Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa
South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, female was 8.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of female population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa is 8.2%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa peaked at 8.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1963.
South Africa ranks 125th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of female population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.8% | — |
| 1961 | 3.7% | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 3.7% | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 3.7% | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 3.7% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 3.8% | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 3.8% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 3.8% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 4.0% | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 4.0% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 4.0% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 4.1% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 4.1% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 4.1% | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 4.1% | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 4.3% | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 4.4% | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.6% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 4.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 4.9% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 5.2% | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 6.4% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 6.5% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 7.0% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 7.6% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 7.8% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 8.2% | +2.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.7%, 85% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.6%, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 5.5% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 6.4% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa?
- Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa was 8.2% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1963.
- How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, female?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, female (% of female population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.