The latest officially reported population of the Cayman Islands was 75,844 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cayman Islands' population is 77,917 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 845 times bigger than the Cayman Islands'.
- The Cayman Islands is ranked the 187th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.0009% for the Cayman Islands vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, the Cayman Islands has had an average growth rate of +2.13% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of the Cayman Islands has increased from 48.2K people to 77.9K (61.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Cayman Islands vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cayman Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 119,150 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 119,178 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 119,218 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 119,188 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 119,152 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 119,094 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 119,012 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 118,929 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 118,819 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 118,645 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 118,489 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 118,390 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 118,298 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 118,168 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 118,045 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 117,899 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 117,740 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 117,587 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 117,430 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 117,288 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 117,160 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 117,000 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 116,877 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 116,656 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 116,480 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 116,308 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 116,079 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 115,896 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 115,606 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 115,356 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 115,053 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 114,758 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 114,420 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 114,105 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 113,810 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 113,519 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 113,187 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 112,814 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 112,403 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 111,986 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 111,513 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 110,988 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 110,415 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 109,853 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 109,139 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 108,436 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 107,727 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 106,986 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 106,236 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 105,360 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 104,451 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 103,606 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 102,653 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 101,731 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 100,784 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 99,791 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 98,788 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 97,721 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 96,637 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 95,542 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 94,404 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 93,283 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 92,149 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 91,002 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 89,845 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 88,706 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 87,539 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 86,306 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 85,083 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 83,804 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 82,526 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 81,242 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 79,922 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 78,573 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 77,225 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 75,844 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 74,457 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 73,038 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 71,591 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 70,108 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 68,684 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 67,327 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 65,941 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 64,535 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 63,100 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 61,642 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 60,160 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 58,655 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 57,136 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 55,606 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 54,099 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 52,618 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 51,151 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 49,687 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 48,232 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 46,788 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 45,352 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 43,934 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 42,514 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 41,089 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 39,674 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 38,284 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 36,922 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 35,543 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 34,143 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 32,743 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 31,352 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 29,976 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 28,621 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 27,294 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 25,999 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 24,874 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 23,951 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 23,073 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 22,197 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 21,324 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 20,454 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 19,598 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 18,750 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 17,905 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 17,079 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 16,351 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 15,727 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 15,105 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 14,454 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 13,788 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 13,114 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 12,438 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 11,764 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 11,098 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 10,517 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 10,165 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 9,971 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 9,769 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 9,560 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 9,361 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 9,166 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 8,970 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 8,781 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 8,601 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 8,428 | 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/cayman-islands/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Cayman Islands increased by 14,868 people (a 30.8% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Cayman Islands gained 14,817 people (a 23.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
The Cayman Islands was ranked 189th most populous country in 2006 and is 187th 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) the Cayman Islands' population will grow by 34.1% to 104,451 people with a rank change from 187th to 184th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
The Cayman Islands is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 119K people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cayman Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.02% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.03% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | 0.03% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | 0.03% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | 0.07% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | 0.07% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | 0.09% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | 0.15% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | 0.13% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | 0.11% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | 0.1% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | 0.12% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | 0.14% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | 0.13% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 0.13% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | 0.12% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | 0.14% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | 0.11% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.19% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | 0.15% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | 0.15% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.2% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | 0.25% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | 0.22% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | 0.26% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | 0.3% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | 0.28% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | 0.26% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | 0.26% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | 0.29% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | 0.33% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | 0.37% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | 0.37% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | 0.42% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 0.52% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | 0.51% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 0.65% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | 0.65% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | 0.66% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | 0.69% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | 0.71% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 0.83% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 0.87% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 0.82% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 0.93% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 0.91% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 0.94% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 1% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 1.02% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 1.09% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 1.12% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 1.15% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 1.21% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 1.2% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 1.23% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 1.26% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 1.29% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 1.28% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 1.33% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 1.43% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 1.44% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 1.53% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 1.55% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 1.58% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 1.65% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 1.72% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 1.75% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 1.82% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 1.86% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | 1.94% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 2.12% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 2.07% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 2.02% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 2.18% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.27% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 2.37% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 2.46% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 2.57% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 2.66% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 2.75% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 2.79% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 2.81% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 2.87% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 3.02% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 3.09% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 3.17% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 3.23% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 3.34% | 1% |
| 2002 | 3.47% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 3.57% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 3.63% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 3.69% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 3.88% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 4.28% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 4.44% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 4.59% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 4.73% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 4.86% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 4.98% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 4.52% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 3.85% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 3.81% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 3.95% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 4.09% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 4.25% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 4.37% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 4.52% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 4.72% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 4.84% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 4.45% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 3.97% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 4.12% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 4.5% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 4.83% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 5.14% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 5.43% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 5.73% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 6% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 5.52% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 3.46% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 1.95% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 2.07% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 2.19% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 2.13% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 2.13% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 2.19% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 2.15% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 2.09% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.05% | 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/cayman-islands/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Cayman Islands grew by 1.86%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Cayman Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
77917
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 187/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0009% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
6.33 hours
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
10.2 hours
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.01 days
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +4 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,387 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.86% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 56/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
9.89 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +888 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 65/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 31,935 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 162/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 42.9% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 13/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cayman Islands
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 888 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | 498 | 896 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 514 | 921 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 527 | 942 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 533 | 965 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 539 | 810 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 514 | 859 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 383 | 1,011 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 351 | 1,065 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 351 | 1,094 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 364 | 1,107 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 392 | 1,105 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 439 | 1,077 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 468 | 1,060 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 503 | 1,024 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 515 | 978 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 513 | 951 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 490 | 975 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 468 | 990 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 451 | 997 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 439 | 1,002 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 426 | 1,004 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 416 | 1,003 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 407 | 1,019 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 400 | 1,026 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 392 | 1,021 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 394 | 960 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 392 | 974 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 387 | 1,004 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 377 | 1,026 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 362 | 1,039 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 343 | 1,042 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 325 | 1,040 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 320 | 1,020 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 327 | 982 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 284 | 998 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 269 | 700 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 233 | 646 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 214 | 663 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 227 | 649 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 225 | 646 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 216 | 649 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 206 | 648 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 217 | 629 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 255 | 578 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 232 | 588 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 210 | 425 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 195 | 413 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 184 | 456 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 180 | 484 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 181 | 492 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 184 | 493 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 216 | 460 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 292 | 375 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 158 | 500 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 219 | 294 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 139 | 43 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 167 | 39 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 168 | 41 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 167 | 37 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 168 | 28 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 179 | 16 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 191 | 1 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 192 | -6 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 188 | -7 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 180 | -24 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cayman-islands/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 32.1% of the population change in the Cayman Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 4,574 people) and 67.9% is from migration (a gain of 9,670 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, 31,935 residents or 42.9% of the population were not native-born in the Cayman Islands, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cayman Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| George Town | 40.2K |
|
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 differences between the Cayman Islands and South Africa
|
Cayman Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 80.9 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 39.7 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.2:49.8 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 833 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/cayman-islands/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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