South Africa Population
Sub-Saharan Africa · 24th most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
65,667,350
The population of South Africa is about 65,667,350 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 65.5 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.79% of the world's people.
South Africa is the 24th most populous of 217 countries and territories. The population is still growing, by about 1.09% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 79.2 million. That is 4.0 times its 1960 population of 16.4 million. Population density is 54 people per square kilometre. 64% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
65.5 million
Yearly change
+1.09%
World rank
24th
Share of world
0.79%
Density
54/km²
Land area
1,213,090 km²
Life expectancy
66.3 yrs
Births per woman
2.21
GDP per capita
$6,598
GDP
$427.2B
Population of South Africa, 1960–2050
South Africa population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | — | 14 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | +3.08% | 18 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | +3.09% | 24 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | +2.82% | 34 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | +0.92% | 39 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | +1.19% | 43 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | +1.64% | 50 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | +1.26% | 53 |
| 2026proj. | 65,453,084 | +1.09% | 54 |
| 2030proj. | 68,161,359 | +0.97% | 56 |
| 2040proj. | 74,035,624 | +0.73% | 61 |
| 2050proj. | 79,177,328 | +0.61% | 65 |
South Africa vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 2.7 times as many people as South Africa. Bangladesh is 25.3 times more densely populated.
South Africa population: questions and answers
What is the population of South Africa in 2026?
About 65,453,084 (65.5 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is South Africa's population growing?
Yes, by about 1.09% a year (2026).
What is the population density of South Africa?
About 54 people per km², with a land area of 1,213,090 km².
What will the population of South Africa be in 2050?
About 79.2 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of South Africa?
Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Pretoria.
What is the life expectancy in South Africa?
66.3 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.