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South Africa population, 1950 to 2100

South Africa had about 63.2 million people in 2023. The UN projects 79.2 million by 2050 and 94.3 million by 2100, with no peak before then.

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What the data shows

  • South Africa: 13.0M in 1950, 94.3M in 2100 (projected) (7.2× higher). The latest estimate is 63.2M in 2023.

About this chart

South Africa's population has grown from about 13.0 million in 1950 to 25.7 million in 1975, 47.2 million in 2000 and 63.2 million in 2023, according to UN estimates. Its world rank barely changed across that period, 31st in 1950 and 24th in 2023, as other countries grew at a similar pace.

The UN's medium projection keeps the total rising but at a slower pace: about 68.2 million in 2030, 79.2 million in 2050, 88.3 million in 2075 and 94.3 million in 2100. The final year is the highest on the chart. South Africa's projected rank holds near the same place, 23rd in 2050 and 25th in 2100. Data are from UN World Population Prospects 2024.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

South Africa's population, Millions of people, 1950 to 2100 (UN projections), 1950–2100
Date🇿🇦 South Africa
195013.0M
195113.3M
195213.6M
195313.9M
195414.2M
195514.5M
195614.9M
195715.2M
195815.6M
195916.0M
196016.4M
196116.9M
196217.4M
196318.0M
196418.5M
196519.1M
196619.7M
196720.3M
196821.0M
196921.6M
197022.3M
197122.9M
197223.6M
197324.3M
197425.0M
197525.7M
197626.4M
197727.1M
197827.9M
197928.6M
198029.5M
198130.5M
198231.6M
198332.7M
198433.9M
198535.0M
198636.2M
198737.3M
198838.5M
198939.6M
199040.8M
199141.7M
199242.4M
199343.3M
199444.0M
199544.5M
199645.1M
199745.7M
199846.2M
199946.7M
200047.2M
200147.6M
200248.0M
200348.5M
200449.0M
200549.5M
200650.0M
200750.5M
200851.1M
200951.7M
201052.3M
201153.0M
201253.8M
201354.7M
201455.6M
201556.7M
201657.3M
201757.6M
201858.6M
201959.6M
202060.6M
202161.5M
202262.4M
202363.2M
202464.0M
202564.8M
202665.5M
202766.1M
202866.8M
202967.5M
203068.2M
203168.8M
203269.4M
203370.0M
203470.6M
203571.2M
203671.8M
203772.4M
203873.0M
203973.5M
204074.0M
204174.6M
204275.1M
204375.6M
204476.2M
204576.7M
204677.2M
204777.7M
204878.2M
204978.7M
205079.2M
205179.7M
205280.1M
205380.6M
205481.0M
205581.4M
205681.8M
205782.3M
205882.7M
205983.1M
206083.4M
206183.8M
206284.2M
206384.6M
206484.9M
206585.3M
206685.6M
206785.9M
206886.2M
206986.5M
207086.9M
207187.2M
207287.5M
207387.8M
207488.1M
207588.3M
207688.6M
207788.9M
207889.1M
207989.4M
208089.7M
208189.9M
208290.2M
208390.5M
208490.7M
208591.0M
208691.2M
208791.4M
208891.7M
208991.9M
209092.2M
209192.4M
209292.6M
209392.9M
209493.1M
209593.3M
209693.5M
209793.7M
209893.9M
209994.1M
210094.3M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the population of South Africa?

South Africa's population was about 63.2 million in 2023, the latest UN estimate. That ranked it 24th in the world. Years after 2023 are projections.

Will South Africa's population keep growing?

Yes, in the UN's medium projection. It reaches about 79.2 million in 2050 and about 94.3 million in 2100, with growth slowing along the way. South Africa is projected to stay near 23rd to 25th in the world.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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