Demographics of South Africa

The population of South Africa is about 58.8 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions.[1][2] The 2011 South African census was the most recent held and the next will be in 2021.[4]

Demographics of South Africa
South Africa population pyramid in 2020
Population58,775,022 (2019 est.)[1]
Density48.1/km2
Growth rate1.43%[2]
Birth rate21 births/1,000 population (2018)[3]
Death rate9 deaths/1,000 population (2018)[3]
Life expectancy64.7 years (2019 est.)
 • male61.5 years (2019 est.)
 • female67.5 years (2019 est.)
Fertility rate2.32 children born/woman (2019 est.)
Infant mortality rate22.1 deaths/1,000 (2019 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years28.8% (2019 est.)
15–64 years65.2% (2019 est.)
65 and over6% (2019 est.)
Sex ratio
Total0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
At birth1.02 male(s)/female
Under 151 male(s)/female
15–64 years1.02 male(s)/female
65 and over0.68 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalitySouth African
Language
OfficialSee Languages of South Africa
Population density in South Africa (darker color = higher density)

In 2011, Statistics South Africa counted 2.1 million foreigners in total.[5] However, reports suggest that is an underestimation. The real figure may be as high as five million,[6] including some three million Zimbabweans.[7]

Population

1904 Census

South African Population Figures for the 1904 Census. Source:[8]

Colony
Pop. Group
 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;[9] Europa Year Book 1969[10]

Province
Pop. Group
 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[11]

Province
Pop. Group
 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[12]

Province
Pop. Group
 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[13]

Province
Pop. Group
 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%
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%
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[8] 1904-1946,[15][16][17] 1950-2010,[18] 2001, 2011, 2015[19]

UN population projections: 2019 to 2100
Population projections
YearPop.±% p.a.
201958,558,000—    
203065,956,000+1.09%
205075,518,000+0.68%
210079,191,000+0.10%
Source: United Nations Secretariat[20]

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.[21] 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 13,683,00038.657.83.6
1955 15,385,00039.956.43.8
1960 17,396,00040.955.23.9
1965 19,814,00041.954.23.9
1970 22,502,00042.154.53.4
1975 25,699,00041.954.93.2
1980 29,077,00041.555.33.1
1985 32,983,00040.556.43.1
1990 36,794,00038.957.93.2
1995 41,402,00036.060.63.4
2000 44,760,00033.762.63.7
2005 47,793,00031.764.24.1
2010 50,133,00030.165.24.6
2015 54,490,00029.263.07.7

Vital statistics

Stats SA: From 2002 to present

The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Stats SA:[22]

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 46,355,083 985,592 581,147 404,445 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 1,177,790 538,866 639,791 21.5 9.8 11.7 2.39
2015 55,406,634 1,184,554 532,761 644,239 21.2 9.6 11.6 2.38
2016 56,252,336 1,186,863 526,226 653,239 20.9 9.3 11.6 2.37
2017 57,097,857 1,185,832 530,210 648,544 20.6 9.3 11.3 2.36
2018 57,939,226 1,182,200 535,401 642,881 20.2 9.2 11.0 2.35
2019 58,775,022 1,178,178 541,493 629,726 19.9 9.2 10.7 2.34
2020 59,622,350 1,174,320 515,804 658,516 19.7 8.7 11 2.33

United Nations estimates, 2010

The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[21] (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)
1950–1955629,000295,000+,334,00043.320.3+ 23.06.5096
1955–1960697,000297,000+,400,00042.518.1+ 24.46.5091
1960–1965774,000310,000+,464,00041.616.7+ 25.06.3087
1965–1970808,000312,000+,496,00038.214.7+ 23.55.7084
1970–1975909,000317,000+,592,00037.713.1+ 24.65.4777
1975–1980980,000319,000+,661,00035.811.7+ 24.15.0071
1980–19851,052,000307,000+,745,00033.9 9.9+ 24.04.5661
1985–19901,086,000299,000+,787,00031.1 8.6+ 22.54.0053
1990–19951,073,000332,000+,742,00027.5 8.5+ 19.03.3451
1995–20001,082,000450,000+,632,00025.110.4+ 14.72.9556
2000–20051,111,000645,000+,466,00024.013.9+ 10.12.8059
2005–20101,074,000746,000+,328,00021.915.2+  6.72.5555
2010–201521.012.5+  8.52.4055
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 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
See also: South African National Census of 2011
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 15,100,08929.2% 12,702,32431.0% 1,311,81128.4% 771,18716.8% 258,60220.1% 56,16420.0%
15–64 33,904,47965.5% 26,502,32964.6% 3,085,68466.9% 3,165,96568.9% 939,37973.0% 211,12675.3%
65-plus 2,765,9925.3% 1,796,2854.4% 217,9064.7% 649,68614.2% 88,9496.9% 13,1644.7%
All ages51,770,560100% 41,000,938(100%) 4,615,401(100%) 4,586,838(100%) 1,286,930(100%) 280,454(100%)
% of SA100% 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 African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col'd White % of Whites Indian or other Asian % of Asians
0–14 16,612,04330.23% 14,244,66332.21% 1,288,60126.66% 789,49217.41% 289,28521.24%
15–64 35,465,49964.53% 28,170,79763.69% 3,299,77168.28% 3,026,47566.75% 968,64971.12%
65-plus 2,879,3785.24% 1,812,5354.10% 244,5445.06% 718,04115.84% 104.0687.64%
All ages54,956,920100% 44,227,995(100%) 4,832,916(100%) 4,534,008(100%) 1,362,002(100%)
% of SA100% 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 5,936,35010.80% 5,156,50811.66% 426,1568.82% 254,9785.62% 98,7087.25%
5 to 9 5,537,22510.08% 4,746,11510.73% 430,6668.91% 263,3785.81% 97,0657.13%
10 to 14 5,138,4689.35% 4,342,0409.82% 431,7798.93% 271,1365.98% 93,5126.87%
15 to 19 5,124,3739.32% 4,292,2209.70% 437,4129.05% 295,7336.52% 99,0077.27%
20 to 24 5,302,2469.65% 4,461,51510.09% 426,0138.81% 306,4156.76% 108,3047.95%
25 to 29 5,232,2549.52% 4,437,57010.03% 389,4298.06% 287,4856.34% 117,7718.65%
30 to 34 4,307,6937.84% 3,535,1737.99% 366,9557.59% 281,3586.21% 124,2069.12%
35 to 39 3,774,9216.87% 3,001,9896.79% 376,4887.79% 279,4396.16% 117,0058.59%
40 to 44 3,204,9525.83% 2,444,9725.53% 368,8867.63% 288,3706.36% 102,7257.54%
45 to 49 2,738,5804.98% 2,004,0094.53% 307,3636.36% 335,4347.40% 91,7746.74%
50 to 54 2,297,5864.18% 1,619,2493.66% 264,5935.47% 332,9777.34% 80,7675.93%
55 to 59 1,942,9423.54% 1,334,8003.02% 209,9334.34% 328,9997.26% 69,2105.08%
60 to 64 1,539,9532.80% 1,039,3012.35% 152,6983.16% 290,0756.40% 57,8794.25%
65 to 69 1,153,1592.10% 737,5811.67% 105,4032.18% 265,8185.86% 44,3573.26%
70 to 74 805,1141.46% 511,7231.16% 65,4651.35% 198,8764.39% 28,9492.13%
75 to 79 502,0050.91% 313,8000.71% 41,9780.87% 128,6752.84% 17,5521.29%
80-plus 419,1000.76% 249,4310.56% 31,6980.66% 124,6722.75% 13,2100.97%
All ages54,956,920100% 44,227,995(100%) 4,832,916(100%) 4,534,008(100%) 1,362,002(100%)
% of SA100% 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 5,156,50886.86% 426,1567.18% 254,9784.30% 98,7081.66%
5 to 9 5,537,225 4,746,11585.71% 430,6667.78% 263,3784.76% 97,0651.75%
10 to 14 5,138,468 4,342,04084.50% 431,7798.40% 271,1365.28% 93,5121.82%
15 to 19 5,124,373 4,292,22083.76% 437,4128.54% 295,7335.77% 99,0071.93%
20 to 24 5,302,246 4,461,51584.14% 426,0138.03% 306,4155.78% 108,3042.04%
25 to 29 5,232,254 4,437,57084.81% 389,4297.44% 287,4855.49% 117,7712.25%
30 to 34 4,307,693 3,535,17382.07% 366,9558.52% 281,3586.53% 124,2062.88%
35 to 39 3,774,921 3,001,98979.52% 376,4889.97% 279,4397.40% 117,0053.10%
40 to 44 3,204,952 2,444,97276.29% 368,88611.51% 288,3709.00% 102,7253.21%
45 to 49 2,738,580 2,004,00973.18% 307,36311.22% 335,43412.25% 91,7743.35%
50 to 54 2,297,586 1,619,24970.48% 264,59311.52% 332,97714.49% 80,7673.52%
55 to 59 1,942,942 1,334,80068.70% 209,93310.80% 328,99916.93% 69,2103.56%
60 to 64 1,539,953 1,039,30167.49% 152,6989.92% 290,07518.84% 57,8793.76%
65 to 69 1,153,159 737,58163.96% 105,4039.14% 265,81823.05% 44,3573.85%
70 to 74 805,114 511,72363.56% 65,4658.13% 198,87624.70% 28,9493.60%
75 to 79 502,005 313,80062.51% 41,9788.36% 128,67525.63% 17,5523.50%
80-plus 419,100 249,43159.52% 31,6987.56% 124,67229.75% 13,2103.15%
All ages54,956,920 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)[23]
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 17,050,95528.60% 14,605,41630.33% 1,408,55326.84% 742,91315.87% 294,07319.08%
15–64 38,941,22165.31% 31,368,17465.14% 3,487,28466.45% 2,988,63463.86% 1,097,12971.19%
65-plus 3,630,1746.09% 2,180,1374.53% 351,9036.71% 948,22320.26% 149,9119.73%
All ages59,622,350100% 48,153,727(100%) 5,247,740(100%) 4,679,770(100%) 1,541,113(100%)
% of SA100% 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 5,743,4509.63% 4,940,75110.26% 476,3229.08% 226,7154.84% 99,6626.47%
5 to 9 5,715,9529.59% 4,890,89510.16% 475,5189.06% 249,9915.34% 99,5486.46%
10 to 14 5,591,5539.38% 4,773,7709.91% 456,7138.70% 266,2075.69% 94,8636.16%
15 to 19 4,774,5798.01% 4,031,7048.37% 411,0567.83% 243,2675.20% 88,5525.75%
20 to 24 4,823,3678.09% 4,043,4328.40% 423,1808.06% 254,4655.44% 102,2906.64%
25 to 29 5,420,7549.09% 4,586,7809.53% 435,7468.30% 267,6545.72% 130,5748.47%
30 to 34 5,641,7509.46% 4,769,4999.90% 431,2748.22% 296,1606.33% 144,8179.40%
35 to 39 4,798,2938.05% 3,962,7808.23% 381,8587.28% 308,9596.60% 144,6969.39%
40 to 44 3,733,9426.26% 2,988,9996.21% 316,6116.03% 306,4146.55% 121,9187.91%
45 to 49 3,169,6485.32% 2,393,3174.97% 312,6655.96% 352,6487.54% 111,0187.20%
50 to 54 2,571,2634.31% 1,834,1913.81% 302,2245.76% 337,8397.22% 97,0096.29%
55 to 59 2,211,3093.71% 1,546,6743.21% 264,9675.05% 314,4236.72% 85,2455.53%
60 to 64 1,796,3163.01% 1,210,7982.51% 207,7033.96% 306,8056.56% 71,0104.61%
65 to 69 1,408,6652.36% 918,6041.91% 150,9412.88% 281,3186.01% 57,8023.75%
70 to 74 1,007,1741.69% 619,1061.29% 97,1271.85% 248,6735.31% 42,2682.74%
75 to 79 637,0621.07% 365,4090.76% 56,8221.08% 188,1234.02% 26,7081.73%
80-plus 577,2730.97% 277,0180.58% 47,0130.90% 230,1094.92% 23,1331.50%
All ages59,622,350100% 48,153,727(100%) 5,247,740(100%) 4,679,770(100%) 1,541,113(100%)
% of SA100% 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 4,940,75186.02% 476,3228.29% 226,7153.95% 99,6621.74%
5 to 9 5,715,952 4,890,89585.57% 475,5188.32% 249,9914.37% 99,5481.74%
10 to 14 5,591,553 4,773,77085.37% 456,7138.17% 266,2074.76% 94,8631.70%
15 to 19 4,774,579 4,031,70484.44% 411,0568.61% 243,2675.10% 88,5521.85%
20 to 24 4,823,367 4,043,43283.83% 423,1808.77% 254,4655.28% 102,2902.12%
25 to 29 5,420,754 4,586,78084.62% 435,7468.04% 267,6544.94% 130,5742.41%
30 to 34 5,641,750 4,769,49984.54% 431,2747.64% 296,1605.25% 144,8172.57%
35 to 39 4,798,293 3,962,78082.59% 381,8587.96% 308,9596.44% 144,6963.02%
40 to 44 3,733,942 2,988,99980.05% 316,6118.48% 306,4148.21% 121,9183.27%
45 to 49 3,169,648 2,393,31775.51% 312,6659.86% 352,64811.13% 111,0183.50%
50 to 54 2,571,263 1,834,19171.33% 302,22411.75% 337,83913.14% 97,0093.77%
55 to 59 2,211,309 1,546,67469.94% 264,96711.98% 314,42314.22% 85,2453.85%
60 to 64 1,796,316 1,210,79867.40% 207,70311.56% 306,80517.08% 71,0103.95%
65 to 69 1,408,665 918,60465.21% 150,94110.72% 281,31819.97% 57,8024.10%
70 to 74 1,007,174 619,10661.47% 97,1279.64% 248,67324.69% 42,2684.20%
75 to 79 637,062 365,40957.36% 56,8228.92% 188,12329.53% 26,7084.19%
80-plus 577,273 277,01847.99% 47,0138.14% 230,10939.86% 23,1334.01%
All ages59,622,350 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):[24]

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 from 1950 to 2020 (UN World Population Prospects):[25]

Period Life expectancy
(years)
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
Main article: Ethnic groups in South Africa
Dominant population groups in South Africa.
  Black African
  Coloured
  Indian or other Asian
  White
  None dominant

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.[26] 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%.[27]

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,[28] and 8.9% in 2011.[29]:21

Languages
Main article: Languages of South Africa

South Africa has eleven official languages:[30] IsiZulu[27] 22.7%, IsiXhosa[27] 16%, Afrikaans[27] 13.5%, English[27] 9.6%, Sepedi[27] 9.1%, Setswana[27] 8%, Sesotho[27] 7.6%, Xitsonga[27] 4.5%, siSwati[27] 2.5%, Tshivenda[27] 2.4% and isiNdebele[27] 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 (22.7%), Xhosa (16.0%), and Afrikaans (13.5%).[29]:23–25 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.[29]:23–25

The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe, Fanagalo, Khoe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi, San and South African Sign Language.[31] 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, 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 (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 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.[32]

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%.[32]

Religion
Main article: Religion in South Africa

Religion in South Africa (2016)[33]

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

According to the 2001 national census, Christians accounted for 79.7% of the population. This includes 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%.[27]

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.[34]

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.[35] 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[35][36]

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.[37]

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.[38]

  • One birth every 27 seconds
  • One death every 58 seconds
  • One net migrant every 9 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 47 seconds

The following demographic are from the CIA World Factbook[39] unless otherwise indicated.

Population
55,380,210 (July 2018 est.)

Age structure
Population pyramid of South Africa in 2017
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.)

Median age
total: 27.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 144th
male: 27.2 years
female: 27.6 years (2018 est.)

Birth rate
109.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 78th

Death rate
9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 57th

Total fertility rate
2.26 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 91st

Population growth rate
0.97% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 114th

Contraceptive prevalence rate
54.6% (2016)

Net migration rate
-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: 66.4% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 1.97% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 64.1 years
male: 62.7 years
female: 65.6 years (2018 est.)

Languages
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%, isiNdebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes Khoi, Nama, and San languages) 1.9% (2017 est.)
note: data represent language spoken most often at home

Education expenditures
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: 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 (2016)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 53.5%
male: 49.3%
female: 58.7% (2017 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.[40] 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).[40] These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.[40] 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.[41] Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.[42][43][44][45][46]

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.[47]

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

Urbanization

"Urban areas contain about two-thirds of the population; many of these consist of huge informal or squatter settlements."[48]

Largest municipalities
See also: Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)

Graphs and maps
  • Population pyramid by population group, 2011
  • Black population
  • White population
  • Coloured population

See also

References
  1. Africa, Statistics South. "SA population reaches 58,8 million | Statistics South Africa". Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. "Mid - year population estimates" (PDF). Stats SA. Statistics South Africa. 23 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. "World Development Indicators | The World Bank". wdi.worldbank.org. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. "Census 2021 New Methodologies Test". Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018.
  5. "Table 3.5, Statistical release (Revised) P0301.4, Census 2011" (PDF). Statssa.gov.za. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  6. "Nowhere left to go". The Economist. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. "Escape From Mugabe: Zimbabwe's Exodus". Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.
  8. Smuts I: The Sanguine Years 1870–1919, W.K. Hancock, Cambridge University Press, 1962, pg 219
  9. The Statesman's Year-Book, 1967–1968 (104th annual edition), edited by S.H. Steinberg, Macmillan, London; St. Martin's Press, New York, 1967, pages 1405–1424
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  14. Angus Maddison (2010). "Statistics on World Population, GDP and Per Capita GDP, 1-2008 AD". University of Groningen. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
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  21. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived 6 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  26. Lehohla, Pali (5 May 2005). "Debate over race and censuses not peculiar to SA". Business Report. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013. Others pointed out that the repeal of the Population Registration Act in 1991 removed any legal basis for specifying 'race'. The Identification Act of 1997 makes no mention of race. On the other hand, the Employment Equity Act speaks of 'designated groups' being 'black people, women and people with disabilities'. The Act defines 'black' as referring to 'Africans, coloureds and Indians'. Apartheid and the racial identification which underpinned it explicitly linked race with differential access to resources and power. If the post-apartheid order was committed to remedying this, race would have to be included in surveys and censuses, so that progress in eradicating the consequences of apartheid could be measured and monitored. This was the reasoning that led to a 'self-identifying' question about 'race' or 'population group' in both the 1996 and 2001 population censuses, and in Statistics SA's household survey programme.
  27. "Africa :: SOUTH AFRICA". CIA The World Factbook.
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  45. South African Police Service 2009 Annual Report Archived 25 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine page 9 indicating the number exceeds 3 million
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