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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Chad was 21,003,705 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Chad's population is 21,855,137 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.01 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 +3.63% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Chad has increased from 10.7M people to 21.9M (104.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Chad vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Chad
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Chad South Africa
2100 70,311,013 94,734,082
2099 69,986,866 94,523,360
2098 69,662,155 94,316,049
2097 69,277,239 94,125,043
2096 68,889,445 93,927,246
2095 68,502,128 93,719,451
2094 68,110,775 93,494,697
2093 67,684,792 93,267,274
2092 67,233,921 93,041,793
2091 66,781,244 92,793,249
2090 66,290,702 92,561,159
2089 65,798,812 92,322,396
2088 65,317,154 92,080,212
2087 64,800,745 91,833,409
2086 64,278,192 91,581,639
2085 63,727,856 91,352,906
2084 63,168,104 91,106,961
2083 62,596,574 90,845,161
2082 62,040,380 90,583,188
2081 61,434,119 90,313,417
2080 60,826,765 90,039,857
2079 60,198,617 89,770,116
2078 59,555,772 89,494,440
2077 58,918,103 89,217,520
2076 58,275,388 88,954,522
2075 57,618,555 88,681,719
2074 56,965,122 88,397,221
2073 56,292,259 88,118,589
2072 55,597,279 87,835,051
2071 54,903,565 87,509,098
2070 54,214,047 87,178,463
2069 53,520,311 86,870,660
2068 52,818,046 86,558,000
2067 52,125,908 86,237,764
2066 51,388,975 85,904,801
2065 50,658,129 85,573,984
2064 49,900,784 85,214,686
2063 49,155,513 84,845,370
2062 48,403,186 84,473,236
2061 47,648,039 84,103,016
2060 46,859,349 83,719,266
2059 46,066,772 83,325,330
2058 45,285,757 82,918,226
2057 44,507,961 82,508,742
2056 43,722,007 82,098,320
2055 42,925,488 81,669,191
2054 42,142,940 81,227,019
2053 41,351,412 80,789,939
2052 40,559,038 80,338,877
2051 39,768,198 79,858,310
2050 38,981,624 79,383,784
2049 38,210,212 78,897,472
2048 37,418,176 78,409,829
2047 36,648,598 77,894,547
2046 35,880,269 77,369,819
2045 35,104,973 76,852,544
2044 34,352,050 76,330,046
2043 33,590,931 75,800,788
2042 32,837,006 75,264,885
2041 32,086,067 74,721,871
2040 31,362,066 74,179,185
2039 30,621,558 73,636,894
2038 29,886,177 73,079,976
2037 29,155,330 72,506,991
2036 28,422,010 71,930,701
2035 27,709,891 71,337,219
2034 27,003,635 70,737,692
2033 26,292,134 70,128,299
2032 25,581,739 69,502,726
2031 24,875,542 68,865,544
2030 24,183,856 68,221,143
2029 23,494,522 67,549,189
2028 22,809,219 66,860,631
2027 22,131,874 66,166,759
2026 21,562,855 65,473,024
2025 21,003,705 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 6,740,482 people (a 44.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 78.4% to 38,981,624 people with a rank change from 64th to 52nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Chad is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 70.3M people compared to the peak of 94.7M 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 3.47% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Chad grew by 3.47%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Chad South Africa
Current population
21855137
65829368
Population rank 64/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.79%
One net population change
44.9 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
35.9 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.34 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,930 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +704,582 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +3.47% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 6/197 91/197
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 653,307 204,040 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 86.4% of the population change in Chad is from natural causes (a gain of 5,439,314 people) and 13.6% is from migration (a gain of 855,402 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, 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
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/chad/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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