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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bolivia was 12,413,315 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bolivia's population is 12,798,112 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.13 times bigger than Bolivia's.
  • Bolivia is ranked the 79th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.95% of the world: 0.15% for Bolivia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Bolivia has had an average growth rate of +1.37% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bolivia has increased from 9.52M people to 12.8M (34.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Bolivia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Bolivia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bolivia South Africa
2100 17,893,435 94,767,727
2099 17,914,045 94,556,931
2098 17,933,130 94,349,546
2097 17,950,426 94,158,472
2096 17,965,884 93,960,605
2095 17,979,632 93,752,736
2094 17,991,321 93,527,902
2093 18,001,837 93,300,398
2092 18,010,965 93,074,837
2091 18,018,743 92,826,204
2090 18,024,598 92,594,033
2089 18,028,683 92,355,184
2088 18,031,111 92,112,914
2087 18,032,273 91,866,024
2086 18,031,453 91,614,165
2085 18,028,821 91,385,350
2084 18,023,949 91,139,318
2083 18,017,099 90,877,425
2082 18,008,181 90,615,359
2081 17,996,924 90,345,492
2080 17,983,295 90,071,835
2079 17,967,169 89,801,998
2078 17,948,431 89,526,224
2077 17,926,683 89,249,206
2076 17,901,540 88,986,114
2075 17,873,249 88,713,215
2074 17,842,092 88,428,616
2073 17,808,644 88,149,885
2072 17,771,740 87,866,246
2071 17,731,963 87,540,177
2070 17,689,544 87,209,425
2069 17,643,806 86,901,512
2068 17,595,053 86,588,742
2067 17,542,502 86,268,392
2066 17,486,641 85,935,310
2065 17,427,942 85,604,376
2064 17,365,688 85,244,950
2063 17,300,458 84,875,503
2062 17,232,339 84,503,237
2061 17,160,987 84,132,885
2060 17,086,684 83,748,999
2059 17,009,134 83,354,923
2058 16,928,354 82,947,675
2057 16,844,476 82,538,045
2056 16,757,244 82,127,477
2055 16,667,208 81,698,196
2054 16,573,408 81,255,867
2053 16,476,868 80,818,632
2052 16,377,020 80,367,409
2051 16,273,802 79,886,672
2050 16,167,331 79,411,977
2049 16,057,626 78,925,493
2048 15,944,702 78,437,677
2047 15,829,057 77,922,211
2046 15,710,244 77,397,298
2045 15,588,370 76,879,838
2044 15,463,403 76,357,155
2043 15,335,251 75,827,709
2042 15,204,099 75,291,615
2041 15,069,930 74,748,408
2040 14,933,077 74,205,530
2039 14,793,148 73,663,047
2038 14,650,075 73,105,930
2037 14,504,571 72,532,742
2036 14,356,512 71,956,247
2035 14,205,539 71,362,555
2034 14,051,957 70,762,815
2033 13,896,375 70,153,205
2032 13,738,443 69,527,410
2031 13,578,504 68,890,002
2030 13,416,363 68,245,372
2029 13,252,713 67,573,179
2028 13,087,555 66,884,377
2027 12,920,647 66,190,258
2026 12,752,679 65,496,277
2025 12,583,455 64,770,314
2024 12,413,315 64,007,187
2023 12,244,159 63,212,384
2022 12,077,154 62,378,410
2021 11,937,360 61,502,603
2020 11,816,299 60,562,381
2019 11,671,386 59,587,885
2018 11,508,368 58,613,001
2017 11,344,587 57,635,162
2016 11,180,020 57,259,551
2015 11,014,705 56,723,537
2014 10,848,888 55,594,838
2013 10,682,608 54,678,791
2012 10,515,807 53,782,567
2011 10,348,929 52,995,205
2010 10,182,345 52,344,051
2009 10,016,275 51,728,516
2008 9,850,858 51,114,599
2007 9,685,960 50,528,584
2006 9,521,689 49,998,277
2005 9,360,754 49,490,033
2004 9,204,287 48,991,421
2003 9,050,700 48,500,348
2002 8,900,355 48,019,415
2001 8,752,736 47,566,800
2000 8,606,326 47,159,719
1999 8,459,806 46,730,335
1998 8,313,394 46,223,880
1997 8,167,900 45,666,838
1996 8,021,736 45,123,018
1995 7,874,676 44,541,554
1994 7,727,322 44,004,139
1993 7,579,195 43,297,156
1992 7,430,336 42,443,509
1991 7,280,289 41,687,898
1990 7,130,142 40,746,268
1989 6,981,766 39,628,575
1988 6,835,508 38,480,649
1987 6,692,162 37,326,190
1986 6,552,479 36,180,515
1985 6,416,185 35,042,093
1984 6,281,868 33,892,788
1983 6,149,060 32,739,304
1982 6,018,088 31,615,339
1981 5,888,109 30,541,044
1980 5,758,900 29,518,857
1979 5,630,849 28,634,162
1978 5,504,123 27,869,507
1977 5,379,166 27,118,952
1976 5,256,496 26,395,450
1975 5,137,539 25,690,940
1974 5,022,475 24,989,108
1973 4,910,200 24,294,263
1972 4,800,978 23,609,456
1971 4,694,342 22,942,143
1970 4,590,010 22,279,984
1969 4,488,232 21,614,676
1968 4,388,944 20,957,287
1967 4,292,572 20,314,066
1966 4,199,550 19,690,087
1965 4,109,796 19,089,380
1964 4,022,996 18,511,361
1963 3,938,913 17,954,564
1962 3,857,493 17,418,522
1961 3,778,731 16,908,035
1960 3,702,323 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/bolivia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bolivia increased by 1,658,331 people (a 17.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bolivia gained 1,618,092 people (a 14.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Bolivia was ranked 83rd most populous country in 2006 and is 79th 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) Bolivia's population will grow by 26.3% to 16,167,331 people with a rank change from 79th to 80th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Bolivia is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 18M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Bolivia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bolivia South Africa
2100 -0.12% 0.22%
2099 -0.11% 0.22%
2098 -0.1% 0.2%
2097 -0.09% 0.21%
2096 -0.08% 0.22%
2095 -0.06% 0.24%
2094 -0.06% 0.24%
2093 -0.05% 0.24%
2092 -0.04% 0.27%
2091 -0.03% 0.25%
2090 -0.02% 0.26%
2089 -0.01% 0.26%
2088 -0.006% 0.27%
2087 0.005% 0.27%
2086 0.01% 0.25%
2085 0.03% 0.27%
2084 0.04% 0.29%
2083 0.05% 0.29%
2082 0.06% 0.3%
2081 0.08% 0.3%
2080 0.09% 0.3%
2079 0.1% 0.31%
2078 0.12% 0.31%
2077 0.14% 0.3%
2076 0.16% 0.31%
2075 0.17% 0.32%
2074 0.19% 0.32%
2073 0.21% 0.32%
2072 0.22% 0.37%
2071 0.24% 0.38%
2070 0.26% 0.35%
2069 0.28% 0.36%
2068 0.3% 0.37%
2067 0.32% 0.39%
2066 0.34% 0.39%
2065 0.36% 0.42%
2064 0.38% 0.44%
2063 0.4% 0.44%
2062 0.42% 0.44%
2061 0.43% 0.46%
2060 0.46% 0.47%
2059 0.48% 0.49%
2058 0.5% 0.5%
2057 0.52% 0.5%
2056 0.54% 0.53%
2055 0.57% 0.54%
2054 0.59% 0.54%
2053 0.61% 0.56%
2052 0.63% 0.6%
2051 0.66% 0.6%
2050 0.68% 0.62%
2049 0.71% 0.62%
2048 0.73% 0.66%
2047 0.76% 0.68%
2046 0.78% 0.67%
2045 0.81% 0.68%
2044 0.84% 0.7%
2043 0.86% 0.71%
2042 0.89% 0.73%
2041 0.92% 0.73%
2040 0.95% 0.74%
2039 0.98% 0.76%
2038 1% 0.79%
2037 1.03% 0.8%
2036 1.06% 0.83%
2035 1.09% 0.85%
2034 1.12% 0.87%
2033 1.15% 0.9%
2032 1.18% 0.93%
2031 1.21% 0.94%
2030 1.23% 0.99%
2029 1.26% 1.03%
2028 1.29% 1.05%
2027 1.32% 1.06%
2026 1.34% 1.12%
2025 1.37% 1.19%
2024 1.38% 1.26%
2023 1.38% 1.34%
2022 1.17% 1.42%
2021 1.02% 1.55%
2020 1.24% 1.64%
2019 1.42% 1.66%
2018 1.44% 1.7%
2017 1.47% 0.66%
2016 1.5% 0.94%
2015 1.53% 2.03%
2014 1.56% 1.68%
2013 1.59% 1.67%
2012 1.61% 1.49%
2011 1.64% 1.24%
2010 1.66% 1.19%
2009 1.68% 1.2%
2008 1.7% 1.16%
2007 1.73% 1.06%
2006 1.72% 1.03%
2005 1.7% 1.02%
2004 1.7% 1.01%
2003 1.69% 1%
2002 1.69% 0.95%
2001 1.7% 0.86%
2000 1.73% 0.92%
1999 1.76% 1.1%
1998 1.78% 1.22%
1997 1.82% 1.21%
1996 1.87% 1.31%
1995 1.91% 1.22%
1994 1.95% 1.63%
1993 2% 2.01%
1992 2.06% 1.81%
1991 2.11% 2.31%
1990 2.13% 2.82%
1989 2.14% 2.98%
1988 2.14% 3.09%
1987 2.13% 3.17%
1986 2.12% 3.25%
1985 2.14% 3.39%
1984 2.16% 3.52%
1983 2.18% 3.56%
1982 2.21% 3.52%
1981 2.24% 3.46%
1980 2.27% 3.09%
1979 2.3% 2.74%
1978 2.32% 2.77%
1977 2.33% 2.74%
1976 2.32% 2.74%
1975 2.29% 2.81%
1974 2.29% 2.86%
1973 2.27% 2.9%
1972 2.27% 2.91%
1971 2.27% 2.97%
1970 2.27% 3.08%
1969 2.26% 3.14%
1968 2.25% 3.17%
1967 2.22% 3.17%
1966 2.18% 3.15%
1965 2.16% 3.12%
1964 2.13% 3.1%
1963 2.11% 3.08%
1962 2.08% 3.02%
1961 2.06% 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/bolivia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bolivia grew by 1.38%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Bolivia South Africa
Current population
12798112
65683993
Population rank 79/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.79%
One net population change
3.11 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
2.02 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.99 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +463 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +169,156 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.38% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 75/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.76 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -3,179 +146,370
Net migration rank 110/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 183,234 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 118/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 143/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bolivia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bolivia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -3,179 - 146,370
2024 - -3,000 - 166,972
2023 172,336 -3,008 602,793 228,222
2022 167,691 -3,008 603,636 233,284
2021 119,576 -4,663 456,411 458,246
2020 131,870 -4,663 595,873 369,901
2019 171,593 -8,981 652,130 331,124
2018 172,775 -9,344 648,319 318,260
2017 173,799 -9,669 645,975 343,146
2016 175,057 -10,071 641,365 -879,235
2015 176,169 -10,525 668,771 641,150
2014 176,967 -10,971 674,754 272,697
2013 177,929 -11,369 652,427 232,230
2012 178,716 -11,689 643,723 264,091
2011 178,840 -12,106 601,708 65,166
2010 179,036 -12,590 566,834 68,563
2009 178,741 -13,055 554,115 41,528
2008 178,576 -13,418 595,332 36,869
2007 178,309 -13,669 503,567 36,339
2006 177,999 -14,107 487,584 33,159
2005 173,567 -15,594 464,464 31,286
2004 172,350 -17,385 442,540 58,924
2003 171,846 -19,621 415,018 65,604
2002 170,656 -22,188 430,926 50,313
2001 171,177 -24,405 484,801 -60,793
2000 172,996 -26,940 526,963 -136,794
1999 175,051 -28,074 594,643 -126,011
1998 174,207 -28,378 627,027 -82,722
1997 173,731 -28,566 667,969 -98,181
1996 175,861 -28,685 710,868 -193,007
1995 175,141 -28,204 743,488 -98,403
1994 175,387 -27,621 698,609 -268,849
1993 175,344 -26,856 789,220 194,977
1992 174,242 -25,005 794,415 -71,342
1991 174,836 -23,982 827,296 -39,131
1990 171,351 -21,917 835,421 259,718
1989 168,044 -20,720 884,629 255,605
1988 164,763 -19,568 909,221 246,382
1987 160,458 -18,948 922,330 231,009
1986 156,146 -18,297 903,644 234,378
1985 152,288 -17,558 893,889 244,940
1984 150,545 -16,625 869,011 290,789
1983 147,129 -15,432 837,013 310,172
1982 144,825 -14,580 807,550 293,195
1981 143,199 -13,476 767,833 279,985
1980 140,460 -11,762 738,415 258,127
1979 137,331 -9,923 716,541 56,323
1978 134,504 -8,462 694,341 62,121
1977 131,569 -7,714 680,929 63,739
1976 128,552 -7,063 675,011 27,333
1975 122,864 -6,424 667,862 38,809
1974 119,560 -5,873 658,438 38,518
1973 116,323 -5,457 651,596 41,125
1972 112,799 -5,224 638,754 38,163
1971 110,749 -5,057 624,761 32,961
1970 107,897 -4,915 605,102 61,514
1969 105,361 -4,784 590,794 73,225
1968 102,671 -4,679 571,841 78,932
1967 99,339 -4,586 553,741 81,932
1966 95,800 -4,507 534,862 77,417
1965 92,655 -4,444 506,632 82,514
1964 89,745 -4,352 490,606 76,298
1963 87,010 -4,233 473,821 72,844
1962 84,090 -4,026 455,634 69,771
1961 81,106 -3,642 437,851 57,728
1960 78,501 -3,144 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.6% of the population change in Bolivia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,637,833 people) and 4.37% is from migration (a loss of 74,903 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, 183,234 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Bolivia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Bolivia
City Population
Santa Cruz de la Sierra 3.15M
El Alto 842K
La Paz 756K
Cochabamba 632K
Sucre 361K
Oruro 265K
Potosi 190K
Tarija 180K
Sacaba 172K
Trinidad 124K
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/bolivia/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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