Population forecast · World Bank data
South Africa population forecast
Population, total
Latest · 2025
64.75M
The population of South Africa is forecast at 65.61M in 12 months (2026), with an 80% range of 64.26M to 67.48M. The latest World Bank figure is 64.75M for 2025.
In 24 months (2027) and 36 months (2028) the model projects 66.09M and 66.94M (+3.4% versus 2025).
Display-only line. World Bank data is annual: the forecasts are the yearly points marked on the chart. The monthly line between them is a straight-line interpolation for display, not a monthly forecast.
- 6 monthsinterpolated · display only
- 65.18M▲ +0.7%80%: 64.50M – 66.12M
- 12 months2026
- 65.61M▲ +1.3%80%: 64.26M – 67.48M
- 24 months2027
- 66.09M▲ +2.1%80%: 63.86M – 68.12M
- 36 months2028
- 66.94M▲ +3.4%80%: 64.83M – 69.66M
Backtest · last 5 years
How accurate has this been?
| Horizon | Tests | Avg. error | Naive error | In 80% range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 5 | 0.50M | 0.84M | 100% |
| 24 months | 4 | 0.14M | 1.67M | 100% |
| 36 months | 3 | 0.11M | 2.51M | 100% |
We re-ran the model as if standing at past dates, using only the data available then. Avg. error is the mean absolute gap between the median and what happened; naive assumes no change from the last value. A well-calibrated 80% range contains about 80% of outcomes. Annual series have few test points, so treat these as rough. Methodology
Source data
Recent values
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.75M | +1.16% |
| 2024 | 64.01M | +1.26% |
| 2023 | 63.21M | +1.34% |
| 2022 | 62.38M | +1.42% |
| 2021 | 61.50M | +1.55% |
| 2020 | 60.56M | +1.64% |
| 2019 | 59.59M | +1.66% |
| 2018 | 58.61M | +1.70% |
| 2017 | 57.64M | +0.66% |
| 2016 | 57.26M | +0.94% |
About this forecast
- Source
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · series SP.POP.TOTL
- Data through
- 2025 · 66 observations
- Forecast updated
- Sep 28, 2026
- Model
- TimesFM 2.5 (Google Research, Apache-2.0), zero-shot
More forecasts for South Africa
South Africa overviewOther population forecasts
All 40Statistical model, not financial advice. This forecast is generated automatically from public data; the 80% range means outcomes are expected outside it about one time in five. Don't make financial decisions based only on it.
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