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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Chad was 20,299,123 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Chad's population is 21,893,857 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3 times bigger than Chad's.
  • Chad is ranked the 64th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.26% for Chad vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Chad has had an average growth rate of +3.65% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Chad has increased from 10.7M people to 21.9M (104.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Chad vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Chad
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Chad South Africa
2100 70,884,357 94,767,727
2099 70,557,567 94,556,931
2098 70,230,207 94,349,546
2097 69,842,152 94,158,472
2096 69,451,196 93,960,605
2095 69,060,721 93,752,736
2094 68,666,177 93,527,902
2093 68,236,720 93,300,398
2092 67,782,173 93,074,837
2091 67,325,804 92,826,204
2090 66,831,262 92,594,033
2089 66,335,362 92,355,184
2088 65,849,776 92,112,914
2087 65,329,155 91,866,024
2086 64,802,341 91,614,165
2085 64,247,517 91,385,350
2084 63,683,201 91,139,318
2083 63,107,011 90,877,425
2082 62,546,281 90,615,359
2081 61,935,077 90,345,492
2080 61,322,770 90,071,835
2079 60,689,500 89,801,998
2078 60,041,413 89,526,224
2077 59,398,544 89,249,206
2076 58,750,589 88,986,114
2075 58,088,399 88,713,215
2074 57,429,638 88,428,616
2073 56,751,288 88,149,885
2072 56,050,641 87,866,246
2071 55,351,270 87,540,177
2070 54,656,129 87,209,425
2069 53,956,737 86,901,512
2068 53,248,745 86,588,742
2067 52,550,963 86,268,392
2066 51,808,021 85,935,310
2065 51,071,215 85,604,376
2064 50,307,695 85,244,950
2063 49,556,347 84,875,503
2062 48,797,884 84,503,237
2061 48,036,580 84,132,885
2060 47,241,459 83,748,999
2059 46,442,418 83,354,923
2058 45,655,034 82,947,675
2057 44,870,896 82,538,045
2056 44,078,534 82,127,477
2055 43,275,519 81,698,196
2054 42,486,590 81,255,867
2053 41,688,608 80,818,632
2052 40,889,772 80,367,409
2051 40,092,484 79,886,672
2050 39,299,495 79,411,977
2049 38,521,793 78,925,493
2048 37,723,298 78,437,677
2047 36,947,445 77,922,211
2046 36,172,851 77,397,298
2045 35,391,232 76,879,838
2044 34,632,170 76,357,155
2043 33,864,845 75,827,709
2042 33,104,772 75,291,615
2041 32,347,709 74,748,408
2040 31,617,805 74,205,530
2039 30,871,258 73,663,047
2038 30,129,880 73,105,930
2037 29,393,074 72,532,742
2036 28,653,774 71,956,247
2035 27,935,849 71,362,555
2034 27,223,833 70,762,815
2033 26,506,530 70,153,205
2032 25,790,343 69,527,410
2031 25,078,386 68,890,002
2030 24,381,060 68,245,372
2029 23,686,105 67,573,179
2028 22,995,214 66,884,377
2027 22,312,346 66,190,258
2026 21,738,687 65,496,277
2025 21,174,977 64,770,314
2024 20,299,123 64,007,187
2023 19,319,064 63,212,384
2022 18,455,316 62,378,410
2021 17,828,273 61,502,603
2020 17,224,679 60,562,381
2019 16,685,223 59,587,885
2018 16,156,531 58,613,001
2017 15,622,759 57,635,162
2016 15,114,655 57,259,551
2015 14,647,621 56,723,537
2014 14,188,678 55,594,838
2013 13,691,079 54,678,791
2012 13,210,998 53,782,567
2011 12,754,997 52,995,205
2010 12,312,575 52,344,051
2009 11,893,754 51,728,516
2008 11,476,296 51,114,599
2007 11,081,660 50,528,584
2006 10,706,424 49,998,277
2005 10,328,092 49,490,033
2004 9,920,036 48,991,421
2003 9,487,833 48,500,348
2002 9,116,192 48,019,415
2001 8,804,124 47,566,800
2000 8,512,093 47,159,719
1999 8,222,705 46,730,335
1998 7,938,840 46,223,880
1997 7,670,366 45,666,838
1996 7,410,108 45,123,018
1995 7,089,064 44,541,554
1994 6,783,450 44,004,139
1993 6,629,146 43,297,156
1992 6,474,656 42,443,509
1991 6,205,676 41,687,898
1990 5,982,833 40,746,268
1989 5,819,586 39,628,575
1988 5,625,602 38,480,649
1987 5,438,309 37,326,190
1986 5,251,069 36,180,515
1985 5,096,269 35,042,093
1984 5,045,145 33,892,788
1983 4,979,130 32,739,304
1982 4,738,483 31,615,339
1981 4,520,959 30,541,044
1980 4,515,453 29,518,857
1979 4,505,384 28,634,162
1978 4,411,366 27,869,507
1977 4,331,667 27,118,952
1976 4,251,297 26,395,450
1975 4,167,234 25,690,940
1974 4,078,356 24,989,108
1973 3,985,909 24,294,263
1972 3,893,252 23,609,456
1971 3,807,316 22,942,143
1970 3,727,828 22,279,984
1969 3,651,113 21,614,676
1968 3,578,231 20,957,287
1967 3,508,512 20,314,066
1966 3,440,903 19,690,087
1965 3,374,220 19,089,380
1964 3,307,479 18,511,361
1963 3,240,905 17,954,564
1962 3,175,598 17,418,522
1961 3,111,947 16,908,035
1960 3,049,838 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/chad/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Chad increased by 4,408,231 people (a 41.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Chad gained 6,779,202 people (a 44.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Chad was ranked 76th most populous country in 2006 and is 64th 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) Chad's population will grow by 79.5% to 39,299,495 people with a rank change from 64th to 52nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Chad is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 70.9M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Chad
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Chad South Africa
2100 0.46% 0.22%
2099 0.47% 0.22%
2098 0.56% 0.2%
2097 0.56% 0.21%
2096 0.57% 0.22%
2095 0.57% 0.24%
2094 0.63% 0.24%
2093 0.67% 0.24%
2092 0.68% 0.27%
2091 0.74% 0.25%
2090 0.75% 0.26%
2089 0.74% 0.26%
2088 0.8% 0.27%
2087 0.81% 0.27%
2086 0.86% 0.25%
2085 0.89% 0.27%
2084 0.91% 0.29%
2083 0.9% 0.29%
2082 0.99% 0.3%
2081 1% 0.3%
2080 1.04% 0.3%
2079 1.08% 0.31%
2078 1.08% 0.31%
2077 1.1% 0.3%
2076 1.14% 0.31%
2075 1.15% 0.32%
2074 1.2% 0.32%
2073 1.25% 0.32%
2072 1.26% 0.37%
2071 1.27% 0.38%
2070 1.3% 0.35%
2069 1.33% 0.36%
2068 1.33% 0.37%
2067 1.43% 0.39%
2066 1.44% 0.39%
2065 1.52% 0.42%
2064 1.52% 0.44%
2063 1.55% 0.44%
2062 1.58% 0.44%
2061 1.68% 0.46%
2060 1.72% 0.47%
2059 1.72% 0.49%
2058 1.75% 0.5%
2057 1.8% 0.5%
2056 1.86% 0.53%
2055 1.86% 0.54%
2054 1.91% 0.54%
2053 1.95% 0.56%
2052 1.99% 0.6%
2051 2.02% 0.6%
2050 2.02% 0.62%
2049 2.12% 0.62%
2048 2.1% 0.66%
2047 2.14% 0.68%
2046 2.21% 0.67%
2045 2.19% 0.68%
2044 2.27% 0.7%
2043 2.3% 0.71%
2042 2.34% 0.73%
2041 2.31% 0.73%
2040 2.42% 0.74%
2039 2.46% 0.76%
2038 2.51% 0.79%
2037 2.58% 0.8%
2036 2.57% 0.83%
2035 2.62% 0.85%
2034 2.71% 0.87%
2033 2.78% 0.9%
2032 2.84% 0.93%
2031 2.86% 0.94%
2030 2.93% 0.99%
2029 3% 1.03%
2028 3.06% 1.05%
2027 2.64% 1.06%
2026 2.66% 1.12%
2025 4.31% 1.19%
2024 5.07% 1.26%
2023 4.68% 1.34%
2022 3.52% 1.42%
2021 3.5% 1.55%
2020 3.23% 1.64%
2019 3.27% 1.66%
2018 3.42% 1.7%
2017 3.36% 0.66%
2016 3.19% 0.94%
2015 3.23% 2.03%
2014 3.63% 1.68%
2013 3.63% 1.67%
2012 3.58% 1.49%
2011 3.59% 1.24%
2010 3.52% 1.19%
2009 3.64% 1.2%
2008 3.56% 1.16%
2007 3.5% 1.06%
2006 3.66% 1.03%
2005 4.11% 1.02%
2004 4.56% 1.01%
2003 4.08% 1%
2002 3.54% 0.95%
2001 3.43% 0.86%
2000 3.52% 0.92%
1999 3.58% 1.1%
1998 3.5% 1.22%
1997 3.51% 1.21%
1996 4.53% 1.31%
1995 4.51% 1.22%
1994 2.33% 1.63%
1993 2.39% 2.01%
1992 4.33% 1.81%
1991 3.72% 2.31%
1990 2.81% 2.82%
1989 3.45% 2.98%
1988 3.44% 3.09%
1987 3.57% 3.17%
1986 3.04% 3.25%
1985 1.01% 3.39%
1984 1.33% 3.52%
1983 5.08% 3.56%
1982 4.81% 3.52%
1981 0.12% 3.46%
1980 0.22% 3.09%
1979 2.13% 2.74%
1978 1.84% 2.77%
1977 1.89% 2.74%
1976 2.02% 2.74%
1975 2.18% 2.81%
1974 2.32% 2.86%
1973 2.38% 2.9%
1972 2.26% 2.91%
1971 2.13% 2.97%
1970 2.1% 3.08%
1969 2.04% 3.14%
1968 1.99% 3.17%
1967 1.96% 3.17%
1966 1.98% 3.15%
1965 2.02% 3.12%
1964 2.05% 3.1%
1963 2.06% 3.08%
1962 2.05% 3.02%
1961 2.04% 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/chad/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Chad grew by 5.07%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Chad South Africa
Current population
21893857
65683993
Population rank 64/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.79%
One net population change
32.2 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
38.5 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.47 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,685 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +980,059 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +5.07% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 2/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.28 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -123,104 +146,370
Net migration rank 184/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,269,673 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 50/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 83/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Chad
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Chad South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -123,104 - 146,370
2024 - 204,040 - 166,972
2023 605,924 496,830 602,793 228,222
2022 588,060 36,670 603,636 233,284
2021 554,851 74,509 456,411 458,246
2020 541,234 36,605 595,873 369,901
2019 530,540 -29,451 652,130 331,124
2018 509,642 46,661 648,319 318,260
2017 494,304 16,916 645,975 343,146
2016 483,442 21,540 641,365 -879,235
2015 478,010 -48,918 668,771 641,150
2014 467,957 20,842 674,754 272,697
2013 454,517 51,887 652,427 232,230
2012 444,246 9,514 643,723 264,091
2011 428,989 29,256 601,708 65,166
2010 416,177 10,427 566,834 68,563
2009 401,937 9,108 554,115 41,528
2008 387,439 36,446 595,332 36,869
2007 376,732 -11,339 503,567 36,339
2006 362,027 23,052 487,584 33,159
2005 352,302 19,281 464,464 31,286
2004 334,136 110,387 442,540 58,924
2003 314,740 105,140 415,018 65,604
2002 302,995 20,400 430,926 50,313
2001 297,254 3,484 484,801 -60,793
2000 287,173 -3,845 526,963 -136,794
1999 278,264 17,175 594,643 -126,011
1998 270,055 2,232 627,027 -82,722
1997 261,030 3,631 667,969 -98,181
1996 254,589 1,259 710,868 -193,007
1995 234,010 152,232 743,488 -98,403
1994 223,996 986 698,609 -268,849
1993 229,984 -146,386 789,220 194,977
1992 219,348 6,013 794,415 -71,342
1991 200,102 112,492 827,296 -39,131
1990 191,959 -58,884 835,421 259,718
1989 188,485 4,924 884,629 255,605
1988 178,489 16,085 909,221 246,382
1987 156,797 23,220 922,330 231,009
1986 152,360 42,093 903,644 234,378
1985 145,845 -30,686 893,889 244,940
1984 151,511 -164,489 869,011 290,789
1983 144,684 247 837,013 310,172
1982 119,121 217,242 807,550 293,195
1981 111,907 -13,232 767,833 279,985
1980 122,468 -210,126 738,415 258,127
1979 117,780 -9,974 716,541 56,323
1978 115,084 -34,856 694,341 62,121
1977 113,498 -34,318 680,929 63,739
1976 111,324 -29,755 675,011 27,333
1975 109,315 -22,768 667,862 38,809
1974 106,898 -15,686 658,438 38,518
1973 104,418 -10,737 651,596 41,125
1972 101,142 -9,526 638,754 38,163
1971 89,404 -9,153 624,761 32,961
1970 87,660 -8,931 605,102 61,514
1969 83,413 -8,714 590,794 73,225
1968 79,465 -8,396 571,841 78,932
1967 76,142 -7,771 553,741 81,932
1966 73,123 -6,283 534,862 77,417
1965 70,913 -4,384 506,632 82,514
1964 69,483 -2,518 490,606 76,298
1963 67,414 -1,228 473,821 72,844
1962 65,312 -890 455,634 69,771
1961 63,639 -760 437,851 57,728
1960 62,003 -672 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 88.7% of the population change in Chad is from natural causes (a gain of 5,253,964 people) and 11.3% is from migration (a gain of 672,204 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, 1,269,673 residents or 6.3% of the population were not native-born in Chad, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Chad
City Population
N'Djamena 1.09M
Sarh 108K
Abeche 76.5K
Bongor 27.8K
Bol 11.7K
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/chad/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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