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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Canada was 41,288,599 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Canada's population is 42,181,965 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.56 times bigger than Canada's.
  • Canada is ranked the 38th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.3% of the world: 0.51% for Canada vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Canada has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Canada has increased from 32.6M people to 42.2M (29.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Canada vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Canada
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Canada South Africa
2100 55,893,812 94,767,727
2099 55,710,628 94,556,931
2098 55,520,878 94,349,546
2097 55,326,351 94,158,472
2096 55,153,117 93,960,605
2095 54,983,479 93,752,736
2094 54,818,119 93,527,902
2093 54,651,641 93,300,398
2092 54,494,148 93,074,837
2091 54,329,082 92,826,204
2090 54,183,996 92,594,033
2089 54,034,513 92,355,184
2088 53,855,760 92,112,914
2087 53,708,023 91,866,024
2086 53,553,781 91,614,165
2085 53,403,315 91,385,350
2084 53,246,675 91,139,318
2083 53,081,827 90,877,425
2082 52,930,998 90,615,359
2081 52,761,672 90,345,492
2080 52,602,997 90,071,835
2079 52,444,008 89,801,998
2078 52,275,214 89,526,224
2077 52,118,254 89,249,206
2076 51,944,937 88,986,114
2075 51,774,515 88,713,215
2074 51,611,349 88,428,616
2073 51,449,506 88,149,885
2072 51,279,503 87,866,246
2071 51,106,234 87,540,177
2070 50,934,622 87,209,425
2069 50,760,591 86,901,512
2068 50,585,692 86,588,742
2067 50,396,558 86,268,392
2066 50,216,488 85,935,310
2065 50,037,049 85,604,376
2064 49,857,150 85,244,950
2063 49,675,417 84,875,503
2062 49,491,872 84,503,237
2061 49,316,172 84,132,885
2060 49,148,043 83,748,999
2059 48,975,435 83,354,923
2058 48,801,460 82,947,675
2057 48,640,413 82,538,045
2056 48,484,751 82,127,477
2055 48,333,252 81,698,196
2054 48,184,303 81,255,867
2053 48,036,252 80,818,632
2052 47,875,085 80,367,409
2051 47,719,858 79,886,672
2050 47,562,681 79,411,977
2049 47,417,162 78,925,493
2048 47,254,138 78,437,677
2047 47,091,915 77,922,211
2046 46,926,799 77,397,298
2045 46,743,844 76,879,838
2044 46,562,785 76,357,155
2043 46,379,045 75,827,709
2042 46,188,550 75,291,615
2041 45,994,664 74,748,408
2040 45,799,063 74,205,530
2039 45,593,547 73,663,047
2038 45,374,241 73,105,930
2037 45,148,803 72,532,742
2036 44,917,782 71,956,247
2035 44,691,033 71,362,555
2034 44,439,937 70,762,815
2033 44,193,040 70,153,205
2032 43,925,613 69,527,410
2031 43,643,438 68,890,002
2030 43,355,390 68,245,372
2029 43,060,128 67,573,179
2028 42,748,060 66,884,377
2027 42,426,742 66,190,258
2026 42,091,205 65,496,277
2025 41,714,545 64,770,314
2024 41,288,599 64,007,187
2023 40,083,484 63,212,384
2022 38,935,934 62,378,410
2021 38,239,864 61,502,603
2020 38,028,638 60,562,381
2019 37,618,495 59,587,885
2018 37,072,620 58,613,001
2017 36,545,075 57,635,162
2016 36,110,803 57,259,551
2015 35,704,498 56,723,537
2014 35,434,066 55,594,838
2013 35,080,992 54,678,791
2012 34,713,395 53,782,567
2011 34,339,221 52,995,205
2010 34,005,902 52,344,051
2009 33,630,069 51,728,516
2008 33,247,298 51,114,599
2007 32,888,886 50,528,584
2006 32,571,193 49,998,277
2005 32,242,732 49,490,033
2004 31,938,807 48,991,421
2003 31,642,461 48,500,348
2002 31,359,199 48,019,415
2001 31,020,855 47,566,800
2000 30,685,730 47,159,719
1999 30,401,286 46,730,335
1998 30,155,173 46,223,880
1997 29,905,948 45,666,838
1996 29,610,218 45,123,018
1995 29,302,311 44,541,554
1994 29,000,663 44,004,139
1993 28,684,764 43,297,156
1992 28,371,264 42,443,509
1991 28,037,420 41,687,898
1990 27,691,138 40,746,268
1989 27,276,781 39,628,575
1988 26,791,747 38,480,649
1987 26,446,601 37,326,190
1986 26,100,278 36,180,515
1985 25,842,116 35,042,093
1984 25,607,053 33,892,788
1983 25,366,451 32,739,304
1982 25,116,942 31,615,339
1981 24,819,915 30,541,044
1980 24,515,667 29,518,857
1979 24,201,544 28,634,162
1978 23,963,203 27,869,507
1977 23,725,843 27,118,952
1976 23,449,808 26,395,450
1975 23,143,275 25,690,940
1974 22,807,969 24,989,108
1973 22,491,777 24,294,263
1972 22,218,463 23,609,456
1971 21,962,032 22,942,143
1970 21,324,000 22,279,984
1969 21,028,000 21,614,676
1968 20,744,000 20,957,287
1967 20,412,000 20,314,066
1966 20,048,000 19,690,087
1965 19,678,000 19,089,380
1964 19,325,000 18,511,361
1963 18,964,000 17,954,564
1962 18,614,000 17,418,522
1961 18,271,000 16,908,035
1960 17,909,356 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/canada/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Canada increased by 3,539,610 people (a 10.9% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Canada gained 6,071,162 people (a 16.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Canada was ranked 35th most populous country in 2006 and is 38th 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) Canada's population will grow by 12.8% to 47,562,681 people with a rank change from 38th to 45th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Canada is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 55.9M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Canada
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Canada South Africa
2100 0.33% 0.22%
2099 0.34% 0.22%
2098 0.35% 0.2%
2097 0.31% 0.21%
2096 0.31% 0.22%
2095 0.3% 0.24%
2094 0.3% 0.24%
2093 0.29% 0.24%
2092 0.3% 0.27%
2091 0.27% 0.25%
2090 0.28% 0.26%
2089 0.33% 0.26%
2088 0.28% 0.27%
2087 0.29% 0.27%
2086 0.28% 0.25%
2085 0.29% 0.27%
2084 0.31% 0.29%
2083 0.28% 0.29%
2082 0.32% 0.3%
2081 0.3% 0.3%
2080 0.3% 0.3%
2079 0.32% 0.31%
2078 0.3% 0.31%
2077 0.33% 0.3%
2076 0.33% 0.31%
2075 0.32% 0.32%
2074 0.31% 0.32%
2073 0.33% 0.32%
2072 0.34% 0.37%
2071 0.34% 0.38%
2070 0.34% 0.35%
2069 0.35% 0.36%
2068 0.38% 0.37%
2067 0.36% 0.39%
2066 0.36% 0.39%
2065 0.36% 0.42%
2064 0.37% 0.44%
2063 0.37% 0.44%
2062 0.36% 0.44%
2061 0.34% 0.46%
2060 0.35% 0.47%
2059 0.36% 0.49%
2058 0.33% 0.5%
2057 0.32% 0.5%
2056 0.31% 0.53%
2055 0.31% 0.54%
2054 0.31% 0.54%
2053 0.34% 0.56%
2052 0.33% 0.6%
2051 0.33% 0.6%
2050 0.31% 0.62%
2049 0.34% 0.62%
2048 0.34% 0.66%
2047 0.35% 0.68%
2046 0.39% 0.67%
2045 0.39% 0.68%
2044 0.4% 0.7%
2043 0.41% 0.71%
2042 0.42% 0.73%
2041 0.43% 0.73%
2040 0.45% 0.74%
2039 0.48% 0.76%
2038 0.5% 0.79%
2037 0.51% 0.8%
2036 0.51% 0.83%
2035 0.57% 0.85%
2034 0.56% 0.87%
2033 0.61% 0.9%
2032 0.65% 0.93%
2031 0.66% 0.94%
2030 0.69% 0.99%
2029 0.73% 1.03%
2028 0.76% 1.05%
2027 0.8% 1.06%
2026 0.9% 1.12%
2025 1.03% 1.19%
2024 3.01% 1.26%
2023 2.95% 1.34%
2022 1.82% 1.42%
2021 0.56% 1.55%
2020 1.09% 1.64%
2019 1.47% 1.66%
2018 1.44% 1.7%
2017 1.2% 0.66%
2016 1.14% 0.94%
2015 0.76% 2.03%
2014 1.01% 1.68%
2013 1.06% 1.67%
2012 1.09% 1.49%
2011 0.98% 1.24%
2010 1.12% 1.19%
2009 1.15% 1.2%
2008 1.09% 1.16%
2007 0.98% 1.06%
2006 1.02% 1.03%
2005 0.95% 1.02%
2004 0.94% 1.01%
2003 0.9% 1%
2002 1.09% 0.95%
2001 1.09% 0.86%
2000 0.94% 0.92%
1999 0.82% 1.1%
1998 0.83% 1.22%
1997 1% 1.21%
1996 1.05% 1.31%
1995 1.04% 1.22%
1994 1.1% 1.63%
1993 1.1% 2.01%
1992 1.19% 1.81%
1991 1.25% 2.31%
1990 1.52% 2.82%
1989 1.81% 2.98%
1988 1.31% 3.09%
1987 1.33% 3.17%
1986 1% 3.25%
1985 0.92% 3.39%
1984 0.95% 3.52%
1983 0.99% 3.56%
1982 1.2% 3.52%
1981 1.24% 3.46%
1980 1.3% 3.09%
1979 0.99% 2.74%
1978 1% 2.77%
1977 1.18% 2.74%
1976 1.32% 2.74%
1975 1.47% 2.81%
1974 1.41% 2.86%
1973 1.23% 2.9%
1972 1.17% 2.91%
1971 2.99% 2.97%
1970 1.41% 3.08%
1969 1.37% 3.14%
1968 1.63% 3.17%
1967 1.82% 3.17%
1966 1.88% 3.15%
1965 1.83% 3.12%
1964 1.9% 3.1%
1963 1.88% 3.08%
1962 1.88% 3.02%
1961 2.02% 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/canada/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Canada grew by 3.01%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Canada South Africa
Current population
42181965
65683993
Population rank 38/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.51% 0.79%
One net population change
26.2 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.49 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.62 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,302 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +1,205,115 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +3.01% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.62 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +326,204 +146,370
Net migration rank 5/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 8,805,839 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 7/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 22.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 27/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Canada
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Canada South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 326,204 - 146,370
2024 - 368,599 - 166,972
2023 28,058 433,842 602,793 228,222
2022 15,574 459,988 603,636 233,284
2021 57,360 198,867 456,411 458,246
2020 53,241 256,592 595,873 369,901
2019 86,523 387,685 652,130 331,124
2018 88,974 420,224 648,319 318,260
2017 98,672 372,685 645,975 343,146
2016 115,555 329,455 641,365 -879,235
2015 117,825 224,332 668,771 641,150
2014 127,563 192,884 674,754 272,697
2013 129,799 239,813 652,427 232,230
2012 135,382 243,748 643,723 264,091
2011 133,923 227,075 601,708 65,166
2010 139,425 225,369 566,834 68,563
2009 144,609 244,463 554,115 41,528
2008 142,963 238,083 595,332 36,869
2007 134,845 213,801 503,567 36,339
2006 130,285 202,175 487,584 33,159
2005 116,074 204,526 464,464 31,286
2004 111,786 194,611 442,540 58,924
2003 110,749 185,643 415,018 65,604
2002 106,621 208,060 430,926 50,313
2001 114,777 222,100 484,801 -60,793
2000 110,469 201,727 526,963 -136,794
1999 118,565 158,342 594,643 -126,011
1998 126,651 142,346 627,027 -82,722
1997 134,577 144,678 667,969 -98,181
1996 153,973 154,553 710,868 -193,007
1995 167,023 141,818 743,488 -98,403
1994 179,804 134,863 698,609 -268,849
1993 186,451 133,426 789,220 194,977
1992 204,273 138,121 794,415 -71,342
1991 207,477 134,463 827,296 -39,131
1990 213,222 181,461 835,421 259,718
1989 207,304 258,094 884,629 255,605
1988 192,901 238,003 909,221 246,382
1987 190,416 171,308 922,330 231,009
1986 190,532 121,928 903,644 234,378
1985 204,153 69,776 893,889 244,940
1984 204,856 55,982 869,011 290,789
1983 202,931 66,172 837,013 310,172
1982 200,935 89,544 807,550 293,195
1981 206,005 113,461 767,833 279,985
1980 203,480 122,743 738,415 258,127
1979 203,293 86,719 716,541 56,323
1978 194,102 52,781 694,341 62,121
1977 199,297 70,339 680,929 63,739
1976 196,979 106,894 675,011 27,333
1975 196,718 139,797 667,862 38,809
1974 182,464 155,596 658,438 38,518
1973 184,432 125,401 651,596 41,125
1972 188,857 89,880 638,754 38,163
1971 208,640 210,244 624,761 32,961
1970 215,372 304,627 605,102 61,514
1969 216,588 93,600 590,794 73,225
1968 211,589 108,864 571,841 78,932
1967 220,450 132,856 553,741 81,932
1966 236,566 144,641 534,862 77,417
1965 269,589 112,401 506,632 82,514
1964 307,268 68,003 490,606 76,298
1963 318,595 51,831 473,821 72,844
1962 325,745 35,373 455,634 69,771
1961 334,360 34,721 437,851 57,728
1960 338,487 49,694 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 19.4% of the population change in Canada is from natural causes (a gain of 789,345 people) and 80.6% is from migration (a gain of 3,276,554 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, 8,805,839 residents or 22.2% of the population were not native-born in Canada, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Canada
City Population
Toronto 2.79M
Montreal 1.8M
Calgary 1.31M
Ottawa 1.02M
Edmonton 1.01M
Winnipeg 750K
Mississauga 718K
Vancouver 662K
Brampton 656K
Hamilton 569K
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/canada/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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