I am one of the few people who are truly obsessed with numbers. You’re likely to catch me checking stats on just about anything—what’s the population per province? How many people get arrested, released from prison, or graduate with a degree? I’m always diving into the figures. And today, I found myself wondering, just how many people are in this country?
Well, according to the latest mid-year population estimates for 2024, South Africa’s population has officially surpassed the 63 million mark! That’s right, we’ve grown by roughly 835,513 individuals over the past year, which is a 1.33% increase from July 2023 to July 2024.
What fascinates me even more is that over half of our population—around 32 million people—are women. It’s interesting to see how our demographics continue to evolve.
Now, let’s talk provinces. Gauteng remains the most populated with nearly 16 million residents. No surprises there, considering it’s the economic hub of the country. KwaZulu-Natal comes in second with a population of 12.3 million. Together, these two powerhouses make up about 45% of South Africa’s total population
Population resilience post pandemics
Population resilience post-pandemics is a powerful testament to our ability to adapt, recover, and thrive despite significant challenges. Life expectancy, which measures the average number of years a person can expect to live based on current mortality rates, serves as a crucial indicator of our nation’s health and well-being. In South Africa, we’ve seen a remarkable increase in life expectancy, a clear reflection of the progress we’ve made in medicine, public health, and socioeconomic development.
Between 2002 and 2024, South Africa endured two major pandemics that tested our resilience. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic had a devastating impact, gradually claiming lives over decades. Then came COVID-19, a pandemic that swept across the globe and led to a sharp spike in mortality within just a few months.
Yet, despite these immense challenges, our population has demonstrated incredible resilience. According to recent reports, life expectancy at birth in South Africa now stands at 66.5 years, a significant leap from the estimated 53.6 years in 2005. This increase is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of the strides we’ve made in combating these pandemics, improving healthcare, and enhancing the overall quality of life for our people.
As we continue to navigate the complexities of a post-pandemic world, this resilience serves as a source of hope and inspiration. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we have the strength to overcome, rebuild, and move forward toward a healthier and more prosperous future.
In the South African context, the rise in life expectancy can be attributed to three key trends. Firstly, the expanded rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART) over time has had a major impact on those living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). South Africa has the largest ART program in the world, leading to a reduction in AIDS-related deaths from 284,249 in 2005 (42% of all deaths) to 68,406 in 2024 (12.5% of all deaths).
The second reason is that the uptake of vaccinations and treatments for COVID-19 infections has led to a significant decline in COVID-19 related deaths since July 2021.
Thirdly, the decrease in the infant mortality rate (IMR) from an estimated 57 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2002 to 22,9 per 1,000 live births in 2024, has a direct impact on the improvement of Life expectancy at birth. These indices reflect improvements in the overall health and living conditions of the population
The Mid-Year Population Estimates (MYPE) offer crucial insights into our nation’s recovery, providing key demographic indicators like death rates and growth rates. These figures not only tell us where we’ve been but also guide us in planning for a better future.
Take the crude death rate (CDR), for instance, which measures the annual rate of deaths per 1,000 people. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the CDR peaked at 11.1, reflecting the tragic toll the virus took on our population. But by 2024, we saw a significant decline in the CDR to 8.7. This drop is a testament to the effectiveness of COVID-19 interventions and our collective resilience in overcoming such a devastating crisis.
The population growth rate also tells a story of recovery. The estimated annual growth rate dipped to 1.06% in 2020–2021 due to the surge in COVID-19 deaths and a slowdown in immigration. However, by 2024, it had bounced back to 1.33%, signalling a return to stability and growth.
Even the elderly population, who were hit hardest by the pandemic, show signs of resilience. The growth rate of the elderly dropped sharply from 2.88% in 2019–2020 to 1.65% in 2020–2021, but it has since recovered to 2.11% in the 2021–2022 period. This rebound highlights the strength of our communities and healthcare systems in protecting and caring for our senior citizens.
The 2024 estimates also reveal important demographic details: about 27.5% of the population is under 15 years old, while around 9.7% (6.1 million people) are aged 60 years or older. Among those under 15, the majority live in KwaZulu-Natal (21.4%) and Gauteng (21.3%). For our elderly population, the highest percentage—24.8% (1.52 million)—resides in Gauteng.
These detailed population estimates by age, sex, and geography are more than just numbers. They are essential tools for guiding economic and social investments, ensuring that we can enhance the quality of life for all South Africans as we move forward from the challenges of the past few years.