The original peoples of South Africa, the Khoikhoi and San, no longer exist as distinct groups but were incorporated into the tribes of other African peoples who entered the country. Today, black Africans constitute three-fourths of South Africa's population and can be divided into four main linguistic groups.

The descendants of European settlers form the largest minority, although many have left South Africa since the unraveling of apartheid. Mixed-race descendants and those of Asian immigrants also form a sizable minority.