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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Algeria was 46,814,308 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Algeria's population is 48,222,325 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.36 times bigger than Algeria's.
  • Algeria is ranked the 34th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.37% of the world: 0.58% for Algeria vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Algeria has had an average growth rate of +1.81% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Algeria has increased from 33.6M people to 48.2M (43.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Algeria vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Algeria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Algeria South Africa
2100 64,987,758 94,767,727
2099 65,099,593 94,556,931
2098 65,201,636 94,349,546
2097 65,286,684 94,158,472
2096 65,363,853 93,960,605
2095 65,425,396 93,752,736
2094 65,482,152 93,527,902
2093 65,511,098 93,300,398
2092 65,539,089 93,074,837
2091 65,560,728 92,826,204
2090 65,558,683 92,594,033
2089 65,560,674 92,355,184
2088 65,543,659 92,112,914
2087 65,518,674 91,866,024
2086 65,480,237 91,614,165
2085 65,436,284 91,385,350
2084 65,389,859 91,139,318
2083 65,339,591 90,877,425
2082 65,286,947 90,615,359
2081 65,228,570 90,345,492
2080 65,156,366 90,071,835
2079 65,077,934 89,801,998
2078 64,997,944 89,526,224
2077 64,912,164 89,249,206
2076 64,829,265 88,986,114
2075 64,732,964 88,713,215
2074 64,635,550 88,428,616
2073 64,539,251 88,149,885
2072 64,437,887 87,866,246
2071 64,334,505 87,540,177
2070 64,254,716 87,209,425
2069 64,156,721 86,901,512
2068 64,054,948 86,588,742
2067 63,947,346 86,268,392
2066 63,834,128 85,935,310
2065 63,711,038 85,604,376
2064 63,574,559 85,244,950
2063 63,435,887 84,875,503
2062 63,274,087 84,503,237
2061 63,110,028 84,132,885
2060 62,923,891 83,748,999
2059 62,712,836 83,354,923
2058 62,478,336 82,947,675
2057 62,226,357 82,538,045
2056 61,939,173 82,127,477
2055 61,635,604 81,698,196
2054 61,305,903 81,255,867
2053 60,952,313 80,818,632
2052 60,585,478 80,367,409
2051 60,184,066 79,886,672
2050 59,759,780 79,411,977
2049 59,319,414 78,925,493
2048 58,863,159 78,437,677
2047 58,399,750 77,922,211
2046 57,923,788 77,397,298
2045 57,438,215 76,879,838
2044 56,949,229 76,357,155
2043 56,458,404 75,827,709
2042 55,972,536 75,291,615
2041 55,486,685 74,748,408
2040 55,008,982 74,205,530
2039 54,525,726 73,663,047
2038 54,053,698 73,105,930
2037 53,581,185 72,532,742
2036 53,114,315 71,956,247
2035 52,635,824 71,362,555
2034 52,170,347 70,762,815
2033 51,701,970 70,153,205
2032 51,222,432 69,527,410
2031 50,743,202 68,890,002
2030 50,249,453 68,245,372
2029 49,738,822 67,573,179
2028 49,202,648 66,884,377
2027 48,647,196 66,190,258
2026 48,064,789 65,496,277
2025 47,453,061 64,770,314
2024 46,814,308 64,007,187
2023 46,164,219 63,212,384
2022 45,477,389 62,378,410
2021 44,761,099 61,502,603
2020 44,042,091 60,562,381
2019 43,294,546 59,587,885
2018 42,505,035 58,613,001
2017 41,689,299 57,635,162
2016 40,850,721 57,259,551
2015 40,019,529 56,723,537
2014 39,205,031 55,594,838
2013 38,414,171 54,678,791
2012 37,646,166 53,782,567
2011 36,903,376 52,995,205
2010 36,188,236 52,344,051
2009 35,490,445 51,728,516
2008 34,816,961 51,114,599
2007 34,189,416 50,528,584
2006 33,623,506 49,998,277
2005 33,109,249 49,490,033
2004 32,628,286 48,991,421
2003 32,175,818 48,500,348
2002 31,750,835 48,019,415
2001 31,331,221 47,566,800
2000 30,903,893 47,159,719
1999 30,474,354 46,730,335
1998 30,054,133 46,223,880
1997 29,579,301 45,666,838
1996 29,033,044 45,123,018
1995 28,470,191 44,541,554
1994 27,887,279 44,004,139
1993 27,277,048 43,297,156
1992 26,628,568 42,443,509
1991 25,987,928 41,687,898
1990 25,375,810 40,746,268
1989 24,754,485 39,628,575
1988 24,109,536 38,480,649
1987 23,443,624 37,326,190
1986 22,745,499 36,180,515
1985 22,008,544 35,042,093
1984 21,271,969 33,892,788
1983 20,558,115 32,739,304
1982 19,872,348 31,615,339
1981 19,220,704 30,541,044
1980 18,607,174 29,518,857
1979 18,036,655 28,634,162
1978 17,506,974 27,869,507
1977 17,015,994 27,118,952
1976 16,409,170 26,395,450
1975 15,678,596 25,690,940
1974 15,133,502 24,989,108
1973 14,771,147 24,294,263
1972 14,427,072 23,609,456
1971 14,098,936 22,942,143
1970 13,783,719 22,279,984
1969 13,475,960 21,614,676
1968 13,172,614 20,957,287
1967 12,876,118 20,314,066
1966 12,590,069 19,690,087
1965 12,365,976 19,089,380
1964 12,179,813 18,511,361
1963 11,982,118 17,954,564
1962 11,800,771 17,418,522
1961 11,628,883 16,908,035
1960 11,424,922 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Algeria increased by 7,227,215 people (a 21.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Algeria gained 7,371,604 people (a 18% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Algeria was ranked 34th most populous country in 2006 and is still 34th 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) Algeria's population will grow by 23.9% to 59,759,780 people with a rank change from 34th to 33rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Algeria is projected to reach its peak in 2091 at 65.6M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Algeria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Algeria South Africa
2100 -0.17% 0.22%
2099 -0.16% 0.22%
2098 -0.13% 0.2%
2097 -0.12% 0.21%
2096 -0.09% 0.22%
2095 -0.09% 0.24%
2094 -0.04% 0.24%
2093 -0.04% 0.24%
2092 -0.03% 0.27%
2091 0.003% 0.25%
2090 -0.003% 0.26%
2089 0.03% 0.26%
2088 0.04% 0.27%
2087 0.06% 0.27%
2086 0.07% 0.25%
2085 0.07% 0.27%
2084 0.08% 0.29%
2083 0.08% 0.29%
2082 0.09% 0.3%
2081 0.11% 0.3%
2080 0.12% 0.3%
2079 0.12% 0.31%
2078 0.13% 0.31%
2077 0.13% 0.3%
2076 0.15% 0.31%
2075 0.15% 0.32%
2074 0.15% 0.32%
2073 0.16% 0.32%
2072 0.16% 0.37%
2071 0.12% 0.38%
2070 0.15% 0.35%
2069 0.16% 0.36%
2068 0.17% 0.37%
2067 0.18% 0.39%
2066 0.19% 0.39%
2065 0.21% 0.42%
2064 0.22% 0.44%
2063 0.26% 0.44%
2062 0.26% 0.44%
2061 0.3% 0.46%
2060 0.34% 0.47%
2059 0.38% 0.49%
2058 0.4% 0.5%
2057 0.46% 0.5%
2056 0.49% 0.53%
2055 0.54% 0.54%
2054 0.58% 0.54%
2053 0.61% 0.56%
2052 0.67% 0.6%
2051 0.71% 0.6%
2050 0.74% 0.62%
2049 0.78% 0.62%
2048 0.79% 0.66%
2047 0.82% 0.68%
2046 0.85% 0.67%
2045 0.86% 0.68%
2044 0.87% 0.7%
2043 0.87% 0.71%
2042 0.88% 0.73%
2041 0.87% 0.73%
2040 0.89% 0.74%
2039 0.87% 0.76%
2038 0.88% 0.79%
2037 0.88% 0.8%
2036 0.91% 0.83%
2035 0.89% 0.85%
2034 0.91% 0.87%
2033 0.94% 0.9%
2032 0.94% 0.93%
2031 0.98% 0.94%
2030 1.03% 0.99%
2029 1.09% 1.03%
2028 1.14% 1.05%
2027 1.21% 1.06%
2026 1.29% 1.12%
2025 1.36% 1.19%
2024 1.41% 1.26%
2023 1.51% 1.34%
2022 1.6% 1.42%
2021 1.63% 1.55%
2020 1.73% 1.64%
2019 1.86% 1.66%
2018 1.96% 1.7%
2017 2.05% 0.66%
2016 2.08% 0.94%
2015 2.08% 2.03%
2014 2.06% 1.68%
2013 2.04% 1.67%
2012 2.01% 1.49%
2011 1.98% 1.24%
2010 1.97% 1.19%
2009 1.93% 1.2%
2008 1.84% 1.16%
2007 1.68% 1.06%
2006 1.55% 1.03%
2005 1.47% 1.02%
2004 1.41% 1.01%
2003 1.34% 1%
2002 1.34% 0.95%
2001 1.38% 0.86%
2000 1.41% 0.92%
1999 1.4% 1.1%
1998 1.61% 1.22%
1997 1.88% 1.21%
1996 1.98% 1.31%
1995 2.09% 1.22%
1994 2.24% 1.63%
1993 2.44% 2.01%
1992 2.47% 1.81%
1991 2.41% 2.31%
1990 2.51% 2.82%
1989 2.68% 2.98%
1988 2.84% 3.09%
1987 3.07% 3.17%
1986 3.35% 3.25%
1985 3.46% 3.39%
1984 3.47% 3.52%
1983 3.45% 3.56%
1982 3.39% 3.52%
1981 3.3% 3.46%
1980 3.16% 3.09%
1979 3.03% 2.74%
1978 2.89% 2.77%
1977 3.7% 2.74%
1976 4.66% 2.74%
1975 3.6% 2.81%
1974 2.45% 2.86%
1973 2.38% 2.9%
1972 2.33% 2.91%
1971 2.29% 2.97%
1970 2.28% 3.08%
1969 2.3% 3.14%
1968 2.3% 3.17%
1967 2.27% 3.17%
1966 1.81% 3.15%
1965 1.53% 3.12%
1964 1.65% 3.1%
1963 1.54% 3.08%
1962 1.48% 3.02%
1961 1.79% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Algeria grew by 1.41%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Algeria South Africa
Current population
48222325
65683993
Population rank 34/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.79%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
34.8 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.45 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,781 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +650,089 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.41% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 74/197 85/197
One migration net change every
19.1 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,531 +146,370
Net migration rank 161/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 259,458 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 104/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 168/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Algeria
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Algeria South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,531 - 146,370
2024 - -31,240 - 166,972
2023 691,724 -25,963 602,793 228,222
2022 722,591 -14,684 603,636 233,284
2021 735,514 -10,803 456,411 458,246
2020 724,140 -10,798 595,873 369,901
2019 809,522 -27,786 652,130 331,124
2018 824,428 -27,146 648,319 318,260
2017 848,585 -14,403 645,975 343,146
2016 849,368 -6,438 641,365 -879,235
2015 847,054 -27,638 668,771 641,150
2014 839,654 -30,064 674,754 272,697
2013 802,203 -30,052 652,427 232,230
2012 790,645 -26,763 643,723 264,091
2011 741,832 -20,108 601,708 65,166
2010 719,350 -10,788 566,834 68,563
2009 691,496 -4,458 554,115 41,528
2008 662,044 -2,101 595,332 36,869
2007 620,196 -25,046 503,567 36,339
2006 580,812 -44,138 487,584 33,159
2005 543,158 -51,345 464,464 31,286
2004 508,773 -38,648 442,540 58,924
2003 474,272 -39,421 415,018 65,604
2002 451,369 -36,255 430,926 50,313
2001 450,637 -26,539 484,801 -60,793
2000 447,025 -16,454 526,963 -136,794
1999 434,198 -5,657 594,643 -126,011
1998 425,928 -13,991 627,027 -82,722
1997 450,138 87,582 667,969 -98,181
1996 483,632 71,139 710,868 -193,007
1995 533,104 37,817 743,488 -98,403
1994 594,445 430 698,609 -268,849
1993 611,306 14,289 789,220 194,977
1992 627,289 44,102 794,415 -71,342
1991 616,850 -6,945 827,296 -39,131
1990 612,369 1,962 835,421 259,718
1989 628,542 -234 884,629 255,605
1988 637,215 24,376 909,221 246,382
1987 645,309 24,933 922,330 231,009
1986 661,644 64,381 903,644 234,378
1985 672,185 75,729 893,889 244,940
1984 656,475 68,774 869,011 290,789
1983 641,167 61,292 837,013 310,172
1982 620,415 48,660 807,550 293,195
1981 595,150 39,043 767,833 279,985
1980 559,983 32,879 738,415 258,127
1979 523,875 24,311 716,541 56,323
1978 491,876 19,317 694,341 62,121
1977 465,405 5,360 680,929 63,739
1976 440,192 302,662 675,011 27,333
1975 417,803 300,482 667,862 38,809
1974 399,509 -27,605 658,438 38,518
1973 382,736 -29,938 651,596 41,125
1972 368,179 -32,832 638,754 38,163
1971 356,069 -35,141 624,761 32,961
1970 346,564 -37,058 605,102 61,514
1969 334,541 -28,535 590,794 73,225
1968 324,560 -23,870 571,841 78,932
1967 316,289 -23,983 553,741 81,932
1966 309,628 -29,832 534,862 77,417
1965 311,190 -142,810 506,632 82,514
1964 312,729 -108,798 490,606 76,298
1963 315,645 -124,175 473,821 72,844
1962 283,903 -112,676 455,634 69,771
1961 296,467 -123,928 437,851 57,728
1960 290,582 -55,212 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 97.6% of the population change in Algeria is from natural causes (a gain of 7,892,580 people) and 2.42% is from migration (a loss of 195,723 people). In South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 259,458 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Algeria, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Algeria
City Population
Algiers 2.36M
Oran 803K
Constantine 465K
Batna 291K
Setif 288K
Djelfa 266K
Annaba 257K
Sidi Bel Abbes 213K
Biskra 205K
Tebessa 194K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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