Population 0-24 in South Africa

South Africa: Population 0-24 was 49.4% in 2011. ▼ Falling

Latest (2011)
49.4%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
47th
of 52 countries
All-time high
64.5%
in 1979
All-time low
49.4%
in 2011
Years of data
52
1960–2011

Population 0-24 in South Africa, 1960–2011

0204060196019852011

Source: World Bank staff estimates from various sources including census reports, the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects, national statistical offices, household surveys conducted. Measured in % of total population.

Analysis

In 2011, population 0-24 in South Africa stood at 49.4%. That is the lowest value across all 52 years on record.

The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population 0-24 in South Africa peaked at 64.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 49.4%, in 2011.

That places South Africa 47th out of 52 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.

Population 0-24 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population 0-24 (% of total population) in South Africa, 1960 to 2011.
Year % of total population Change
1960 58.9%
1961 58.8% -0.2%
1962 58.8% +0.1%
1963 59.1% +0.4%
1964 59.4% +0.5%
1965 59.7% +0.6%
1966 60.2% +0.8%
1967 60.7% +0.8%
1968 61.1% +0.8%
1969 61.6% +0.7%
1970 62.0% +0.7%
1971 62.5% +0.7%
1972 62.9% +0.7%
1973 63.3% +0.6%
1974 63.6% +0.5%
1975 63.9% +0.4%
1976 64.2% +0.4%
1977 64.3% +0.3%
1978 64.5% +0.2%
1979 64.5% +0.1%
1980 64.5% -0.0%
1981 64.4% -0.1%
1982 64.3% -0.2%
1983 64.1% -0.3%
1984 63.9% -0.4%
1985 63.5% -0.6%
1986 63.1% -0.6%
1987 62.7% -0.7%
1988 62.3% -0.7%
1989 62.0% -0.5%
1990 61.8% -0.3%
1991 61.6% -0.4%
1992 61.3% -0.5%
1993 60.9% -0.6%
1994 60.4% -0.8%
1995 59.7% -1.2%
1996 59.0% -1.2%
1997 58.1% -1.5%
1998 57.2% -1.7%
1999 56.1% -1.8%
2000 55.0% -1.9%
2001 54.3% -1.3%
2002 54.0% -0.6%
2003 53.7% -0.6%
2004 53.4% -0.6%
2005 53.0% -0.7%
2006 52.6% -0.6%
2007 52.2% -0.8%
2008 51.7% -1.0%
2009 51.1% -1.1%
2010 50.2% -1.8%
2011 49.4% -1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 59.8% 58.8% 61.6% 10
1970s 63.6% 62.0% 64.5% 10
1980s 63.5% 62.0% 64.5% 10
1990s 59.6% 56.1% 61.8% 10
2000s 53.1% 51.1% 55.0% 10
2010s 49.8% 49.4% 50.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 44 Cape Verde 54.1% compare
  2. 45 Botswana 54.0% compare
  3. 46 Egypt 50.6% compare
  4. 48 Libya 47.3% compare
  5. 49 Morocco 46.9% compare
  6. 50 Algeria 46.7% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population 0-24 in South Africa?
Population 0-24 in South Africa was 49.4% in 2011, according to World Bank staff estimates from various sources including census reports, the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects, national statistical offices, household surveys conducted.
What is the highest population 0-24 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 1979.
What is the lowest population 0-24 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49.4% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for population 0-24?
South Africa ranks 47th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is population 0-24 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank staff estimates from various sources including census reports, the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects, national statistical offices, household surveys conducted, published as part of Population 0-24 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population 0-24 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank staff estimates from various sources including census reports, the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects, national statistical offices, household surveys conducted. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/population-0-24-percent-of-total-population/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population 0-24 (% of total population)
Unit
% of total population
Source
World Bank staff estimates from various sources including census reports, the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects, national statistical offices, household surveys conducted
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 3,016 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed

Population ages 0 to 24 is the percentage of the total population that is in the age group 0 to 24.