Ethiopia vs South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total
Ethiopia
4.46 million
in 2025
South Africa
4.46 million
in 2025
Ethiopia rank
30th
South Africa rank
31st
Population ages 65 and above, total over time
- Ethiopia
- South Africa
How they compare
Ethiopia currently reports 4.46 million against 4.46 million in South Africa, a difference of 6,930.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Ethiopia ahead.
Ethiopia ranks 30th and South Africa ranks 31st of 218 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 6.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ethiopia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 665,705 | 648,614 | 17,090 | Ethiopia |
| 1970s | 878,366 | 938,588 | 60,221 | South Africa |
| 1980s | 1.09 million | 1.36 million | 267,714 | South Africa |
| 1990s | 1.52 million | 1.86 million | 338,726 | South Africa |
| 2000s | 2.05 million | 2.49 million | 438,210 | South Africa |
| 2010s | 2.99 million | 3.06 million | 63,621 | South Africa |
| 2020s | 4.03 million | 4.06 million | 34,043 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population ages 65 and above, total, Ethiopia or South Africa?
- Ethiopia, at 4.46 million against 4.46 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population ages 65 and above, total between Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 6,930, with Ethiopia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do Ethiopia and South Africa rank globally for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Ethiopia ranks 30th 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.