The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 81.8 times bigger than Bhutan's.
- Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).
Bhutan vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Bhutan
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 695,106 | 94,767,727 |
| 2099 | 699,983 | 94,556,931 |
| 2098 | 704,455 | 94,349,546 |
| 2097 | 709,230 | 94,158,472 |
| 2096 | 713,930 | 93,960,605 |
| 2095 | 719,152 | 93,752,736 |
| 2094 | 724,401 | 93,527,902 |
| 2093 | 729,500 | 93,300,398 |
| 2092 | 735,075 | 93,074,837 |
| 2091 | 741,074 | 92,826,204 |
| 2090 | 746,937 | 92,594,033 |
| 2089 | 753,010 | 92,355,184 |
| 2088 | 758,937 | 92,112,914 |
| 2087 | 765,235 | 91,866,024 |
| 2086 | 770,883 | 91,614,165 |
| 2085 | 776,435 | 91,385,350 |
| 2084 | 781,892 | 91,139,318 |
| 2083 | 787,929 | 90,877,425 |
| 2082 | 793,543 | 90,615,359 |
| 2081 | 799,530 | 90,345,492 |
| 2080 | 805,275 | 90,071,835 |
| 2079 | 811,060 | 89,801,998 |
| 2078 | 816,530 | 89,526,224 |
| 2077 | 821,247 | 89,249,206 |
| 2076 | 825,978 | 88,986,114 |
| 2075 | 830,808 | 88,713,215 |
| 2074 | 836,017 | 88,428,616 |
| 2073 | 841,208 | 88,149,885 |
| 2072 | 845,861 | 87,866,246 |
| 2071 | 850,262 | 87,540,177 |
| 2070 | 853,930 | 87,209,425 |
| 2069 | 857,808 | 86,901,512 |
| 2068 | 861,327 | 86,588,742 |
| 2067 | 864,753 | 86,268,392 |
| 2066 | 868,260 | 85,935,310 |
| 2065 | 871,517 | 85,604,376 |
| 2064 | 873,735 | 85,244,950 |
| 2063 | 875,674 | 84,875,503 |
| 2062 | 877,938 | 84,503,237 |
| 2061 | 880,023 | 84,132,885 |
| 2060 | 881,913 | 83,748,999 |
| 2059 | 883,191 | 83,354,923 |
| 2058 | 884,515 | 82,947,675 |
| 2057 | 884,612 | 82,538,045 |
| 2056 | 885,822 | 82,127,477 |
| 2055 | 886,403 | 81,698,196 |
| 2054 | 885,903 | 81,255,867 |
| 2053 | 886,520 | 80,818,632 |
| 2052 | 886,640 | 80,367,409 |
| 2051 | 885,551 | 79,886,672 |
| 2050 | 884,535 | 79,411,977 |
| 2049 | 883,736 | 78,925,493 |
| 2048 | 882,640 | 78,437,677 |
| 2047 | 881,660 | 77,922,211 |
| 2046 | 880,037 | 77,397,298 |
| 2045 | 877,677 | 76,879,838 |
| 2044 | 875,155 | 76,357,155 |
| 2043 | 872,383 | 75,827,709 |
| 2042 | 869,248 | 75,291,615 |
| 2041 | 866,366 | 74,748,408 |
| 2040 | 863,173 | 74,205,530 |
| 2039 | 859,926 | 73,663,047 |
| 2038 | 856,429 | 73,105,930 |
| 2037 | 852,475 | 72,532,742 |
| 2036 | 848,122 | 71,956,247 |
| 2035 | 843,447 | 71,362,555 |
| 2034 | 839,780 | 70,762,815 |
| 2033 | 835,308 | 70,153,205 |
| 2032 | 830,472 | 69,527,410 |
| 2031 | 825,528 | 68,890,002 |
| 2030 | 820,888 | 68,245,372 |
| 2029 | 816,655 | 67,573,179 |
| 2028 | 812,002 | 66,884,377 |
| 2027 | 807,474 | 66,190,258 |
| 2026 | 801,869 | 65,496,277 |
| 2025 | 796,375 | 64,770,314 |
| 2024 | 791,524 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 786,385 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 780,914 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 775,442 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 770,006 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 764,824 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 759,759 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 754,335 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 747,866 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 740,618 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 733,139 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 725,273 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 717,279 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 709,377 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 701,632 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 693,988 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 686,351 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 678,641 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 670,799 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 661,865 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 650,544 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 637,663 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 624,409 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 610,794 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 596,863 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 582,579 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 569,435 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 558,697 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 548,784 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 547,989 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 554,497 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 554,673 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 577,774 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 599,784 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 589,287 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 573,586 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 556,986 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 540,557 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 524,324 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 508,392 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 492,784 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 477,460 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 462,485 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 447,836 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 433,404 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 419,200 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 405,243 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 391,639 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 378,490 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 365,791 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 353,538 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 341,705 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 330,264 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 319,211 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 308,528 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 298,214 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 288,311 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 278,852 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 269,820 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 261,200 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 252,987 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 245,156 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 237,636 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 230,602 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 224,084 | 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/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).
Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd 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) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.7% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.63% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.67% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.66% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.73% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.72% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.7% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.76% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.81% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.78% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.81% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.78% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.82% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.73% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.72% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.7% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.77% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.71% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.75% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.71% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.71% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.67% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.57% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.57% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.58% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.52% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.43% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.45% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.41% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.4% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.4% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.37% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.25% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.22% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.26% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.24% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.21% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.14% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.15% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.01% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.14% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.07% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | 0.06% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.07% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.01% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 0.11% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 0.09% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 0.12% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 0.11% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 0.18% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 0.27% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.29% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 0.32% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 0.36% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 0.33% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 0.37% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 0.38% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 0.41% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 0.46% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 0.51% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 0.55% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.54% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.58% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.6% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.57% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.52% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.57% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.56% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.7% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 0.69% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 0.61% | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 0.65% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 0.71% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 0.71% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 0.68% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 0.67% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 0.72% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.86% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 0.98% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 1.02% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 1.11% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 1.11% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 1.11% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.14% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 1.17% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 1.35% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 1.74% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 2.02% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 2.12% | 1% |
| 2002 | 2.23% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 2.33% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 2.45% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 2.31% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.92% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 1.81% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 0.15% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | -1.17% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | -0.03% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | -4% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | -3.67% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 1.78% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 2.74% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 3.04% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 3.13% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 3.17% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 3.21% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 3.24% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 3.27% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 3.33% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 3.39% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 3.44% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 3.47% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 3.47% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 3.47% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 3.46% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 3.46% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 3.46% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 3.46% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 3.46% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 3.43% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 3.39% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 3.35% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 3.25% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 3.19% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 3.16% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 3.05% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.91% | 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/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.
Live population counters
|
Bhutan
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
803385
|
65683993
|
| Population rank | 163/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.01% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
1.7 hours
|
39.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
52.8 minutes
|
26.6 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.82 hours
|
54 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +14 | +2,178 |
| Annual growth/decline | +5,139 | +794,803 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.65% | +1.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 120/197 | 85/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19.3 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +455 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 69/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 55,705 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 146/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 7% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 80/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 455 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | - | -277 | - | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 5,153 | 291 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 5,204 | 291 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 5,162 | 287 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 5,142 | 287 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 4,643 | 287 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 4,909 | 287 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 5,367 | 287 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 6,164 | 1,116 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 6,762 | 450 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 7,290 | 452 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 7,689 | 309 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 7,967 | 20 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 8,282 | -464 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 8,598 | -922 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 8,913 | -1,305 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 9,200 | -1,538 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 9,322 | -1,553 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 9,197 | -1,283 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 9,102 | 848 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 9,056 | 3,642 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 9,132 | 3,921 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 9,464 | 3,996 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 9,904 | 3,874 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 10,142 | 3,940 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 10,940 | 3,542 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 11,320 | 486 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 11,668 | -1,994 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 12,153 | -1,998 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 12,938 | -21,501 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 13,536 | -17,997 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 13,915 | -9,800 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 15,594 | -65,900 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 15,801 | -9,522 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 15,704 | -1,000 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 15,516 | 1,180 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 15,212 | 1,286 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 14,887 | 1,481 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 14,516 | 1,586 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 14,061 | 1,694 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 13,688 | 1,779 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 13,284 | 1,897 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 12,872 | 1,897 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 12,444 | 2,096 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 12,016 | 2,307 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 11,583 | 2,493 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 11,133 | 2,700 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 10,679 | 2,700 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 10,228 | 2,700 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 9,775 | 2,700 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 9,324 | 2,700 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 8,939 | 2,700 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 8,549 | 2,700 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 8,161 | 2,700 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 7,791 | 2,700 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 7,435 | 2,700 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 7,085 | 2,593 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 6,744 | 2,493 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 6,418 | 2,407 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 6,109 | 2,307 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 5,818 | 2,196 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 5,551 | 2,096 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 5,297 | 2,096 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 5,081 | 1,586 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 4,888 | 1,481 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 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, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Bhutan
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Thimphu | 115K |
| Paro | 2.36K |
|
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 differences between Bhutan and South Africa
|
Bhutan
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 73.8 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 32.4 years | 31.1 years |
| Median age | 30.9 years | 29.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.4:46.6 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 births per woman | 2.22 births per woman |
| Population density | 54.5 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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