Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa
South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, female was 2.73 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa is 2.73 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa peaked at 2.73 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 300,825, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 29th of 217 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 300,825 | — |
| 1961 | 308,159 | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 317,158 | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 327,626 | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 339,430 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 352,539 | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 366,840 | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 382,288 | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 398,779 | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 416,029 | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 433,737 | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 451,127 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 468,108 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 485,199 | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 502,382 | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 519,687 | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 537,160 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 555,175 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 573,818 | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 592,838 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 615,446 | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 642,840 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 673,316 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 707,046 | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 744,505 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 780,729 | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 812,457 | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 842,283 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 870,271 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 895,182 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 916,827 | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 938,945 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 970,798 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 989,382 | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 1.02 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 1.09 million | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 1.15 million | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 1.22 million | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 1.27 million | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 1.32 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 1.36 million | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 1.41 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.45 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.49 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 1.54 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 1.58 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 1.62 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.65 million | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 1.68 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.71 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.73 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 1.75 million | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 1.78 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 1.83 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 1.87 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 1.92 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 1.97 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.04 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 2.12 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 2.21 million | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 2.30 million | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 2.37 million | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 2.44 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 2.53 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 2.63 million | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 2.73 million | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 350,967 | 300,825 | 416,029 | 10 |
| 1970s | 511,923 | 433,737 | 592,838 | 10 |
| 1980s | 758,408 | 615,446 | 895,182 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.09 million | 916,827 | 1.32 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.55 million | 1.36 million | 1.71 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.92 million | 1.73 million | 2.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.50 million | 2.30 million | 2.73 million | 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)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (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 2.73 million 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 2.73 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 300,825 in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, female?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 217 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 42.5%. 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, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Female 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.