Demographics of South Africa

Earlier Censuses, 1904 to 2011

1904 Census

South African population figures for the 1904 Census.^[7]

1960 Census

Sources: Statesman's Year-Book 1967–1968;^[8] Europa Year Book 1969^[9]

1904–85 national census numbers

Bantustan demographics were removed from South African census data during Apartheid and for this reason official figures on the national population of the country during that period will be inaccurate.^[10]

1996 Census

Source: The People of South Africa: Population Census, 1996^[11]

map	Population Group → Province ↓	Black	White	Coloured	Indian/ Asian	Other	Total	% of S.A.
1	Northern Cape	278,633	111,844	435,368	2,268	12,208	840,321	2.1%
2	Western Cape	826,691	821,551	2,146,109	40,376	122,148	3,956,875	9.7%
3	Eastern Cape	5,448,495	330,294	468,532	19,356	35,849	6,302,525	15.5%
4	KwaZulu-Natal	6,880,652	558,182	117,951	790,813	69,423	8,417,021	20.7%
5	Mpumalanga	2,497,834	253,392	20,283	13,083	16,120	2,800,711	6.9%
6	Free State	2,223,940	316,459	79,038	2,805	11,262	2,633,504	6.5%
7	Gauteng	5,147,444	1,702,343	278,692	161,289	58,654	7,348,423	18.1%
8	Northern Province (Limpopo)	4,765,255	117,878	7,821	5,510	32,904	4,929,368	12.1%
9	North West	3,058,686	222,755	46,652	10,097	16,635	3,354,825	8.3%
	South Africa Total	31,127,631	4,434,697	3,600,446	1,045,596	375,204	40,583,573	100%
	Percent	76.7%	10.9%	8.9%	2.6%	0.9%	100%
	Population Group →	Black	White	Coloured	Asian	Other	Total	% of RSA

2001 Census

Source: Statistics South Africa: Census 2001^[12]

2011 Census

Source: Census 2011: Census in Brief^[13]

Historical and projected population for the years 1 to 2100

UN Age and population estimates: 1950 to 2030

According to the 2019 revision of the United Nations Secretariat's World Population Prospects, South Africa's total population was 55,386,000 in 2015, compared to only 13,628,000 in 1950. In 2015, 29.3% of the people were children under the age of 15, 65.7% were between 15 and 64 years of age, and 5.0% were 65 or older.^[20] All population estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.

UN population projections: 2019 to 2100

^{[22][failed verification]}

Statistics South Africa: From 2002 to present

The following statistics are obtained from the mid-year population estimates published by Statistics South Africa:^[23]

United Nations estimates, 2019

The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.^[20] (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.)

Age and sex distribution

Age and race distribution

Age distribution within each racial group

By generation

Racial composition of each age group in 2015 (estimates)

By five-year cohorts

Racial composition of each age group in 2020 (estimates)

Source:^[24]

Fertility rate (The Demographic Health Survey)

Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):^[25]

Fertility rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) by ethnic group.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy at birth from 1950 to 2020 (UN World Population Prospects):^[26]

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

Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.^[28] 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%.^[29]

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,^[30] 8.9% in 2011 and 7.65% in 2022.^[31]: 21 Coloured South Africans replaced Whites as the largest minority group around 2010.

South Africa has twelve official languages:^[32] isiZulu^[29] 22.7%, isiXhosa^[29] 16%, Afrikaans^[29] 13.5%, English^[29] 9.6%, Sepedi^[29] 9.1%, Setswana^[29] 8%, Sesotho^[29] 7.6%, Xitsonga^[29] 4.5%, siSwati^[29] 2.5%, Tshivenda^[29] 2.4%, isiNdebele^[29] 2.1% and South African Sign Language.^[33]

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 2022 census, the three most spoken languages in the household are Zulu (24.4%), Xhosa (16.3%), and Afrikaans (10.6%).^[1]

The country also recognises several unofficial languages, including Sekholokoe, Fanagalo, Khwe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi and San.^[34] 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, Serbian and Greek, while some Indians and other Asians in South Africa speak South Asian languages, such as Bhojpuri, 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 Black South African residents, Xhosa for 19.8%, Sepedi for 11.2%, Tswana for 9.7%, Sesotho for 9.3%, Tsonga for 5.5%, siSwati 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.^[35]

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%.^[35]

According to the 2022 national census, Christians accounted for 85.3% of the population.^[1] This includes^[when?] 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%.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[37] 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. As of 2023, converts from Islam to Christianity surpass those who convert from Christianity to Islam.^[37][38]

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.^[39]

By ethnicity

87.9% of Black residents are Christian, 9.5% have no religion, 0.2% are Muslim, 0.1% 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.

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.^[40]

• One birth every 27 seconds
• One death every 56 seconds
• One net migrant every 4 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 44 seconds

The following demographics are from the CIA World Factbook^[41] unless otherwise indicated.

Population

57,516,665 (2022 est.)

55,380,210 (July 2018 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.94% (male 7,894,742/female 7,883,266)

15-24 years: 16.8% (male 4,680,587/female 4,804,337)

25-54 years: 42.37% (male 12,099,441/female 11,825,193)

55-64 years: 6.8% (male 1,782,902/female 2,056,988)

65 years and over: 6.09% (2020 est.) (male 1,443,956/female 1,992,205)

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.)

Birth rate

18.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 77th

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

Death rate

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 52nd

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

Total fertility rate

2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 90th

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

Population growth rate

0.93% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 103rd

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

Median age

Total: 28 years. Country comparison to the world: 142nd

Male: 27.9 years

Female: 28.1 years (2020 est.)

Total: 27.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 144th

Male: 27.2 years

Female: 27.6 years (2018 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.6% (2016)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 98th

-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: 68.3% of total population (2022)

Rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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: 65.32 years. Country comparison to the world: 202nd

Male: 63.99 years

Female: 66.68 years (2022 est.)

Total population: 64.1 years (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 6 June 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,968,205 cases of COVID-19 or 6,690.7 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,317 cumulative deaths or a rate of 170.83 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 36.33% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Ethnic groups

Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)

note: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years

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%, Khoi, Nama, and San languages 1.9% isiNdebele (official) 1.6% (2017 est.)

note: data represent language spoken most often at home

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2020) Country comparison to the world: 22nd

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: 95%

Male: 95.5%

Female: 94.5% (2019)

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 (2019)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

Total: 59.4%

Male: 55.4%

Female: 64.1% (2020 est.)

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.^[42] 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).^[42] These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.^[42] 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.^[43] Other institutions, like the police and Médecins Sans Frontières place estimate the figure at 4 million.^{[44][45][46][47]}

Immigration figures

Main countries of immigration in South Africa according to the 2011 Census and 2022 Census:

Source: 2022 South African census (2023)[48]
Place of birth	Population, 2011	Population, 2022	Difference
Zimbabwe	672,308	1,012,059	339,751
Mozambique	393,231	416,564	23,333
Lesotho	160,806	227,770	66,964
Malawi	86,606	198,807	112,201
United Kingdom	81,720	61,282	-20,438
Ethiopia	28,230	58,131	29,901
Namibia	40,575	36,140	-4,435
India	31,165	27,350	-3,815
Nigeria	26,341	24,718	-1,623
Zambia	30,054	24,625	-5,429
Congo	26,061	23,328	-2,733
Bangladesh	19,696	20,894	1,198
DRC	25,630	17,635	-7,995
Somalia	26,116	15,838	-10,278
Pakistan	17,241	15,006	-2,235
Germany	20,494	12,139	-8,355
Botswana	12,316	8,976	-3,340
Portugal	15,626	7,615	-8,011

Immigration assumptions by Statistics South Africa to South Africa based on race. Negative numbers represent net migration from South Africa to other countries.^[49]

"Urban areas contain about two-thirds of the population; many of these consist of huge informal or squatter settlements."^[50]

• 
  Population pyramid by population group, 2011
• 
  Black population
• 
  White population
• 
  Coloured population

• Statistics South Africa
• South African National Census of 2001
• South African National Census of 2011
• Afrikaans-speaking population of South Africa
• Jewish population of South Africa
• Ethnic groups in South Africa by municipality

• Alexander, Mary (30 June 2006). "Black, white – or South African?". SAinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
• "A Nation in the Making: A Discussion Document on Macro-Social Trends in South Africa" (PDF). Government of South Africa. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2013.

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