The latest officially reported population of Cape Verde was 524,877 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cape Verde's population is 530,391 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 123.8 times bigger than Cape Verde's.
- Cape Verde is ranked the 169th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.006% for Cape Verde vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Cape Verde has had an average growth rate of +0.22% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Cape Verde has increased from 491K people to 530K (8.08% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).
Cape Verde vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cape Verde
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 420,063 | 94,767,727 |
| 2099 | 424,339 | 94,556,931 |
| 2098 | 428,547 | 94,349,546 |
| 2097 | 432,823 | 94,158,472 |
| 2096 | 437,079 | 93,960,605 |
| 2095 | 441,399 | 93,752,736 |
| 2094 | 445,733 | 93,527,902 |
| 2093 | 450,100 | 93,300,398 |
| 2092 | 454,396 | 93,074,837 |
| 2091 | 458,688 | 92,826,204 |
| 2090 | 462,998 | 92,594,033 |
| 2089 | 467,377 | 92,355,184 |
| 2088 | 471,624 | 92,112,914 |
| 2087 | 475,845 | 91,866,024 |
| 2086 | 480,024 | 91,614,165 |
| 2085 | 484,207 | 91,385,350 |
| 2084 | 488,361 | 91,139,318 |
| 2083 | 492,342 | 90,877,425 |
| 2082 | 496,365 | 90,615,359 |
| 2081 | 500,326 | 90,345,492 |
| 2080 | 504,194 | 90,071,835 |
| 2079 | 507,990 | 89,801,998 |
| 2078 | 511,571 | 89,526,224 |
| 2077 | 515,063 | 89,249,206 |
| 2076 | 518,529 | 88,986,114 |
| 2075 | 521,923 | 88,713,215 |
| 2074 | 525,175 | 88,428,616 |
| 2073 | 528,314 | 88,149,885 |
| 2072 | 531,359 | 87,866,246 |
| 2071 | 534,222 | 87,540,177 |
| 2070 | 537,167 | 87,209,425 |
| 2069 | 540,078 | 86,901,512 |
| 2068 | 542,854 | 86,588,742 |
| 2067 | 545,645 | 86,268,392 |
| 2066 | 548,241 | 85,935,310 |
| 2065 | 550,631 | 85,604,376 |
| 2064 | 552,831 | 85,244,950 |
| 2063 | 554,976 | 84,875,503 |
| 2062 | 557,061 | 84,503,237 |
| 2061 | 558,943 | 84,132,885 |
| 2060 | 560,606 | 83,748,999 |
| 2059 | 562,202 | 83,354,923 |
| 2058 | 563,524 | 82,947,675 |
| 2057 | 564,676 | 82,538,045 |
| 2056 | 565,611 | 82,127,477 |
| 2055 | 566,437 | 81,698,196 |
| 2054 | 567,099 | 81,255,867 |
| 2053 | 567,452 | 80,818,632 |
| 2052 | 567,567 | 80,367,409 |
| 2051 | 567,565 | 79,886,672 |
| 2050 | 567,433 | 79,411,977 |
| 2049 | 567,091 | 78,925,493 |
| 2048 | 566,651 | 78,437,677 |
| 2047 | 566,116 | 77,922,211 |
| 2046 | 565,314 | 77,397,298 |
| 2045 | 564,356 | 76,879,838 |
| 2044 | 563,283 | 76,357,155 |
| 2043 | 562,118 | 75,827,709 |
| 2042 | 560,857 | 75,291,615 |
| 2041 | 559,474 | 74,748,408 |
| 2040 | 557,962 | 74,205,530 |
| 2039 | 556,312 | 73,663,047 |
| 2038 | 554,523 | 73,105,930 |
| 2037 | 552,714 | 72,532,742 |
| 2036 | 550,888 | 71,956,247 |
| 2035 | 548,939 | 71,362,555 |
| 2034 | 547,001 | 70,762,815 |
| 2033 | 545,142 | 70,153,205 |
| 2032 | 543,065 | 69,527,410 |
| 2031 | 541,069 | 68,890,002 |
| 2030 | 538,756 | 68,245,372 |
| 2029 | 536,526 | 67,573,179 |
| 2028 | 534,280 | 66,884,377 |
| 2027 | 532,028 | 66,190,258 |
| 2026 | 529,785 | 65,496,277 |
| 2025 | 527,409 | 64,770,314 |
| 2024 | 524,877 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 522,331 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 519,741 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 516,649 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 514,679 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 514,104 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 513,415 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 512,893 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 512,554 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 512,394 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 512,326 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 512,225 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 511,955 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 511,447 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 509,784 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 506,141 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 501,355 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 496,190 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 490,728 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 485,115 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 479,370 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 473,383 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 467,046 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 460,293 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 453,317 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 446,519 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 439,784 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 432,798 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 425,581 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 418,104 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 410,228 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 401,965 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 393,415 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 384,586 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 375,428 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 367,803 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 362,329 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 357,302 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 352,312 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 347,365 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 342,505 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 337,654 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 332,724 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 327,846 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 323,301 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 319,480 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 316,147 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 312,834 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 309,455 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 305,847 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 302,570 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 299,881 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 297,386 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 294,046 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 287,885 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 279,248 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 270,164 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 261,404 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 252,976 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 244,856 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 237,006 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 229,373 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 221,919 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 215,087 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 210,024 | 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/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cape Verde increased by 21,826 people (a 4.45% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cape Verde gained 17,837 people (a 3.48% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).
Cape Verde was ranked 166th most populous country in 2006 and is 169th 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) Cape Verde's population will grow by 6.98% to 567,433 people with a rank change from 169th to 168th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Cape Verde is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 568K people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -1.01% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.98% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.97% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.98% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.97% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.97% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.95% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.9% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.89% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.87% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.86% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.85% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.79% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.77% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.75% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.7% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.68% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.67% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.65% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.59% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.57% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.54% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.54% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.51% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.51% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.47% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.43% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.4% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.39% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.37% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.34% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.3% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.28% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.23% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.2% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.17% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.15% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.12% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.06% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.02% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 0% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 0.02% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 0.06% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 0.08% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 0.09% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 0.14% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 0.17% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.19% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 0.21% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 0.22% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 0.25% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 0.27% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 0.3% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 0.32% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 0.33% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 0.33% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 0.35% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 0.35% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.34% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.38% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.37% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.43% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.42% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.42% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.42% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.42% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 0.45% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 0.48% | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 0.49% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 0.38% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 0.11% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 0.13% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.07% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 0.03% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 0.01% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 0.02% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 0.05% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 0.33% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 0.72% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 0.95% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.04% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 1.11% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 1.16% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 1.26% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 1.36% | 1% |
| 2002 | 1.47% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 1.54% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 1.52% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 1.53% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.61% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 1.79% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 1.92% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 2.06% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 2.17% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 2.44% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 2.07% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 1.51% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 1.41% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 1.42% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 1.42% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 1.42% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 1.44% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 1.41% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 1.05% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 1.06% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 1.09% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 1.18% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 1.08% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 0.84% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 1.14% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 2.14% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 3.09% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 3.36% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 3.35% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 3.33% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 3.32% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 3.31% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 3.33% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 3.36% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 3.18% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.41% | 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/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Cape Verde grew by 0.49%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.
Live population counters
|
Cape Verde
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530391
|
65683993
|
| Population rank | 169/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
3.44 hours
|
39.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.36 hours
|
26.6 seconds
|
| One death every |
3.32 hours
|
54 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | +2,178 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,546 | +794,803 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.49% | +1.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 136/197 | 85/197 |
| One migration net change every |
6.84 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,284 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 94/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 16,515 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 171/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.1% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 116/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,284 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | - | -1,209 | - | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 3,798 | -1,226 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 3,864 | -1,253 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 3,575 | 0 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 3,734 | -3,362 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 4,773 | -4,001 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 5,282 | -4,679 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 5,993 | -5,550 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 6,238 | -6,004 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 6,314 | -6,226 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 6,622 | -6,578 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 6,780 | -6,622 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 7,157 | -6,779 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 7,874 | -7,226 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 7,746 | -5,069 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 7,216 | -2,618 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 7,313 | -2,340 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 7,559 | -2,200 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 7,980 | -2,408 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 8,428 | -2,768 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 8,825 | -2,993 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 9,037 | -2,898 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 9,278 | -2,751 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 9,510 | -2,528 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 9,752 | -2,772 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 9,989 | -3,371 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 10,187 | -3,332 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 10,323 | -3,211 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 10,613 | -3,297 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 10,764 | -3,125 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 11,410 | -3,299 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 11,805 | -3,393 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 11,915 | -3,231 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 11,899 | -2,924 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 11,738 | -2,398 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 11,608 | -5,704 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 11,523 | -6,474 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 11,426 | -6,418 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 11,295 | -6,314 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 11,105 | -6,192 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 10,835 | -6,035 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 10,736 | -5,834 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 10,597 | -5,629 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 10,470 | -5,684 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 10,276 | -5,980 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 10,223 | -6,875 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 10,152 | -6,833 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 10,036 | -6,730 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 9,833 | -6,389 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 9,601 | -5,829 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 9,295 | -6,512 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 9,003 | -6,410 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 8,716 | -6,316 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 8,359 | -4,085 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 7,878 | 172 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 7,625 | 1,608 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 7,408 | 1,521 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 7,214 | 1,376 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 7,039 | 1,230 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 6,877 | 1,093 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 6,725 | 1,006 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 6,589 | 945 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 6,468 | 904 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 6,247 | 49 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 6,098 | -2,267 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 56.4% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 50,193 people) and 43.6% is from migration (a loss of 38,879 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, 16,515 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Cape Verde, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cape Verde
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Praia | 159K |
| Mindelo | 70.5K |
| Assomada | 12K |
|
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 differences between Cape Verde and South Africa
|
Cape Verde
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 31.4 years | 31.1 years |
| Median age | 29.4 years | 29.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 births per woman | 2.22 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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