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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Brazil was 211,998,573 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brazil's population is 213,824,938 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Brazil's population is 3.26 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Brazil is ranked the 7th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 3.37% of the world: 2.58% for Brazil vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Brazil has had an average growth rate of +0.6% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Brazil has increased from 187M people to 214M (14.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Brazil vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Brazil
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Brazil South Africa
2100 164,294,719 94,767,727
2099 165,504,324 94,556,931
2098 166,724,540 94,349,546
2097 167,957,900 94,158,472
2096 169,198,878 93,960,605
2095 170,447,187 93,752,736
2094 171,702,406 93,527,902
2093 172,959,201 93,300,398
2092 174,226,209 93,074,837
2091 175,495,014 92,826,204
2090 176,771,657 92,594,033
2089 178,046,664 92,355,184
2088 179,329,069 92,112,914
2087 180,613,269 91,866,024
2086 181,900,405 91,614,165
2085 183,185,504 91,385,350
2084 184,470,859 91,139,318
2083 185,757,734 90,877,425
2082 187,047,504 90,615,359
2081 188,336,189 90,345,492
2080 189,617,504 90,071,835
2079 190,892,825 89,801,998
2078 192,160,856 89,526,224
2077 193,420,209 89,249,206
2076 194,668,253 88,986,114
2075 195,904,930 88,713,215
2074 197,131,520 88,428,616
2073 198,346,178 88,149,885
2072 199,541,890 87,866,246
2071 200,718,990 87,540,177
2070 201,872,528 87,209,425
2069 203,003,940 86,901,512
2068 204,112,753 86,588,742
2067 205,191,144 86,268,392
2066 206,245,316 85,935,310
2065 207,268,823 85,604,376
2064 208,258,342 85,244,950
2063 209,219,808 84,875,503
2062 210,147,571 84,503,237
2061 211,035,957 84,132,885
2060 211,887,727 83,748,999
2059 212,703,223 83,354,923
2058 213,475,371 82,947,675
2057 214,208,817 82,538,045
2056 214,897,416 82,127,477
2055 215,547,622 81,698,196
2054 216,155,836 81,255,867
2053 216,720,807 80,818,632
2052 217,240,244 80,367,409
2051 217,710,548 79,886,672
2050 218,139,994 79,411,977
2049 218,529,238 78,925,493
2048 218,862,226 78,437,677
2047 219,144,767 77,922,211
2046 219,374,582 77,397,298
2045 219,555,915 76,879,838
2044 219,680,790 76,357,155
2043 219,751,357 75,827,709
2042 219,767,446 75,291,615
2041 219,726,082 74,748,408
2040 219,627,035 74,205,530
2039 219,488,186 73,663,047
2038 219,300,758 73,105,930
2037 219,070,710 72,532,742
2036 218,795,673 71,956,247
2035 218,478,532 71,362,555
2034 218,116,666 70,762,815
2033 217,714,006 70,153,205
2032 217,266,965 69,527,410
2031 216,776,060 68,890,002
2030 216,239,032 68,245,372
2029 215,655,337 67,573,179
2028 215,029,016 66,884,377
2027 214,352,035 66,190,258
2026 213,629,498 65,496,277
2025 212,848,504 64,770,314
2024 211,998,573 64,007,187
2023 211,140,729 63,212,384
2022 210,306,415 62,378,410
2021 209,550,294 61,502,603
2020 208,660,842 60,562,381
2019 207,455,459 59,587,885
2018 206,107,261 58,613,001
2017 204,703,445 57,635,162
2016 203,218,114 57,259,551
2015 201,675,532 56,723,537
2014 200,085,127 55,594,838
2013 198,478,299 54,678,791
2012 196,876,111 53,782,567
2011 195,284,734 52,995,205
2010 193,701,929 52,344,051
2009 192,079,951 51,728,516
2008 190,367,302 51,114,599
2007 188,552,320 50,528,584
2006 186,653,106 49,998,277
2005 184,688,101 49,490,033
2004 182,675,143 48,991,421
2003 180,622,688 48,500,348
2002 178,503,484 48,019,415
2001 176,301,203 47,566,800
2000 174,018,282 47,159,719
1999 171,641,543 46,730,335
1998 169,159,655 46,223,880
1997 166,661,659 45,666,838
1996 164,202,549 45,123,018
1995 161,735,073 44,541,554
1994 159,265,006 44,004,139
1993 156,794,577 43,297,156
1992 154,275,079 42,443,509
1991 151,724,256 41,687,898
1990 149,143,223 40,746,268
1989 146,502,972 39,628,575
1988 143,826,357 38,480,649
1987 141,104,944 37,326,190
1986 138,336,370 36,180,515
1985 135,515,595 35,042,093
1984 132,658,864 33,892,788
1983 129,790,077 32,739,304
1982 126,923,155 31,615,339
1981 124,063,109 30,541,044
1980 121,207,461 29,518,857
1979 118,380,821 28,634,162
1978 115,600,942 27,869,507
1977 112,875,292 27,118,952
1976 110,213,349 26,395,450
1975 107,619,565 25,690,940
1974 105,089,675 24,989,108
1973 102,600,976 24,294,263
1972 100,146,797 23,609,456
1971 97,739,273 22,942,143
1970 95,375,651 22,279,984
1969 93,045,777 21,614,676
1968 90,741,240 20,957,287
1967 88,446,124 20,314,066
1966 86,139,359 19,690,087
1965 83,817,583 19,089,380
1964 81,488,595 18,511,361
1963 79,164,235 17,954,564
1962 76,865,323 17,418,522
1961 74,605,447 16,908,035
1960 72,388,126 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/brazil/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brazil increased by 16,565,008 people (a 8.87% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brazil gained 10,606,824 people (a 5.22% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Brazil was ranked 5th most populous country in 2006 and is 7th 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) Brazil's population will grow by 2.02% to 218,139,994 people with a rank change from 7th to 9th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Brazil is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 220M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Brazil
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Brazil South Africa
2100 -0.73% 0.22%
2099 -0.73% 0.22%
2098 -0.73% 0.2%
2097 -0.73% 0.21%
2096 -0.73% 0.22%
2095 -0.73% 0.24%
2094 -0.73% 0.24%
2093 -0.73% 0.24%
2092 -0.72% 0.27%
2091 -0.72% 0.25%
2090 -0.72% 0.26%
2089 -0.72% 0.26%
2088 -0.71% 0.27%
2087 -0.71% 0.27%
2086 -0.7% 0.25%
2085 -0.7% 0.27%
2084 -0.69% 0.29%
2083 -0.69% 0.29%
2082 -0.68% 0.3%
2081 -0.68% 0.3%
2080 -0.67% 0.3%
2079 -0.66% 0.31%
2078 -0.65% 0.31%
2077 -0.64% 0.3%
2076 -0.63% 0.31%
2075 -0.62% 0.32%
2074 -0.61% 0.32%
2073 -0.6% 0.32%
2072 -0.59% 0.37%
2071 -0.57% 0.38%
2070 -0.56% 0.35%
2069 -0.54% 0.36%
2068 -0.53% 0.37%
2067 -0.51% 0.39%
2066 -0.49% 0.39%
2065 -0.48% 0.42%
2064 -0.46% 0.44%
2063 -0.44% 0.44%
2062 -0.42% 0.44%
2061 -0.4% 0.46%
2060 -0.38% 0.47%
2059 -0.36% 0.49%
2058 -0.34% 0.5%
2057 -0.32% 0.5%
2056 -0.3% 0.53%
2055 -0.28% 0.54%
2054 -0.26% 0.54%
2053 -0.24% 0.56%
2052 -0.22% 0.6%
2051 -0.2% 0.6%
2050 -0.18% 0.62%
2049 -0.15% 0.62%
2048 -0.13% 0.66%
2047 -0.1% 0.68%
2046 -0.08% 0.67%
2045 -0.06% 0.68%
2044 -0.03% 0.7%
2043 -0.007% 0.71%
2042 0.02% 0.73%
2041 0.05% 0.73%
2040 0.06% 0.74%
2039 0.09% 0.76%
2038 0.11% 0.79%
2037 0.13% 0.8%
2036 0.15% 0.83%
2035 0.17% 0.85%
2034 0.18% 0.87%
2033 0.21% 0.9%
2032 0.23% 0.93%
2031 0.25% 0.94%
2030 0.27% 0.99%
2029 0.29% 1.03%
2028 0.32% 1.05%
2027 0.34% 1.06%
2026 0.37% 1.12%
2025 0.4% 1.19%
2024 0.41% 1.26%
2023 0.4% 1.34%
2022 0.36% 1.42%
2021 0.43% 1.55%
2020 0.58% 1.64%
2019 0.65% 1.66%
2018 0.69% 1.7%
2017 0.73% 0.66%
2016 0.76% 0.94%
2015 0.79% 2.03%
2014 0.81% 1.68%
2013 0.81% 1.67%
2012 0.81% 1.49%
2011 0.82% 1.24%
2010 0.84% 1.19%
2009 0.9% 1.2%
2008 0.96% 1.16%
2007 1.02% 1.06%
2006 1.06% 1.03%
2005 1.1% 1.02%
2004 1.14% 1.01%
2003 1.19% 1%
2002 1.25% 0.95%
2001 1.31% 0.86%
2000 1.38% 0.92%
1999 1.47% 1.1%
1998 1.5% 1.22%
1997 1.5% 1.21%
1996 1.53% 1.31%
1995 1.55% 1.22%
1994 1.58% 1.63%
1993 1.63% 2.01%
1992 1.68% 1.81%
1991 1.73% 2.31%
1990 1.8% 2.82%
1989 1.86% 2.98%
1988 1.93% 3.09%
1987 2% 3.17%
1986 2.08% 3.25%
1985 2.15% 3.39%
1984 2.21% 3.52%
1983 2.26% 3.56%
1982 2.31% 3.52%
1981 2.36% 3.46%
1980 2.39% 3.09%
1979 2.4% 2.74%
1978 2.41% 2.77%
1977 2.42% 2.74%
1976 2.41% 2.74%
1975 2.41% 2.81%
1974 2.43% 2.86%
1973 2.45% 2.9%
1972 2.46% 2.91%
1971 2.48% 2.97%
1970 2.5% 3.08%
1969 2.54% 3.14%
1968 2.59% 3.17%
1967 2.68% 3.17%
1966 2.77% 3.15%
1965 2.86% 3.12%
1964 2.94% 3.1%
1963 2.99% 3.08%
1962 3.03% 3.02%
1961 3.06% 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/brazil/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Brazil grew by 0.41%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Brazil South Africa
Current population
213824938
65683993
Population rank 7/197 24/197
Percent of world population 2.58% 0.79%
One net population change
36.8 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
12.1 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
21.1 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,350 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +857,844 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.41% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 141/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.43 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -217,283 +146,370
Net migration rank 186/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,406,299 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 48/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 163/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Brazil
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Brazil South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -217,283 - 146,370
2024 - -225,510 - 166,972
2023 1,107,434 -240,059 602,793 228,222
2022 1,054,897 -253,639 603,636 233,284
2021 919,507 -208,581 456,411 458,246
2020 1,146,174 -78,437 595,873 369,901
2019 1,472,104 -129,216 652,130 331,124
2018 1,583,935 -230,334 648,319 318,260
2017 1,610,402 -156,296 645,975 343,146
2016 1,609,488 -92,989 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,742,275 -173,611 668,771 641,150
2014 1,757,948 -145,732 674,754 272,697
2013 1,758,716 -157,228 652,427 232,230
2012 1,782,516 -179,707 643,723 264,091
2011 1,815,758 -235,860 601,708 65,166
2010 1,847,336 -261,539 566,834 68,563
2009 1,878,542 -220,207 554,115 41,528
2008 1,908,051 -141,056 595,332 36,869
2007 1,970,372 -107,481 503,567 36,339
2006 2,026,119 -90,634 487,584 33,159
2005 2,083,281 -88,868 464,464 31,286
2004 2,108,072 -76,661 442,540 58,924
2003 2,128,819 -55,350 415,018 65,604
2002 2,207,017 -42,008 430,926 50,313
2001 2,291,210 -51,600 484,801 -60,793
2000 2,372,043 -45,800 526,963 -136,794
1999 2,450,869 -23,497 594,643 -126,011
1998 2,514,728 21,666 627,027 -82,722
1997 2,531,758 -72,392 667,969 -98,181
1996 2,530,690 -71,943 710,868 -193,007
1995 2,546,195 -69,963 743,488 -98,403
1994 2,532,951 -68,961 698,609 -268,849
1993 2,545,874 -69,070 789,220 194,977
1992 2,547,698 14,394 794,415 -71,342
1991 2,606,167 -66,600 827,296 -39,131
1990 2,652,959 -30,555 835,421 259,718
1989 2,717,923 -60,023 884,629 255,605
1988 2,768,082 -72,825 909,221 246,382
1987 2,825,485 -77,800 922,330 231,009
1986 2,880,440 -90,973 903,644 234,378
1985 2,912,908 -60,879 893,889 244,940
1984 2,931,496 -70,035 869,011 290,789
1983 2,952,335 -76,322 837,013 310,172
1982 2,948,552 -90,766 807,550 293,195
1981 2,928,262 -65,971 767,833 279,985
1980 2,887,768 -38,918 738,415 258,127
1979 2,836,759 -32,503 716,541 56,323
1978 2,778,815 -23,416 694,341 62,121
1977 2,715,328 -19,478 680,929 63,739
1976 2,648,647 -20,612 675,011 27,333
1975 2,585,130 -25,499 667,862 38,809
1974 2,524,254 -24,093 658,438 38,518
1973 2,501,309 -24,071 651,596 41,125
1972 2,454,698 -23,584 638,754 38,163
1971 2,407,319 -23,421 624,761 32,961
1970 2,362,073 -18,779 605,102 61,514
1969 2,324,190 -7,763 590,794 73,225
1968 2,301,561 -8,856 571,841 78,932
1967 2,307,560 -10,033 553,741 81,932
1966 2,325,332 -9,317 534,862 77,417
1965 2,336,415 -8,824 506,632 82,514
1964 2,338,478 -8,146 490,606 76,298
1963 2,326,400 -8,136 473,821 72,844
1962 2,286,666 -7,171 455,634 69,771
1961 2,240,178 75 437,851 57,728
1960 2,190,392 4,066 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.1% of the population change in Brazil is from natural causes (a gain of 14,004,164 people) and 10.9% is from migration (a loss of 1,708,894 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, 1,406,299 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Brazil, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Brazil
City Population
Sao Paulo 11.5M
Rio de Janeiro 6.21M
Brasilia 3M
Fortaleza 2.58M
Salvador 2.42M
Belo Horizonte 2.32M
Manaus 2.3M
Curitiba 1.77M
Recife 1.49M
Goiania 1.44M
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/brazil/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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