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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,196,812 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 27,799,169 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.36 times bigger than Australia's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.13% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 27.8M (35.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Australia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia South Africa
2100 44,031,396 94,767,727
2099 43,809,392 94,556,931
2098 43,581,416 94,349,546
2097 43,339,542 94,158,472
2096 43,103,046 93,960,605
2095 42,875,281 93,752,736
2094 42,654,231 93,527,902
2093 42,420,140 93,300,398
2092 42,183,554 93,074,837
2091 41,942,760 92,826,204
2090 41,703,255 92,594,033
2089 41,471,675 92,355,184
2088 41,232,214 92,112,914
2087 41,005,392 91,866,024
2086 40,785,916 91,614,165
2085 40,573,592 91,385,350
2084 40,363,192 91,139,318
2083 40,140,606 90,877,425
2082 39,925,452 90,615,359
2081 39,703,018 90,345,492
2080 39,490,533 90,071,835
2079 39,277,415 89,801,998
2078 39,063,163 89,526,224
2077 38,847,269 89,249,206
2076 38,637,253 88,986,114
2075 38,425,571 88,713,215
2074 38,212,169 88,428,616
2073 38,002,408 88,149,885
2072 37,795,438 87,866,246
2071 37,589,598 87,540,177
2070 37,376,868 87,209,425
2069 37,159,014 86,901,512
2068 36,939,616 86,588,742
2067 36,721,604 86,268,392
2066 36,504,952 85,935,310
2065 36,297,175 85,604,376
2064 36,095,981 85,244,950
2063 35,883,588 84,875,503
2062 35,673,924 84,503,237
2061 35,465,080 84,132,885
2060 35,260,552 83,748,999
2059 35,055,719 83,354,923
2058 34,839,385 82,947,675
2057 34,630,577 82,538,045
2056 34,422,531 82,127,477
2055 34,208,970 81,698,196
2054 33,996,776 81,255,867
2053 33,788,097 80,818,632
2052 33,580,016 80,367,409
2051 33,366,925 79,886,672
2050 33,152,099 79,411,977
2049 32,937,633 78,925,493
2048 32,711,001 78,437,677
2047 32,496,856 77,922,211
2046 32,269,549 77,397,298
2045 32,047,969 76,879,838
2044 31,829,535 76,357,155
2043 31,610,306 75,827,709
2042 31,387,780 75,291,615
2041 31,168,179 74,748,408
2040 30,952,283 74,205,530
2039 30,740,454 73,663,047
2038 30,521,772 73,105,930
2037 30,307,856 72,532,742
2036 30,085,861 71,956,247
2035 29,862,898 71,362,555
2034 29,641,453 70,762,815
2033 29,418,053 70,153,205
2032 29,191,922 69,527,410
2031 28,959,421 68,890,002
2030 28,722,798 68,245,372
2029 28,484,745 67,573,179
2028 28,236,324 66,884,377
2027 27,984,287 66,190,258
2026 27,730,530 65,496,277
2025 27,466,430 64,770,314
2024 27,196,812 64,007,187
2023 26,659,922 63,212,384
2022 26,018,721 62,378,410
2021 25,685,412 61,502,603
2020 25,649,248 60,562,381
2019 25,334,826 59,587,885
2018 24,963,258 58,613,001
2017 24,592,588 57,635,162
2016 24,190,907 57,259,551
2015 23,815,995 56,723,537
2014 23,475,686 55,594,838
2013 23,128,129 54,678,791
2012 22,733,465 53,782,567
2011 22,340,024 52,995,205
2010 22,031,750 52,344,051
2009 21,691,653 51,728,516
2008 21,249,199 51,114,599
2007 20,827,622 50,528,584
2006 20,450,966 49,998,277
2005 20,176,844 49,490,033
2004 19,932,722 48,991,421
2003 19,720,737 48,500,348
2002 19,495,210 48,019,415
2001 19,274,701 47,566,800
2000 19,028,802 47,159,719
1999 18,812,264 46,730,335
1998 18,607,584 46,223,880
1997 18,423,037 45,666,838
1996 18,224,767 45,123,018
1995 18,004,882 44,541,554
1994 17,805,468 44,004,139
1993 17,634,808 43,297,156
1992 17,478,635 42,443,509
1991 17,284,036 41,687,898
1990 17,065,128 40,746,268
1989 16,814,416 39,628,575
1988 16,532,164 38,480,649
1987 16,263,874 37,326,190
1986 16,018,350 36,180,515
1985 15,788,312 35,042,093
1984 15,579,391 33,892,788
1983 15,393,472 32,739,304
1982 15,184,247 31,615,339
1981 14,923,260 30,541,044
1980 14,692,000 29,518,857
1979 14,514,000 28,634,162
1978 14,358,000 27,869,507
1977 14,192,000 27,118,952
1976 14,033,000 26,395,450
1975 13,893,000 25,690,940
1974 13,723,000 24,989,108
1973 13,380,000 24,294,263
1972 13,177,000 23,609,456
1971 12,937,000 22,942,143
1970 12,507,000 22,279,984
1969 12,263,000 21,614,676
1968 12,009,000 20,957,287
1967 11,799,000 20,314,066
1966 11,651,000 19,690,087
1965 11,388,000 19,089,380
1964 11,167,000 18,511,361
1963 10,950,000 17,954,564
1962 10,742,000 17,418,522
1961 10,483,000 16,908,035
1960 10,276,477 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/australia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th 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) Australia's population will grow by 19.3% to 33,152,099 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia South Africa
2100 0.51% 0.22%
2099 0.52% 0.22%
2098 0.56% 0.2%
2097 0.55% 0.21%
2096 0.53% 0.22%
2095 0.52% 0.24%
2094 0.55% 0.24%
2093 0.56% 0.24%
2092 0.57% 0.27%
2091 0.57% 0.25%
2090 0.56% 0.26%
2089 0.58% 0.26%
2088 0.55% 0.27%
2087 0.54% 0.27%
2086 0.52% 0.25%
2085 0.52% 0.27%
2084 0.55% 0.29%
2083 0.54% 0.29%
2082 0.56% 0.3%
2081 0.54% 0.3%
2080 0.54% 0.3%
2079 0.55% 0.31%
2078 0.56% 0.31%
2077 0.54% 0.3%
2076 0.55% 0.31%
2075 0.56% 0.32%
2074 0.55% 0.32%
2073 0.55% 0.32%
2072 0.55% 0.37%
2071 0.57% 0.38%
2070 0.59% 0.35%
2069 0.59% 0.36%
2068 0.59% 0.37%
2067 0.59% 0.39%
2066 0.57% 0.39%
2065 0.56% 0.42%
2064 0.59% 0.44%
2063 0.59% 0.44%
2062 0.59% 0.44%
2061 0.58% 0.46%
2060 0.58% 0.47%
2059 0.62% 0.49%
2058 0.6% 0.5%
2057 0.6% 0.5%
2056 0.62% 0.53%
2055 0.62% 0.54%
2054 0.62% 0.54%
2053 0.62% 0.56%
2052 0.64% 0.6%
2051 0.65% 0.6%
2050 0.65% 0.62%
2049 0.69% 0.62%
2048 0.66% 0.66%
2047 0.7% 0.68%
2046 0.69% 0.67%
2045 0.69% 0.68%
2044 0.69% 0.7%
2043 0.71% 0.71%
2042 0.7% 0.73%
2041 0.7% 0.73%
2040 0.69% 0.74%
2039 0.72% 0.76%
2038 0.71% 0.79%
2037 0.74% 0.8%
2036 0.75% 0.83%
2035 0.75% 0.85%
2034 0.76% 0.87%
2033 0.77% 0.9%
2032 0.8% 0.93%
2031 0.82% 0.94%
2030 0.84% 0.99%
2029 0.88% 1.03%
2028 0.9% 1.05%
2027 0.92% 1.06%
2026 0.96% 1.12%
2025 0.99% 1.19%
2024 2.01% 1.26%
2023 2.46% 1.34%
2022 1.3% 1.42%
2021 0.14% 1.55%
2020 1.24% 1.64%
2019 1.49% 1.66%
2018 1.51% 1.7%
2017 1.66% 0.66%
2016 1.57% 0.94%
2015 1.45% 2.03%
2014 1.5% 1.68%
2013 1.74% 1.67%
2012 1.76% 1.49%
2011 1.4% 1.24%
2010 1.57% 1.19%
2009 2.08% 1.2%
2008 2.02% 1.16%
2007 1.84% 1.06%
2006 1.36% 1.03%
2005 1.22% 1.02%
2004 1.07% 1.01%
2003 1.16% 1%
2002 1.14% 0.95%
2001 1.29% 0.86%
2000 1.15% 0.92%
1999 1.1% 1.1%
1998 1% 1.22%
1997 1.09% 1.21%
1996 1.22% 1.31%
1995 1.12% 1.22%
1994 0.97% 1.63%
1993 0.89% 2.01%
1992 1.13% 1.81%
1991 1.28% 2.31%
1990 1.49% 2.82%
1989 1.71% 2.98%
1988 1.65% 3.09%
1987 1.53% 3.17%
1986 1.46% 3.25%
1985 1.34% 3.39%
1984 1.21% 3.52%
1983 1.38% 3.56%
1982 1.75% 3.52%
1981 1.57% 3.46%
1980 1.23% 3.09%
1979 1.09% 2.74%
1978 1.17% 2.77%
1977 1.13% 2.74%
1976 1.01% 2.74%
1975 1.24% 2.81%
1974 2.56% 2.86%
1973 1.54% 2.9%
1972 1.86% 2.91%
1971 3.44% 2.97%
1970 1.99% 3.08%
1969 2.12% 3.14%
1968 1.78% 3.17%
1967 1.27% 3.17%
1966 2.31% 3.15%
1965 1.98% 3.12%
1964 1.98% 3.1%
1963 1.94% 3.08%
1962 2.47% 3.02%
1961 2.01% 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/australia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Australia grew by 2.01%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Australia South Africa
Current population
27799169
65683993
Population rank 55/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.79%
One net population change
58.7 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.83 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.86 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,471 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +536,890 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 85/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +137,109 +146,370
Net migration rank 11/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - 146,370
2024 - 138,510 - 166,972
2023 103,974 140,232 602,793 228,222
2022 111,881 140,972 603,636 233,284
2021 138,701 116,768 456,411 458,246
2020 133,376 44,447 595,873 369,901
2019 136,808 207,142 652,130 331,124
2018 157,269 226,412 648,319 318,260
2017 150,015 255,023 645,975 343,146
2016 152,403 254,648 641,365 -879,235
2015 150,041 212,350 668,771 641,150
2014 154,940 200,177 674,754 272,697
2013 159,584 215,823 652,427 232,230
2012 161,408 235,776 643,723 264,091
2011 156,380 197,657 601,708 65,166
2010 158,628 166,752 566,834 68,563
2009 160,518 235,628 554,115 41,528
2008 155,119 275,773 595,332 36,869
2007 154,124 249,873 503,567 36,339
2006 132,931 191,985 487,584 33,159
2005 129,132 131,371 464,464 31,286
2004 115,610 110,072 442,540 58,924
2003 118,325 104,437 415,018 65,604
2002 116,971 108,852 430,926 50,313
2001 117,575 117,552 484,801 -60,793
2000 119,882 111,186 526,963 -136,794
1999 118,517 92,900 594,643 -126,011
1998 120,949 81,310 627,027 -82,722
1997 121,592 67,661 667,969 -98,181
1996 125,751 82,965 710,868 -193,007
1995 131,436 80,456 743,488 -98,403
1994 131,761 51,941 698,609 -268,849
1993 137,551 23,833 789,220 194,977
1992 139,829 40,767 794,415 -71,342
1991 138,273 68,847 827,296 -39,131
1990 143,347 100,093 835,421 259,718
1989 127,789 144,042 884,629 255,605
1988 127,298 153,330 909,221 246,382
1987 128,484 136,421 922,330 231,009
1986 123,342 113,061 903,644 234,378
1985 143,674 98,327 893,889 244,940
1984 123,077 79,617 869,011 290,789
1983 130,844 73,251 837,013 310,172
1982 126,030 111,722 807,550 293,195
1981 125,356 121,921 767,833 279,985
1980 117,536 89,189 738,415 258,127
1979 116,112 52,137 716,541 56,323
1978 116,299 45,832 694,341 62,121
1977 117,793 44,946 680,929 63,739
1976 115,070 32,792 675,011 27,333
1975 123,648 25,336 667,862 38,809
1974 128,996 56,167 658,438 38,518
1973 136,476 62,928 651,596 41,125
1972 155,488 54,895 638,754 38,163
1971 165,593 223,991 624,761 32,961
1970 145,081 256,295 605,102 61,514
1969 143,477 108,770 590,794 73,225
1968 132,099 100,963 571,841 78,932
1967 126,249 80,904 553,741 81,932
1966 126,996 110,864 534,862 77,417
1965 122,990 118,891 506,632 82,514
1964 128,420 91,588 490,606 76,298
1963 140,161 73,237 473,821 72,844
1962 143,943 58,315 455,634 69,771
1961 150,955 64,495 437,851 57,728
1960 141,816 85,707 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 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, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
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/australia/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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