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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,390,003 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,909,238 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 4.42 times bigger than Burundi's.
  • Burundi is ranked the 78th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.97% of the world: 0.18% for Burundi vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Burundi has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.9M (89.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Burundi vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi South Africa
2100 38,272,944 94,734,082
2099 38,153,515 94,523,360
2098 38,011,360 94,316,049
2097 37,872,991 94,125,043
2096 37,735,834 93,927,246
2095 37,594,002 93,719,451
2094 37,416,430 93,494,697
2093 37,253,780 93,267,274
2092 37,088,246 93,041,793
2091 36,922,686 92,793,249
2090 36,751,005 92,561,159
2089 36,544,022 92,322,396
2088 36,335,158 92,080,212
2087 36,144,860 91,833,409
2086 35,935,037 91,581,639
2085 35,694,132 91,352,906
2084 35,465,583 91,106,961
2083 35,244,284 90,845,161
2082 34,990,330 90,583,188
2081 34,717,141 90,313,417
2080 34,472,144 90,039,857
2079 34,194,458 89,770,116
2078 33,907,653 89,494,440
2077 33,595,766 89,217,520
2076 33,310,077 88,954,522
2075 32,990,854 88,681,719
2074 32,683,181 88,397,221
2073 32,359,310 88,118,589
2072 32,035,191 87,835,051
2071 31,727,933 87,509,098
2070 31,380,595 87,178,463
2069 31,040,326 86,870,660
2068 30,697,746 86,558,000
2067 30,338,122 86,237,764
2066 29,986,965 85,904,801
2065 29,613,492 85,573,984
2064 29,269,772 85,214,686
2063 28,933,548 84,845,370
2062 28,585,432 84,473,236
2061 28,235,324 84,103,016
2060 27,887,017 83,719,266
2059 27,533,557 83,325,330
2058 27,187,553 82,918,226
2057 26,840,120 82,508,742
2056 26,474,003 82,098,320
2055 26,114,675 81,669,191
2054 25,735,230 81,227,019
2053 25,357,085 80,789,939
2052 24,977,518 80,338,877
2051 24,602,957 79,858,310
2050 24,235,177 79,383,784
2049 23,828,306 78,897,472
2048 23,444,966 78,409,829
2047 23,042,192 77,894,547
2046 22,668,111 77,369,819
2045 22,256,303 76,852,544
2044 21,833,904 76,330,046
2043 21,416,736 75,800,788
2042 20,985,347 75,264,885
2041 20,578,864 74,721,871
2040 20,163,196 74,179,185
2039 19,743,441 73,636,894
2038 19,327,383 73,079,976
2037 18,909,074 72,506,991
2036 18,497,207 71,930,701
2035 18,105,186 71,337,219
2034 17,717,972 70,737,692
2033 17,329,713 70,128,299
2032 16,944,073 69,502,726
2031 16,560,242 68,865,544
2030 16,189,163 68,221,143
2029 15,819,200 67,549,189
2028 15,436,625 66,860,631
2027 15,076,388 66,166,759
2026 14,732,698 65,473,024
2025 14,390,003 64,747,319
2024 14,047,786 64,007,187
2023 13,689,450 63,212,384
2022 13,321,097 62,378,410
2021 12,965,481 61,502,603
2020 12,617,036 60,562,381
2019 12,255,336 59,587,885
2018 11,859,446 58,613,001
2017 11,506,762 57,635,162
2016 11,239,451 57,259,551
2015 11,047,580 56,723,537
2014 10,799,785 55,594,838
2013 10,439,341 54,678,791
2012 10,071,028 53,782,567
2011 9,717,978 52,995,205
2010 9,376,444 52,344,051
2009 8,947,646 51,728,516
2008 8,505,637 51,114,599
2007 8,161,874 50,528,584
2006 7,865,547 49,998,277
2005 7,587,299 49,490,033
2004 7,310,656 48,991,421
2003 7,043,154 48,500,348
2002 6,824,132 48,019,415
2001 6,634,365 47,566,800
2000 6,470,194 47,159,719
1999 6,337,155 46,730,335
1998 6,187,108 46,223,880
1997 6,070,042 45,666,838
1996 6,070,506 45,123,018
1995 6,066,316 44,541,554
1994 5,713,854 44,004,139
1993 5,676,843 43,297,156
1992 5,858,407 42,443,509
1991 5,703,857 41,687,898
1990 5,587,052 40,746,268
1989 5,471,706 39,628,575
1988 5,365,327 38,480,649
1987 5,247,787 37,326,190
1986 5,129,414 36,180,515
1985 5,034,042 35,042,093
1984 4,926,465 33,892,788
1983 4,808,528 32,739,304
1982 4,681,390 31,615,339
1981 4,566,014 30,541,044
1980 4,383,706 29,518,857
1979 4,203,530 28,634,162
1978 4,100,338 27,869,507
1977 3,983,582 27,118,952
1976 3,882,626 26,395,450
1975 3,796,612 25,690,940
1974 3,703,590 24,989,108
1973 3,611,991 24,294,263
1972 3,617,128 23,609,456
1971 3,617,289 22,942,143
1970 3,530,432 22,279,984
1969 3,454,590 21,614,676
1968 3,380,387 20,957,287
1967 3,300,690 20,314,066
1966 3,217,960 19,690,087
1965 3,141,367 19,089,380
1964 3,055,650 18,511,361
1963 2,969,841 17,954,564
1962 2,907,943 17,418,522
1961 2,835,119 16,908,035
1960 2,764,258 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/burundi/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burundi increased by 3,373,904 people (a 42.9% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burundi gained 3,669,787 people (a 32.7% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Burundi was ranked 93rd most populous country in 2006 and is 78th 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) Burundi's population will grow by 62.6% to 24,235,177 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Burundi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 38.3M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Burundi
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burundi South Africa
2100 0.31% 0.22%
2099 0.37% 0.22%
2098 0.37% 0.2%
2097 0.36% 0.21%
2096 0.38% 0.22%
2095 0.47% 0.24%
2094 0.44% 0.24%
2093 0.45% 0.24%
2092 0.45% 0.27%
2091 0.47% 0.25%
2090 0.57% 0.26%
2089 0.57% 0.26%
2088 0.53% 0.27%
2087 0.58% 0.27%
2086 0.67% 0.25%
2085 0.64% 0.27%
2084 0.63% 0.29%
2083 0.73% 0.29%
2082 0.79% 0.3%
2081 0.71% 0.3%
2080 0.81% 0.3%
2079 0.85% 0.31%
2078 0.93% 0.31%
2077 0.86% 0.3%
2076 0.97% 0.31%
2075 0.94% 0.32%
2074 1% 0.32%
2073 1.01% 0.32%
2072 0.97% 0.37%
2071 1.11% 0.38%
2070 1.1% 0.35%
2069 1.12% 0.36%
2068 1.19% 0.37%
2067 1.17% 0.39%
2066 1.26% 0.39%
2065 1.17% 0.42%
2064 1.16% 0.44%
2063 1.22% 0.44%
2062 1.24% 0.44%
2061 1.25% 0.46%
2060 1.28% 0.47%
2059 1.27% 0.49%
2058 1.29% 0.5%
2057 1.38% 0.5%
2056 1.38% 0.53%
2055 1.47% 0.54%
2054 1.49% 0.54%
2053 1.52% 0.56%
2052 1.52% 0.6%
2051 1.52% 0.6%
2050 1.71% 0.62%
2049 1.64% 0.62%
2048 1.75% 0.66%
2047 1.65% 0.68%
2046 1.85% 0.67%
2045 1.93% 0.68%
2044 1.95% 0.7%
2043 2.06% 0.71%
2042 1.98% 0.73%
2041 2.06% 0.73%
2040 2.13% 0.74%
2039 2.15% 0.76%
2038 2.21% 0.79%
2037 2.23% 0.8%
2036 2.17% 0.83%
2035 2.19% 0.85%
2034 2.24% 0.87%
2033 2.28% 0.9%
2032 2.32% 0.93%
2031 2.29% 0.94%
2030 2.34% 0.99%
2029 2.48% 1.03%
2028 2.39% 1.05%
2027 2.33% 1.06%
2026 2.38% 1.12%
2025 2.44% 1.16%
2024 2.62% 1.26%
2023 2.77% 1.34%
2022 2.74% 1.42%
2021 2.76% 1.55%
2020 2.95% 1.64%
2019 3.34% 1.66%
2018 3.07% 1.7%
2017 2.38% 0.66%
2016 1.74% 0.94%
2015 2.29% 2.03%
2014 3.45% 1.68%
2013 3.66% 1.67%
2012 3.63% 1.49%
2011 3.64% 1.24%
2010 4.79% 1.19%
2009 5.2% 1.2%
2008 4.21% 1.16%
2007 3.77% 1.06%
2006 3.67% 1.03%
2005 3.78% 1.02%
2004 3.8% 1.01%
2003 3.21% 1%
2002 2.86% 0.95%
2001 2.54% 0.86%
2000 2.1% 0.92%
1999 2.43% 1.1%
1998 1.93% 1.22%
1997 -0.008% 1.21%
1996 0.07% 1.31%
1995 6.17% 1.22%
1994 0.65% 1.63%
1993 -3.1% 2.01%
1992 2.71% 1.81%
1991 2.09% 2.31%
1990 2.11% 2.82%
1989 1.98% 2.98%
1988 2.24% 3.09%
1987 2.31% 3.17%
1986 1.89% 3.25%
1985 2.18% 3.39%
1984 2.45% 3.52%
1983 2.72% 3.56%
1982 2.53% 3.52%
1981 4.16% 3.46%
1980 4.29% 3.09%
1979 2.52% 2.74%
1978 2.93% 2.77%
1977 2.6% 2.74%
1976 2.27% 2.74%
1975 2.51% 2.81%
1974 2.54% 2.86%
1973 -0.14% 2.9%
1972 -0.004% 2.91%
1971 2.46% 2.97%
1970 2.2% 3.08%
1969 2.2% 3.14%
1968 2.41% 3.17%
1967 2.57% 3.17%
1966 2.44% 3.15%
1965 2.81% 3.12%
1964 2.89% 3.1%
1963 2.13% 3.08%
1962 2.57% 3.02%
1961 2.56% 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/burundi/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Burundi grew by 2.44%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Burundi South Africa
Current population
14909238
65829368
Population rank 78/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.79%
One net population change
1.54 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
1.13 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
5.61 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +938 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +342,217 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.44% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 91/197
One migration net change every
15.2 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -34,727 +146,370
Net migration rank 169/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 387,101 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 90/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 119/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burundi
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burundi South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -34,727 - 146,370
2024 372,843 -27,074 591,618 166,972
2023 368,917 1,995 602,793 228,222
2022 363,786 1,995 603,636 233,284
2021 359,844 -14,415 456,411 458,246
2020 361,654 -10,189 595,873 369,901
2019 357,672 14,253 652,130 331,124
2018 351,704 68,141 648,319 318,260
2017 353,879 -68,349 645,975 343,146
2016 358,393 -109,296 641,365 -879,235
2015 370,856 -236,207 668,771 641,150
2014 367,797 -6,856 674,754 272,697
2013 362,224 -2,285 652,427 232,230
2012 354,068 22,617 643,723 264,091
2011 348,934 -19,513 601,708 65,166
2010 341,808 11,845 566,834 68,563
2009 319,583 184,359 554,115 41,528
2008 300,750 79,319 595,332 36,869
2007 285,323 22,129 503,567 36,339
2006 269,874 15,322 487,584 33,159
2005 253,401 17,905 464,464 31,286
2004 234,891 47,091 442,540 58,924
2003 216,295 36,719 415,018 65,604
2002 201,892 -16,871 430,926 50,313
2001 184,541 9,967 484,801 -60,793
2000 173,867 -40,032 526,963 -136,794
1999 166,699 -34,465 594,643 -126,011
1998 154,010 13,840 627,027 -82,722
1997 150,404 -84,126 667,969 -98,181
1996 158,920 -226,317 710,868 -193,007
1995 160,284 -84,697 743,488 -98,403
1994 112,968 516,373 698,609 -268,849
1993 128,898 -684,261 789,220 194,977
1992 156,420 35,769 794,415 -71,342
1991 156,148 -39,236 827,296 -39,131
1990 156,617 -39,926 835,421 259,718
1989 157,547 -43,561 884,629 255,605
1988 145,234 -46,464 909,221 246,382
1987 157,481 -21,179 922,330 231,009
1986 156,170 -55,742 903,644 234,378
1985 156,896 -66,574 893,889 244,940
1984 154,366 -29,534 869,011 290,789
1983 152,801 -41,756 837,013 310,172
1982 147,090 -3,844 807,550 293,195
1981 146,231 -58,723 767,833 279,985
1980 127,746 149,361 738,415 258,127
1979 123,377 -40,126 716,541 56,323
1978 114,884 8,247 694,341 62,121
1977 108,488 1,884 680,929 63,739
1976 104,396 -12,848 675,011 27,333
1975 101,172 -20,693 667,862 38,809
1974 95,486 10,065 658,438 38,518
1973 74,805 2,843 651,596 41,125
1972 30,532 -118,457 638,754 38,163
1971 95,153 -7,569 624,761 32,961
1970 92,476 -6,346 605,102 61,514
1969 90,852 -25,292 590,794 73,225
1968 88,765 -5,917 571,841 78,932
1967 86,373 -9,821 553,741 81,932
1966 83,651 5,262 534,862 77,417
1965 78,208 -13,947 506,632 82,514
1964 77,528 29,639 490,606 76,298
1963 75,962 -11,502 473,821 72,844
1962 74,710 -15,378 455,634 69,771
1961 71,216 15,094 437,851 57,728
1960 70,032 -14,620 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.5% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,619,548 people) and 9.48% is from migration (a loss of 379,146 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, 387,101 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Burundi, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Ngozi 39.9K
Bubanza 20K
Muyinga 9.61K
Makamba 9.4K
Ruyigi 7.14K
Rutana 5.86K
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/burundi/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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