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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cambodia was 17,847,982 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cambodia's population is 18,159,213 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +1.35% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cambodia has increased from 13.6M people to 18.2M (33.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Cambodia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Cambodia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cambodia South Africa
2100 22,901,914 94,734,082
2099 22,958,383 94,523,360
2098 23,015,331 94,316,049
2097 23,068,989 94,125,043
2096 23,118,854 93,927,246
2095 23,162,704 93,719,451
2094 23,207,466 93,494,697
2093 23,247,521 93,267,274
2092 23,285,540 93,041,793
2091 23,317,510 92,793,249
2090 23,349,581 92,561,159
2089 23,381,110 92,322,396
2088 23,404,619 92,080,212
2087 23,429,179 91,833,409
2086 23,450,970 91,581,639
2085 23,469,059 91,352,906
2084 23,486,236 91,106,961
2083 23,498,658 90,845,161
2082 23,506,751 90,583,188
2081 23,512,878 90,313,417
2080 23,518,840 90,039,857
2079 23,523,165 89,770,116
2078 23,523,989 89,494,440
2077 23,519,769 89,217,520
2076 23,512,440 88,954,522
2075 23,506,393 88,681,719
2074 23,494,004 88,397,221
2073 23,481,588 88,118,589
2072 23,463,712 87,835,051
2071 23,443,140 87,509,098
2070 23,420,769 87,178,463
2069 23,393,461 86,870,660
2068 23,362,386 86,558,000
2067 23,324,169 86,237,764
2066 23,283,399 85,904,801
2065 23,242,009 85,573,984
2064 23,191,929 85,214,686
2063 23,139,318 84,845,370
2062 23,083,489 84,473,236
2061 23,020,659 84,103,016
2060 22,951,813 83,719,266
2059 22,877,844 83,325,330
2058 22,799,179 82,918,226
2057 22,715,484 82,508,742
2056 22,628,607 82,098,320
2055 22,537,541 81,669,191
2054 22,440,088 81,227,019
2053 22,338,320 80,789,939
2052 22,231,339 80,338,877
2051 22,117,409 79,858,310
2050 22,001,254 79,383,784
2049 21,877,484 78,897,472
2048 21,749,790 78,409,829
2047 21,618,052 77,894,547
2046 21,480,480 77,369,819
2045 21,340,224 76,852,544
2044 21,195,511 76,330,046
2043 21,046,437 75,800,788
2042 20,893,438 75,264,885
2041 20,738,659 74,721,871
2040 20,582,241 74,179,185
2039 20,421,184 73,636,894
2038 20,256,225 73,079,976
2037 20,088,660 72,506,991
2036 19,922,341 71,930,701
2035 19,747,906 71,337,219
2034 19,573,792 70,737,692
2033 19,395,265 70,128,299
2032 19,215,259 69,502,726
2031 19,030,553 68,865,544
2030 18,843,778 68,221,143
2029 18,652,372 67,549,189
2028 18,456,287 66,860,631
2027 18,256,828 66,166,759
2026 18,056,115 65,473,024
2025 17,847,982 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2,306,410 people (a 14.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 21.2% to 22,001,254 people and will still be ranked 73rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 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 94.7M 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 1.19% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Cambodia grew by 1.19%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Cambodia South Africa
Current population
18159213
65829368
Population rank 73/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.79%
One net population change
2.52 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
1.47 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
4.62 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +573 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +209,181 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.19% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 88/197 91/197
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 244,386 -32,960 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.6% of the population change in Cambodia is from natural causes (a gain of 2,685,340 people) and 14.4% is from migration (a loss of 450,929 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, 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 119K
Serei Saophoan 99K
Sihanoukville 71.1K
Kampong Cham 61.8K
Kampot 42.1K
Svay Rieng 41.4K
Prey Veng 33.1K
Stung Treng 29.7K
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/cambodia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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