Population, male (% of total population) in South Africa
South Africa: Population, male (% of total population) was 48.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
48.7%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
173rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
51.3%
in 1960
All-time low
47.5%
in 2000
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population, male in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population, male in South Africa is 48.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, male in South Africa peaked at 51.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 173rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population, male (% of total population) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 51.3% | — |
| 1961 | 51.2% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 51.1% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 51.0% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 50.9% | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 50.8% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 50.7% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 50.6% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 50.5% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 50.5% | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 50.4% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 50.4% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 50.5% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 50.5% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 50.5% | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 50.7% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 50.6% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 50.6% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 50.8% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 50.8% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 50.8% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 50.9% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 50.9% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 50.5% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 50.9% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 50.6% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 49.3% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 48.2% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 47.6% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 47.6% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 47.5% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 47.5% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 47.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 47.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 47.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.5% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 48.4% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 48.6% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 48.6% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 48.7% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 48.7% | -0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 48.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 98% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 48.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 49.8%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.9% | 50.5% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 50.5% | 50.4% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.7% | 50.6% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.4% | 47.5% | 50.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.5% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.4% | 48.1% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.6% | 48.5% | 48.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 170 Kazakhstan 48.7% compare
- 171 Guyana 48.7% compare
- 172 North Macedonia 48.7% compare
- 174 Lebanon 48.7% compare
- 175 Thailand 48.6% compare
- 176 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 48.6% 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, male in South Africa?
- Population, male in South Africa was 48.7% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for population, male?
- South Africa ranks 173rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, male (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Male population is the percentage of the population that is male. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.