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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Argentina was 45,696,159 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Argentina's population is 46,048,053 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.43 times bigger than Argentina's.
  • Argentina is ranked the 35th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.35% of the world: 0.56% for Argentina vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Argentina has had an average growth rate of +0.64% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Argentina has increased from 39.6M people to 46M (16.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Argentina vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Argentina
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Argentina South Africa
2100 38,471,783 94,767,727
2099 38,772,947 94,556,931
2098 39,074,625 94,349,546
2097 39,376,738 94,158,472
2096 39,679,110 93,960,605
2095 39,981,245 93,752,736
2094 40,282,313 93,527,902
2093 40,582,830 93,300,398
2092 40,881,884 93,074,837
2091 41,178,738 92,826,204
2090 41,473,104 92,594,033
2089 41,763,899 92,355,184
2088 42,050,838 92,112,914
2087 42,333,938 91,866,024
2086 42,613,089 91,614,165
2085 42,887,833 91,385,350
2084 43,156,997 91,139,318
2083 43,420,795 90,877,425
2082 43,678,479 90,615,359
2081 43,929,498 90,345,492
2080 44,174,077 90,071,835
2079 44,412,059 89,801,998
2078 44,643,698 89,526,224
2077 44,867,972 89,249,206
2076 45,086,578 88,986,114
2075 45,298,701 88,713,215
2074 45,505,420 88,428,616
2073 45,705,435 88,149,885
2072 45,899,342 87,866,246
2071 46,088,206 87,540,177
2070 46,271,163 87,209,425
2069 46,448,901 86,901,512
2068 46,620,798 86,588,742
2067 46,786,379 86,268,392
2066 46,946,544 85,935,310
2065 47,101,596 85,604,376
2064 47,250,827 85,244,950
2063 47,393,888 84,875,503
2062 47,530,427 84,503,237
2061 47,659,802 84,132,885
2060 47,781,281 83,748,999
2059 47,893,477 83,354,923
2058 47,996,726 82,947,675
2057 48,089,306 82,538,045
2056 48,170,520 82,127,477
2055 48,239,306 81,698,196
2054 48,295,502 81,255,867
2053 48,339,726 80,818,632
2052 48,370,895 80,367,409
2051 48,389,268 79,886,672
2050 48,394,628 79,411,977
2049 48,387,928 78,925,493
2048 48,370,090 78,437,677
2047 48,340,778 77,922,211
2046 48,300,342 77,397,298
2045 48,248,946 76,879,838
2044 48,187,525 76,357,155
2043 48,116,784 75,827,709
2042 48,037,158 75,291,615
2041 47,948,478 74,748,408
2040 47,851,132 74,205,530
2039 47,746,488 73,663,047
2038 47,634,690 73,105,930
2037 47,517,545 72,532,742
2036 47,395,986 71,956,247
2035 47,270,379 71,362,555
2034 47,140,631 70,762,815
2033 47,007,890 70,153,205
2032 46,872,893 69,527,410
2031 46,735,140 68,890,002
2030 46,594,989 68,245,372
2029 46,452,139 67,573,179
2028 46,306,859 66,884,377
2027 46,158,426 66,190,258
2026 46,007,129 65,496,277
2025 45,853,190 64,770,314
2024 45,696,159 64,007,187
2023 45,538,401 63,212,384
2022 45,407,904 62,378,410
2021 45,312,281 61,502,603
2020 45,191,965 60,562,381
2019 44,973,465 59,587,885
2018 44,654,882 58,613,001
2017 44,288,894 57,635,162
2016 43,900,313 57,259,551
2015 43,477,012 56,723,537
2014 43,024,071 55,594,838
2013 42,582,455 54,678,791
2012 42,161,721 53,782,567
2011 41,730,660 52,995,205
2010 41,288,694 52,344,051
2009 40,854,831 51,728,516
2008 40,424,148 51,114,599
2007 40,016,763 50,528,584
2006 39,622,115 49,998,277
2005 39,216,789 49,490,033
2004 38,815,916 48,991,421
2003 38,424,282 48,500,348
2002 38,029,349 48,019,415
2001 37,624,825 47,566,800
2000 37,213,984 47,159,719
1999 36,794,682 46,730,335
1998 36,372,860 46,223,880
1997 35,947,791 45,666,838
1996 35,513,793 45,123,018
1995 35,070,020 44,541,554
1994 34,613,491 44,004,139
1993 34,152,717 43,297,156
1992 33,693,527 42,443,509
1991 33,230,294 41,687,898
1990 32,755,901 40,746,268
1989 32,270,948 39,628,575
1988 31,780,532 38,480,649
1987 31,291,762 37,326,190
1986 30,811,980 36,180,515
1985 30,336,441 35,042,093
1984 29,863,093 33,892,788
1983 29,391,332 32,739,304
1982 28,924,262 31,615,339
1981 28,463,959 30,541,044
1980 28,011,596 29,518,857
1979 27,568,895 28,634,162
1978 27,132,158 27,869,507
1977 26,701,805 27,118,952
1976 26,282,283 26,395,450
1975 25,874,107 25,690,940
1974 25,461,351 24,989,108
1973 25,046,005 24,294,263
1972 24,644,328 23,609,456
1971 24,257,208 22,942,143
1970 23,878,327 22,279,984
1969 23,508,711 21,614,676
1968 23,150,583 20,957,287
1967 22,799,059 20,314,066
1966 22,453,893 19,690,087
1965 22,112,629 19,089,380
1964 21,769,453 18,511,361
1963 21,421,705 17,954,564
1962 21,072,538 17,418,522
1961 20,726,276 16,908,035
1960 20,386,045 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/argentina/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Argentina increased by 4,278,198 people (a 10.8% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Argentina gained 2,147,740 people (a 4.89% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Argentina was ranked 31st most populous country in 2006 and is 35th 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) Argentina's population will grow by 5.1% to 48,394,628 people with a rank change from 35th to 44th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Argentina is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 48.4M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Argentina
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Argentina South Africa
2100 -0.78% 0.22%
2099 -0.77% 0.22%
2098 -0.77% 0.2%
2097 -0.76% 0.21%
2096 -0.76% 0.22%
2095 -0.75% 0.24%
2094 -0.74% 0.24%
2093 -0.73% 0.24%
2092 -0.72% 0.27%
2091 -0.71% 0.25%
2090 -0.7% 0.26%
2089 -0.68% 0.26%
2088 -0.67% 0.27%
2087 -0.66% 0.27%
2086 -0.64% 0.25%
2085 -0.62% 0.27%
2084 -0.61% 0.29%
2083 -0.59% 0.29%
2082 -0.57% 0.3%
2081 -0.55% 0.3%
2080 -0.54% 0.3%
2079 -0.52% 0.31%
2078 -0.5% 0.31%
2077 -0.48% 0.3%
2076 -0.47% 0.31%
2075 -0.45% 0.32%
2074 -0.44% 0.32%
2073 -0.42% 0.32%
2072 -0.41% 0.37%
2071 -0.4% 0.38%
2070 -0.38% 0.35%
2069 -0.37% 0.36%
2068 -0.35% 0.37%
2067 -0.34% 0.39%
2066 -0.33% 0.39%
2065 -0.32% 0.42%
2064 -0.3% 0.44%
2063 -0.29% 0.44%
2062 -0.27% 0.44%
2061 -0.25% 0.46%
2060 -0.23% 0.47%
2059 -0.22% 0.49%
2058 -0.19% 0.5%
2057 -0.17% 0.5%
2056 -0.14% 0.53%
2055 -0.12% 0.54%
2054 -0.09% 0.54%
2053 -0.06% 0.56%
2052 -0.04% 0.6%
2051 -0.01% 0.6%
2050 0.01% 0.62%
2049 0.04% 0.62%
2048 0.06% 0.66%
2047 0.08% 0.68%
2046 0.11% 0.67%
2045 0.13% 0.68%
2044 0.15% 0.7%
2043 0.17% 0.71%
2042 0.18% 0.73%
2041 0.2% 0.73%
2040 0.22% 0.74%
2039 0.23% 0.76%
2038 0.25% 0.79%
2037 0.26% 0.8%
2036 0.27% 0.83%
2035 0.28% 0.85%
2034 0.28% 0.87%
2033 0.29% 0.9%
2032 0.29% 0.93%
2031 0.3% 0.94%
2030 0.31% 0.99%
2029 0.31% 1.03%
2028 0.32% 1.05%
2027 0.33% 1.06%
2026 0.34% 1.12%
2025 0.34% 1.19%
2024 0.35% 1.26%
2023 0.29% 1.34%
2022 0.21% 1.42%
2021 0.27% 1.55%
2020 0.49% 1.64%
2019 0.71% 1.66%
2018 0.83% 1.7%
2017 0.89% 0.66%
2016 0.97% 0.94%
2015 1.05% 2.03%
2014 1.04% 1.68%
2013 1% 1.67%
2012 1.03% 1.49%
2011 1.07% 1.24%
2010 1.06% 1.19%
2009 1.07% 1.2%
2008 1.02% 1.16%
2007 1% 1.06%
2006 1.03% 1.03%
2005 1.03% 1.02%
2004 1.02% 1.01%
2003 1.04% 1%
2002 1.08% 0.95%
2001 1.1% 0.86%
2000 1.14% 0.92%
1999 1.16% 1.1%
1998 1.18% 1.22%
1997 1.22% 1.21%
1996 1.27% 1.31%
1995 1.32% 1.22%
1994 1.35% 1.63%
1993 1.36% 2.01%
1992 1.39% 1.81%
1991 1.45% 2.31%
1990 1.5% 2.82%
1989 1.54% 2.98%
1988 1.56% 3.09%
1987 1.56% 3.17%
1986 1.57% 3.25%
1985 1.59% 3.39%
1984 1.61% 3.52%
1983 1.61% 3.56%
1982 1.62% 3.52%
1981 1.61% 3.46%
1980 1.61% 3.09%
1979 1.61% 2.74%
1978 1.61% 2.77%
1977 1.6% 2.74%
1976 1.58% 2.74%
1975 1.62% 2.81%
1974 1.66% 2.86%
1973 1.63% 2.9%
1972 1.6% 2.91%
1971 1.59% 2.97%
1970 1.57% 3.08%
1969 1.55% 3.14%
1968 1.54% 3.17%
1967 1.54% 3.17%
1966 1.54% 3.15%
1965 1.58% 3.12%
1964 1.62% 3.1%
1963 1.66% 3.08%
1962 1.67% 3.02%
1961 1.67% 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/argentina/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Argentina grew by 0.35%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Argentina South Africa
Current population
46048053
65683993
Population rank 35/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.56% 0.79%
One net population change
3.33 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.04 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.51 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +432 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +157,758 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.35% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 144/197 85/197
One migration net change every
3.07 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +2,859 +146,370
Net migration rank 54/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,958,039 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 38/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 102/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Argentina
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Argentina South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,859 - 146,370
2024 - 3,454 - 166,972
2023 154,648 4,133 602,793 228,222
2022 96,673 5,589 603,636 233,284
2021 88,677 314 456,411 458,246
2020 151,347 292 595,873 369,901
2019 280,005 5,397 652,130 331,124
2018 346,031 5,742 648,319 318,260
2017 375,260 4,931 645,975 343,146
2016 391,767 5,215 641,365 -879,235
2015 444,161 5,464 668,771 641,150
2014 450,462 5,794 674,754 272,697
2013 421,694 5,275 652,427 232,230
2012 411,540 2,978 643,723 264,091
2011 448,730 -1,117 601,708 65,166
2010 441,335 -5,003 566,834 68,563
2009 439,271 -7,882 554,115 41,528
2008 442,442 -12,517 595,332 36,869
2007 402,889 -18,099 503,567 36,339
2006 424,591 -20,109 487,584 33,159
2005 428,247 -22,068 464,464 31,286
2004 417,970 -22,381 442,540 58,924
2003 410,141 -22,450 415,018 65,604
2002 424,825 -22,674 430,926 50,313
2001 430,579 -23,687 484,801 -60,793
2000 437,562 -22,775 526,963 -136,794
1999 444,038 -20,220 594,643 -126,011
1998 440,184 -20,326 627,027 -82,722
1997 450,930 -20,651 667,969 -98,181
1996 458,199 -20,486 710,868 -193,007
1995 469,658 -19,815 743,488 -98,403
1994 481,958 -18,723 698,609 -268,849
1993 474,791 -16,455 789,220 194,977
1992 473,226 -13,201 794,415 -71,342
1991 474,960 -8,537 827,296 -39,131
1990 466,640 15,719 835,421 259,718
1989 460,991 26,555 884,629 255,605
1988 455,701 37,594 909,221 246,382
1987 443,404 40,859 922,330 231,009
1986 436,760 38,586 903,644 234,378
1985 428,866 46,889 893,889 244,940
1984 423,279 47,659 869,011 290,789
1983 426,145 46,438 837,013 310,172
1982 431,926 29,616 807,550 293,195
1981 442,501 16,569 767,833 279,985
1980 443,732 1,932 738,415 258,127
1979 449,952 -10,213 716,541 56,323
1978 448,413 -14,665 694,341 62,121
1977 441,647 -14,675 680,929 63,739
1976 422,330 -10,235 675,011 27,333
1975 409,561 -5,293 667,862 38,809
1974 388,107 33,134 658,438 38,518
1973 370,856 38,589 651,596 41,125
1972 357,835 36,050 638,754 38,163
1971 344,889 35,442 624,761 32,961
1970 339,096 38,355 605,102 61,514
1969 319,108 42,688 590,794 73,225
1968 312,440 42,014 571,841 78,932
1967 308,904 39,711 553,741 81,932
1966 303,981 37,752 534,862 77,417
1965 304,734 36,083 506,632 82,514
1964 311,020 34,530 490,606 76,298
1963 317,041 32,866 473,821 72,844
1962 316,952 31,449 455,634 69,771
1961 317,816 26,322 437,851 57,728
1960 315,943 20,387 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Argentina is from natural causes (a gain of 2,779,031 people) and 1.52% is from migration (a gain of 42,871 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, 1,958,039 residents or 4.3% of the population were not native-born in Argentina, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Argentina
City Population
Buenos Aires 3.12M
Cordoba 1.51M
Rosario 1.04M
San Miguel de Tucuman 602K
Salta 595K
Mar del Plata 593K
San Juan 471K
Lanus 459K
Corrientes 430K
Santa Fe 409K
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/argentina/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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