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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,047,786 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,833,763 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 4.43 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 +2.74% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.8M (88.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Burundi vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi South Africa
2100 38,293,853 94,767,727
2099 38,174,358 94,556,931
2098 38,032,126 94,349,546
2097 37,893,681 94,158,472
2096 37,756,449 93,960,605
2095 37,614,540 93,752,736
2094 37,436,871 93,527,902
2093 37,274,132 93,300,398
2092 37,108,508 93,074,837
2091 36,942,857 92,826,204
2090 36,771,082 92,594,033
2089 36,563,987 92,355,184
2088 36,355,008 92,112,914
2087 36,164,606 91,866,024
2086 35,954,669 91,614,165
2085 35,713,632 91,385,350
2084 35,484,958 91,139,318
2083 35,263,538 90,877,425
2082 35,009,446 90,615,359
2081 34,736,107 90,345,492
2080 34,490,976 90,071,835
2079 34,213,139 89,801,998
2078 33,926,177 89,526,224
2077 33,614,120 89,249,206
2076 33,328,275 88,986,114
2075 33,008,877 88,713,215
2074 32,701,037 88,428,616
2073 32,376,989 88,149,885
2072 32,052,692 87,866,246
2071 31,745,266 87,540,177
2070 31,397,738 87,209,425
2069 31,057,284 86,901,512
2068 30,714,517 86,588,742
2067 30,354,696 86,268,392
2066 30,003,347 85,935,310
2065 29,629,671 85,604,376
2064 29,285,762 85,244,950
2063 28,949,355 84,875,503
2062 28,601,048 84,503,237
2061 28,250,749 84,132,885
2060 27,902,252 83,748,999
2059 27,548,599 83,354,923
2058 27,202,405 82,947,675
2057 26,854,783 82,538,045
2056 26,488,466 82,127,477
2055 26,128,941 81,698,196
2054 25,749,289 81,255,867
2053 25,370,938 80,818,632
2052 24,991,164 80,367,409
2051 24,616,398 79,886,672
2050 24,248,417 79,411,977
2049 23,841,324 78,925,493
2048 23,457,774 78,437,677
2047 23,054,780 77,922,211
2046 22,680,495 77,397,298
2045 22,268,462 76,879,838
2044 21,845,832 76,357,155
2043 21,428,437 75,827,709
2042 20,996,812 75,291,615
2041 20,590,106 74,748,408
2040 20,174,211 74,205,530
2039 19,754,227 73,663,047
2038 19,337,942 73,105,930
2037 18,919,404 72,532,742
2036 18,507,313 71,956,247
2035 18,115,077 71,362,555
2034 17,727,651 70,762,815
2033 17,339,180 70,153,205
2032 16,953,330 69,527,410
2031 16,569,289 68,890,002
2030 16,198,007 68,245,372
2029 15,827,843 67,573,179
2028 15,445,059 66,884,377
2027 15,084,625 66,190,258
2026 14,740,747 65,496,277
2025 14,397,864 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 3,594,312 people (a 32% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 63.5% to 24,248,417 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 2.49% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Burundi grew by 2.62%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Burundi South Africa
Current population
14833763
65683993
Population rank 78/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.79%
One net population change
1.47 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.14 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.72 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +982 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +358,336 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 85/197
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 - -27,074 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,614,502 people) and 9.03% is from migration (a loss of 358,928 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, 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
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/burundi/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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