South Africa population
South Africa: 64.7 million people in 2025 (64,747,319), 24th of 217 countries and areas — and 79.2 million projected for 2050.
Compare South Africa with another country
Where it stands
In 2025 South Africa has 64,747,319 people, which is 0.79% of the 8.19 billion counted across the 217 countries and areas on this site. That puts it 24th by population, behind France and ahead of Italy.
Since 1960
In 1960 the figure was 16,440,172. Since then the population has grown 3.94×, an average of 2.13% a year upward. It doubled at some point along the way — the year it first reached 32,880,344 was 1984.
The projection keeps rising to the end of the data: 79,177,328 in 2050, 22.3% above 2025. The highest figure on this page is that last one, so no peak has been reached yet.
The ranking in 2050
In 2050 the projected rank is 23rd, up 1 place from 24th. Rankings move when other countries grow faster or slower, not only when South Africa changes.
People and land
South Africa covers 1,213,090 km² of land, so 2025 density is 53 people per km² — 151st most crowded of 216 places with an area figure. At that density a square 10 km on a side holds about 5,337 people.
The fertility rate was 2.21 births per woman in 2024, above replacement level but falling in most countries; life expectancy at birth was 66.3 years (2024); 25.7% of people were under 15 and 6.9% were 65 or older (2025); 64% of the population lived in cities. These shape the curve above: a young population keeps growing after fertility falls, an old one starts shrinking sooner.
Its nearest neighbours in the ranking are France just above, with 68.7 million (1.06× as many), and Italy just below, with 58.9 million (1.1× as many as Italy has).
How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.