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Sub-Saharan Africa · Country statistics

South Africa

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At a glance

Latest published figures · reporting years differ
Population64.75M2025 · peopleGross domestic product$427.18B2025 · current US$GDP per capita$6.6K2025 · current US$ / personLife expectancy at birth66.32024 · yearsInternet use78.4%2024 · % of populationForest area14%2023 · % of land area
Population growth
1.1%

% per year·2025

Published observation

Over time

Full published history
South Africa2025 · 1.1%
00.871.752.623.491960199320251961: 2.8%1962: 3%1963: 3%1964: 3.1%1965: 3.1%1966: 3.1%1967: 3.1%1968: 3.1%1969: 3.1%1970: 3%1971: 2.9%1972: 2.9%1973: 2.9%1974: 2.8%1975: 2.8%1976: 2.7%1977: 2.7%1978: 2.7%1979: 2.7%1980: 3%1981: 3.4%1982: 3.5%1983: 3.5%1984: 3.5%1985: 3.3%1986: 3.2%1987: 3.1%1988: 3%1989: 2.9%1990: 2.8%1991: 2.3%1992: 1.8%1993: 2%1994: 1.6%1995: 1.2%1996: 1.3%1997: 1.2%1998: 1.2%1999: 1.1%2000: 0.9%2001: 0.9%2002: 0.9%2003: 1%2004: 1%2005: 1%2006: 1%2007: 1.1%2008: 1.2%2009: 1.2%2010: 1.2%2011: 1.2%2012: 1.5%2013: 1.7%2014: 1.7%2015: 2%2016: 0.9%2017: 0.7%2018: 1.7%2019: 1.6%2020: 1.6%2021: 1.5%2022: 1.4%2023: 1.3%2024: 1.2%2025: 1.1%

Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

Country context

South Africa in perspective

Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Capital
Pretoria
Country code
ZAF

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