Population, female in South Africa
South Africa: Population, female was 51.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population, female in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 51.3% for population, female in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, female in South Africa peaked at 52.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 48.7%, in 1960.
That places South Africa 46th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 48.7% | — |
| 1961 | 48.8% | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 48.9% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 49.1% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 49.2% | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 49.3% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 49.4% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 49.5% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 49.5% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 49.6% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 49.6% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 49.5% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 49.5% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 49.5% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 49.4% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 49.4% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 49.3% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 49.3% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 49.3% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 49.4% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 49.4% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 49.2% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 49.2% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 49.2% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 49.5% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 49.1% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 49.4% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 50.7% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 51.8% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 52.4% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 52.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 52.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 52.5% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 52.4% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 52.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 52.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 52.2% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 52.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 52.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 52.0% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.9% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 51.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 51.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 51.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 51.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 51.5% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 51.5% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 51.6% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 51.4% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 51.4% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.3% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 51.3% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49.1% | 48.7% | 49.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 49.5% | 49.3% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.3% | 49.2% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.6% | 49.1% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.2% | 51.9% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.6% | 51.5% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.4% | 51.3% | 51.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 43 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 51.4% compare
- 44 Thailand 51.4% compare
- 45 Lebanon 51.3% compare
- 47 North Macedonia 51.3% compare
- 48 Guyana 51.3% compare
- 49 Kazakhstan 51.3% 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)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, female in South Africa?
- Population, female in South Africa was 51.3% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest population, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.7% in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for population, female?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. 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, female (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female population is the percentage of the population that is female. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.