Infographic: South Africa’s population and age structure from 1960 to 2016

By Mary Alexander on 23 November 2019

There’s a lot of talk of South Africa’s population being dominated by the youth. But we’re less youthful than we have been for decades. The end of apartheid, better healthcare, widespread social welfare and greater economic opportunities all mean South Africans are now able to live longer lives.

Read more: South Africa’s population

South Africa’s population in 1960

Total population: 17,396,367
Ages 0 to 14: 7,193,897 (41%)
Ages 15 to 29: 4,329,054 (25%)
Ages 30 to 44: 2,983,385 (17%)
Ages 45 to 59: 1,847,726 (11%)
Ages 60 to 74: 863,746 (5%)
Ages 75 and over: 178,556 (1%)

South Africa’s population in 1970

Total population: 22,502,502
Ages 0 to 14: 9,363,329 (42%)
Ages 15 to 29: 5,786,692 (26%)
Ages 30 to 44: 3,674,655 (16%)
Ages 45 to 59: 2,343,092 (10%)
Ages 60 to 74: 1,102,696 (5%)
Ages 75 and over: 232,037 (1%)

South Africa’s population in 1980

Total population: 29,077,143
Ages 0 to 14: 11,939,151 (41%)
Ages 15 to 29: 7,962,990 (27%)
Ages 30 to 44: 4,686,228 (16%)
Ages 45 to 59: 2,849,651 (10%)
Ages 60 to 74: 1,352,716 (5%)
Ages 75 and over: 286,409 (1%)

South Africa’s population in 1990

Total population: 36,793,490
Ages 0 to 14: 14,410,660 (39%)
Ages 15 to 29: 10,246,215 (28%)
Ages 30 to 44: 6,500,916 (18%)
Ages 45 to 59: 3,613,103 (10%)
Ages 60 to 74: 1,654,109 (5%)
Ages 75 and over: 368,487 (1%)

South Africa’s population in 2000

Total population: 44,896,856
Ages 0 to 14: 15,089,567 (34%)
Ages 15 to 29: 13,184,993 (29%)
Ages 30 to 44: 8,799,112 (20%)
Ages 45 to 59: 5,004,477 (11%)
Ages 60 to 74: 2,278,523 (5%)
Ages 75 and over: 540,187 (1%)

South Africa’s population in 2010

Total population: 50,979,432
Ages 0 to 14: 15,513,076 (30%)
Ages 15 to 29: 14,937,341 (29%)
Ages 30 to 44: 10,473,836 (21%)
Ages 45 to 59: 6,397,068 (13%)
Ages 60 to 74: 2,900,124 (6%)
Ages 75 and over: 757,989 (2%)

South Africa’s population in 2016

Total population: 55,908,865
Ages 0 to 14: 16,312,843 (29%)
Ages 15 to 29: 15,416,471 (28%)
Ages 30 to 44: 12,202,100 (22%)
Ages 45 to 59: 7,384,681 (13%)
Ages 60 to 74: 3,650,749 (7%)
Ages 75 and over: 941,985 (2%)

Source: Statistics South Africa, United Nations World Population Prospects, World Bank Open Data

Researched, written and designed by Mary Alexander.
Updated 28 February 2018.