Global Leaderboard 100 in view

Most Famous People from South Africa

All 152,953
South Africa 631
15 NM Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela South African Politician 1918–2013
827 CT Charlize Theron Charlize Theron South African Actor b. 1975
925 EM Elon Musk Elon Musk South African Magnate b. 1971
968 DT Desmond Tutu Desmond Tutu South African Priest b. 1931
1,997 JM J. M. Coetzee J. M. Coetzee South African Novelist b. 1940
2,033 MM Miriam Makeba South African Singer 1932–2008
2,638 SB Steve Biko Steve Biko South African Civil Rights 1946–1977
2,953 JZ Jacob Zuma Jacob Zuma South African Politician b. 1942
3,090 OP Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius South African Athletic b. 1986
3,557 NG Nadine Gordimer Nadine Gordimer South African Poet 1923–2014
3,813 JS Jan Smuts Jan Smuts South African Minister 1870–1950
3,826 CB Christiaan Barnard Christiaan Barnard South African Surgeon 1922–2001
4,590 PK Paul Kruger Paul Kruger South African Politician 1825–1904
5,192 TM Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mbeki South African Politician b. 1942
7,191 S Shaka Shaka South African Roi 1787–1828
7,696 WM Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Winnie Madikizela-Mandela South African Politician 1936–2018
7,766 HM Hugh Masekela Hugh Masekela South African Trumpet 1939–2018
8,567 PW P. W. Botha P. W. Botha South African Politician 1916–2006
10,889 AK Alice Krige Alice Krige South African Actor b. 1954
11,203 SB Sydney Brenner Sydney Brenner South African Biologist 1927–2019
12,465 AP Alan Paton Alan Paton South African Writer 1903–1988
12,628 OT Oliver Tambo Oliver Tambo South African Politician 1917–1993
13,496 LD Lucky Dube Lucky Dube South African Singer 1964–2007
13,539 CS Caster Semenya Caster Semenya South African Runner b. 1991
16,785 LB Louis Botha Louis Botha South African Politician 1862–1919
16,903 AB André Brink André Brink South African Novelist 1935–2015
17,602 JC Johnny Clegg Johnny Clegg South African Music 1953–2019
18,327 CR Cyril Ramaphosa Cyril Ramaphosa South African Politician b. 1952
18,663 SB Sarah Baartman Sarah Baartman South African Circus 1789–1815
19,040 DF D. F. Malan D. F. Malan South African Minister 1874–1959
19,809 WS Walter Sisulu Walter Sisulu South African Politician 1912–2003
20,397 AF Athol Fugard South African Writer b. 1932
20,871 MB Mangosuthu Buthelezi Mangosuthu Buthelezi South African Politician b. 1928
21,429 PA Peter Abrahams Peter Abrahams South African Writer 1919–2017
21,729 JV John Vorster John Vorster South African Politician 1915–1983
22,239 BB Breyten Breytenbach Breyten Breytenbach South African Poet b. 1939
22,723 CS Candice Swanepoel Candice Swanepoel South African Mannequin b. 1988
22,984 LV Laurens van der Post Laurens van der Post South African Novelist 1906–1996
23,526 YV Yolandi Visser Yolandi Visser South African Actor b. 1984
23,827 BF Brenda Fassie South African Singer 1964–2004
24,163 CK Cetshwayo kaMpande Cetshwayo kaMpande South African Sovereign 1826–1884
24,620 JM Julius Malema Julius Malema South African Politician b. 1981
25,571 JB J. B. M. Hertzog J. B. M. Hertzog South African Politician 1866–1942
26,607 FP Francois Pienaar Francois Pienaar South African Player b. 1967
27,797 JS Joe Slovo South African Politician 1926–1995
29,574 JM John McDowell John McDowell South African Philosopher b. 1942
29,681 CD Christiaan de Wet Christiaan de Wet South African Politician 1854–1922
31,195 DM Deon Meyer Deon Meyer South African Writer b. 1958
32,656 ET Eugène Terre'Blanche Eugène Terre'Blanche South African Politician 1941–2010
34,396 SP Sol Plaatje Sol Plaatje South African Journalist 1876–1932
36,400 KD Koos de la Rey Koos de la Rey South African Militar 1847–1914
36,782 AM Andrew Murray (minister) Andrew Murray (minister) South African Writer 1828–1917
38,592 JK John Kani John Kani South African Author b. 1943
40,351 IJ Ingrid Jonker Ingrid Jonker South African Poet 1933–1965
41,054 JS Jody Scheckter Jody Scheckter South African Driver b. 1950
41,134 AK Ahmed Kathrada Ahmed Kathrada South African Politician 1929–2017
42,147 MS Mark Shuttleworth Mark Shuttleworth South African Entrepreneur b. 1973
46,669 DW Donald Woods Donald Woods South African Journalist 1933–2001
47,429 ZM Zanele Muholi Zanele Muholi South African Photographer b. 1972
48,266 MR Mamphela Ramphele South African Politician b. 1947
48,282 AK Antjie Krog Antjie Krog South African Poet b. 1952
49,610 DG David Goldblatt South African Photographer 1930–2018
50,616 VM Victor Matfield Victor Matfield South African Player b. 1977
50,617 RS Richard Stanley (director) South African Film b. 1966
51,856 TR Tokelo Rantie Tokelo Rantie South African Football b. 1990
52,039 LO Louis Oosthuizen Louis Oosthuizen South African Golf b. 1982
54,695 KD Kagisho Dikgacoi Kagisho Dikgacoi South African Football b. 1984
55,350 TG Tony Greig South African Cricket 1946–2012
55,868 PM Percy Montgomery Percy Montgomery South African Player b. 1974
56,048 JG J. G. Strijdom J. G. Strijdom South African Politician 1893–1958
57,791 ZT ZP Theart ZP Theart South African Singer b. 1975
58,359 AS Albertina Sisulu Albertina Sisulu South African Activist 1918–2011
60,152 MM May Mahlangu May Mahlangu South African Football b. 1989
60,488 YC Yvonne Chaka Chaka Yvonne Chaka Chaka South African Singer b. 1965
61,579 M Mzilikazi Mzilikazi South African King 1790–1868
62,561 PJ Piet Joubert Piet Joubert South African Officer 1834–1900
64,530 MH Mike Horn Mike Horn South African Explorer b. 1966
68,839 ML Maggie Laubser Maggie Laubser South African Painter 1886–1973
69,853 KS Karel Schoeman South African Writer 1939–2017
70,497 MM Mbulaeni Mulaudzi Mbulaeni Mulaudzi South African Runner 1980–2014
70,538 WN Winston Ntshona South African Playwright 1941–2018
70,640 KM Kamohelo Mokotjo Kamohelo Mokotjo South African Football b. 1991
71,136 KM Katlego Mphela South African Football b. 1984
71,453 DK Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo South African King 1868–1913
72,236 LJ Leabua Jonathan Leabua Jonathan South African Politician 1914–1987
74,011 JK Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis South African Cricket b. 1975
74,177 CD Cliff Drysdale Cliff Drysdale South African Player b. 1941
74,925 OD Os du Randt Os du Randt South African Player b. 1972
76,239 JL John Langalibalele Dube John Langalibalele Dube South African Philosopher 1871–1946
78,511 LV Lars Veldwijk Lars Veldwijk South African Football b. 1991
79,041 MV Marlene van Niekerk Marlene van Niekerk South African Poet b. 1954
79,848 AS Akani Simbine South African Athletic b. 1993
82,517 ND Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma South African Politician b. 1949
82,916 BN Beyers Naudé South African Theologian 1915–2004
83,617 GZ Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu South African King b. 1948
84,110 EM Esther Mahlangu Esther Mahlangu South African Painter b. 1935
84,950 AD Alexander du Toit South African Geologist 1878–1948
85,150 MK Mpande kaSenzangakhona Mpande kaSenzangakhona South African Monarch 1798–1872
85,922 CJ Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven South African Poet 1873–1932
86,552 FW Francis William Reitz Francis William Reitz South African Lawyer 1844–1934
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Ranked by cross-verified academic notability — how it works

By the numbers

Inside South Africa

631 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in South Africa during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in South Africa peaked in the 1980s with 108 people.

What South Africa Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Sports is South Africa's biggest group — 41% of all notables (256).

South Africa over-indexes on sports — 1.9× the global rate.

South Africa under-produces other — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Sports256
  2. Politics & Law103
  3. Writing70
  4. Music53
  5. Science38
  6. Film & TV27
  7. Art & Design21
  8. Other20
  1. Sports2561.9×
  1. Other200.4×
  2. Religion170.5×
  3. Art & Design210.6×
  4. Military160.6×
  5. Film & TV270.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of South Africa's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other

Datelines

The biggest birthplaces of fame — every city is a doorway.