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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 21.3 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 17.7% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

China vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China South Africa
2100 633,662,382 94,734,082
2099 644,307,192 94,523,360
2098 655,044,881 94,316,049
2097 665,876,462 94,125,043
2096 676,803,171 93,927,246
2095 687,828,883 93,719,451
2094 698,966,872 93,494,697
2093 710,235,681 93,267,274
2092 721,640,723 93,041,793
2091 733,187,178 92,793,249
2090 744,903,105 92,561,159
2089 756,812,472 92,322,396
2088 768,893,004 92,080,212
2087 781,128,909 91,833,409
2086 793,508,970 91,581,639
2085 806,043,039 91,352,906
2084 818,709,832 91,106,961
2083 831,420,518 90,845,161
2082 844,177,036 90,583,188
2081 856,996,835 90,313,417
2080 869,821,040 90,039,857
2079 882,622,985 89,770,116
2078 895,372,147 89,494,440
2077 908,082,676 89,217,520
2076 920,776,984 88,954,522
2075 933,459,600 88,681,719
2074 946,141,456 88,397,221
2073 958,870,128 88,118,589
2072 971,639,931 87,835,051
2071 984,469,009 87,509,098
2070 997,391,342 87,178,463
2069 1,010,450,818 86,870,660
2068 1,023,633,867 86,558,000
2067 1,036,979,285 86,237,764
2066 1,050,453,924 85,904,801
2065 1,064,051,499 85,573,984
2064 1,077,787,979 85,214,686
2063 1,091,571,021 84,845,370
2062 1,105,429,748 84,473,236
2061 1,119,286,514 84,103,016
2060 1,133,115,260 83,719,266
2059 1,146,818,251 83,325,330
2058 1,160,340,554 82,918,226
2057 1,173,596,480 82,508,742
2056 1,186,578,041 82,098,320
2055 1,199,197,172 81,669,191
2054 1,211,403,028 81,227,019
2053 1,223,160,257 80,789,939
2052 1,234,474,716 80,338,877
2051 1,245,255,938 79,858,310
2050 1,255,501,171 79,383,784
2049 1,265,281,319 78,897,472
2048 1,274,572,888 78,409,829
2047 1,283,393,445 77,894,547
2046 1,291,830,414 77,369,819
2045 1,299,855,379 76,852,544
2044 1,307,510,531 76,330,046
2043 1,314,885,869 75,800,788
2042 1,322,032,311 75,264,885
2041 1,328,936,491 74,721,871
2040 1,335,577,799 74,179,185
2039 1,341,989,157 73,636,894
2038 1,348,134,255 73,079,976
2037 1,354,107,817 72,506,991
2036 1,359,866,705 71,930,701
2035 1,365,387,904 71,337,219
2034 1,370,679,807 70,737,692
2033 1,375,744,986 70,128,299
2032 1,380,528,766 69,502,726
2031 1,385,048,521 68,865,544
2030 1,389,269,809 68,221,143
2029 1,393,241,425 67,549,189
2028 1,396,917,178 66,860,631
2027 1,400,271,033 66,166,759
2026 1,403,335,670 65,473,024
2025 1,406,585,000 64,747,319
2024 1,408,975,000 64,007,187
2023 1,410,710,000 63,212,384
2022 1,412,175,000 62,378,410
2021 1,412,360,000 61,502,603
2020 1,411,100,000 60,562,381
2019 1,407,745,000 59,587,885
2018 1,402,760,000 58,613,001
2017 1,396,215,000 57,635,162
2016 1,387,790,000 57,259,551
2015 1,379,860,000 56,723,537
2014 1,371,860,000 55,594,838
2013 1,363,240,000 54,678,791
2012 1,354,190,000 53,782,567
2011 1,345,035,000 52,995,205
2010 1,337,705,000 52,344,051
2009 1,331,260,000 51,728,516
2008 1,324,655,000 51,114,599
2007 1,317,885,000 50,528,584
2006 1,311,020,000 49,998,277
2005 1,303,720,000 49,490,033
2004 1,296,075,000 48,991,421
2003 1,288,400,000 48,500,348
2002 1,280,400,000 48,019,415
2001 1,271,850,000 47,566,800
2000 1,262,645,000 47,159,719
1999 1,252,735,000 46,730,335
1998 1,241,935,000 46,223,880
1997 1,230,075,000 45,666,838
1996 1,217,550,000 45,123,018
1995 1,204,855,000 44,541,554
1994 1,191,835,000 44,004,139
1993 1,178,440,000 43,297,156
1992 1,164,970,000 42,443,509
1991 1,150,780,000 41,687,898
1990 1,135,185,000 40,746,268
1989 1,118,650,000 39,628,575
1988 1,101,630,000 38,480,649
1987 1,084,035,000 37,326,190
1986 1,066,790,000 36,180,515
1985 1,051,040,000 35,042,093
1984 1,036,825,000 33,892,788
1983 1,023,310,000 32,739,304
1982 1,008,630,000 31,615,339
1981 993,885,000 30,541,044
1980 981,235,000 29,518,857
1979 969,005,000 28,634,162
1978 956,165,000 27,869,507
1977 943,455,000 27,118,952
1976 930,685,000 26,395,450
1975 916,395,000 25,690,940
1974 900,350,000 24,989,108
1973 881,940,000 24,294,263
1972 862,030,000 23,609,456
1971 841,105,000 22,942,143
1970 818,315,000 22,279,984
1969 796,025,000 21,614,676
1968 774,510,000 20,957,287
1967 754,550,000 20,314,066
1966 735,400,000 19,690,087
1965 715,185,000 19,089,380
1964 698,355,000 18,511,361
1963 682,335,000 17,954,564
1962 665,770,000 17,418,522
1961 660,330,000 16,908,035
1960 667,070,000 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/china/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China South Africa
2100 -1.65% 0.22%
2099 -1.64% 0.22%
2098 -1.63% 0.2%
2097 -1.61% 0.21%
2096 -1.6% 0.22%
2095 -1.59% 0.24%
2094 -1.59% 0.24%
2093 -1.58% 0.24%
2092 -1.57% 0.27%
2091 -1.57% 0.25%
2090 -1.57% 0.26%
2089 -1.57% 0.26%
2088 -1.57% 0.27%
2087 -1.56% 0.27%
2086 -1.56% 0.25%
2085 -1.55% 0.27%
2084 -1.53% 0.29%
2083 -1.51% 0.29%
2082 -1.5% 0.3%
2081 -1.47% 0.3%
2080 -1.45% 0.3%
2079 -1.42% 0.31%
2078 -1.4% 0.31%
2077 -1.38% 0.3%
2076 -1.36% 0.31%
2075 -1.34% 0.32%
2074 -1.33% 0.32%
2073 -1.31% 0.32%
2072 -1.3% 0.37%
2071 -1.3% 0.38%
2070 -1.29% 0.35%
2069 -1.29% 0.36%
2068 -1.29% 0.37%
2067 -1.28% 0.39%
2066 -1.28% 0.39%
2065 -1.27% 0.42%
2064 -1.26% 0.44%
2063 -1.25% 0.44%
2062 -1.24% 0.44%
2061 -1.22% 0.46%
2060 -1.19% 0.47%
2059 -1.17% 0.49%
2058 -1.13% 0.5%
2057 -1.09% 0.5%
2056 -1.05% 0.53%
2055 -1.01% 0.54%
2054 -0.96% 0.54%
2053 -0.92% 0.56%
2052 -0.87% 0.6%
2051 -0.82% 0.6%
2050 -0.77% 0.62%
2049 -0.73% 0.62%
2048 -0.69% 0.66%
2047 -0.65% 0.68%
2046 -0.62% 0.67%
2045 -0.59% 0.68%
2044 -0.56% 0.7%
2043 -0.54% 0.71%
2042 -0.52% 0.73%
2041 -0.5% 0.73%
2040 -0.48% 0.74%
2039 -0.46% 0.76%
2038 -0.44% 0.79%
2037 -0.42% 0.8%
2036 -0.4% 0.83%
2035 -0.39% 0.85%
2034 -0.37% 0.87%
2033 -0.35% 0.9%
2032 -0.33% 0.93%
2031 -0.3% 0.94%
2030 -0.29% 0.99%
2029 -0.26% 1.03%
2028 -0.24% 1.05%
2027 -0.22% 1.06%
2026 -0.23% 1.12%
2025 -0.17% 1.16%
2024 -0.12% 1.26%
2023 -0.1% 1.34%
2022 -0.01% 1.42%
2021 0.09% 1.55%
2020 0.24% 1.64%
2019 0.36% 1.66%
2018 0.47% 1.7%
2017 0.61% 0.66%
2016 0.57% 0.94%
2015 0.58% 2.03%
2014 0.63% 1.68%
2013 0.67% 1.67%
2012 0.68% 1.49%
2011 0.55% 1.24%
2010 0.48% 1.19%
2009 0.5% 1.2%
2008 0.51% 1.16%
2007 0.52% 1.06%
2006 0.56% 1.03%
2005 0.59% 1.02%
2004 0.6% 1.01%
2003 0.62% 1%
2002 0.67% 0.95%
2001 0.73% 0.86%
2000 0.79% 0.92%
1999 0.87% 1.1%
1998 0.96% 1.22%
1997 1.03% 1.21%
1996 1.05% 1.31%
1995 1.09% 1.22%
1994 1.14% 1.63%
1993 1.16% 2.01%
1992 1.23% 1.81%
1991 1.37% 2.31%
1990 1.48% 2.82%
1989 1.54% 2.98%
1988 1.62% 3.09%
1987 1.62% 3.17%
1986 1.5% 3.25%
1985 1.37% 3.39%
1984 1.32% 3.52%
1983 1.46% 3.56%
1982 1.48% 3.52%
1981 1.29% 3.46%
1980 1.26% 3.09%
1979 1.34% 2.74%
1978 1.35% 2.77%
1977 1.37% 2.74%
1976 1.56% 2.74%
1975 1.78% 2.81%
1974 2.09% 2.86%
1973 2.31% 2.9%
1972 2.49% 2.91%
1971 2.78% 2.97%
1970 2.8% 3.08%
1969 2.78% 3.14%
1968 2.65% 3.17%
1967 2.6% 3.17%
1966 2.83% 3.15%
1965 2.41% 3.12%
1964 2.35% 3.1%
1963 2.49% 3.08%
1962 0.82% 3.02%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

China South Africa
Current population
1403335670
65829368
Population rank 2/197 24/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.79%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +146,370
Net migration rank 189/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 146,370
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 591,618 166,972
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 602,793 228,222
2022 -847,305 -293,846 603,636 233,284
2021 480,203 -379,749 456,411 458,246
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 595,873 369,901
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 652,130 331,124
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 648,319 318,260
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 645,975 343,146
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 641,365 -879,235
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 668,771 641,150
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 674,754 272,697
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 652,427 232,230
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 643,723 264,091
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 601,708 65,166
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 566,834 68,563
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 554,115 41,528
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 595,332 36,869
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 503,567 36,339
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 487,584 33,159
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 464,464 31,286
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 442,540 58,924
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 415,018 65,604
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 430,926 50,313
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 484,801 -60,793
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 526,963 -136,794
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 594,643 -126,011
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 627,027 -82,722
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 667,969 -98,181
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 710,868 -193,007
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 743,488 -98,403
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 698,609 -268,849
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 789,220 194,977
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 794,415 -71,342
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 827,296 -39,131
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 835,421 259,718
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 884,629 255,605
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 909,221 246,382
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 922,330 231,009
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 903,644 234,378
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 893,889 244,940
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 869,011 290,789
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 837,013 310,172
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 807,550 293,195
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 767,833 279,985
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 738,415 258,127
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 716,541 56,323
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 694,341 62,121
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 680,929 63,739
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 675,011 27,333
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 667,862 38,809
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 658,438 38,518
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 651,596 41,125
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 638,754 38,163
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 624,761 32,961
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 605,102 61,514
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 590,794 73,225
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 571,841 78,932
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 553,741 81,932
1966 19,282,187 4,165 534,862 77,417
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 506,632 82,514
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 490,606 76,298
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 473,821 72,844
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 455,634 69,771
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 437,851 57,728
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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