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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bolivia was 12,581,843 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bolivia's population is 12,837,312 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +1.36% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bolivia has increased from 9.52M people to 12.8M (34.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Bolivia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Bolivia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bolivia South Africa
2100 17,891,143 94,734,082
2099 17,911,750 94,523,360
2098 17,930,833 94,316,049
2097 17,948,126 94,125,043
2096 17,963,582 93,927,246
2095 17,977,328 93,719,451
2094 17,989,016 93,494,697
2093 17,999,530 93,267,274
2092 18,008,657 93,041,793
2091 18,016,434 92,793,249
2090 18,022,288 92,561,159
2089 18,026,374 92,322,396
2088 18,028,801 92,080,212
2087 18,029,963 91,833,409
2086 18,029,143 91,581,639
2085 18,026,512 91,352,906
2084 18,021,640 91,106,961
2083 18,014,790 90,845,161
2082 18,005,874 90,583,188
2081 17,994,619 90,313,417
2080 17,980,992 90,039,857
2079 17,964,867 89,770,116
2078 17,946,132 89,494,440
2077 17,924,387 89,217,520
2076 17,899,247 88,954,522
2075 17,870,960 88,681,719
2074 17,839,807 88,397,221
2073 17,806,362 88,118,589
2072 17,769,463 87,835,051
2071 17,729,691 87,509,098
2070 17,687,278 87,178,463
2069 17,641,545 86,870,660
2068 17,592,799 86,558,000
2067 17,540,255 86,237,764
2066 17,484,401 85,904,801
2065 17,425,710 85,573,984
2064 17,363,463 85,214,686
2063 17,298,241 84,845,370
2062 17,230,131 84,473,236
2061 17,158,789 84,103,016
2060 17,084,495 83,719,266
2059 17,006,955 83,325,330
2058 16,926,185 82,918,226
2057 16,842,318 82,508,742
2056 16,755,098 82,098,320
2055 16,665,072 81,669,191
2054 16,571,285 81,227,019
2053 16,474,757 80,789,939
2052 16,374,922 80,338,877
2051 16,271,717 79,858,310
2050 16,165,260 79,383,784
2049 16,055,569 78,897,472
2048 15,942,659 78,409,829
2047 15,827,029 77,894,547
2046 15,708,231 77,369,819
2045 15,586,373 76,852,544
2044 15,461,422 76,330,046
2043 15,333,286 75,800,788
2042 15,202,151 75,264,885
2041 15,067,999 74,721,871
2040 14,931,164 74,179,185
2039 14,791,253 73,636,894
2038 14,648,198 73,079,976
2037 14,502,712 72,506,991
2036 14,354,673 71,930,701
2035 14,203,719 71,337,219
2034 14,050,157 70,737,692
2033 13,894,595 70,128,299
2032 13,736,683 69,502,726
2031 13,576,765 68,865,544
2030 13,414,644 68,221,143
2029 13,251,015 67,549,189
2028 13,085,878 66,860,631
2027 12,918,991 66,166,759
2026 12,751,046 65,473,024
2025 12,581,843 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,657,292 people (a 14.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 25.9% to 16,165,260 people with a rank change from 79th to 80th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 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 94.7M 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 1.36% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bolivia grew by 1.36%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Bolivia South Africa
Current population
12837312
65829368
Population rank 79/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.79%
One net population change
3.13 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
2.01 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
5.9 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +462 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +168,528 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 75/197 91/197
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 171,974 -3,000 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 96.1% of the population change in Bolivia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,632,840 people) and 3.94% is from migration (a loss of 66,932 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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 3.12M
El Alto 885K
La Paz 756K
Cochabamba 632K
Sucre 361K
Oruro 297K
Potosi 190K
Tarija 180K
Sacaba 172K
Trinidad 124K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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