Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate was 4.1 % change on previous year in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.1 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
88th
of 217 countries
All-time high
4.82 % change on previous year
in 1996
All-time low
1.13 % change on previous year
in 2011
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa is 4.1 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 4.82 % change on previous year in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.13 % change on previous year, in 2011.
That places South Africa 88th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.38 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 2.84 % change on previous year | +19.3% |
| 1963 | 3.23 % change on previous year | +13.7% |
| 1964 | 3.54 % change on previous year | +9.4% |
| 1965 | 3.79 % change on previous year | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 3.98 % change on previous year | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 4.12 % change on previous year | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 4.2 % change on previous year | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 4.19 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 4.11 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 3.9 % change on previous year | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 3.7 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 1973 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 3.5 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 3.42 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 3.34 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 3.29 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 3.27 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 3.22 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 3.58 % change on previous year | +11.2% |
| 1981 | 4.07 % change on previous year | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 4.31 % change on previous year | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 4.5 % change on previous year | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 4.67 % change on previous year | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 4.28 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 1986 | 3.66 % change on previous year | -14.6% |
| 1987 | 3.36 % change on previous year | -8.1% |
| 1988 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -9.0% |
| 1989 | 2.63 % change on previous year | -14.0% |
| 1990 | 2.21 % change on previous year | -16.2% |
| 1991 | 2.16 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 2.87 % change on previous year | +32.9% |
| 1993 | 2.06 % change on previous year | -28.1% |
| 1994 | 3.11 % change on previous year | +51.0% |
| 1995 | 4.76 % change on previous year | +52.8% |
| 1996 | 4.82 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 4.67 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 3.59 % change on previous year | -23.1% |
| 1999 | 2.96 % change on previous year | -17.6% |
| 2000 | 2.51 % change on previous year | -15.1% |
| 2001 | 2.36 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 2.36 % change on previous year | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 2.4 % change on previous year | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 2.46 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 2.48 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 2.2 % change on previous year | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 1.97 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 1.83 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -21.0% |
| 2010 | 1.17 % change on previous year | -19.2% |
| 2011 | 1.13 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 1.65 % change on previous year | +46.2% |
| 2013 | 2.4 % change on previous year | +44.8% |
| 2014 | 2.51 % change on previous year | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 2.77 % change on previous year | +10.3% |
| 2016 | 2.9 % change on previous year | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 3.5 % change on previous year | +20.7% |
| 2018 | 4.38 % change on previous year | +25.2% |
| 2019 | 4.63 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 4.44 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 3.63 % change on previous year | -18.2% |
| 2022 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 3.78 % change on previous year | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 3.98 % change on previous year | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 4.1 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.1 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.92 % change on previous year, 1.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.1 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.58 % change on previous year, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.59 % change on previous year | 2.38 % change on previous year | 4.2 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.54 % change on previous year | 3.22 % change on previous year | 4.11 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.81 % change on previous year | 2.63 % change on previous year | 4.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.32 % change on previous year | 2.06 % change on previous year | 4.82 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2 % change on previous year | 1.45 % change on previous year | 2.51 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7 % change on previous year | 1.13 % change on previous year | 4.63 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9 % change on previous year | 3.49 % change on previous year | 4.44 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 85 Mexico 4.17 % change on previous year compare
- 86 India 4.14 % change on previous year compare
- 87 Palau 4.14 % change on previous year compare
- 89 Hong Kong 4.06 % change on previous year compare
- 90 Ghana 4.03 % change on previous year compare
- 91 New Caledonia 4.03 % change on previous year compare
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, total, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate in South Africa was 4.1 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.82 % change on previous year in 1996.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 % change on previous year in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 88th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Population ages 65 and above, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Population ages 65 and above, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Population ages 65 and above, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.