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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Algeria was 47,435,312 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Algeria's population is 48,345,858 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +1.75% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Algeria has increased from 33.6M people to 48.3M (43.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Algeria vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Algeria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Algeria South Africa
2100 64,963,450 94,734,082
2099 65,075,244 94,523,360
2098 65,177,248 94,316,049
2097 65,262,264 94,125,043
2096 65,339,404 93,927,246
2095 65,400,924 93,719,451
2094 65,457,659 93,494,697
2093 65,486,594 93,267,274
2092 65,514,575 93,041,793
2091 65,536,206 92,793,249
2090 65,534,162 92,561,159
2089 65,536,151 92,322,396
2088 65,519,144 92,080,212
2087 65,494,168 91,833,409
2086 65,455,745 91,581,639
2085 65,411,808 91,352,906
2084 65,365,401 91,106,961
2083 65,315,151 90,845,161
2082 65,262,527 90,583,188
2081 65,204,172 90,313,417
2080 65,131,995 90,039,857
2079 65,053,592 89,770,116
2078 64,973,632 89,494,440
2077 64,887,885 89,217,520
2076 64,805,016 88,954,522
2075 64,708,752 88,681,719
2074 64,611,374 88,397,221
2073 64,515,111 88,118,589
2072 64,413,784 87,835,051
2071 64,310,442 87,509,098
2070 64,230,683 87,178,463
2069 64,132,724 86,870,660
2068 64,030,989 86,558,000
2067 63,923,427 86,237,764
2066 63,810,251 85,904,801
2065 63,687,208 85,573,984
2064 63,550,779 85,214,686
2063 63,412,160 84,845,370
2062 63,250,420 84,473,236
2061 63,086,423 84,103,016
2060 62,900,355 83,719,266
2059 62,689,379 83,325,330
2058 62,454,967 82,918,226
2057 62,203,082 82,508,742
2056 61,916,006 82,098,320
2055 61,612,550 81,669,191
2054 61,282,973 81,227,019
2053 60,929,515 80,789,939
2052 60,562,817 80,338,877
2051 60,161,555 79,858,310
2050 59,737,427 79,383,784
2049 59,297,226 78,897,472
2048 58,841,142 78,409,829
2047 58,377,907 77,894,547
2046 57,902,123 77,369,819
2045 57,416,731 76,852,544
2044 56,927,927 76,330,046
2043 56,437,286 75,800,788
2042 55,951,600 75,264,885
2041 55,465,931 74,721,871
2040 54,988,407 74,179,185
2039 54,505,331 73,636,894
2038 54,033,480 73,079,976
2037 53,561,143 72,506,991
2036 53,094,449 71,930,701
2035 52,616,136 71,337,219
2034 52,150,833 70,737,692
2033 51,682,632 70,128,299
2032 51,203,273 69,502,726
2031 50,724,222 68,865,544
2030 50,230,658 68,221,143
2029 49,720,218 67,549,189
2028 49,184,244 66,860,631
2027 48,629,000 66,166,759
2026 48,046,811 65,473,024
2025 47,435,312 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 7,495,137 people (a 18.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 23.6% to 59,737,427 people with a rank change from 34th to 33rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Algeria is projected to reach its peak in 2091 at 65.5M people compared to the peak of 94.7M 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 1.33% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Algeria grew by 1.33%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Algeria South Africa
Current population
48345858
65829368
Population rank 34/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.79%
One net population change
50.9 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
35.8 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.43 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,701 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +621,004 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 91/197
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 665,653 -31,240 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 97.5% of the population change in Algeria is from natural causes (a gain of 7,718,579 people) and 2.49% is from migration (a loss of 196,899 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, 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
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/algeria/south-africa | CC BY

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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)

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