In 2024 South Africa had a population of 63 million. Black people were the majority at 51.5 million – 81.7% of the total. There were 5.3 million coloured people (8.5%), 4.5-million white people  (7.2%) and 1.6-million Indian/Asian people (2.6%).

• READ MORE: South Africa’s population

These numbers come from the 2024 edition of the mid-year population estimates produced annually by Statistics South Africa, the country’s state statistics agency.

These ratios have changed over the three decades since South Africa became a democracy in 1994. The percentage of black people has increased, that of coloured and Indian/Asian people has stayed roughly the same, while the share of white people has shrunk.

The 1996 census, the first of the democratic era, recorded a population of 40.6 million. Black people made up 76.7% of the total, coloured people 8.9%, Indian/Asian people 2.6%, white people 10.9% and an uncategorised group 0.9%.

In about 2013 the coloured population overtook the white population as South Africa’s second-largest group.

READ MORE: Infographic: Census counts of South Africa’s population

Researched, written and designed by Mary Alexander.
Updated 10 March 2024.