China vs South Africa
China vs South Africa: People aged 65 and over
People aged 65 and over in 2023: 14.3% in China and 6.5% in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 7.8 percentage points, or 2.2 times that in South Africa.
% of people · UN
What the numbers say
- China has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 45.8% and South Africa at 18.8% in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 10% in 2023.
Every year
% of people · UN
| Year | China | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14.3 | 6.5 | 10 |
| 2022 | 13.8 | 6.4 | 9.8 |
| 2021 | 13.2 | 6.2 | 9.5 |
| 2020 | 12.7 | 6.1 | 9.3 |
| 2019 | 12.1 | 5.9 | 9.1 |
| 2018 | 11.5 | 5.8 | 8.9 |
| 2017 | 11 | 5.6 | 8.7 |
| 2016 | 10.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 |
| 2015 | 10.1 | 5.4 | 8.3 |
| 2014 | 9.7 | 5.3 | 8.1 |
| 2013 | 9.4 | 5.3 | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 9.1 | 5.3 | 7.8 |
| 2011 | 8.9 | 5.2 | 7.7 |
| 2010 | 8.7 | 5.2 | 7.6 |
| 2009 | 8.5 | 5.2 | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 7.5 |
| 2007 | 8.2 | 5.2 | 7.4 |
| 2006 | 8.1 | 5.2 | 7.3 |
| 2005 | 7.9 | 5.1 | 7.3 |
| 2004 | 7.7 | 5 | 7.2 |
| 2003 | 7.6 | 5 | 7.1 |
| 2002 | 7.4 | 4.9 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7.2 | 4.8 | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 7 | 4.7 | 6.8 |
| 1999 | 6.8 | 4.7 | 6.8 |
| 1998 | 6.6 | 4.6 | 6.7 |
| 1997 | 6.4 | 4.5 | 6.6 |
| 1996 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 6.5 |
| 1995 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 6.5 |
| 1994 | 5.9 | 4 | 6.4 |
| 1993 | 5.7 | 4 | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 5.6 | 4 | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 6.1 |
| 1990 | 5.3 | 4 | 6.1 |
| 1989 | 5.2 | 4 | 6 |
| 1988 | 5.1 | 4 | 6 |
| 1987 | 5 | 4 | 5.9 |
| 1986 | 4.9 | 4 | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 4.8 | 4 | 5.8 |
| 1984 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| 1983 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| 1982 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| 1981 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 5.8 |
| 1980 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 5.8 |
| 1979 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 5.8 |
| 1978 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 5.7 |
| 1977 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 5.6 |
| 1976 | 4 | 3.7 | 5.6 |
| 1975 | 4 | 3.7 | 5.5 |
| 1974 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 5.5 |
| 1973 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 5.4 |
| 1972 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 5.4 |
| 1971 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 5.3 |
| 1970 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 5.3 |
| 1969 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| 1968 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| 1967 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| 1966 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 5.1 |
| 1965 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 5.1 |
| 1964 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1963 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1962 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1961 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1960 | 4 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1959 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 5 |
| 1958 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 5 |
| 1955 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 5 |
| 1954 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 5 |
| 1953 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 5 |
| 1952 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 5 |
| 1951 | 4.9 | 4 | 5 |
| 1950 | 5 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | China | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14.7 | 6.7 | 10.2 |
| 2025 | 14.9 | 6.9 | 10.4 |
| 2026 | 15.1 | 7.1 | 10.6 |
| 2027 | 15.6 | 7.3 | 10.8 |
| 2028 | 16.5 | 7.4 | 11.1 |
| 2029 | 17.5 | 7.6 | 11.5 |
| 2030 | 18.3 | 7.8 | 11.8 |
| 2031 | 19.2 | 7.9 | 12 |
| 2032 | 20 | 8 | 12.3 |
| 2033 | 20.9 | 8.1 | 12.6 |
| 2034 | 21.8 | 8.3 | 12.8 |
| 2035 | 22.8 | 8.4 | 13.1 |
| 2036 | 23.7 | 8.5 | 13.4 |
| 2037 | 24.6 | 8.6 | 13.7 |
| 2038 | 25.4 | 8.8 | 13.9 |
| 2039 | 26.1 | 8.9 | 14.1 |
| 2040 | 26.6 | 9 | 14.3 |
| 2041 | 27.1 | 9.2 | 14.5 |
| 2042 | 27.5 | 9.3 | 14.7 |
| 2043 | 27.8 | 9.5 | 14.9 |
| 2044 | 28.1 | 9.7 | 15 |
| 2045 | 28.5 | 9.9 | 15.2 |
| 2046 | 28.9 | 10.2 | 15.4 |
| 2047 | 29.4 | 10.4 | 15.7 |
| 2048 | 29.9 | 10.7 | 15.9 |
| 2049 | 30.4 | 11 | 16.1 |
| 2050 | 30.9 | 11.3 | 16.3 |
| 2051 | 31.6 | 11.6 | 16.6 |
| 2052 | 32.4 | 11.8 | 16.8 |
| 2053 | 33.2 | 12.1 | 17.1 |
| 2054 | 34 | 12.4 | 17.3 |
| 2055 | 34.8 | 12.6 | 17.6 |
| 2056 | 35.6 | 12.9 | 17.8 |
| 2057 | 36.1 | 13.1 | 18 |
| 2058 | 36.5 | 13.4 | 18.2 |
| 2059 | 36.9 | 13.6 | 18.4 |
| 2060 | 37.3 | 13.7 | 18.5 |
| 2061 | 37.6 | 13.9 | 18.7 |
| 2062 | 37.9 | 14 | 18.8 |
| 2063 | 38.1 | 14.1 | 19 |
| 2064 | 38.4 | 14.2 | 19.1 |
| 2065 | 38.6 | 14.3 | 19.3 |
| 2066 | 38.9 | 14.4 | 19.4 |
| 2067 | 39.1 | 14.4 | 19.6 |
| 2068 | 39.4 | 14.4 | 19.7 |
| 2069 | 39.6 | 14.5 | 19.9 |
| 2070 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 20 |
| 2071 | 40.2 | 14.6 | 20.2 |
| 2072 | 40.6 | 14.8 | 20.3 |
| 2073 | 41 | 14.9 | 20.5 |
| 2074 | 41.5 | 15 | 20.7 |
| 2075 | 42 | 15.1 | 20.9 |
| 2076 | 42.5 | 15.3 | 21.1 |
| 2077 | 43.1 | 15.4 | 21.3 |
| 2078 | 43.8 | 15.5 | 21.5 |
| 2079 | 44.4 | 15.5 | 21.7 |
| 2080 | 45.1 | 15.6 | 21.9 |
| 2081 | 45.7 | 15.7 | 22.1 |
| 2082 | 46.5 | 15.8 | 22.3 |
| 2083 | 47.1 | 15.9 | 22.4 |
| 2084 | 47.5 | 16.1 | 22.6 |
| 2085 | 47.7 | 16.3 | 22.7 |
| 2086 | 47.8 | 16.5 | 22.8 |
| 2087 | 47.7 | 16.7 | 22.9 |
| 2088 | 47.6 | 16.9 | 22.9 |
| 2089 | 47.4 | 17.1 | 23 |
| 2090 | 47.2 | 17.3 | 23.1 |
| 2091 | 47.1 | 17.4 | 23.2 |
| 2092 | 46.9 | 17.6 | 23.3 |
| 2093 | 46.8 | 17.8 | 23.3 |
| 2094 | 46.6 | 17.9 | 23.4 |
| 2095 | 46.5 | 18.1 | 23.5 |
| 2096 | 46.3 | 18.2 | 23.6 |
| 2097 | 46.2 | 18.4 | 23.7 |
| 2098 | 46.1 | 18.5 | 23.7 |
| 2099 | 45.9 | 18.6 | 23.8 |
| 2100 | 45.8 | 18.8 | 23.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of the population aged 65 or older.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageChina: 39.1 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsChina: 880 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025