Southern Africa Population Pyramid 2021

Southern Africa
2021
Population: 70,182,726

Year

-5 -1   2021  +1 +5

Country

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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Southern Africa in 2021

In 2021, Southern Africa had a total population of 70,182,726 people. A decade earlier, in 2011, the population was 60,346,907; it has grown by 16.3% since.

Half of the population was younger than 27.8 years; 27.7% were children under 15 and 5.9% were 65 or older. This is a stationary pyramid — similar numbers in each age group up to the older cohorts, the signature of near-replacement fertility.

Share of the population by age group, 1950–2100

Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.

Population
70,182,726
Median age
27.8
0-14 %
27.7%
65+ %
5.9%
Child dependency
41.7
Old-age dependency
8.9
Pyramid shape
Births per woman

The World Bank does not publish this indicator for regions or continents.

Life expectancy at birth

The World Bank does not publish this indicator for regions or continents.

People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children Older adults
20406080
19502100
Where immigrants come from (2024)

2,829,624 immigrants live in Southern Africa.

Zimbabwe1,156,709
Mozambique423,035
Lesotho238,375
Malawi222,490
Ethiopia104,663
Where emigrants live (2024)

1,320,086 people born in Southern Africa live in other countries.

South Africa289,297
United Kingdom245,446
Australia217,589
United States of America161,507
New Zealand101,970
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Immigration statistics

Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.

How many people lived in Southern Africa in 2021?
Southern Africa had a population of 70,182,726 in 2021.
What is the median age in Southern Africa?
The median age in Southern Africa is 27.8 years — half the population is younger, half older.
How many children and older people live in Southern Africa?
In Southern Africa, 27.7% of people are under 15 and 5.9% are 65 or older.
What type of population pyramid does Southern Africa have?
Southern Africa has a stationary pyramid: cohort sizes are roughly even through the younger ages, reflecting fertility close to replacement level.

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