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Demographics of South Africa

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Demographics of South Africa
South Africa population pyramid in 2020
Population62 million (2022 Census)[1][2]
Density48.1/km2 (125/sq mi)
Growth rate1.06%[2]: 26 
Birth rate19.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)[2]: 21 
Death rate11.0 deaths/1,000 population (2022)[2]: 21 
Life expectancy64.7 years (2019 est.)[citation needed]
 • male64.8 years (2022 est.)[2]: 15 
 • female71.3 years (2022 est.)[2]: 15 
Fertility rate2.34 children born/woman (2022 est.)[2]: 15 
Infant mortality rate24.3 deaths/1,000 (2022 est.)[2]: 21 
Age structure
0–14 years28.8% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
15–64 years65.2% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
65 and over6% (2019 est.)[citation needed]
Sex ratio
Total0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)[citation needed]
At birth1.02 male(s)/female[citation needed]
Under 151 male(s)/female[citation needed]
15–64 years1.02 male(s)/female[citation needed]
65 and over0.68 male(s)/female[citation needed]
Nationality
NationalitySouth African
Language
OfficialSee Languages of South Africa
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.[3]

In 2011, Statistics South Africa counted 2.1 million foreigners in total.[4] Reports[specify] suggest that is an underestimation. The real figure may be as high as five million,[5] including some three million Zimbabweans.[6]

History

Historical population of South Africa
Further information: History of South Africa

Population

Earlier Censuses, 1904 to 2011

1904 Census

South African population figures for the 1904 Census.[7]

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;[8] Europa Year Book 1969[9]

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% 100.0%

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.[10]

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 67.3% 1,117 21.6% 445 8.6% 122 2.4% 5,174 South Africa
1911 3,490 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[11]

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[12]

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/Asian 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[13]

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 3,669,349 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%
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1100,000—    
1000300,000+0.11%
1500600,000+0.14%
1600700,000+0.15%
17001,000,000+0.36%
18201,550,000+0.37%
18702,547,000+1.00%
19045,175,463+2.11%
19115,972,757+2.07%
19136,153,000+1.50%
19216,927,403+1.49%
19369,587,863+2.19%
194611,415,925+1.76%
195013,683,162+4.63%
195515,384,557+2.37%
196017,396,367+2.49%
197022,502,502+2.61%
198029,077,143+2.60%
199036,793,490+2.38%
199541,426,810+2.40%
200144,819,777+1.32%
200748,502,063+1.32%
201151,770,560+1.64%
201655,653,654+1.46%
202262,027,503+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,[14] 1904[7] 1904-1946,[15][16][17] 1950-2010,[18] 2001, 2011, 2015[19]


Historical and projected population for the years 1 to 2100

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.[20] All population estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Year Total population Percentage
under 15
years old 		Percentage
15 to 64
years old 		Percentage
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
YearPop.±% p.a.
201958,558,000—    
203065,956,000+1.09%
205075,518,000+0.68%
210079,191,000+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[21]

[22][failed verification]

Vital statistics

Statistics South Africa: From 2002 to present

The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Statistics South Africa:[23]

  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

The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[20] (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

See also: South African National Census of 2011

Age distribution within each racial group

By generation
Age group All races % of All Black African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or other Asian % of Asians Others % of 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 % of All Black % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or other Asian % of Asians
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 % of All Black African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or Asian % of Asians
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 % of age grp Coloured % of age grp White % of age grp Indian or Asian % of age grp
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:[24]

Age group All races % of All Black African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or other Asian % of Asians
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 % of All Black African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or Asian % of Asians
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 % of age grp Coloured % of age grp White % of age grp Indian or Asian % of age grp
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)

Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):[25]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
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):[26]

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 Increase 51.3
1960–1965 Increase 53.0
1965–1970 Increase 54.8
1970–1975 Increase 56.7
1975–1980 Increase 57.3
1980–1985 Increase 58.4
1985–1990 Increase 61.0
1990–1995 Increase 62.3
1995–2000 Decrease 59.2
2000–2005 Decrease 53.8
2005–2010 Decrease 53.1
2010–2015 Increase 59.5
2015–2020 Increase 63.7
  Life expectancy in South Africa 1950–2021 (per 5 yr clusters)
[27]

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)

  Black African (67%)
  White (21%)
  Coloured (9%)
  Asian (3%)

Ethnic groups South Africa (2004)

  Black African (79%)
  White (10%)
  Coloured (9%)
  Asian (2%)

Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.[28] The 2011 census figures for these groups were Black African at 80.2%, White at 8.4%, Coloured at 8.8%, Indian/Asian at 2.5%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.[29]

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,[30] 8.9% in 2011 and 7.65% in 2022.[31]: 21  Coloured South Africans replaced Whites as the largest minority group around 2010.

Languages

Main article: Languages of South Africa

South Africa has twelve official languages:[32] isiZulu[29] 22.7%, isiXhosa[29] 16%, Afrikaans[29] 13.5%, English[29] 9.6%, Sepedi[29] 9.1%, Setswana[29] 8%, Sesotho[29] 7.6%, Xitsonga[29] 4.5%, siSwati[29] 2.5%, Tshivenda[29] 2.4%, isiNdebele[29] 2.1% and South African Sign Language.[33]

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]

The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe, Fanagalo, Khwe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi, San and South African Sign Language.[34] 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.

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.[35]

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%.[35]

Religion

Religion in South Africa (2016)[36]

  Protestantism (71.2%)
  No religion (10.9%)
  Roman Catholicism (6.8%)
  Traditional African religion (4.4%)
  Islam (1.6%)
  Hinduism (1.0%)
  Judaism (0.1%)
  Other religions (2.7%)
  Undetermined (1.4%)

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.[37] 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[37][38]

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.[39]

By ethnicity

87.9% of Black residents are Christian, 9.5% have no religion, 0.2% are Muslim, 0.0% 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

Demographics development according to the United Nations

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.[40]

  • 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[41] 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%, 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

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.[42] 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).[42] These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.[42] 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.[43] Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.[44][45][46][47]

Immigration figures

Immigration assumptions by Statistics South Africa to South Africa based on race. Negative numbers represent net migration from South Africa to other countries.[48]

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

Urbanization

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."[49]

Graphs and maps

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

See also

References

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  41. ^ "The World FactBook - South Africa", The World Factbook, 2022Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  42. ^ a b c "World Refugee Survey 2008". U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. 19 June 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007.
  43. ^ "P03022009_6". Statssa.gov.za. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  44. ^ "So where are Zimbabweans going?". 8 November 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  45. ^ Slabbert, Antoinette (1 June 2009). "SA het baie meer mense as geraam" [SA population may be much larger than previously thought]. sake24.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  46. ^ "South African Department of Home Affairs". Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  47. ^ South African Police Service 2009 Annual Report Archived 25 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine page 9 indicating the number exceeds 3 million
  48. ^ "Mid-year population estimates 2022" (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  49. ^ "South Africa: Settlement Patterns". Britannica.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.

Further reading

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