North Macedonia vs South Africa Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
North Macedonia vs South Africa

Table

Year	Median age
	North Macedonia	South Africa
1960	21.8	19
1961	21.8	19
1962	21.9	18.9
1963	21.9	18.9
1964	21.9	18.9
1965	21.9	18.8
1966	22	18.8
1967	22.2	18.8
1968	22.4	18.8
1969	22.6	18.8
1970	22.8	18.8
1971	23.1	18.8
1972	23.3	18.8
1973	23.6	18.8
1974	23.9	18.9
1975	24.2	18.9
1976	24.5	19
1977	24.8	19.1
1978	25.2	19.2
1979	25.5	19.3
1980	25.9	19.4
1981	26.2	19.6
1982	26.5	19.8
1983	26.8	20
1984	27.2	20.2
1985	27.5	20.4
1986	27.8	20.5
1987	28	20.7
1988	28.3	20.9
1989	28.6	21.1
1990	28.9	21.3
1991	29.2	21.5
1992	29.6	21.5
1993	29.9	21.9
1994	30.3	22
1995	30.5	21.5
1996	30.8	21.2
1997	31	21.2
1998	31.2	21.4
1999	31.5	21.6
2000	31.9	21.9
2001	32.2	22.2
2002	32.6	22.4
2003	32.8	22.8
2004	33.2	23.1
2005	33.5	23.3
2006	33.9	23.5
2007	34.3	23.8
2008	34.7	24
2009	35.1	24.3
2010	35.5	24.6
2011	36	25
2012	36.4	25.3
2013	36.9	25.7
2014	37.3	26
2015	37.8	26.4
2016	38.3	26.7
2017	38.8	27
2018	39.4	27.5
2019	39.9	27.9
2020	40.3	28.3
2021	40.7	28.6
2022	40.9	28.9
2023	41.3	29.2
2024	41.6	29.5
2025	42	29.7
2026	42.4	29.9
2027	42.8	30.1
2028	43.1	30.3
2029	43.5	30.4
2030	43.8	30.6
2031	44.2	30.7
2032	44.5	30.9
2033	44.9	31
2034	45.2	31
2035	45.5	31.2
2036	45.8	31.3
2037	46.1	31.5
2038	46.4	31.6
2039	46.7	31.8
2040	46.9	32
2041	47.2	32.2
2042	47.4	32.3
2043	47.7	32.5
2044	47.9	32.6
2045	48.1	32.8
2046	48.2	32.9
2047	48.3	33
2048	48.5	33.1
2049	48.6	33.2
2050	48.8	33.3

In 1960, the median age in North Macedonia was 21.8 years compared to 19 years in South Africa. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 41.6 years in North Macedonia and to 29.5 years in South Africa.

According to United Nations projections, the median age in North Macedonia is expected to increased to around 48.8 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
	North Macedonia		South Africa
	Male	Female	Male	Female
0-4	2.6%	2.41%	4.65%	4.58%
5-9	2.96%	2.84%	4.19%	4.17%
10-14	3.06%	2.96%	4.16%	4.14%
15-19	2.86%	2.78%	4.21%	4.16%
20-24	2.92%	2.87%	4.04%	3.93%
25-29	3.07%	2.97%	4.34%	4.37%
30-34	3.32%	3.26%	4.42%	4.52%
35-39	3.4%	3.41%	4.2%	4.25%
40-44	3.51%	3.56%	3.64%	3.66%
45-49	3.44%	3.53%	2.77%	2.86%
50-54	3.27%	3.48%	2.18%	2.44%
55-59	3.31%	3.53%	1.76%	2.17%
60-64	3.2%	3.47%	1.51%	1.96%
65-69	2.96%	3.29%	1.14%	1.55%
70-74	2.31%	2.88%	0.74%	1.11%
75-79	1.36%	1.97%	0.36%	0.63%
80+	1.11%	2.14%	0.34%	0.81%

The chart above is a variation of a population pyramid and represents a comparison of age and gender structure. North Macedonia has low demographic potential with 40.9% 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
	North Macedonia			South Africa
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	74.4%	65.8%	8.57%	83.4%	77.2%	6.22%
1961	74.3%	65.9%	8.44%	83.4%	77.2%	6.2%
1962	73.7%	65.3%	8.35%	83.4%	77.2%	6.18%
1963	72.5%	64.2%	8.3%	83.3%	77.1%	6.19%
1964	71.1%	62.9%	8.25%	83.3%	77.1%	6.22%
1965	69.9%	61.7%	8.25%	83.5%	77.2%	6.26%
1966	68.7%	60.4%	8.29%	83.8%	77.5%	6.32%
1967	67.3%	59%	8.36%	84%	77.7%	6.39%
1968	66%	57.6%	8.43%	84.3%	77.8%	6.46%
1969	64.6%	56.1%	8.48%	84.5%	77.9%	6.54%
1970	63.3%	54.7%	8.53%	84.6%	78%	6.61%
1971	62.2%	53.6%	8.62%	84.7%	78%	6.67%
1972	61.4%	52.6%	8.73%	84.6%	77.9%	6.72%
1973	60.6%	51.7%	8.86%	84.5%	77.7%	6.76%
1974	59.7%	50.7%	9.02%	84.3%	77.5%	6.79%
1975	58.9%	49.7%	9.19%	84%	77.2%	6.83%
1976	58.3%	49%	9.37%	83.7%	76.9%	6.85%
1977	57.9%	48.3%	9.55%	83.3%	76.4%	6.87%
1978	57.2%	47.6%	9.67%	82.6%	75.7%	6.88%
1979	56.4%	46.7%	9.71%	82%	75.1%	6.89%
1980	55.5%	45.9%	9.66%	80.9%	74%	6.88%
1981	54.5%	45%	9.55%	79.6%	72.7%	6.87%
1982	53.7%	44.2%	9.47%	78.4%	71.5%	6.88%
1983	53.1%	43.7%	9.44%	77.5%	70.6%	6.91%
1984	52.6%	43.2%	9.46%	76.7%	69.8%	6.95%
1985	52.3%	42.7%	9.56%	76%	69%	6.98%
1986	52%	42.3%	9.73%	75.2%	68.2%	6.98%
1987	51.8%	41.9%	9.95%	74.4%	67.4%	6.96%
1988	51.7%	41.5%	10.2%	73.5%	66.6%	6.93%
1989	51.6%	41.1%	10.5%	72.6%	65.7%	6.86%
1990	51.5%	40.7%	10.8%	71.5%	64.7%	6.78%
1991	51.3%	40.1%	11.2%	70.9%	64.1%	6.74%
1992	51.1%	39.4%	11.7%	71.1%	64.3%	6.82%
1993	51.1%	38.8%	12.3%	70.2%	63.4%	6.79%
1994	51.4%	38.6%	12.8%	70.2%	63.3%	6.89%
1995	51.6%	38.5%	13.2%	71.5%	64.3%	7.18%
1996	51.5%	38%	13.5%	72%	64.6%	7.46%
1997	51.1%	37.4%	13.7%	71.6%	63.9%	7.69%
1998	50.8%	36.8%	14%	69.8%	62%	7.79%
1999	50.3%	36%	14.3%	67.8%	60%	7.84%
2000	49.7%	35%	14.6%	65.7%	57.8%	7.87%
2001	49%	34.1%	14.9%	63.5%	55.7%	7.88%
2002	48.5%	33.4%	15.1%	61.4%	53.5%	7.88%
2003	48%	32.7%	15.3%	59.5%	51.6%	7.9%
2004	47.5%	32%	15.4%	57.9%	49.9%	7.93%
2005	46.8%	31.2%	15.6%	56.7%	48.7%	7.98%
2006	46.2%	30.4%	15.8%	55.7%	47.7%	8.03%
2007	45.8%	29.7%	16.1%	54.8%	46.8%	8.05%
2008	45.5%	29.1%	16.3%	54.2%	46.1%	8.07%
2009	45.1%	28.5%	16.6%	53.7%	45.6%	8.07%
2010	44.8%	28%	16.8%	53%	45%	8.03%
2011	44.6%	27.5%	17.1%	52.4%	44.4%	7.99%
2012	44.6%	27.2%	17.5%	51.9%	43.9%	7.97%
2013	45%	26.9%	18.1%	51.5%	43.5%	8.01%
2014	45.5%	26.7%	18.8%	51.1%	43.1%	8.06%
2015	45.9%	26.3%	19.6%	50.8%	42.7%	8.1%
2016	46.4%	26%	20.4%	51.1%	42.8%	8.27%
2017	47.1%	25.8%	21.3%	51.3%	42.8%	8.51%
2018	48%	25.7%	22.3%	50.7%	42%	8.7%
2019	49.3%	25.7%	23.5%	50.1%	41.2%	8.92%
2020	50.5%	25.9%	24.6%	49.5%	40.4%	9.13%
2021	51.4%	26.1%	25.3%	48.9%	39.6%	9.28%
2022	52.1%	26.2%	25.9%	48.6%	39.1%	9.45%
2023	52.8%	26.1%	26.7%	48.4%	38.7%	9.67%
2024	53.5%	25.8%	27.7%	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 North Macedonia increased from 47.5% to 53.5% 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
	North Macedonia	South Africa
1960	57.3%	54.5%
1961	57.4%	54.5%
1962	57.6%	54.5%
1963	58%	54.6%
1964	58.4%	54.6%
1965	58.9%	54.5%
1966	59.3%	54.4%
1967	59.8%	54.3%
1968	60.2%	54.3%
1969	60.7%	54.2%
1970	61.3%	54.2%
1971	61.7%	54.2%
1972	62%	54.2%
1973	62.3%	54.2%
1974	62.6%	54.3%
1975	62.9%	54.3%
1976	63.2%	54.4%
1977	63.3%	54.6%
1978	63.6%	54.8%
1979	63.9%	55%
1980	64.3%	55.3%
1981	64.7%	55.7%
1982	65.1%	56.1%
1983	65.3%	56.3%
1984	65.5%	56.6%
1985	65.7%	56.8%
1986	65.8%	57.1%
1987	65.9%	57.3%
1988	65.9%	57.6%
1989	66%	57.9%
1990	66%	58.3%
1991	66.1%	58.5%
1992	66.2%	58.4%
1993	66.2%	58.8%
1994	66%	58.8%
1995	65.9%	58.3%
1996	66%	58.1%
1997	66.2%	58.3%
1998	66.3%	58.9%
1999	66.5%	59.6%
2000	66.8%	60.3%
2001	67.1%	61.1%
2002	67.3%	62%
2003	67.6%	62.7%
2004	67.8%	63.3%
2005	68.1%	63.8%
2006	68.4%	64.2%
2007	68.6%	64.6%
2008	68.7%	64.9%
2009	68.9%	65.1%
2010	69%	65.3%
2011	69.1%	65.6%
2012	69.1%	65.8%
2013	69%	66%
2014	68.7%	66.2%
2015	68.6%	66.3%
2016	68.3%	66.2%
2017	68%	66.1%
2018	67.6%	66.4%
2019	67%	66.6%
2020	66.4%	66.9%
2021	66.1%	67.2%
2022	65.8%	67.3%
2023	65.4%	67.4%
2024	65.2%	67.4%
2025	64.9%	67.4%
2026	64.8%	67.3%
2027	64.6%	67.3%
2028	64.5%	67.2%
2029	64.4%	67.2%
2030	64.3%	67.1%
2031	64.2%	67%
2032	64.1%	67%
2033	64.1%	67.1%
2034	64%	67.2%
2035	63.9%	67.4%
2036	63.7%	67.6%
2037	63.6%	67.7%
2038	63.4%	67.9%
2039	63.1%	68%
2040	62.8%	68.1%
2041	62.5%	68.1%
2042	62.2%	68.2%
2043	61.9%	68.2%
2044	61.5%	68.1%
2045	61.1%	68%
2046	60.7%	67.9%
2047	60.4%	67.8%
2048	60%	67.6%
2049	59.6%	67.4%
2050	59.3%	67.2%

Between 2004 and 2024, the share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 changed from 67.8% to 65.2% in North Macedonia 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
	North Macedonia	South Africa
1960	37.7%	42.1%
1961	37.8%	42.1%
1962	37.6%	42.1%
1963	37.2%	42.1%
1964	36.7%	42.1%
1965	36.3%	42.1%
1966	35.8%	42.1%
1967	35.2%	42.2%
1968	34.7%	42.2%
1969	34.1%	42.2%
1970	33.5%	42.3%
1971	33%	42.2%
1972	32.6%	42.2%
1973	32.2%	42.1%
1974	31.7%	42%
1975	31.3%	41.9%
1976	30.9%	41.8%
1977	30.6%	41.7%
1978	30.3%	41.5%
1979	29.9%	41.3%
1980	29.5%	40.9%
1981	29.1%	40.5%
1982	28.8%	40.1%
1983	28.5%	39.8%
1984	28.3%	39.5%
1985	28.1%	39.2%
1986	27.8%	38.9%
1987	27.6%	38.7%
1988	27.4%	38.4%
1989	27.1%	38.1%
1990	26.9%	37.7%
1991	26.5%	37.5%
1992	26.1%	37.6%
1993	25.7%	37.3%
1994	25.5%	37.2%
1995	25.4%	37.5%
1996	25.1%	37.5%
1997	24.8%	37.2%
1998	24.4%	36.5%
1999	23.9%	35.7%
2000	23.4%	34.9%
2001	22.9%	34%
2002	22.5%	33.2%
2003	22.1%	32.3%
2004	21.7%	31.6%
2005	21.2%	31.1%
2006	20.8%	30.6%
2007	20.4%	30.2%
2008	20%	29.9%
2009	19.7%	29.7%
2010	19.3%	29.4%
2011	19%	29.1%
2012	18.8%	28.9%
2013	18.6%	28.7%
2014	18.3%	28.5%
2015	18%	28.3%
2016	17.8%	28.3%
2017	17.5%	28.3%
2018	17.4%	27.9%
2019	17.2%	27.4%
2020	17.2%	27%
2021	17.2%	26.6%
2022	17.2%	26.3%
2023	17.1%	26.1%
2024	16.8%	25.9%
2025	16.5%	25.7%
2026	16.2%	25.6%
2027	15.9%	25.4%
2028	15.6%	25.3%
2029	15.3%	25.2%
2030	14.9%	25.2%
2031	14.6%	25.1%
2032	14.3%	25%
2033	14%	24.8%
2034	13.7%	24.5%
2035	13.5%	24.3%
2036	13.3%	23.9%
2037	13.1%	23.6%
2038	13%	23.4%
2039	13%	23.1%
2040	13%	22.9%
2041	12.9%	22.7%
2042	12.9%	22.5%
2043	13%	22.4%
2044	13%	22.2%
2045	13%	22.1%
2046	13%	21.9%
2047	13%	21.8%
2048	13.1%	21.7%
2049	13.1%	21.6%
2050	13.1%	21.5%

The share of young people aged below 15 is 16.8% in North Macedonia and 25.9% in South Africa. Birth rates in North Macedonia compared to South Africa .

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	North Macedonia	South Africa
1960	4.91%	3.39%
1961	4.84%	3.38%
1962	4.81%	3.37%
1963	4.81%	3.38%
1964	4.82%	3.39%
1965	4.86%	3.41%
1966	4.92%	3.44%
1967	4.99%	3.47%
1968	5.08%	3.51%
1969	5.15%	3.54%
1970	5.23%	3.58%
1971	5.31%	3.61%
1972	5.41%	3.64%
1973	5.52%	3.66%
1974	5.65%	3.69%
1975	5.78%	3.71%
1976	5.92%	3.73%
1977	6.05%	3.75%
1978	6.15%	3.77%
1979	6.21%	3.79%
1980	6.21%	3.8%
1981	6.18%	3.83%
1982	6.16%	3.86%
1983	6.17%	3.89%
1984	6.2%	3.93%
1985	6.28%	3.97%
1986	6.4%	3.98%
1987	6.55%	3.99%
1988	6.72%	3.99%
1989	6.91%	3.98%
1990	7.13%	3.95%
1991	7.41%	3.95%
1992	7.75%	3.99%
1993	8.11%	3.99%
1994	8.43%	4.05%
1995	8.69%	4.19%
1996	8.88%	4.34%
1997	9.06%	4.48%
1998	9.28%	4.59%
1999	9.52%	4.67%
2000	9.76%	4.75%
2001	9.98%	4.82%
2002	10.2%	4.88%
2003	10.3%	4.95%
2004	10.5%	5.02%
2005	10.6%	5.1%
2006	10.8%	5.15%
2007	11%	5.2%
2008	11.2%	5.24%
2009	11.4%	5.25%
2010	11.6%	5.25%
2011	11.8%	5.24%
2012	12.1%	5.25%
2013	12.5%	5.29%
2014	12.9%	5.33%
2015	13.4%	5.37%
2016	13.9%	5.47%
2017	14.5%	5.63%
2018	15.1%	5.78%
2019	15.8%	5.95%
2020	16.3%	6.11%
2021	16.7%	6.23%
2022	17%	6.36%
2023	17.5%	6.52%
2024	18%	6.69%
2025	18.5%	6.89%
2026	19%	7.08%
2027	19.4%	7.26%
2028	19.9%	7.44%
2029	20.3%	7.61%
2030	20.8%	7.76%
2031	21.2%	7.89%
2032	21.6%	8.01%
2033	22%	8.14%
2034	22.3%	8.26%
2035	22.6%	8.39%
2036	23%	8.52%
2037	23.3%	8.64%
2038	23.6%	8.76%
2039	23.9%	8.88%
2040	24.2%	9.01%
2041	24.6%	9.15%
2042	24.9%	9.3%
2043	25.2%	9.48%
2044	25.5%	9.68%
2045	25.9%	9.9%
2046	26.2%	10.1%
2047	26.6%	10.4%
2048	26.9%	10.7%
2049	27.3%	11%
2050	27.6%	11.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over is 18% in North Macedonia and 6.69% in South Africa. Life expectancy in North Macedonia compared to South Africa .