DEMOGRAPHICS
General Information
Population of the South African Republic – 62,8 mil. (24th in the world).
The male population of the country is 49,5% (31,1 mil.), the female population is 50,5% (31,7 mil.). The average life expectancy is 50,2 years for men and 48,4 years for women. At the beginning of 2025, the country's population is divided into the following age groups: under 15 years old (28,5 %); from 15 to 65 years old (65,8%); over 64 years old (5,7%).
The sex ratio indicator – 0,98 men per one woman.
The overall life expectancy for 2025 is 49,3 years, with male life expectancy being approximately 50,2 years, while female life expectancy is 48,4.
Ethnic and Confessional Composition
Ethnic Composition
The population of the country is heterogeneous in terms of racial, national, linguistic, cultural, and religious characteristics. Four groups are officially distinguished:
- Africans (more than 80%);
- Whites (more than 10%);
- Mulattos (less than 7%);
- Asians (less than 3%).
Africans in the country are represented by numerous ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups: Zulu (Natal province and surroundings), Xhosa (south of the country), Sotho (the state of Lesotho within South Africa), Pedi, Venda, Tswana, Tsonga, Swazi, Ndebele and others. All of them speak Bantu languages. Also, the oldest indigenous inhabitants of the country - the Khoikhoi and San - live in separate settlements in South Africa, preserving a unique exotic culture and way of life. Many tribes live in isolation.
The white population consists of descendants of colonial immigrants: Dutch, Germans, French, Huguenots and English. They are subdivided into Afrikaners, Dutch and Anglo-Africans, descendants of British colonists.
Asians in South Africa are represented by Indians, descendants of workers brought in the 11th century to work on sugar plantations. This group is called Natal.
Mulattos or "Coloureds" in South Africa are people of mixed race, descended from slaves brought from Eastern and Central Africa, aboriginal Africans, whites with an admixture of Malays, Indians and other Asians. The majority of "Coloureds" speak Afrikaans.
Confessional Composition
South Africa is a free country in terms of religion. All major religions are present on its territory:
- Christianity of various denominations (81,2%);
- Atheism (14,8%);
- Islam (1,7%);
- Hinduism (1,1%);
- Buddhism (0,2%);
- Judaism (0,1%);
- About 0,4% adhere to local traditional beliefs.
State Language
The number of official languages in South Africa is 11. The list includes languages of nations and ethnic groups inhabiting the country: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swazi, Venda, Tsonga.
The most common language is Zulu. The second most popular is the Xhosa language. At the same time, the majority of the population of all races speaks English.