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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bahrain was 1,588,670 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bahrain's population is 1,669,503 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 39.3 times bigger than Bahrain's.
  • Bahrain is ranked the 151st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.02% for Bahrain vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Bahrain has had an average growth rate of +2.2% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bahrain has increased from 960K people to 1.67M (73.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Bahrain vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Bahrain
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bahrain South Africa
2100 3,082,127 94,767,727
2099 3,062,381 94,556,931
2098 3,042,626 94,349,546
2097 3,022,907 94,158,472
2096 3,003,249 93,960,605
2095 2,983,633 93,752,736
2094 2,964,048 93,527,902
2093 2,944,524 93,300,398
2092 2,925,040 93,074,837
2091 2,905,580 92,826,204
2090 2,886,217 92,594,033
2089 2,866,951 92,355,184
2088 2,847,692 92,112,914
2087 2,828,537 91,866,024
2086 2,809,429 91,614,165
2085 2,790,308 91,385,350
2084 2,771,240 91,139,318
2083 2,752,172 90,877,425
2082 2,733,129 90,615,359
2081 2,714,131 90,345,492
2080 2,695,175 90,071,835
2079 2,676,229 89,801,998
2078 2,657,278 89,526,224
2077 2,638,324 89,249,206
2076 2,619,372 88,986,114
2075 2,600,364 88,713,215
2074 2,581,289 88,428,616
2073 2,562,193 88,149,885
2072 2,543,097 87,866,246
2071 2,523,937 87,540,177
2070 2,504,829 87,209,425
2069 2,485,696 86,901,512
2068 2,466,554 86,588,742
2067 2,447,412 86,268,392
2066 2,428,336 85,935,310
2065 2,409,347 85,604,376
2064 2,390,392 85,244,950
2063 2,371,501 84,875,503
2062 2,352,705 84,503,237
2061 2,334,013 84,132,885
2060 2,315,423 83,748,999
2059 2,296,883 83,354,923
2058 2,278,395 82,947,675
2057 2,260,013 82,538,045
2056 2,241,679 82,127,477
2055 2,223,337 81,698,196
2054 2,205,001 81,255,867
2053 2,186,627 80,818,632
2052 2,168,245 80,367,409
2051 2,149,857 79,886,672
2050 2,131,404 79,411,977
2049 2,112,930 78,925,493
2048 2,094,386 78,437,677
2047 2,075,759 77,922,211
2046 2,057,011 77,397,298
2045 2,038,165 76,879,838
2044 2,019,181 76,357,155
2043 2,000,134 75,827,709
2042 1,981,020 75,291,615
2041 1,961,864 74,748,408
2040 1,942,729 74,205,530
2039 1,923,661 73,663,047
2038 1,904,631 73,105,930
2037 1,885,711 72,532,742
2036 1,866,890 71,956,247
2035 1,848,209 71,362,555
2034 1,829,691 70,762,815
2033 1,811,344 70,153,205
2032 1,793,151 69,527,410
2031 1,775,117 68,890,002
2030 1,757,225 68,245,372
2029 1,738,388 67,573,179
2028 1,716,506 66,884,377
2027 1,691,696 66,190,258
2026 1,661,275 65,496,277
2025 1,627,179 64,770,314
2024 1,588,670 64,007,187
2023 1,577,059 63,212,384
2022 1,524,693 62,378,410
2021 1,504,365 61,502,603
2020 1,472,204 60,562,381
2019 1,483,756 59,587,885
2018 1,503,091 58,613,001
2017 1,501,116 57,635,162
2016 1,423,726 57,259,551
2015 1,370,322 56,723,537
2014 1,314,562 55,594,838
2013 1,253,191 54,678,791
2012 1,208,964 53,782,567
2011 1,195,020 52,995,205
2010 1,228,543 52,344,051
2009 1,178,415 51,728,516
2008 1,103,496 51,114,599
2007 1,039,295 50,528,584
2006 960,424 49,998,277
2005 888,822 49,490,033
2004 823,741 48,991,421
2003 764,517 48,500,348
2002 710,553 48,019,415
2001 661,316 47,566,800
2000 637,582 47,159,719
1999 620,989 46,730,335
1998 604,842 46,223,880
1997 589,115 45,666,838
1996 573,792 45,123,018
1995 558,879 44,541,554
1994 544,366 44,004,139
1993 530,225 43,297,156
1992 516,458 42,443,509
1991 503,052 41,687,898
1990 514,797 40,746,268
1989 497,327 39,628,575
1988 479,929 38,480,649
1987 462,854 37,326,190
1986 446,286 36,180,515
1985 430,358 35,042,093
1984 415,154 33,892,788
1983 400,707 32,739,304
1982 386,983 31,615,339
1981 373,524 30,541,044
1980 358,978 29,518,857
1979 343,457 28,634,162
1978 328,046 27,869,507
1977 312,823 27,118,952
1976 297,863 26,395,450
1975 283,243 25,690,940
1974 269,038 24,989,108
1973 255,320 24,294,263
1972 242,113 23,609,456
1971 230,733 22,942,143
1970 224,809 22,279,984
1969 222,469 21,614,676
1968 219,337 20,957,287
1967 214,189 20,314,066
1966 207,543 19,690,087
1965 200,866 19,089,380
1964 193,816 18,511,361
1963 186,501 17,954,564
1962 179,349 17,418,522
1961 172,346 16,908,035
1960 165,477 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/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bahrain increased by 463,302 people (a 48.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bahrain gained 245,777 people (a 17.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Bahrain was ranked 157th most populous country in 2006 and is 151st 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) Bahrain's population will grow by 27.7% to 2,131,404 people with a rank change from 151st to 146th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Bahrain is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 3.08M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Bahrain
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bahrain South Africa
2100 0.64% 0.22%
2099 0.65% 0.22%
2098 0.65% 0.2%
2097 0.65% 0.21%
2096 0.66% 0.22%
2095 0.66% 0.24%
2094 0.66% 0.24%
2093 0.67% 0.24%
2092 0.67% 0.27%
2091 0.67% 0.25%
2090 0.67% 0.26%
2089 0.68% 0.26%
2088 0.68% 0.27%
2087 0.68% 0.27%
2086 0.69% 0.25%
2085 0.69% 0.27%
2084 0.69% 0.29%
2083 0.7% 0.29%
2082 0.7% 0.3%
2081 0.7% 0.3%
2080 0.71% 0.3%
2079 0.71% 0.31%
2078 0.72% 0.31%
2077 0.72% 0.3%
2076 0.73% 0.31%
2075 0.74% 0.32%
2074 0.75% 0.32%
2073 0.75% 0.32%
2072 0.76% 0.37%
2071 0.76% 0.38%
2070 0.77% 0.35%
2069 0.78% 0.36%
2068 0.78% 0.37%
2067 0.79% 0.39%
2066 0.79% 0.39%
2065 0.79% 0.42%
2064 0.8% 0.44%
2063 0.8% 0.44%
2062 0.8% 0.44%
2061 0.8% 0.46%
2060 0.81% 0.47%
2059 0.81% 0.49%
2058 0.81% 0.5%
2057 0.82% 0.5%
2056 0.82% 0.53%
2055 0.83% 0.54%
2054 0.84% 0.54%
2053 0.85% 0.56%
2052 0.86% 0.6%
2051 0.87% 0.6%
2050 0.87% 0.62%
2049 0.89% 0.62%
2048 0.9% 0.66%
2047 0.91% 0.68%
2046 0.92% 0.67%
2045 0.94% 0.68%
2044 0.95% 0.7%
2043 0.96% 0.71%
2042 0.98% 0.73%
2041 0.98% 0.73%
2040 0.99% 0.74%
2039 1% 0.76%
2038 1% 0.79%
2037 1.01% 0.8%
2036 1.01% 0.83%
2035 1.01% 0.85%
2034 1.01% 0.87%
2033 1.01% 0.9%
2032 1.02% 0.93%
2031 1.02% 0.94%
2030 1.08% 0.99%
2029 1.27% 1.03%
2028 1.47% 1.05%
2027 1.83% 1.06%
2026 2.1% 1.12%
2025 2.42% 1.19%
2024 0.74% 1.26%
2023 3.43% 1.34%
2022 1.35% 1.42%
2021 2.18% 1.55%
2020 -0.78% 1.64%
2019 -1.29% 1.66%
2018 0.13% 1.7%
2017 5.44% 0.66%
2016 3.9% 0.94%
2015 4.24% 2.03%
2014 4.9% 1.68%
2013 3.66% 1.67%
2012 1.17% 1.49%
2011 -2.73% 1.24%
2010 4.25% 1.19%
2009 6.79% 1.2%
2008 6.18% 1.16%
2007 8.21% 1.06%
2006 8.06% 1.03%
2005 7.9% 1.02%
2004 7.75% 1.01%
2003 7.59% 1%
2002 7.45% 0.95%
2001 3.72% 0.86%
2000 2.67% 0.92%
1999 2.67% 1.1%
1998 2.67% 1.22%
1997 2.67% 1.21%
1996 2.67% 1.31%
1995 2.67% 1.22%
1994 2.67% 1.63%
1993 2.67% 2.01%
1992 2.66% 1.81%
1991 -2.28% 2.31%
1990 3.51% 2.82%
1989 3.63% 2.98%
1988 3.69% 3.09%
1987 3.71% 3.17%
1986 3.7% 3.25%
1985 3.66% 3.39%
1984 3.61% 3.52%
1983 3.55% 3.56%
1982 3.6% 3.52%
1981 4.05% 3.46%
1980 4.52% 3.09%
1979 4.7% 2.74%
1978 4.87% 2.77%
1977 5.02% 2.74%
1976 5.16% 2.74%
1975 5.28% 2.81%
1974 5.37% 2.86%
1973 5.45% 2.9%
1972 4.93% 2.91%
1971 2.64% 2.97%
1970 1.05% 3.08%
1969 1.43% 3.14%
1968 2.4% 3.17%
1967 3.2% 3.17%
1966 3.32% 3.15%
1965 3.64% 3.12%
1964 3.92% 3.1%
1963 3.99% 3.08%
1962 4.06% 3.02%
1961 4.15% 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/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bahrain grew by 0.74%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Bahrain South Africa
Current population
1669503
65683993
Population rank 151/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
45.3 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
26.7 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.66 hours
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +32 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +11,611 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.74% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 117/197 85/197
One migration net change every
29.1 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +18,128 +146,370
Net migration rank 34/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 840,202 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 66/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 52.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 7/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bahrain
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bahrain South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 18,128 - 146,370
2024 - 22,699 - 166,972
2023 16,356 20,002 602,793 228,222
2022 17,058 18,975 603,636 233,284
2021 15,401 11,882 456,411 458,246
2020 15,056 -5,048 595,873 369,901
2019 16,639 -31,967 652,130 331,124
2018 17,445 -25,978 648,319 318,260
2017 18,140 21,958 645,975 343,146
2016 17,996 46,833 641,365 -879,235
2015 18,193 36,809 668,771 641,150
2014 17,826 40,815 674,754 272,697
2013 17,044 35,574 652,427 232,230
2012 16,219 12,801 643,723 264,091
2011 15,990 -26,107 601,708 65,166
2010 16,474 -19,329 566,834 68,563
2009 15,795 46,467 554,115 41,528
2008 15,541 47,674 595,332 36,869
2007 15,393 47,500 503,567 36,339
2006 15,248 46,615 487,584 33,159
2005 15,196 45,682 464,464 31,286
2004 14,454 45,413 442,540 58,924
2003 13,243 45,571 415,018 65,604
2002 11,875 45,952 430,926 50,313
2001 10,948 34,371 484,801 -60,793
2000 11,339 2,886 526,963 -136,794
1999 11,397 3,130 594,643 -126,011
1998 10,970 3,733 627,027 -82,722
1997 10,739 4,036 667,969 -98,181
1996 10,607 4,162 710,868 -193,007
1995 10,824 3,842 743,488 -98,403
1994 11,133 3,387 698,609 -268,849
1993 11,521 2,850 789,220 194,977
1992 11,577 2,768 794,415 -71,342
1991 11,491 4,562 827,296 -39,131
1990 12,337 5,090 835,421 259,718
1989 12,293 5,220 884,629 255,605
1988 11,995 5,294 909,221 246,382
1987 11,709 5,152 922,330 231,009
1986 11,455 4,822 903,644 234,378
1985 10,924 4,657 893,889 244,940
1984 10,269 4,557 869,011 290,789
1983 9,821 4,252 837,013 310,172
1982 9,396 3,980 807,550 293,195
1981 9,020 4,523 767,833 279,985
1980 8,802 6,741 738,415 258,127
1979 8,587 6,908 716,541 56,323
1978 8,358 6,974 694,341 62,121
1977 8,093 7,017 680,929 63,739
1976 7,818 6,993 675,011 27,333
1975 7,535 6,900 667,862 38,809
1974 7,265 6,711 658,438 38,518
1973 7,012 6,450 651,596 41,125
1972 6,763 6,190 638,754 38,163
1971 6,650 3,159 624,761 32,961
1970 6,973 -4,939 605,102 61,514
1969 7,277 -4,638 590,794 73,225
1968 7,584 -3,952 571,841 78,932
1967 7,492 -829 553,741 81,932
1966 7,342 -718 534,862 77,417
1965 7,148 -415 506,632 82,514
1964 6,873 491 490,606 76,298
1963 6,557 714 473,821 72,844
1962 6,232 810 455,634 69,771
1961 5,882 1,076 437,851 57,728
1960 5,513 1,266 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 55.9% of the population change in Bahrain is from natural causes (a gain of 170,110 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 134,281 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, 840,202 residents or 52.3% of the population were not native-born in Bahrain, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Bahrain
City Population
Manama 298K
Riffa 115K
Isa Town 61.3K
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/bahrain/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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