Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa

South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, male was 1.73 million in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
1.73 million
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
33rd
of 217 countries
All-time high
1.73 million
in 2025
All-time low
256,993
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025

Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa, 1960–2025

500.0k1.0M1.5M196019922025

Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 1.73 million for population ages 65 and above, male in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.

The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 52.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa peaked at 1.73 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 256,993, in 1960.

South Africa ranks 33rd of 217 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.

Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa, 1960 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1960 256,993
1961 262,961 +2.3%
1962 270,203 +2.8%
1963 278,732 +3.2%
1964 288,379 +3.5%
1965 299,074 +3.7%
1966 310,713 +3.9%
1967 323,189 +4.0%
1968 336,320 +4.1%
1969 349,904 +4.0%
1970 363,688 +3.9%
1971 377,383 +3.8%
1972 391,094 +3.6%
1973 404,996 +3.6%
1974 419,004 +3.5%
1975 433,212 +3.4%
1976 447,528 +3.3%
1977 461,899 +3.2%
1978 476,512 +3.2%
1979 491,321 +3.1%
1980 507,553 +3.3%
1981 525,904 +3.6%
1982 545,775 +3.8%
1983 566,875 +3.9%
1984 588,908 +3.9%
1985 609,806 +3.5%
1986 628,966 +3.1%
1987 647,631 +3.0%
1988 665,236 +2.7%
1989 680,749 +2.3%
1990 693,869 +1.9%
1991 706,537 +1.8%
1992 721,889 +2.2%
1993 738,226 +2.3%
1994 757,788 +2.6%
1995 780,816 +3.0%
1996 805,315 +3.1%
1997 830,081 +3.1%
1998 850,593 +2.5%
1999 865,174 +1.7%
2000 875,631 +1.2%
2001 885,465 +1.1%
2002 896,618 +1.3%
2003 909,903 +1.5%
2004 925,396 +1.7%
2005 943,559 +2.0%
2006 961,380 +1.9%
2007 978,009 +1.7%
2008 993,695 +1.6%
2009 1.01 million +1.2%
2010 1.01 million +0.9%
2011 1.02 million +0.9%
2012 1.04 million +1.6%
2013 1.07 million +2.6%
2014 1.10 million +2.7%
2015 1.13 million +3.1%
2016 1.16 million +3.0%
2017 1.21 million +3.7%
2018 1.27 million +5.0%
2019 1.33 million +5.3%
2020 1.40 million +5.2%
2021 1.46 million +4.4%
2022 1.52 million +4.1%
2023 1.59 million +4.1%
2024 1.65 million +4.3%
2025 1.73 million +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 297,647 256,993 349,904 10
1970s 426,664 363,688 491,321 10
1980s 596,740 507,553 680,749 10
1990s 775,029 693,869 865,174 10
2000s 937,495 875,631 1.01 million 10
2010s 1.13 million 1.01 million 1.33 million 10
2020s 1.56 million 1.40 million 1.73 million 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 30 Ethiopia 1.98 million compare
  2. 31 Myanmar 1.76 million compare
  3. 32 Netherlands 1.76 million compare
  4. 34 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.58 million compare
  5. 35 Algeria 1.56 million compare
  6. 36 Morocco 1.53 million compare

See the full ranking of 265 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa?
Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa was 1.73 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
What is the highest population ages 65 and above, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.73 million in 2025.
What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 256,993 in 1960.
How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, male?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
Is population ages 65 and above, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 52.9%. 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, male. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population ages 65 and above, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/population-ages-65-and-above-male/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population ages 65 and above, male
Source
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
265 places, 17,460 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Male 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.