[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa

South Africa: [ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age was 69.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
69.6%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
55th
of 74 countries
All-time high
81.5%
in 2020
All-time low
69.0%
in 2000
Years of data
5
2000–2024

[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 692016: 81.42020: 81.52022: 69.12024: 69.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa is 69.6%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa peaked at 81.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 55th of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for [ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age receiving a pension, by sex (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 69.0%
2016 81.4% +18.0%
2020 81.5% +0.1%
2022 69.1% -15.2%
2024 69.6% +0.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 69.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.2%, 72% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 69.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.9%, 2.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 69.0% 69.0% 69.0% 1
2010s 81.4% 81.4% 81.4% 1
2020s 73.4% 69.1% 81.5% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 52 Nepal 77.2% compare
  2. 53 Cabo Verde 76.7% compare
  3. 54 Australia 74.4% compare
  4. 56 Colombia 59.6% compare
  5. 57 Jordan 57.5% compare
  6. 58 Sao Tome and Principe 54.8% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More infrastructure data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa?
[ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa was 69.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 81.5% in 2020.
What is the lowest [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age?
South Africa ranks 55th out of 74 countries with data for 2024.
Is [ilo] proportion of population above statutory pensionable age rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of [ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age receiving a pension, by sex (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/ilo-proportion-of-population-above-statutory-pensionable-age-receiving-a-pension-by-sex/south-africa/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/ilo-proportion-of-population-above-statutory-pensionable-age-receiving-a-pension-by-sex/south-africa/">[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
[ILO] Proportion of population above statutory pensionable age receiving a pension, by sex (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
111 places, 777 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed