Population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa
South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total was 4.46 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa stood at 4.46 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 46.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa peaked at 4.46 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 557,819, in 1960.
That places South Africa 31st out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 648,614 | 557,819 | 765,933 | 10 |
| 1970s | 938,588 | 797,426 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.36 million | 1.12 million | 1.58 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.86 million | 1.61 million | 2.18 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.49 million | 2.24 million | 2.71 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.06 million | 2.75 million | 3.54 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.06 million | 3.70 million | 4.46 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Age population, age 13, female, interpolated 530,309 (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female 2.73 million (2025)
- Age population, age 15, female, interpolated 540,082 (2025)
- Age population, age 14, male, interpolated 539,301 (2025)
- Age population, age 14, female, interpolated 535,290 (2025)
- Age population, age 13, male, interpolated 533,937 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 521,292 (2025)
- Age population, age 10, male, interpolated 515,776 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 518,894 (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in South Africa was 4.46 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.46 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 557,819 in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.