The latest plotted observation compared with the one immediately before it.
People · official observation
South Africa population
The latest available value was 64,747,319 in 2025. Compared with 2024, the latest value changed by +740.1K.
Latest availableWorld Bank sourceNo forecast values
Latest available value64,747,319
South Africa · 2025
Change from 2024+740.1K
One period comparison, not annualized
Data statusLatest available
Source identifies this concept as estimated
Historical observationsSouth Africa Population
64,747,3192025
Explain this chart
Births, Deaths, Migration
Population estimates are revised and may be less precise where censuses are infrequent.
View accessible data table
| Period | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64,747,319 | observed |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | observed |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | observed |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | observed |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | observed |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | observed |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | observed |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | observed |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | observed |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | observed |
What this number measures
The estimated number of residents, regardless of legal status or citizenship.
Why people watch it
Population change shapes labor supply, demand for housing and services, and the scale of an economy.
- 01Births
- 02Deaths
- 03Migration
These are common mechanisms, not claims about what caused the latest movement in South Africa.
Limits of this comparison
Population estimates are revised and may be less precise where censuses are infrequent.
Annual observations can refer to different release schedules. Recent values can also be revised by the source.
Source record
World Bank World Development Indicators
Series SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved August 5, 2026. Values remain attributable to the original source.