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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cambodia was 17,638,801 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cambodia's population is 18,113,986 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.63 times bigger than Cambodia's.
  • Cambodia is ranked the 73rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.01% of the world: 0.22% for Cambodia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Cambodia has had an average growth rate of +1.38% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cambodia has increased from 13.6M people to 18.1M (32.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Cambodia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Cambodia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cambodia South Africa
2100 22,906,442 94,767,727
2099 22,962,923 94,556,931
2098 23,019,882 94,349,546
2097 23,073,551 94,158,472
2096 23,123,425 93,960,605
2095 23,167,283 93,752,736
2094 23,212,055 93,527,902
2093 23,252,118 93,300,398
2092 23,290,144 93,074,837
2091 23,322,120 92,826,204
2090 23,354,198 92,594,033
2089 23,385,733 92,355,184
2088 23,409,247 92,112,914
2087 23,433,812 91,866,024
2086 23,455,606 91,614,165
2085 23,473,699 91,385,350
2084 23,490,880 91,139,318
2083 23,503,304 90,877,425
2082 23,511,399 90,615,359
2081 23,517,527 90,345,492
2080 23,523,490 90,071,835
2079 23,527,816 89,801,998
2078 23,528,640 89,526,224
2077 23,524,419 89,249,206
2076 23,517,089 88,986,114
2075 23,511,041 88,713,215
2074 23,498,649 88,428,616
2073 23,486,231 88,149,885
2072 23,468,351 87,866,246
2071 23,447,776 87,540,177
2070 23,425,399 87,209,425
2069 23,398,087 86,901,512
2068 23,367,005 86,588,742
2067 23,328,780 86,268,392
2066 23,288,003 85,935,310
2065 23,246,605 85,604,376
2064 23,196,515 85,244,950
2063 23,143,893 84,875,503
2062 23,088,053 84,503,237
2061 23,025,211 84,132,885
2060 22,956,351 83,748,999
2059 22,882,368 83,354,923
2058 22,803,687 82,947,675
2057 22,719,975 82,538,045
2056 22,633,081 82,127,477
2055 22,541,997 81,698,196
2054 22,444,525 81,255,867
2053 22,342,736 80,818,632
2052 22,235,734 80,367,409
2051 22,121,782 79,886,672
2050 22,005,604 79,411,977
2049 21,881,810 78,925,493
2048 21,754,090 78,437,677
2047 21,622,327 77,922,211
2046 21,484,727 77,397,298
2045 21,344,443 76,879,838
2044 21,199,702 76,357,155
2043 21,050,598 75,827,709
2042 20,897,569 75,291,615
2041 20,742,759 74,748,408
2040 20,586,310 74,205,530
2039 20,425,222 73,663,047
2038 20,260,230 73,105,930
2037 20,092,632 72,532,742
2036 19,926,280 71,956,247
2035 19,751,811 71,362,555
2034 19,577,662 70,762,815
2033 19,399,100 70,153,205
2032 19,219,058 69,527,410
2031 19,034,316 68,890,002
2030 18,847,504 68,245,372
2029 18,656,059 67,573,179
2028 18,459,936 66,884,377
2027 18,260,437 66,190,258
2026 18,059,685 65,496,277
2025 17,851,510 64,770,314
2024 17,638,801 64,007,187
2023 17,423,880 63,212,384
2022 17,201,724 62,378,410
2021 16,974,305 61,502,603
2020 16,725,474 60,562,381
2019 16,481,304 59,587,885
2018 16,274,522 58,613,001
2017 16,073,372 57,635,162
2016 15,852,803 57,259,551
2015 15,623,251 56,723,537
2014 15,396,772 55,594,838
2013 15,170,208 54,678,791
2012 14,945,085 53,782,567
2011 14,722,584 52,995,205
2010 14,500,726 52,344,051
2009 14,276,810 51,728,516
2008 14,053,479 51,114,599
2007 13,841,770 50,528,584
2006 13,639,028 49,998,277
2005 13,439,202 49,490,033
2004 13,244,731 48,991,421
2003 13,050,968 48,500,348
2002 12,855,241 48,019,415
2001 12,658,484 47,566,800
2000 12,462,336 47,159,719
1999 12,265,731 46,730,335
1998 12,058,173 46,223,880
1997 11,570,982 45,666,838
1996 10,801,270 45,123,018
1995 10,018,497 44,541,554
1994 9,239,162 44,004,139
1993 8,616,381 43,297,156
1992 8,113,083 42,443,509
1991 7,686,850 41,687,898
1990 7,374,752 40,746,268
1989 7,073,473 39,628,575
1988 6,812,014 38,480,649
1987 6,557,970 37,326,190
1986 6,285,693 36,180,515
1985 6,043,783 35,042,093
1984 5,845,117 33,892,788
1983 5,636,203 32,739,304
1982 5,436,432 31,615,339
1981 5,284,495 30,541,044
1980 5,199,872 29,518,857
1979 5,088,808 28,634,162
1978 5,211,653 27,869,507
1977 5,668,551 27,118,952
1976 6,134,991 26,395,450
1975 6,581,371 25,690,940
1974 6,783,240 24,989,108
1973 6,739,726 24,294,263
1972 6,673,886 23,609,456
1971 6,620,880 22,942,143
1970 6,639,182 22,279,984
1969 6,604,725 21,614,676
1968 6,467,324 20,957,287
1967 6,332,944 20,314,066
1966 6,201,232 19,690,087
1965 6,072,289 19,089,380
1964 5,946,178 18,511,361
1963 5,823,010 17,954,564
1962 5,697,558 17,418,522
1961 5,571,168 16,908,035
1960 5,449,966 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/cambodia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cambodia increased by 2,213,775 people (a 16.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cambodia gained 2,261,183 people (a 14.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Cambodia was ranked 67th most populous country in 2006 and is 73rd 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) Cambodia's population will grow by 21.5% to 22,005,604 people and will still be ranked 73rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Cambodia is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 23.5M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Cambodia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cambodia South Africa
2100 -0.25% 0.22%
2099 -0.25% 0.22%
2098 -0.23% 0.2%
2097 -0.22% 0.21%
2096 -0.19% 0.22%
2095 -0.19% 0.24%
2094 -0.17% 0.24%
2093 -0.16% 0.24%
2092 -0.14% 0.27%
2091 -0.14% 0.25%
2090 -0.13% 0.26%
2089 -0.1% 0.26%
2088 -0.1% 0.27%
2087 -0.09% 0.27%
2086 -0.08% 0.25%
2085 -0.07% 0.27%
2084 -0.05% 0.29%
2083 -0.03% 0.29%
2082 -0.03% 0.3%
2081 -0.03% 0.3%
2080 -0.02% 0.3%
2079 -0.004% 0.31%
2078 0.02% 0.31%
2077 0.03% 0.3%
2076 0.03% 0.31%
2075 0.05% 0.32%
2074 0.05% 0.32%
2073 0.08% 0.32%
2072 0.09% 0.37%
2071 0.1% 0.38%
2070 0.12% 0.35%
2069 0.13% 0.36%
2068 0.16% 0.37%
2067 0.18% 0.39%
2066 0.18% 0.39%
2065 0.22% 0.42%
2064 0.23% 0.44%
2063 0.24% 0.44%
2062 0.27% 0.44%
2061 0.3% 0.46%
2060 0.32% 0.47%
2059 0.35% 0.49%
2058 0.37% 0.5%
2057 0.38% 0.5%
2056 0.4% 0.53%
2055 0.43% 0.54%
2054 0.46% 0.54%
2053 0.48% 0.56%
2052 0.52% 0.6%
2051 0.53% 0.6%
2050 0.57% 0.62%
2049 0.59% 0.62%
2048 0.61% 0.66%
2047 0.64% 0.68%
2046 0.66% 0.67%
2045 0.68% 0.68%
2044 0.71% 0.7%
2043 0.73% 0.71%
2042 0.75% 0.73%
2041 0.76% 0.73%
2040 0.79% 0.74%
2039 0.81% 0.76%
2038 0.83% 0.79%
2037 0.83% 0.8%
2036 0.88% 0.83%
2035 0.89% 0.85%
2034 0.92% 0.87%
2033 0.94% 0.9%
2032 0.97% 0.93%
2031 0.99% 0.94%
2030 1.03% 0.99%
2029 1.06% 1.03%
2028 1.09% 1.05%
2027 1.11% 1.06%
2026 1.17% 1.12%
2025 1.21% 1.19%
2024 1.23% 1.26%
2023 1.29% 1.34%
2022 1.34% 1.42%
2021 1.49% 1.55%
2020 1.48% 1.64%
2019 1.27% 1.66%
2018 1.25% 1.7%
2017 1.39% 0.66%
2016 1.47% 0.94%
2015 1.47% 2.03%
2014 1.49% 1.68%
2013 1.51% 1.67%
2012 1.51% 1.49%
2011 1.53% 1.24%
2010 1.57% 1.19%
2009 1.59% 1.2%
2008 1.53% 1.16%
2007 1.49% 1.06%
2006 1.49% 1.03%
2005 1.47% 1.02%
2004 1.48% 1.01%
2003 1.52% 1%
2002 1.55% 0.95%
2001 1.57% 0.86%
2000 1.6% 0.92%
1999 1.72% 1.1%
1998 4.21% 1.22%
1997 7.13% 1.21%
1996 7.81% 1.31%
1995 8.44% 1.22%
1994 7.23% 1.63%
1993 6.2% 2.01%
1992 5.54% 1.81%
1991 4.23% 2.31%
1990 4.26% 2.82%
1989 3.84% 2.98%
1988 3.87% 3.09%
1987 4.33% 3.17%
1986 4% 3.25%
1985 3.4% 3.39%
1984 3.71% 3.52%
1983 3.67% 3.56%
1982 2.88% 3.52%
1981 1.63% 3.46%
1980 2.18% 3.09%
1979 -2.36% 2.74%
1978 -8.06% 2.77%
1977 -7.6% 2.74%
1976 -6.78% 2.74%
1975 -2.98% 2.81%
1974 0.65% 2.86%
1973 0.99% 2.9%
1972 0.8% 2.91%
1971 -0.28% 2.97%
1970 0.52% 3.08%
1969 2.12% 3.14%
1968 2.12% 3.17%
1967 2.12% 3.17%
1966 2.12% 3.15%
1965 2.12% 3.12%
1964 2.12% 3.1%
1963 2.2% 3.08%
1962 2.27% 3.02%
1961 2.22% 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/cambodia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cambodia grew by 1.23%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Cambodia South Africa
Current population
18113986
65683993
Population rank 73/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.79%
One net population change
2.45 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.45 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.72 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +589 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +214,921 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 88/197 85/197
One migration net change every
16.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -31,469 +146,370
Net migration rank 167/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 83,925 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 136/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 175/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cambodia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cambodia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -31,469 - 146,370
2024 - -32,960 - 166,972
2023 250,242 -31,837 602,793 228,222
2022 257,269 -31,350 603,636 233,284
2021 255,939 -27,025 456,411 458,246
2020 268,745 0 595,873 369,901
2019 276,870 -57,268 652,130 331,124
2018 280,671 -86,702 648,319 318,260
2017 282,698 -74,362 645,975 343,146
2016 284,130 -51,324 641,365 -879,235
2015 284,390 -58,101 668,771 641,150
2014 283,193 -56,536 674,754 272,697
2013 281,013 -54,554 652,427 232,230
2012 276,649 -52,874 643,723 264,091
2011 272,161 -50,941 601,708 65,166
2010 272,266 -49,781 566,834 68,563
2009 274,700 -49,354 554,115 41,528
2008 272,132 -50,809 595,332 36,869
2007 270,745 -68,653 503,567 36,339
2006 263,697 -60,315 487,584 33,159
2005 256,756 -60,473 464,464 31,286
2004 251,650 -58,972 442,540 58,924
2003 251,884 -57,026 415,018 65,604
2002 251,860 -55,245 430,926 50,313
2001 250,726 -53,815 484,801 -60,793
2000 246,330 -50,957 526,963 -136,794
1999 245,425 -47,608 594,643 -126,011
1998 251,076 -33,781 627,027 -82,722
1997 252,351 504,742 667,969 -98,181
1996 274,147 508,187 710,868 -193,007
1995 280,168 503,042 743,488 -98,403
1994 286,728 488,732 698,609 -268,849
1993 282,221 187,883 789,220 194,977
1992 260,673 275,823 794,415 -71,342
1991 257,709 58,264 827,296 -39,131
1990 249,776 58,455 835,421 259,718
1989 239,211 55,125 884,629 255,605
1988 243,203 -14,627 909,221 246,382
1987 235,064 44,442 922,330 231,009
1986 221,684 43,356 903,644 234,378
1985 214,101 4,677 893,889 244,940
1984 207,700 -29,141 869,011 290,789
1983 192,849 46,428 837,013 310,172
1982 180,300 -20,026 807,550 293,195
1981 166,578 -22,982 767,833 279,985
1980 159,157 -133,508 738,415 258,127
1979 78,143 118,334 716,541 56,323
1978 -357,478 -84,695 694,341 62,121
1977 -416,117 -55,504 680,929 63,739
1976 -408,505 -52,741 675,011 27,333
1975 -383,806 -47,717 667,862 38,809
1974 73,001 -45,225 658,438 38,518
1973 101,304 -42,053 651,596 41,125
1972 113,190 -40,764 638,754 38,163
1971 113,813 -80,232 624,761 32,961
1970 122,832 -193,008 605,102 61,514
1969 156,777 -17,676 590,794 73,225
1968 153,444 -17,745 571,841 78,932
1967 150,046 -16,983 553,741 81,932
1966 147,583 -17,216 534,862 77,417
1965 144,460 -16,930 506,632 82,514
1964 141,216 -16,516 490,606 76,298
1963 137,562 -15,929 473,821 72,844
1962 132,861 -3,578 455,634 69,771
1961 128,259 -4,764 437,851 57,728
1960 124,237 -5,339 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.2% of the population change in Cambodia is from natural causes (a gain of 2,724,147 people) and 14.8% is from migration (a loss of 474,505 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, 83,925 residents or 0.5% of the population were not native-born in Cambodia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Cambodia
City Population
Phnom Penh 2.13M
Siem Reap 245K
Battambang 130K
Serei Saophoan 99K
Sihanoukville 71.1K
Kampong Cham 61.8K
Svay Rieng 41.4K
Kampot 39.2K
Prey Veng 33.1K
Stung Treng 29.7K
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/cambodia/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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