Population, male in South Africa
South Africa: Population, male was 48.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
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 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% |
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)
- 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, 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.