Germany vs South Africa Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Germany vs South Africa

Table

Year	Median age
	Germany	South Africa
1960	34.7	19
1961	34.7	19
1962	34.7	18.9
1963	34.6	18.9
1964	34.5	18.9
1965	34.4	18.8
1966	34.4	18.8
1967	34.3	18.8
1968	34.2	18.8
1969	34.1	18.8
1970	34.3	18.8
1971	34.4	18.8
1972	34.6	18.8
1973	34.7	18.8
1974	35	18.9
1975	35.5	18.9
1976	35.8	19
1977	36.1	19.1
1978	36.3	19.2
1979	36.4	19.3
1980	36.5	19.4
1981	36.5	19.6
1982	36.6	19.8
1983	36.7	20
1984	37	20.2
1985	37.1	20.4
1986	37.2	20.5
1987	37.4	20.7
1988	37.6	20.9
1989	37.6	21.1
1990	37.6	21.3
1991	37.7	21.5
1992	37.8	21.5
1993	37.9	21.9
1994	38.1	22
1995	38.4	21.5
1996	38.6	21.2
1997	38.9	21.2
1998	39.3	21.4
1999	39.7	21.6
2000	40	21.9
2001	40.4	22.2
2002	40.8	22.4
2003	41.2	22.8
2004	41.6	23.1
2005	42	23.3
2006	42.5	23.5
2007	43.1	23.8
2008	43.5	24
2009	43.9	24.3
2010	44.2	24.6
2011	44.6	25
2012	45.1	25.3
2013	45.5	25.7
2014	45.7	26
2015	45.7	26.4
2016	45.7	26.7
2017	45.8	27
2018	45.8	27.5
2019	45.8	27.9
2020	45.8	28.3
2021	45.9	28.6
2022	46	28.9
2023	46.2	29.2
2024	46.3	29.5
2025	46.5	29.7
2026	46.7	29.9
2027	46.8	30.1
2028	47	30.3
2029	47.1	30.4
2030	47.3	30.6
2031	47.5	30.7
2032	47.6	30.9
2033	47.8	31
2034	47.9	31
2035	48.1	31.2
2036	48.3	31.3
2037	48.6	31.5
2038	48.8	31.6
2039	49	31.8
2040	49.1	32
2041	49.2	32.2
2042	49.3	32.3
2043	49.3	32.5
2044	49.3	32.6
2045	49.3	32.8
2046	49.3	32.9
2047	49.3	33
2048	49.2	33.1
2049	49.1	33.2
2050	48.9	33.3

In 1960, the median age in Germany was 34.7 years compared to 19 years in South Africa. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 46.3 years in Germany and to 29.5 years in South Africa.

According to United Nations projections, the median age in Germany is expected to increased to around 48.9 years by 2050 compared to 33.3 years in South Africa. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Germany		South Africa
	Male	Female	Male	Female
0-4	2.33%	2.2%	4.65%	4.58%
5-9	2.48%	2.36%	4.19%	4.17%
10-14	2.33%	2.21%	4.16%	4.14%
15-19	2.35%	2.22%	4.21%	4.16%
20-24	2.58%	2.39%	4.04%	3.93%
25-29	2.98%	2.71%	4.34%	4.37%
30-34	3.25%	3.03%	4.42%	4.52%
35-39	3.4%	3.23%	4.2%	4.25%
40-44	3.23%	3.16%	3.64%	3.66%
45-49	2.97%	2.95%	2.77%	2.86%
50-54	3.28%	3.27%	2.18%	2.44%
55-59	4.05%	4.04%	1.76%	2.17%
60-64	3.86%	3.95%	1.51%	1.96%
65-69	3.08%	3.31%	1.14%	1.55%
70-74	2.49%	2.89%	0.74%	1.11%
75-79	1.76%	2.14%	0.36%	0.63%
80+	2.96%	4.57%	0.34%	0.81%

The chart above is a variation of a population pyramid and represents a comparison of age and gender structure. Germany has low demographic potential with 35.4% of people in the 0-34 age group compared to 59.9% and average potential in South Africa.

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Germany			South Africa
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	48.7%	31.7%	17.1%	83.4%	77.2%	6.22%
1961	50.1%	32.6%	17.5%	83.4%	77.2%	6.2%
1962	51.4%	33.4%	18%	83.4%	77.2%	6.18%
1963	52.5%	34.1%	18.4%	83.3%	77.1%	6.19%
1964	53.6%	34.7%	18.9%	83.3%	77.1%	6.22%
1965	54.6%	35.2%	19.3%	83.5%	77.2%	6.26%
1966	55.5%	35.7%	19.8%	83.8%	77.5%	6.32%
1967	56.7%	36.3%	20.4%	84%	77.7%	6.39%
1968	57.6%	36.7%	21%	84.3%	77.8%	6.46%
1969	58%	36.7%	21.2%	84.5%	77.9%	6.54%
1970	58.3%	36.7%	21.6%	84.6%	78%	6.61%
1971	58.5%	36.5%	22%	84.7%	78%	6.67%
1972	58.4%	36.1%	22.3%	84.6%	77.9%	6.72%
1973	58%	35.4%	22.6%	84.5%	77.7%	6.76%
1974	57.6%	34.6%	23%	84.3%	77.5%	6.79%
1975	57%	33.7%	23.3%	84%	77.2%	6.83%
1976	56.2%	32.7%	23.5%	83.7%	76.9%	6.85%
1977	55.3%	31.5%	23.7%	83.3%	76.4%	6.87%
1978	54.3%	30.4%	23.9%	82.6%	75.7%	6.88%
1979	53.1%	29.2%	23.9%	82%	75.1%	6.89%
1980	51.6%	28%	23.7%	80.9%	74%	6.88%
1981	49.8%	26.8%	23%	79.6%	72.7%	6.87%
1982	47.8%	25.7%	22.1%	78.4%	71.5%	6.88%
1983	46%	24.6%	21.3%	77.5%	70.6%	6.91%
1984	44.6%	23.7%	20.9%	76.7%	69.8%	6.95%
1985	44%	23.1%	20.9%	76%	69%	6.98%
1986	43.8%	22.7%	21.1%	75.2%	68.2%	6.98%
1987	43.8%	22.5%	21.4%	74.4%	67.4%	6.96%
1988	44.1%	22.6%	21.5%	73.5%	66.6%	6.93%
1989	44.4%	22.9%	21.5%	72.6%	65.7%	6.86%
1990	44.8%	23.3%	21.5%	71.5%	64.7%	6.78%
1991	45.3%	23.6%	21.6%	70.9%	64.1%	6.74%
1992	45.5%	23.7%	21.7%	71.1%	64.3%	6.82%
1993	45.8%	23.8%	21.9%	70.2%	63.4%	6.79%
1994	46.1%	23.9%	22.2%	70.2%	63.3%	6.89%
1995	46.3%	23.8%	22.5%	71.5%	64.3%	7.18%
1996	46.4%	23.6%	22.8%	72%	64.6%	7.46%
1997	46.5%	23.6%	22.9%	71.6%	63.9%	7.69%
1998	46.6%	23.4%	23.2%	69.8%	62%	7.79%
1999	46.8%	23.2%	23.7%	67.8%	60%	7.84%
2000	47.3%	23.1%	24.2%	65.7%	57.8%	7.87%
2001	47.8%	22.9%	24.9%	63.5%	55.7%	7.88%
2002	48.2%	22.6%	25.6%	61.4%	53.5%	7.88%
2003	48.7%	22.3%	26.3%	59.5%	51.6%	7.9%
2004	49.3%	22%	27.3%	57.9%	49.9%	7.93%
2005	50%	21.7%	28.3%	56.7%	48.7%	7.98%
2006	50.8%	21.4%	29.4%	55.7%	47.7%	8.03%
2007	51.5%	21.2%	30.3%	54.8%	46.8%	8.05%
2008	51.8%	21%	30.8%	54.2%	46.1%	8.07%
2009	52.2%	20.9%	31.2%	53.7%	45.6%	8.07%
2010	52.1%	20.8%	31.3%	53%	45%	8.03%
2011	51.7%	20.6%	31.1%	52.4%	44.4%	7.99%
2012	51.6%	20.3%	31.3%	51.9%	43.9%	7.97%
2013	51.6%	20.1%	31.6%	51.5%	43.5%	8.01%
2014	51.8%	20%	31.8%	51.1%	43.1%	8.06%
2015	52.1%	20.1%	32%	50.8%	42.7%	8.1%
2016	52.6%	20.3%	32.2%	51.1%	42.8%	8.27%
2017	53.3%	20.6%	32.6%	51.3%	42.8%	8.51%
2018	53.9%	20.9%	33%	50.7%	42%	8.7%
2019	54.5%	21.1%	33.4%	50.1%	41.2%	8.92%
2020	55.3%	21.4%	33.9%	49.5%	40.4%	9.13%
2021	56.2%	21.7%	34.6%	48.9%	39.6%	9.28%
2022	57.2%	21.9%	35.3%	48.6%	39.1%	9.45%
2023	58%	22%	36%	48.4%	38.7%	9.67%
2024	59%	22.1%	36.9%	48.3%	38.4%	9.92%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64.

Age dependency in Germany increased from 49.3% to 59% between 2004 and 2024.

In South Africa, the ratio of dependent people decreased from 57.9% to 48.3% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of young people and an increased proportion of people aged 65+.

Working age demographic

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Germany	South Africa
1960	67.2%	54.5%
1961	66.6%	54.5%
1962	66.1%	54.5%
1963	65.6%	54.6%
1964	65.1%	54.6%
1965	64.7%	54.5%
1966	64.3%	54.4%
1967	63.8%	54.3%
1968	63.4%	54.3%
1969	63.3%	54.2%
1970	63.2%	54.2%
1971	63.1%	54.2%
1972	63.1%	54.2%
1973	63.3%	54.2%
1974	63.5%	54.3%
1975	63.7%	54.3%
1976	64%	54.4%
1977	64.4%	54.6%
1978	64.8%	54.8%
1979	65.3%	55%
1980	65.9%	55.3%
1981	66.8%	55.7%
1982	67.6%	56.1%
1983	68.5%	56.3%
1984	69.2%	56.6%
1985	69.5%	56.8%
1986	69.5%	57.1%
1987	69.5%	57.3%
1988	69.4%	57.6%
1989	69.3%	57.9%
1990	69%	58.3%
1991	68.8%	58.5%
1992	68.7%	58.4%
1993	68.6%	58.8%
1994	68.5%	58.8%
1995	68.4%	58.3%
1996	68.3%	58.1%
1997	68.3%	58.3%
1998	68.2%	58.9%
1999	68.1%	59.6%
2000	67.9%	60.3%
2001	67.7%	61.1%
2002	67.5%	62%
2003	67.3%	62.7%
2004	67%	63.3%
2005	66.6%	63.8%
2006	66.3%	64.2%
2007	66%	64.6%
2008	65.9%	64.9%
2009	65.7%	65.1%
2010	65.7%	65.3%
2011	65.9%	65.6%
2012	66%	65.8%
2013	66%	66%
2014	65.9%	66.2%
2015	65.7%	66.3%
2016	65.5%	66.2%
2017	65.2%	66.1%
2018	65%	66.4%
2019	64.7%	66.6%
2020	64.4%	66.9%
2021	64%	67.2%
2022	63.6%	67.3%
2023	63.3%	67.4%
2024	62.9%	67.4%
2025	62.4%	67.4%
2026	61.9%	67.3%
2027	61.4%	67.3%
2028	60.9%	67.2%
2029	60.4%	67.2%
2030	59.9%	67.1%
2031	59.5%	67%
2032	59.1%	67%
2033	58.7%	67.1%
2034	58.4%	67.2%
2035	58.2%	67.4%
2036	58%	67.6%
2037	57.9%	67.7%
2038	57.8%	67.9%
2039	57.8%	68%
2040	57.8%	68.1%
2041	57.8%	68.1%
2042	57.7%	68.2%
2043	57.7%	68.2%
2044	57.6%	68.1%
2045	57.4%	68%
2046	57.2%	67.9%
2047	57.1%	67.8%
2048	56.9%	67.6%
2049	56.7%	67.4%
2050	56.6%	67.2%

Between 2004 and 2024, the share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 changed from 67% to 62.9% in Germany and from 63.3% to 67.4% in South Africa.

Share of young demographic (0-14 years old)

Table

Year	Share of people 0-14 years old
	Germany	South Africa
1960	21.3%	42.1%
1961	21.7%	42.1%
1962	22%	42.1%
1963	22.3%	42.1%
1964	22.6%	42.1%
1965	22.8%	42.1%
1966	23%	42.1%
1967	23.1%	42.2%
1968	23.3%	42.2%
1969	23.3%	42.2%
1970	23.2%	42.3%
1971	23%	42.2%
1972	22.8%	42.2%
1973	22.4%	42.1%
1974	22%	42%
1975	21.5%	41.9%
1976	20.9%	41.8%
1977	20.3%	41.7%
1978	19.7%	41.5%
1979	19.1%	41.3%
1980	18.5%	40.9%
1981	17.9%	40.5%
1982	17.4%	40.1%
1983	16.9%	39.8%
1984	16.4%	39.5%
1985	16%	39.2%
1986	15.8%	38.9%
1987	15.6%	38.7%
1988	15.7%	38.4%
1989	15.9%	38.1%
1990	16.1%	37.7%
1991	16.3%	37.5%
1992	16.3%	37.6%
1993	16.3%	37.3%
1994	16.3%	37.2%
1995	16.3%	37.5%
1996	16.2%	37.5%
1997	16.1%	37.2%
1998	15.9%	36.5%
1999	15.8%	35.7%
2000	15.7%	34.9%
2001	15.5%	34%
2002	15.3%	33.2%
2003	15%	32.3%
2004	14.8%	31.6%
2005	14.5%	31.1%
2006	14.2%	30.6%
2007	14%	30.2%
2008	13.8%	29.9%
2009	13.8%	29.7%
2010	13.7%	29.4%
2011	13.6%	29.1%
2012	13.4%	28.9%
2013	13.2%	28.7%
2014	13.2%	28.5%
2015	13.2%	28.3%
2016	13.3%	28.3%
2017	13.5%	28.3%
2018	13.6%	27.9%
2019	13.7%	27.4%
2020	13.8%	27%
2021	13.9%	26.6%
2022	13.9%	26.3%
2023	13.9%	26.1%
2024	13.9%	25.9%
2025	13.9%	25.7%
2026	13.9%	25.6%
2027	13.8%	25.4%
2028	13.8%	25.3%
2029	13.7%	25.2%
2030	13.6%	25.2%
2031	13.5%	25.1%
2032	13.4%	25%
2033	13.2%	24.8%
2034	13.1%	24.5%
2035	12.9%	24.3%
2036	12.8%	23.9%
2037	12.7%	23.6%
2038	12.6%	23.4%
2039	12.6%	23.1%
2040	12.6%	22.9%
2041	12.5%	22.7%
2042	12.5%	22.5%
2043	12.6%	22.4%
2044	12.6%	22.2%
2045	12.7%	22.1%
2046	12.7%	21.9%
2047	12.8%	21.8%
2048	12.9%	21.7%
2049	13%	21.6%
2050	13.1%	21.5%

The share of young people aged below 15 is 13.9% in Germany and 25.9% in South Africa. Birth rates in Germany compared to South Africa .

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Germany	South Africa
1960	11.5%	3.39%
1961	11.7%	3.38%
1962	11.9%	3.37%
1963	12.1%	3.38%
1964	12.3%	3.39%
1965	12.5%	3.41%
1966	12.7%	3.44%
1967	13%	3.47%
1968	13.3%	3.51%
1969	13.4%	3.54%
1970	13.7%	3.58%
1971	13.9%	3.61%
1972	14.1%	3.64%
1973	14.3%	3.66%
1974	14.6%	3.69%
1975	14.8%	3.71%
1976	15.1%	3.73%
1977	15.3%	3.75%
1978	15.5%	3.77%
1979	15.6%	3.79%
1980	15.6%	3.8%
1981	15.3%	3.83%
1982	15%	3.86%
1983	14.6%	3.89%
1984	14.4%	3.93%
1985	14.5%	3.97%
1986	14.7%	3.98%
1987	14.8%	3.99%
1988	14.9%	3.99%
1989	14.9%	3.98%
1990	14.9%	3.95%
1991	14.9%	3.95%
1992	14.9%	3.99%
1993	15%	3.99%
1994	15.2%	4.05%
1995	15.4%	4.19%
1996	15.5%	4.34%
1997	15.6%	4.48%
1998	15.8%	4.59%
1999	16.1%	4.67%
2000	16.5%	4.75%
2001	16.9%	4.82%
2002	17.3%	4.88%
2003	17.7%	4.95%
2004	18.3%	5.02%
2005	18.9%	5.1%
2006	19.5%	5.15%
2007	20%	5.2%
2008	20.3%	5.24%
2009	20.5%	5.25%
2010	20.6%	5.25%
2011	20.5%	5.24%
2012	20.6%	5.25%
2013	20.8%	5.29%
2014	21%	5.33%
2015	21.1%	5.37%
2016	21.1%	5.47%
2017	21.3%	5.63%
2018	21.4%	5.78%
2019	21.6%	5.95%
2020	21.8%	6.11%
2021	22.1%	6.23%
2022	22.5%	6.36%
2023	22.8%	6.52%
2024	23.2%	6.69%
2025	23.7%	6.89%
2026	24.2%	7.08%
2027	24.8%	7.26%
2028	25.3%	7.44%
2029	25.9%	7.61%
2030	26.5%	7.76%
2031	27%	7.89%
2032	27.6%	8.01%
2033	28.1%	8.14%
2034	28.5%	8.26%
2035	28.9%	8.39%
2036	29.2%	8.52%
2037	29.4%	8.64%
2038	29.5%	8.76%
2039	29.6%	8.88%
2040	29.6%	9.01%
2041	29.7%	9.15%
2042	29.7%	9.3%
2043	29.8%	9.48%
2044	29.8%	9.68%
2045	29.9%	9.9%
2046	30%	10.1%
2047	30.1%	10.4%
2048	30.2%	10.7%
2049	30.2%	11%
2050	30.3%	11.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over is 23.2% in Germany and 6.69% in South Africa. Life expectancy in Germany compared to South Africa .