SA’s population surpasses 63mn mark, reports StatsSA
South Africa’s population has exceeded the 63 million mark, according to the latest mid-year population estimates for 2024.
The data shows that the country’s population grew by approximately 835,513 individuals, marking a 1.33% increase from July 2023 to July 2024.
Statistics South Africa released the Mid-Year Population Estimates (MYPE) on Tuesday.
Diego Iturralde, the Chief Director for Demographic and Population Statistics, said over half of the population is female, totalling around 32 million.
"Provincial population estimates indicate that Gauteng remains the most populous province with nearly 16 million residents. KwaZulu-Natal follows with a population of 12.3 million.
“Together, these two provinces account for about 45% of South Africa’s total population. In contrast, Northern Cape is the least populated province, housing just under 1.4 million people," said Iturralde.
Regarding life expectancy, Iturralde mentioned that life expectancy in South Africa has increased significantly, reflecting advances in medicine, public health, and socioeconomic development.
"South Africa has faced two pandemics between 2002 and 2024. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic caused a gradual loss of life over decades, whereas COVID-19 led to a sharp increase in mortality within months.
“According to the report, life expectancy at birth is now 66.5 years, a significant increase from the estimated 53.6 years in 2005," he said.
He attributed this improvement to three key trends: the expanded rollout of antiretroviral therapy, the uptake of vaccinations and treatments for COVID-19, and the decrease in the infant mortality rate.
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