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Population in Burkina Faso compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burkina Faso was 23,548,781 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burkina Faso's population is 24,756,783 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.65 times bigger than Burkina Faso's.
  • Burkina Faso is ranked the 59th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.09% of the world: 0.3% for Burkina Faso vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Burkina Faso has had an average growth rate of +2.63% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burkina Faso has increased from 14.4M people to 24.8M (72.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Burkina Faso vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burkina Faso South Africa
2100 50,408,328 94,767,727
2099 50,383,919 94,556,931
2098 50,352,973 94,349,546
2097 50,313,705 94,158,472
2096 50,266,628 93,960,605
2095 50,218,948 93,752,736
2094 50,162,122 93,527,902
2093 50,097,256 93,300,398
2092 50,020,865 93,074,837
2091 49,941,829 92,826,204
2090 49,849,369 92,594,033
2089 49,746,842 92,355,184
2088 49,633,009 92,112,914
2087 49,506,797 91,866,024
2086 49,374,214 91,614,165
2085 49,231,459 91,385,350
2084 49,078,733 91,139,318
2083 48,912,839 90,877,425
2082 48,738,088 90,615,359
2081 48,550,361 90,345,492
2080 48,350,756 90,071,835
2079 48,139,621 89,801,998
2078 47,915,623 89,526,224
2077 47,674,670 89,249,206
2076 47,421,548 88,986,114
2075 47,161,253 88,713,215
2074 46,887,164 88,428,616
2073 46,596,755 88,149,885
2072 46,296,320 87,866,246
2071 45,987,906 87,540,177
2070 45,669,374 87,209,425
2069 45,339,502 86,901,512
2068 45,000,338 86,588,742
2067 44,651,960 86,268,392
2066 44,295,017 85,935,310
2065 43,931,890 85,604,376
2064 43,554,812 85,244,950
2063 43,171,791 84,875,503
2062 42,781,734 84,503,237
2061 42,378,127 84,132,885
2060 41,969,941 83,748,999
2059 41,556,223 83,354,923
2058 41,132,214 82,947,675
2057 40,699,958 82,538,045
2056 40,263,674 82,127,477
2055 39,819,396 81,698,196
2054 39,368,928 81,255,867
2053 38,908,013 80,818,632
2052 38,440,539 80,367,409
2051 37,966,813 79,886,672
2050 37,484,179 79,411,977
2049 36,994,052 78,925,493
2048 36,499,739 78,437,677
2047 35,993,831 77,922,211
2046 35,483,039 77,397,298
2045 34,962,697 76,879,838
2044 34,435,436 76,357,155
2043 33,904,610 75,827,709
2042 33,368,223 75,291,615
2041 32,828,377 74,748,408
2040 32,285,754 74,205,530
2039 31,738,667 73,663,047
2038 31,188,815 73,105,930
2037 30,636,433 72,532,742
2036 30,081,085 71,956,247
2035 29,523,750 71,362,555
2034 28,963,008 70,762,815
2033 28,405,067 70,153,205
2032 27,853,260 69,527,410
2031 27,304,165 68,890,002
2030 26,759,978 68,245,372
2029 26,220,635 67,573,179
2028 25,682,620 66,884,377
2027 25,146,586 66,190,258
2026 24,612,250 65,496,277
2025 24,080,445 64,770,314
2024 23,548,781 64,007,187
2023 23,025,776 63,212,384
2022 22,509,038 62,378,410
2021 21,995,243 61,502,603
2020 21,478,690 60,562,381
2019 20,961,952 59,587,885
2018 20,438,288 58,613,001
2017 19,894,407 57,635,162
2016 19,334,856 57,259,551
2015 18,777,487 56,723,537
2014 18,229,461 55,594,838
2013 17,695,409 54,678,791
2012 17,172,287 53,782,567
2011 16,661,908 52,995,205
2010 16,176,498 52,344,051
2009 15,710,066 51,728,516
2008 15,258,093 51,114,599
2007 14,816,307 50,528,584
2006 14,373,707 49,998,277
2005 13,932,123 49,490,033
2004 13,500,533 48,991,421
2003 13,082,532 48,500,348
2002 12,680,897 48,019,415
2001 12,295,001 47,566,800
2000 11,925,546 47,159,719
1999 11,574,928 46,730,335
1998 11,240,664 46,223,880
1997 10,934,223 45,666,838
1996 10,655,942 45,123,018
1995 10,386,722 44,541,554
1994 10,123,798 44,004,139
1993 9,871,713 43,297,156
1992 9,629,275 42,443,509
1991 9,394,632 41,687,898
1990 9,159,356 40,746,268
1989 8,921,175 39,628,575
1988 8,687,435 38,480,649
1987 8,457,109 37,326,190
1986 8,228,847 36,180,515
1985 7,999,935 35,042,093
1984 7,772,256 33,892,788
1983 7,551,129 32,739,304
1982 7,340,197 31,615,339
1981 7,140,271 30,541,044
1980 6,947,900 29,518,857
1979 6,763,903 28,634,162
1978 6,590,984 27,869,507
1977 6,428,734 27,118,952
1976 6,280,635 26,395,450
1975 6,147,569 25,690,940
1974 6,024,904 24,989,108
1973 5,911,927 24,294,263
1972 5,807,234 23,609,456
1971 5,707,999 22,942,143
1970 5,610,304 22,279,984
1969 5,513,177 21,614,676
1968 5,418,644 20,957,287
1967 5,326,348 20,314,066
1966 5,237,933 19,690,087
1965 5,152,833 19,089,380
1964 5,071,034 18,511,361
1963 4,993,623 17,954,564
1962 4,919,672 17,418,522
1961 4,848,224 16,908,035
1960 4,778,621 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/burkina-faso/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burkina Faso increased by 4,961,149 people (a 34.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burkina Faso gained 5,421,927 people (a 28% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Burkina Faso was ranked 63rd most populous country in 2006 and is 59th 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) Burkina Faso's population will grow by 51.4% to 37,484,179 people with a rank change from 59th to 56th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Burkina Faso is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 50.4M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burkina Faso South Africa
2100 0.05% 0.22%
2099 0.06% 0.22%
2098 0.08% 0.2%
2097 0.09% 0.21%
2096 0.09% 0.22%
2095 0.11% 0.24%
2094 0.13% 0.24%
2093 0.15% 0.24%
2092 0.16% 0.27%
2091 0.19% 0.25%
2090 0.21% 0.26%
2089 0.23% 0.26%
2088 0.25% 0.27%
2087 0.27% 0.27%
2086 0.29% 0.25%
2085 0.31% 0.27%
2084 0.34% 0.29%
2083 0.36% 0.29%
2082 0.39% 0.3%
2081 0.41% 0.3%
2080 0.44% 0.3%
2079 0.47% 0.31%
2078 0.51% 0.31%
2077 0.53% 0.3%
2076 0.55% 0.31%
2075 0.58% 0.32%
2074 0.62% 0.32%
2073 0.65% 0.32%
2072 0.67% 0.37%
2071 0.7% 0.38%
2070 0.73% 0.35%
2069 0.75% 0.36%
2068 0.78% 0.37%
2067 0.81% 0.39%
2066 0.83% 0.39%
2065 0.87% 0.42%
2064 0.89% 0.44%
2063 0.91% 0.44%
2062 0.95% 0.44%
2061 0.97% 0.46%
2060 1% 0.47%
2059 1.03% 0.49%
2058 1.06% 0.5%
2057 1.08% 0.5%
2056 1.12% 0.53%
2055 1.14% 0.54%
2054 1.18% 0.54%
2053 1.22% 0.56%
2052 1.25% 0.6%
2051 1.29% 0.6%
2050 1.32% 0.62%
2049 1.35% 0.62%
2048 1.41% 0.66%
2047 1.44% 0.68%
2046 1.49% 0.67%
2045 1.53% 0.68%
2044 1.57% 0.7%
2043 1.61% 0.71%
2042 1.64% 0.73%
2041 1.68% 0.73%
2040 1.72% 0.74%
2039 1.76% 0.76%
2038 1.8% 0.79%
2037 1.85% 0.8%
2036 1.89% 0.83%
2035 1.94% 0.85%
2034 1.96% 0.87%
2033 1.98% 0.9%
2032 2.01% 0.93%
2031 2.03% 0.94%
2030 2.06% 0.99%
2029 2.09% 1.03%
2028 2.13% 1.05%
2027 2.17% 1.06%
2026 2.21% 1.12%
2025 2.26% 1.19%
2024 2.27% 1.26%
2023 2.3% 1.34%
2022 2.34% 1.42%
2021 2.4% 1.55%
2020 2.47% 1.64%
2019 2.56% 1.66%
2018 2.73% 1.7%
2017 2.89% 0.66%
2016 2.97% 0.94%
2015 3.01% 2.03%
2014 3.02% 1.68%
2013 3.05% 1.67%
2012 3.06% 1.49%
2011 3% 1.24%
2010 2.97% 1.19%
2009 2.96% 1.2%
2008 2.98% 1.16%
2007 3.08% 1.06%
2006 3.17% 1.03%
2005 3.2% 1.02%
2004 3.2% 1.01%
2003 3.17% 1%
2002 3.14% 0.95%
2001 3.1% 0.86%
2000 3.03% 0.92%
1999 2.97% 1.1%
1998 2.8% 1.22%
1997 2.61% 1.21%
1996 2.59% 1.31%
1995 2.6% 1.22%
1994 2.55% 1.63%
1993 2.52% 2.01%
1992 2.5% 1.81%
1991 2.57% 2.31%
1990 2.67% 2.82%
1989 2.69% 2.98%
1988 2.72% 3.09%
1987 2.77% 3.17%
1986 2.86% 3.25%
1985 2.93% 3.39%
1984 2.93% 3.52%
1983 2.87% 3.56%
1982 2.8% 3.52%
1981 2.77% 3.46%
1980 2.72% 3.09%
1979 2.62% 2.74%
1978 2.52% 2.77%
1977 2.36% 2.74%
1976 2.16% 2.74%
1975 2.04% 2.81%
1974 1.91% 2.86%
1973 1.8% 2.9%
1972 1.74% 2.91%
1971 1.74% 2.97%
1970 1.76% 3.08%
1969 1.74% 3.14%
1968 1.73% 3.17%
1967 1.69% 3.17%
1966 1.65% 3.15%
1965 1.61% 3.12%
1964 1.55% 3.1%
1963 1.5% 3.08%
1962 1.47% 3.02%
1961 1.46% 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/burkina-faso/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burkina Faso grew by 2.27%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Burkina Faso South Africa
Current population
24756783
65683993
Population rank 59/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.3% 0.79%
One net population change
1 minute
39.7 seconds
One birth every
43.3 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.87 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,433 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +523,005 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.27% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 39/197 85/197
One migration net change every
19.4 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,130 +146,370
Net migration rank 158/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 739,820 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 68/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 115/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burkina Faso
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burkina Faso South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,130 - 146,370
2024 - -25,807 - 166,972
2023 545,227 -24,957 602,793 228,222
2022 538,146 -24,960 603,636 233,284
2021 527,468 -13,079 456,411 458,246
2020 524,359 -5,661 595,873 369,901
2019 540,001 -25,240 652,130 331,124
2018 556,493 -23,938 648,319 318,260
2017 569,975 -14,780 645,975 343,146
2016 571,519 -7,598 641,365 -879,235
2015 570,554 -19,726 668,771 641,150
2014 563,218 -17,984 674,754 272,697
2013 556,096 -33,212 652,427 232,230
2012 544,293 -20,930 643,723 264,091
2011 530,765 -33,391 601,708 65,166
2010 515,480 -42,055 566,834 68,563
2009 499,596 -40,148 554,115 41,528
2008 485,223 -40,725 595,332 36,869
2007 467,277 -28,202 503,567 36,339
2006 450,357 -4,218 487,584 33,159
2005 427,243 9,795 464,464 31,286
2004 408,567 17,570 442,540 58,924
2003 394,516 15,359 415,018 65,604
2002 377,333 16,076 430,926 50,313
2001 367,731 10,654 484,801 -60,793
2000 356,657 3,877 526,963 -136,794
1999 342,630 -1,922 594,643 -126,011
1998 333,196 -5,367 627,027 -82,722
1997 322,253 -37,200 667,969 -98,181
1996 315,820 -44,314 710,868 -193,007
1995 305,878 -38,943 743,488 -98,403
1994 296,465 -37,554 698,609 -268,849
1993 289,044 -43,784 789,220 194,977
1992 284,622 -45,003 794,415 -71,342
1991 280,111 -50,451 827,296 -39,131
1990 273,846 -32,970 835,421 259,718
1989 267,314 -31,843 884,629 255,605
1988 262,065 -30,068 909,221 246,382
1987 257,730 -29,081 922,330 231,009
1986 252,922 -25,051 903,644 234,378
1985 246,574 -16,623 893,889 244,940
1984 237,838 -12,445 869,011 290,789
1983 228,467 -11,618 837,013 310,172
1982 220,896 -15,879 807,550 293,195
1981 212,623 -17,797 767,833 279,985
1980 205,248 -15,345 738,415 258,127
1979 196,647 -18,559 716,541 56,323
1978 187,019 -19,274 694,341 62,121
1977 175,672 -18,914 680,929 63,739
1976 165,224 -25,786 675,011 27,333
1975 157,174 -30,484 667,862 38,809
1974 149,231 -30,599 658,438 38,518
1973 141,751 -34,452 651,596 41,125
1972 135,756 -33,679 638,754 38,163
1971 130,924 -34,524 624,761 32,961
1970 127,814 -28,832 605,102 61,514
1969 123,666 -28,406 590,794 73,225
1968 121,264 -27,461 571,841 78,932
1967 117,223 -26,444 553,741 81,932
1966 113,344 -27,301 534,862 77,417
1965 109,544 -25,398 506,632 82,514
1964 105,741 -26,307 490,606 76,298
1963 101,760 -26,382 473,821 72,844
1962 98,561 -26,040 455,634 69,771
1961 95,059 -24,687 437,851 57,728
1960 92,055 -23,220 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.9% of the population change in Burkina Faso is from natural causes (a gain of 5,506,960 people) and 3.13% is from migration (a loss of 177,923 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, 739,820 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Burkina Faso, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Burkina Faso
City Population
Ouagadougou 2.45M
Bobo-Dioulasso 904K
Koudougou 160K
Ouahigouya 125K
Fada N'gourma 73.2K
Dedougou 63.6K
Leo 51.7K
Dori 46.5K
Nouna 32.4K
Manga 28.6K
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/burkina-faso/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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