judaism (0.1%)
6. Atheism (0.1%)
7. Agnosticism (0.1%)
8. Other (1%)
9. No religious affiliation (2.9%)

According to the 2022 national census, Christians accounted for 85.3% of the population.^[3] 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.^[39] 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.^[39][40]

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.^[41]

By ethnicity

86.0% of black residents are Christian, 3.0% have no religion, 0.3% are Muslim, 0.0% are Jewish, 0.0% are Hindu, 9.5% Traditional African and 1.2% have other or undetermined beliefs (2022 Census).

90.1% of white residents are Christian, 4.9% have no religion, 0.3% are Muslim, 0.7% are Jewish, and 0.1% are Hindu. 3.9% have other or undetermined beliefs (2022 Census).

Other demographic statistics

Demographics development according to the United Nations

The following demographics are from the CIA World Factbook^[42] unless otherwise indicated.

Population

57,516,665 (2022 est.)

55,380,210 (July 2018 est.)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Total fertility rate

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

0.93% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 103rd

0.97% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 114th

Median age

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

54.6% (2016)

Net migration rate

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

Dependency ratios

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.)

Urbanization

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

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

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

Ethnic groups

Black African 80.9%, coloured 8.8%, white 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)

Languages

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

6.8% of GDP (2020) Country comparison to the world: 22nd

6.1% of GDP (2017) Country comparison to the world: 34th

Literacy

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)

Total: 14 years

Male: 13 years

Female: 14 years (2019)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

Total: 59.4%

Male: 55.4%

Female: 64.1% (2020 est.)

Immigration

Main article: Immigration to South Africa

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.^[43] 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).^[43] These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.^[43] 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.^[44] Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.^{[45][46][47][48]}

Immigration figures

Main countries of immigration in South Africa according to the 2011 Census and 2022 Census:

Source: 2022 South African census[49]
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.^[50]

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

Urbanisation

Main article: List of municipalities in South Africa

See also: Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)

"Urban areas contain about two-thirds of the population; many of these consist of huge informal or squatter settlements."^[51]

Graphs and maps

• 
  Population pyramid by population group, 2011
• 
  Black population
• 
  White population
• 
  Coloured population
• 
  Indian population

See also

• Statistics South Africa
• South African National Census of 2001
• South African National Census of 2011
• Afrikaans-speaking population of South Africa
• Jewish population of South Africa
• Ethnic groups in South Africa by municipality