Skip to content

Population in Albania compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Albania was 2,349,580 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Albania's population is 2,332,078 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 28.2 times bigger than Albania's.
  • Albania is ranked the 144th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.03% for Albania vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Albania has had an average growth rate of -1.5% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Albania has decreased from 2.99M people to 2.33M (22.1% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Albania vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Albania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Albania South Africa
2100 1,007,401 94,734,082
2099 1,020,801 94,523,360
2098 1,034,604 94,316,049
2097 1,048,803 94,125,043
2096 1,063,434 93,927,246
2095 1,078,498 93,719,451
2094 1,094,070 93,494,697
2093 1,110,138 93,267,274
2092 1,126,699 93,041,793
2091 1,143,691 92,793,249
2090 1,161,098 92,561,159
2089 1,178,925 92,322,396
2088 1,197,085 92,080,212
2087 1,215,294 91,833,409
2086 1,233,850 91,581,639
2085 1,252,611 91,352,906
2084 1,271,550 91,106,961
2083 1,290,612 90,845,161
2082 1,309,713 90,583,188
2081 1,328,652 90,313,417
2080 1,347,569 90,039,857
2079 1,366,124 89,770,116
2078 1,384,697 89,494,440
2077 1,403,421 89,217,520
2076 1,421,800 88,954,522
2075 1,440,364 88,681,719
2074 1,459,118 88,397,221
2073 1,477,286 88,118,589
2072 1,495,509 87,835,051
2071 1,513,666 87,509,098
2070 1,531,671 87,178,463
2069 1,549,614 86,870,660
2068 1,567,665 86,558,000
2067 1,585,847 86,237,764
2066 1,603,642 85,904,801
2065 1,621,885 85,573,984
2064 1,640,153 85,214,686
2063 1,658,561 84,845,370
2062 1,676,857 84,473,236
2061 1,695,153 84,103,016
2060 1,713,670 83,719,266
2059 1,732,288 83,325,330
2058 1,750,766 82,918,226
2057 1,769,493 82,508,742
2056 1,788,106 82,098,320
2055 1,807,040 81,669,191
2054 1,826,070 81,227,019
2053 1,845,139 80,789,939
2052 1,864,095 80,338,877
2051 1,882,592 79,858,310
2050 1,901,517 79,383,784
2049 1,920,402 78,897,472
2048 1,939,175 78,409,829
2047 1,957,603 77,894,547
2046 1,976,486 77,369,819
2045 1,995,320 76,852,544
2044 2,013,616 76,330,046
2043 2,032,321 75,800,788
2042 2,050,944 75,264,885
2041 2,069,916 74,721,871
2040 2,088,692 74,179,185
2039 2,107,936 73,636,894
2038 2,126,229 73,079,976
2037 2,144,493 72,506,991
2036 2,162,466 71,930,701
2035 2,179,783 71,337,219
2034 2,197,495 70,737,692
2033 2,214,803 70,128,299
2032 2,231,467 69,502,726
2031 2,248,104 68,865,544
2030 2,265,270 68,221,143
2029 2,281,932 67,549,189
2028 2,298,632 66,860,631
2027 2,314,980 66,166,759
2026 2,332,078 65,473,024
2025 2,349,580 64,747,319
2024 2,377,128 64,007,187
2023 2,411,658 63,212,384
2022 2,451,636 62,378,410
2021 2,489,762 61,502,603
2020 2,528,480 60,562,381
2019 2,567,801 59,587,885
2018 2,607,733 58,613,001
2017 2,648,285 57,635,162
2016 2,689,469 57,259,551
2015 2,731,293 56,723,537
2014 2,773,767 55,594,838
2013 2,816,902 54,678,791
2012 2,860,708 53,782,567
2011 2,905,195 52,995,205
2010 2,913,021 52,344,051
2009 2,927,519 51,728,516
2008 2,947,314 51,114,599
2007 2,970,017 50,528,584
2006 2,992,547 49,998,277
2005 3,011,487 49,490,033
2004 3,026,939 48,991,421
2003 3,039,616 48,500,348
2002 3,051,010 48,019,415
2001 3,060,173 47,566,800
2000 3,089,027 47,159,719
1999 3,108,778 46,730,335
1998 3,128,530 46,223,880
1997 3,148,281 45,666,838
1996 3,168,033 45,123,018
1995 3,187,784 44,541,554
1994 3,207,536 44,004,139
1993 3,227,287 43,297,156
1992 3,247,039 42,443,509
1991 3,266,790 41,687,898
1990 3,286,542 40,746,268
1989 3,227,943 39,628,575
1988 3,142,336 38,480,649
1987 3,083,605 37,326,190
1986 3,022,635 36,180,515
1985 2,964,762 35,042,093
1984 2,904,429 33,892,788
1983 2,843,960 32,739,304
1982 2,784,278 31,615,339
1981 2,726,056 30,541,044
1980 2,671,997 29,518,857
1979 2,617,832 28,634,162
1978 2,566,266 27,869,507
1977 2,513,546 27,118,952
1976 2,458,526 26,395,450
1975 2,404,831 25,690,940
1974 2,350,124 24,989,108
1973 2,296,752 24,294,263
1972 2,243,126 23,609,456
1971 2,187,853 22,942,143
1970 2,135,479 22,279,984
1969 2,081,695 21,614,676
1968 2,022,272 20,957,287
1967 1,965,598 20,314,066
1966 1,914,573 19,690,087
1965 1,864,791 19,089,380
1964 1,814,135 18,511,361
1963 1,762,621 17,954,564
1962 1,711,319 17,418,522
1961 1,659,800 16,908,035
1960 1,608,800 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Albania decreased by 303,078 people (a 10.1% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Albania lost 357,391 people (a 13.3% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Albania was ranked 133rd most populous country in 2006 and is 144th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Albania's population will shrink by 18.5% to 1,901,517 people with a rank change from 144th to 148th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Albania's population already peaked in 1990 at 3.29M people and is projected to decrease to 1.01M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Albania
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Albania South Africa
2100 -1.31% 0.22%
2099 -1.33% 0.22%
2098 -1.35% 0.2%
2097 -1.38% 0.21%
2096 -1.4% 0.22%
2095 -1.42% 0.24%
2094 -1.45% 0.24%
2093 -1.47% 0.24%
2092 -1.49% 0.27%
2091 -1.5% 0.25%
2090 -1.51% 0.26%
2089 -1.52% 0.26%
2088 -1.5% 0.27%
2087 -1.5% 0.27%
2086 -1.5% 0.25%
2085 -1.49% 0.27%
2084 -1.48% 0.29%
2083 -1.46% 0.29%
2082 -1.43% 0.3%
2081 -1.4% 0.3%
2080 -1.36% 0.3%
2079 -1.34% 0.31%
2078 -1.33% 0.31%
2077 -1.29% 0.3%
2076 -1.29% 0.31%
2075 -1.29% 0.32%
2074 -1.23% 0.32%
2073 -1.22% 0.32%
2072 -1.2% 0.37%
2071 -1.18% 0.38%
2070 -1.16% 0.35%
2069 -1.15% 0.36%
2068 -1.15% 0.37%
2067 -1.11% 0.39%
2066 -1.12% 0.39%
2065 -1.11% 0.42%
2064 -1.11% 0.44%
2063 -1.09% 0.44%
2062 -1.08% 0.44%
2061 -1.08% 0.46%
2060 -1.07% 0.47%
2059 -1.06% 0.49%
2058 -1.06% 0.5%
2057 -1.04% 0.5%
2056 -1.05% 0.53%
2055 -1.04% 0.54%
2054 -1.03% 0.54%
2053 -1.02% 0.56%
2052 -0.98% 0.6%
2051 -1% 0.6%
2050 -0.98% 0.62%
2049 -0.97% 0.62%
2048 -0.94% 0.66%
2047 -0.96% 0.68%
2046 -0.94% 0.67%
2045 -0.91% 0.68%
2044 -0.92% 0.7%
2043 -0.91% 0.71%
2042 -0.92% 0.73%
2041 -0.9% 0.73%
2040 -0.91% 0.74%
2039 -0.86% 0.76%
2038 -0.85% 0.79%
2037 -0.83% 0.8%
2036 -0.79% 0.83%
2035 -0.81% 0.85%
2034 -0.78% 0.87%
2033 -0.75% 0.9%
2032 -0.74% 0.93%
2031 -0.76% 0.94%
2030 -0.73% 0.99%
2029 -0.73% 1.03%
2028 -0.71% 1.05%
2027 -0.73% 1.06%
2026 -0.74% 1.12%
2025 -1.16% 1.16%
2024 -1.43% 1.26%
2023 -1.63% 1.34%
2022 -1.53% 1.42%
2021 -1.53% 1.55%
2020 -1.53% 1.64%
2019 -1.53% 1.66%
2018 -1.53% 1.7%
2017 -1.53% 0.66%
2016 -1.53% 0.94%
2015 -1.53% 2.03%
2014 -1.53% 1.68%
2013 -1.53% 1.67%
2012 -1.53% 1.49%
2011 -0.27% 1.24%
2010 -0.5% 1.19%
2009 -0.67% 1.2%
2008 -0.76% 1.16%
2007 -0.75% 1.06%
2006 -0.63% 1.03%
2005 -0.51% 1.02%
2004 -0.42% 1.01%
2003 -0.37% 1%
2002 -0.3% 0.95%
2001 -0.93% 0.86%
2000 -0.64% 0.92%
1999 -0.63% 1.1%
1998 -0.63% 1.22%
1997 -0.62% 1.21%
1996 -0.62% 1.31%
1995 -0.62% 1.22%
1994 -0.61% 1.63%
1993 -0.61% 2.01%
1992 -0.6% 1.81%
1991 -0.6% 2.31%
1990 1.82% 2.82%
1989 2.72% 2.98%
1988 1.9% 3.09%
1987 2.02% 3.17%
1986 1.95% 3.25%
1985 2.08% 3.39%
1984 2.13% 3.52%
1983 2.14% 3.56%
1982 2.14% 3.52%
1981 2.02% 3.46%
1980 2.07% 3.09%
1979 2.01% 2.74%
1978 2.1% 2.77%
1977 2.24% 2.74%
1976 2.23% 2.74%
1975 2.33% 2.81%
1974 2.32% 2.86%
1973 2.39% 2.9%
1972 2.53% 2.91%
1971 2.45% 2.97%
1970 2.58% 3.08%
1969 2.94% 3.14%
1968 2.88% 3.17%
1967 2.67% 3.17%
1966 2.67% 3.15%
1965 2.79% 3.12%
1964 2.92% 3.1%
1963 3% 3.08%
1962 3.1% 3.02%
1961 3.17% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Albania declined by 1.16%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Albania South Africa
Current population
2332078
65829368
Population rank 144/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
19.1 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
21.8 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
26.1 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -75 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -27,548 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -1.16% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 194/197 91/197
One migration net change every
21.8 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -24,230 +146,370
Net migration rank 156/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 46,377 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 153/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 138/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Albania
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Albania South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -24,230 - 146,370
2024 3,979 -24,472 591,618 166,972
2023 4,612 -25,357 602,793 228,222
2022 3,913 -16,426 603,636 233,284
2021 623 -32,848 456,411 458,246
2020 3,682 -16,680 595,873 369,901
2019 8,432 -23,094 652,130 331,124
2018 9,187 -15,032 648,319 318,260
2017 10,707 -14,901 645,975 343,146
2016 12,332 -9,347 641,365 -879,235
2015 14,164 -20,500 668,771 641,150
2014 16,185 -21,706 674,754 272,697
2013 17,234 -20,681 652,427 232,230
2012 17,565 -19,845 643,723 264,091
2011 17,564 -18,630 601,708 65,166
2010 18,404 -51,907 566,834 68,563
2009 19,336 -51,657 554,115 41,528
2008 19,526 -50,619 595,332 36,869
2007 20,286 -49,770 503,567 36,339
2006 21,732 -48,882 487,584 33,159
2005 24,390 -48,893 464,464 31,286
2004 26,989 -48,654 442,540 58,924
2003 29,907 -48,517 415,018 65,604
2002 30,189 -45,178 430,926 50,313
2001 33,573 -48,070 484,801 -60,793
2000 36,741 -60,531 526,963 -136,794
1999 40,047 -63,093 594,643 -126,011
1998 43,884 -66,087 627,027 -82,722
1997 46,979 -66,188 667,969 -98,181
1996 52,745 -68,076 710,868 -193,007
1995 56,784 -69,785 743,488 -98,403
1994 59,086 -70,165 698,609 -268,849
1993 60,602 -68,445 789,220 194,977
1992 63,376 -66,538 794,415 -71,342
1991 65,639 -63,689 827,296 -39,131
1990 67,355 -60,173 835,421 259,718
1989 66,351 -38,835 884,629 255,605
1988 64,616 658 909,221 246,382
1987 63,334 -3,250 922,330 231,009
1986 61,925 -2,309 903,644 234,378
1985 60,798 -183 893,889 244,940
1984 59,396 64 869,011 290,789
1983 57,647 66 837,013 310,172
1982 56,443 -225 807,550 293,195
1981 54,595 -374 767,833 279,985
1980 53,803 -601 738,415 258,127
1979 54,139 -1,871 716,541 56,323
1978 55,463 3,230 694,341 62,121
1977 56,319 -1,417 680,929 63,739
1976 56,428 -1,684 675,011 27,333
1975 56,920 -2,610 667,862 38,809
1974 56,133 -1,880 658,438 38,518
1973 55,439 -1,419 651,596 41,125
1972 54,966 -1,588 638,754 38,163
1971 53,797 -911 624,761 32,961
1970 52,293 92 605,102 61,514
1969 51,407 2,665 590,794 73,225
1968 49,258 10,490 571,841 78,932
1967 46,494 12,252 553,741 81,932
1966 44,507 11,858 534,862 77,417
1965 43,953 9,617 506,632 82,514
1964 44,205 6,604 490,606 76,298
1963 44,040 4,091 473,821 72,844
1962 43,124 2,325 455,634 69,771
1961 41,802 829 437,851 57,728
1960 40,436 13,734 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 26.5% of the population change in Albania is from natural causes (a gain of 71,631 people) and 73.5% is from migration (a loss of 198,657 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 46,377 residents or 1.7% of the population were not native-born in Albania, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Albania
City Population
Tirana 389K
Durres 102K
Elbasan 66.8K
Vlore 66.3K
Kamez 61.7K
Shkoder 61.6K
Fier 52.9K
Korce 43.3K
Berat 40.7K
Sarande 22.6K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.