Demographics of South Africa
The population of South Africa is about 58.8 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The 2011 South African census was the last held and the next will be in 2021.
In 2011, Statistics South Africa counted 2.1 million foreigners in total. However, reports suggest that is an underestimation. The real figure may be as high as five million, including some three million Zimbabweans.
Population
Censuses
1904 Census
South African Population Figures for the 1904 Census. Source:| Cape Colony | Natal | Transvaal | Orange River Colony | Total | Percent | |
| African | 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; Europa Year Book 1969| Cape of Good Hope | Natal | Transvaal | Orange Free State | Total | Percent | |
| African | 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% |
1996 Census
Source: The People of South Africa: Population Census, 1996| Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | KwaZulu-Natal | Mpumalanga | Northern Cape | Northern Province | North West | Western Cape | Total | Percent | |
| African | 5,448,495 | 2,223,940 | 5,147,444 | 6,880,652 | 2,497,834 | 278,633 | 4,765,255 | 3,058,686 | 826,691 | 31,127,631 | 76.7% |
| White | 330,294 | 316,459 | 1,702,343 | 558,182 | 253,392 | 111,844 | 117,878 | 222,755 | 821,551 | 4,434,697 | 10.9% |
| Coloured | 468,532 | 79,038 | 278,692 | 117,951 | 20,283 | 435,368 | 7,821 | 46,652 | 2,146,109 | 3,600,446 | 8.9% |
| Indian/Asian | 19,356 | 2,805 | 161,289 | 790,813 | 13,083 | 2,268 | 5,510 | 10,097 | 40,376 | 1,045,596 | 2.6% |
| Other | 35,849 | 11,262 | 58,654 | 69,423 | 16,120 | 12,208 | 32,904 | 16,635 | 122,148 | 375 204 | 0.9% |
| Total | 6,302,525 | 2,633,504 | 7,348,423 | 8,417,021 | 2,800,711 | 840,321 | 4,929,368 | 3,354,825 | 3,956,875 | 40,583,573 | 100.0% |
| % of S.A. | 15.5% | 6.5% | 18.1% | 20.7% | 6.9% | 2.1% | 12.1% | 8.3% | 9.7% | 100% |
2001 Census
Source: Statistics South Africa: Census 2001| Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | KwaZulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | Northern Cape | North West | Western Cape | Total | Percent | |
| African | 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| Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | KwaZulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | Northern Cape | North West | Western Cape | Total | Percent | |
| African | 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% |
UN population projections: 2019 to 2100
Age and population estimates: 1950 to 2015
According to the 2010 revision of the United Nations Secretariat's World Population Prospects, South Africa's total population was 50,133,000 in 2010, compared to only 13,683,000 in 1950. In 2010, 30.1% of the people were children under the age of 15, 65.2% were between 15 and 64 years of age, and 4.6% were 65 or older. 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 | 13,683,000 | 38.6 | 57.8 | 3.6 |
| 1955 | 15,385,000 | 39.9 | 56.4 | 3.8 |
| 1960 | 17,396,000 | 40.9 | 55.2 | 3.9 |
| 1965 | 19,814,000 | 41.9 | 54.2 | 3.9 |
| 1970 | 22,502,000 | 42.1 | 54.5 | 3.4 |
| 1975 | 25,699,000 | 41.9 | 54.9 | 3.2 |
| 1980 | 29,077,000 | 41.5 | 55.3 | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 32,983,000 | 40.5 | 56.4 | 3.1 |
| 1990 | 36,794,000 | 38.9 | 57.9 | 3.2 |
| 1995 | 41,402,000 | 36.0 | 60.6 | 3.4 |
| 2000 | 44,760,000 | 33.7 | 62.6 | 3.7 |
| 2005 | 47,793,000 | 31.7 | 64.2 | 4.1 |
| 2010 | 50,133,000 | 30.1 | 65.2 | 4.6 |
| 2015 | 54,490,000 | 29.2 | 63.0 | 7.7 |
Vital statistics
Stats SA: From 2002 to present
The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Stats SA:| Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate | Crude death rate | Natural change | Total fertility rates | |
| 2002 | 46,355,083 | 985,592 | 581,147 | 404,445 | 21.2 | 12.5 | 8.7 | 2.45 |
| 2003 | 46,806,354 | 992,466 | 619,789 | 372,677 | 21.1 | 13.2 | 7.9 | 2.42 |
| 2004 | 47,310,050 | 1,058,035 | 648,774 | 409,261 | 22.3 | 13.7 | 8.6 | 2.54 |
| 2005 | 47,860,360 | 1,101,649 | 661,940 | 439,709 | 23.0 | 13.8 | 9.2 | 2.59 |
| 2006 | 48,446,414 | 1,136,560 | 671,812 | 464,748 | 23.4 | 13.8 | 9.6 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 49,088,699 | 1,170,768 | 660,794 | 509,974 | 23.8 | 13.4 | 10.4 | 2.65 |
| 2008 | 49,794,560 | 1,196,587 | 634,042 | 562,545 | 24.0 | 12.7 | 11.3 | 2.66 |
| 2009 | 50,544,931 | 1,203,938 | 602,288 | 601,650 | 23.8 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 2.62 |
| 2010 | 51,328,662 | 1,204,340 | 574,718 | 629,622 | 23.4 | 11.2 | 12.2 | 2.58 |
| 2011 | 52,129,117 | 1,192,472 | 551,597 | 640,875 | 22.8 | 10.6 | 12.2 | 2.51 |
| 2012 | 52,930,356 | 1,184,855 | 550,702 | 634,153 | 22.3 | 10.4 | 11.9 | 2.46 |
| 2013 | 53,751,095 | 1,180,634 | 535,958 | 644,676 | 21.9 | 9.9 | 12.0 | 2.42 |
| 2014 | 54,574,401 | 1,178,657 | 538,866 | 639,791 | 21.5 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 2.39 |
| 2015 | 55,406,634 | 1,177,000 | 532,761 | 644,239 | 21.2 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 2.37 |
| 2016 | 56,252,336 | 1,179,465 | 526,226 | 653,239 | 20.9 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 2.36 |
| 2017 | 57,097,857 | 1,178,754 | 530,210 | 648,544 | 20.6 | 9.3 | 11.3 | 2.34 |
| 2018 | 57,939,226 | 1,175,282 | 535,401 | 642,881 | 20.2 | 9.2 | 11.0 | 2.33 |
| 2019 | 58,775,022 | 1,171,219 | 541,493 | 629,726 | 19.9 | 9.2 | 10.7 | 2.32 |
United Nations estimates, 2010
The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.Age and sex distribution
| Age group | Male | Female percent | Female | Total | Percentage 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 group | Population | Male | Female | Percent |
| 0–14 | 15,812,268 | 7,969,880 | 7,842,388 | 31.26 |
| 15–64 | 32,235,534 | 15,538,934 | 16,696,600 | 63.72 |
| 65+ | 2,538,955 | 1,006,222 | 1,532,733 | 5.02 |
Age and race distribution
Age distribution within each racial group
By generation
By five-year cohorts
Racial composition of each age group in 2015 (estimates)
| 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 | 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 | ' | 4,832,916 | ' | 4,534,008 | ' | 1,362,002 | ' |
| % of SA | 100% | 80.48% | 8.79% | 8.25% | 2.48% |
| 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 | ' | 4,832,916 | ' | 4,534,008 | ' | 1,362,002 | ' |
| % 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)http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0302/P03022020.pdf
| 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 | ' | 5,247,740 | ' | 4,679,770 | ' | 1,541,113 | ' |
| % 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 | ' | 5,247,740 | ' | 4,679,770 | ' | 1,541,113 | ' |
| % 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 and CBR :| Year | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR |
| 1998 | 21.90 | 2.90 | 19.2 | 2.25 | 25.4 | 3.92 |
| 2016 | 22.3 | 2.6 | 21.9 | 2.4 | 23.1 | 3.1 |
Fertility rate by ethnic group.
| Year | Total | Black African | White | Coloured | Indian/Asian |
| 1998 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.5 | |
| 2016 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 1.7 |
Life expectancy
Life expectancy from 1950 to 2020 :| Period | Life expectancy |
| 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 |
Ethnic groups
asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups. 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%.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, and 8.9% in 2011.
Languages
South Africa has eleven official languages: IsiZulu 22.7%, IsiXhosa 16%, Afrikaans 13.5%, English 9.6%, Sepedi 9.1%, Setswana 8%, Sesotho 7.6%, Xitsonga 4.5%, siSwati 2.5%, Tshivenda 2.4% and isiNdebele 2.1%.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 2011 census, the three most spoken first languages are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans. Despite the fact that English is recognised as the language of commerce and science, it ranked fourth, and was spoken by only 9.6% of South Africans as a first language in 2011.
The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe, Fanagalo, Khoe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi, San and South African Sign Language. 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, German, and Greek, while some Indians and other Asians in South Africa speak South Asian languages, such as Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu and Telugu. Although many South Africans are of Huguenot 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 african residents, Xhosa for 19.8%, Northern Sotho for 11.2%, Tswana for 9.7%, Sesotho for 9.3%, Tsonga for 5.5%, Swati 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.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%.
Religion
According to the 2001 national census, Christians accounted for 79.7% of the population. This includes Protestant, Zionist Christian, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Dutch Reformed, Anglican ; 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%.African Indigenous Churches made up the largest of the Christian groups. Some believe that many people claiming no affiliation with any organised religion adhered to traditional indigenous religions. Many people have syncretic religious practices combining Christian and indigenous influences.
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. 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
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, Bahá'í Faith and Judaism.
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
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.- One birth every 27 seconds
- One death every 58 seconds
- One net migrant every 9 minutes
- Net gain of one person every 47 seconds
Population
Age structure
Median age
Birth rate
Death rate
[Total fertility rate]
Population growth rate
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Net migration rate
[Dependency ratio]s
Urbanization
Life expectancy at birth
Languages
Education expenditures
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and writeSchool life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
Immigration
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. Groups of refugees and asylum seekers numbering over 10,000 included people from Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia. These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. 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. Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.
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.| Year | African | Asian | White |
| 1985-2000 | 1 135 275 | 14 476 | -304 112 |
| 2001-2005 | 769 038 | 23 335 | -133 782 |
| 2006-2010 | 922 885 | 34 688 | -112 046 |
| 2011-2015 | 1 067 936 | 40 929 | -95 158 |