Non-agricultural population in South Africa
South Africa: Non-agricultural population was 46.12 million FAO, number in 2012. ▲ Rising
Non-agricultural population in South Africa, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
In 2012, non-agricultural population in South Africa stood at 46.12 million FAO, number. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, non-agricultural population in South Africa peaked at 46.12 million FAO, number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 21.95 million FAO, number, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Non-agricultural population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.95 million FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 22.67 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 23.42 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 24.18 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 24.96 million FAO, number | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 25.74 million FAO, number | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 26.50 million FAO, number | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 27.25 million FAO, number | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 28.02 million FAO, number | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 28.83 million FAO, number | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 29.69 million FAO, number | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 30.64 million FAO, number | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 31.64 million FAO, number | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 32.66 million FAO, number | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 33.66 million FAO, number | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 34.61 million FAO, number | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 35.49 million FAO, number | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 36.30 million FAO, number | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 37.06 million FAO, number | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 37.81 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 38.56 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 39.31 million FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 40.06 million FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 40.80 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 41.53 million FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 42.23 million FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 42.90 million FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 43.53 million FAO, number | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 44.15 million FAO, number | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 44.71 million FAO, number | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 45.23 million FAO, number | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 45.70 million FAO, number | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 46.12 million FAO, number | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.35 million FAO, number | 21.95 million FAO, number | 28.83 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.96 million FAO, number | 29.69 million FAO, number | 37.81 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.78 million FAO, number | 38.56 million FAO, number | 44.71 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.68 million FAO, number | 45.23 million FAO, number | 46.12 million FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0126 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate 42.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per capita 0.0047 t per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is non-agricultural population in South Africa?
- Non-agricultural population in South Africa was 46.12 million FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest non-agricultural population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 46.12 million FAO, number in 2012.
- What is the lowest non-agricultural population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.95 million FAO, number in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for non-agricultural population?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is non-agricultural population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Non-agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The non-agricultural population is obtained as a residual of agricultural population from the total population.