Australia vs South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total
Australia
5.00 million
in 2025
South Africa
4.46 million
in 2025
Australia rank
29th
South Africa rank
31st
Population ages 65 and above, total over time
- Australia
- South Africa
How they compare
Australia currently reports 5.00 million against 4.46 million in South Africa, a difference of 538,410.
That makes Australia's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.
Australia ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 31st of 218 countries.
Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 957,567 | 648,614 | 308,952 | Australia |
| 1970s | 1.20 million | 938,588 | 258,398 | Australia |
| 1980s | 1.61 million | 1.36 million | 252,999 | Australia |
| 1990s | 2.11 million | 1.86 million | 242,714 | Australia |
| 2000s | 2.59 million | 2.49 million | 105,030 | Australia |
| 2010s | 3.50 million | 3.06 million | 441,072 | Australia |
| 2020s | 4.56 million | 4.06 million | 504,420 | Australia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population ages 65 and above, total, Australia or South Africa?
- Australia, at 5.00 million against 4.46 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population ages 65 and above, total between Australia and South Africa?
- 538,410, with Australia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and South Africa?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do Australia and South Africa rank globally for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Australia ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 31st of 218 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as Population ages 65 and above, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
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.