South Africa’s population grew by an estimated 1.2% in the year to June 2026. This brought the total population to 63.52 million, according to the latest mid-year population estimates from Statistics South Africa. The rate was broadly unchanged from 2025. During that year, the population increased by 1.23% to 63.1 million.
South Africa’s population has grown from 42.9 million in 2002. This represents an average annual growth rate of about 1.3% over the period. Continued population growth has important implications for healthcare planning. National and provincial authorities must prepare for greater demand for primary care, hospital services, medicines and health professionals.