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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Colombia was 52,886,363 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Colombia's population is 54,105,437 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.21 times bigger than Colombia's.
  • Colombia is ranked the 28th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 0.65% for Colombia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Colombia has had an average growth rate of +1.25% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Colombia has increased from 42.7M people to 54.1M (26.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Colombia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Colombia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Colombia South Africa
2100 47,499,215 94,767,727
2099 47,845,841 94,556,931
2098 48,197,117 94,349,546
2097 48,551,975 94,158,472
2096 48,909,832 93,960,605
2095 49,272,722 93,752,736
2094 49,640,091 93,527,902
2093 50,009,863 93,300,398
2092 50,381,320 93,074,837
2091 50,754,115 92,826,204
2090 51,127,855 92,594,033
2089 51,502,015 92,355,184
2088 51,875,918 92,112,914
2087 52,247,171 91,866,024
2086 52,614,991 91,614,165
2085 52,979,265 91,385,350
2084 53,339,176 91,139,318
2083 53,693,979 90,877,425
2082 54,043,369 90,615,359
2081 54,385,627 90,345,492
2080 54,721,064 90,071,835
2079 55,048,030 89,801,998
2078 55,367,481 89,526,224
2077 55,677,284 89,249,206
2076 55,976,943 88,986,114
2075 56,266,206 88,713,215
2074 56,544,981 88,428,616
2073 56,812,141 88,149,885
2072 57,068,255 87,866,246
2071 57,312,673 87,540,177
2070 57,545,138 87,209,425
2069 57,764,682 86,901,512
2068 57,972,674 86,588,742
2067 58,168,272 86,268,392
2066 58,351,633 85,935,310
2065 58,521,871 85,604,376
2064 58,680,744 85,244,950
2063 58,827,326 84,875,503
2062 58,962,991 84,503,237
2061 59,086,555 84,132,885
2060 59,199,108 83,748,999
2059 59,300,144 83,354,923
2058 59,390,214 82,947,675
2057 59,468,904 82,538,045
2056 59,536,324 82,127,477
2055 59,592,582 81,698,196
2054 59,637,127 81,255,867
2053 59,670,001 80,818,632
2052 59,690,977 80,367,409
2051 59,699,504 79,886,672
2050 59,695,795 79,411,977
2049 59,678,701 78,925,493
2048 59,648,033 78,437,677
2047 59,602,061 77,922,211
2046 59,540,723 77,397,298
2045 59,463,463 76,879,838
2044 59,367,350 76,357,155
2043 59,253,902 75,827,709
2042 59,121,606 75,291,615
2041 58,969,930 74,748,408
2040 58,799,039 74,205,530
2039 58,603,737 73,663,047
2038 58,388,433 73,105,930
2037 58,151,809 72,532,742
2036 57,888,958 71,956,247
2035 57,606,734 71,362,555
2034 57,297,583 70,762,815
2033 56,964,672 70,153,205
2032 56,610,464 69,527,410
2031 56,231,768 68,890,002
2030 55,827,391 68,245,372
2029 55,399,717 67,573,179
2028 54,947,769 66,884,377
2027 54,469,148 66,190,258
2026 53,970,578 65,496,277
2025 53,442,597 64,770,314
2024 52,886,363 64,007,187
2023 52,321,152 63,212,384
2022 51,737,944 62,378,410
2021 51,188,173 61,502,603
2020 50,629,997 60,562,381
2019 49,907,985 59,587,885
2018 49,024,465 58,613,001
2017 48,131,078 57,635,162
2016 47,437,512 57,259,551
2015 46,969,940 56,723,537
2014 46,565,429 55,594,838
2013 46,151,584 54,678,791
2012 45,715,810 53,782,567
2011 45,259,614 52,995,205
2010 44,777,319 52,344,051
2009 44,271,541 51,728,516
2008 43,758,808 51,114,599
2007 43,235,374 50,528,584
2006 42,691,084 49,998,277
2005 42,128,977 49,490,033
2004 41,543,171 48,991,421
2003 40,937,429 48,500,348
2002 40,324,680 48,019,415
2001 39,709,262 47,566,800
2000 39,089,934 47,159,719
1999 38,454,863 46,730,335
1998 37,792,165 46,223,880
1997 37,121,149 45,666,838
1996 36,462,745 45,123,018
1995 35,804,662 44,541,554
1994 35,127,410 44,004,139
1993 34,441,473 43,297,156
1992 33,760,571 42,443,509
1991 33,098,372 41,687,898
1990 32,440,069 40,746,268
1989 31,776,279 39,628,575
1988 31,130,524 38,480,649
1987 30,499,467 37,326,190
1986 29,879,112 36,180,515
1985 29,268,470 35,042,093
1984 28,642,690 33,892,788
1983 27,988,173 32,739,304
1982 27,338,331 31,615,339
1981 26,713,267 30,541,044
1980 26,104,498 29,518,857
1979 25,515,626 28,634,162
1978 24,950,337 27,869,507
1977 24,393,494 27,118,952
1976 23,858,810 26,395,450
1975 23,344,644 25,690,940
1974 22,833,469 24,989,108
1973 22,325,374 24,294,263
1972 21,819,563 23,609,456
1971 21,319,096 22,942,143
1970 20,811,782 22,279,984
1969 20,291,942 21,614,676
1968 19,766,796 20,957,287
1967 19,235,618 20,314,066
1966 18,702,688 19,690,087
1965 18,169,050 19,089,380
1964 17,637,411 18,511,361
1963 17,113,823 17,954,564
1962 16,599,029 17,418,522
1961 16,095,203 16,908,035
1960 15,606,209 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/colombia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Colombia increased by 4,746,428 people (a 11.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Colombia gained 6,667,925 people (a 14.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Colombia was ranked 29th most populous country in 2006 and is 28th 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) Colombia's population will grow by 10.3% to 59,695,795 people with a rank change from 28th to 34th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Colombia is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 59.7M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Colombia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Colombia South Africa
2100 -0.72% 0.22%
2099 -0.73% 0.22%
2098 -0.73% 0.2%
2097 -0.73% 0.21%
2096 -0.74% 0.22%
2095 -0.74% 0.24%
2094 -0.74% 0.24%
2093 -0.74% 0.24%
2092 -0.73% 0.27%
2091 -0.73% 0.25%
2090 -0.73% 0.26%
2089 -0.72% 0.26%
2088 -0.71% 0.27%
2087 -0.7% 0.27%
2086 -0.69% 0.25%
2085 -0.67% 0.27%
2084 -0.66% 0.29%
2083 -0.65% 0.29%
2082 -0.63% 0.3%
2081 -0.61% 0.3%
2080 -0.59% 0.3%
2079 -0.58% 0.31%
2078 -0.56% 0.31%
2077 -0.54% 0.3%
2076 -0.51% 0.31%
2075 -0.49% 0.32%
2074 -0.47% 0.32%
2073 -0.45% 0.32%
2072 -0.43% 0.37%
2071 -0.4% 0.38%
2070 -0.38% 0.35%
2069 -0.36% 0.36%
2068 -0.34% 0.37%
2067 -0.31% 0.39%
2066 -0.29% 0.39%
2065 -0.27% 0.42%
2064 -0.25% 0.44%
2063 -0.23% 0.44%
2062 -0.21% 0.44%
2061 -0.19% 0.46%
2060 -0.17% 0.47%
2059 -0.15% 0.49%
2058 -0.13% 0.5%
2057 -0.11% 0.5%
2056 -0.09% 0.53%
2055 -0.07% 0.54%
2054 -0.06% 0.54%
2053 -0.04% 0.56%
2052 -0.01% 0.6%
2051 0.006% 0.6%
2050 0.03% 0.62%
2049 0.05% 0.62%
2048 0.08% 0.66%
2047 0.1% 0.68%
2046 0.13% 0.67%
2045 0.16% 0.68%
2044 0.19% 0.7%
2043 0.22% 0.71%
2042 0.26% 0.73%
2041 0.29% 0.73%
2040 0.33% 0.74%
2039 0.37% 0.76%
2038 0.41% 0.79%
2037 0.45% 0.8%
2036 0.49% 0.83%
2035 0.54% 0.85%
2034 0.58% 0.87%
2033 0.63% 0.9%
2032 0.67% 0.93%
2031 0.72% 0.94%
2030 0.77% 0.99%
2029 0.82% 1.03%
2028 0.88% 1.05%
2027 0.92% 1.06%
2026 0.99% 1.12%
2025 1.05% 1.19%
2024 1.08% 1.26%
2023 1.13% 1.34%
2022 1.07% 1.42%
2021 1.1% 1.55%
2020 1.45% 1.64%
2019 1.8% 1.66%
2018 1.86% 1.7%
2017 1.46% 0.66%
2016 1% 0.94%
2015 0.87% 2.03%
2014 0.9% 1.68%
2013 0.95% 1.67%
2012 1.01% 1.49%
2011 1.08% 1.24%
2010 1.14% 1.19%
2009 1.17% 1.2%
2008 1.21% 1.16%
2007 1.27% 1.06%
2006 1.33% 1.03%
2005 1.41% 1.02%
2004 1.48% 1.01%
2003 1.52% 1%
2002 1.55% 0.95%
2001 1.58% 0.86%
2000 1.65% 0.92%
1999 1.75% 1.1%
1998 1.81% 1.22%
1997 1.81% 1.21%
1996 1.84% 1.31%
1995 1.93% 1.22%
1994 1.99% 1.63%
1993 2.02% 2.01%
1992 2% 1.81%
1991 2.03% 2.31%
1990 2.09% 2.82%
1989 2.07% 2.98%
1988 2.07% 3.09%
1987 2.08% 3.17%
1986 2.09% 3.25%
1985 2.18% 3.39%
1984 2.34% 3.52%
1983 2.38% 3.56%
1982 2.34% 3.52%
1981 2.33% 3.46%
1980 2.31% 3.09%
1979 2.27% 2.74%
1978 2.28% 2.77%
1977 2.24% 2.74%
1976 2.2% 2.74%
1975 2.24% 2.81%
1974 2.28% 2.86%
1973 2.32% 2.9%
1972 2.35% 2.91%
1971 2.44% 2.97%
1970 2.56% 3.08%
1969 2.66% 3.14%
1968 2.76% 3.17%
1967 2.85% 3.17%
1966 2.94% 3.15%
1965 3.01% 3.12%
1964 3.06% 3.1%
1963 3.1% 3.08%
1962 3.13% 3.02%
1961 3.13% 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/colombia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Colombia grew by 1.08%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Colombia South Africa
Current population
54105437
65683993
Population rank 28/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.65% 0.79%
One net population change
55.8 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
44.7 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.86 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,549 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +565,211 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.08% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.08 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +129,139 +146,370
Net migration rank 12/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 3,063,518 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 22/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 5.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 89/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Colombia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Colombia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 129,139 - 146,370
2024 - 141,643 - 166,972
2023 422,598 154,521 602,793 228,222
2022 406,143 183,180 603,636 233,284
2021 311,122 199,070 456,411 458,246
2020 378,965 227,130 595,873 369,901
2019 441,087 396,826 652,130 331,124
2018 433,622 495,524 648,319 318,260
2017 426,538 431,072 645,975 343,146
2016 425,087 104,373 641,365 -879,235
2015 446,778 -41,123 668,771 641,150
2014 470,916 -67,522 674,754 272,697
2013 489,069 -64,789 652,427 232,230
2012 503,285 -56,070 643,723 264,091
2011 511,524 -46,385 601,708 65,166
2010 533,657 -34,220 566,834 68,563
2009 559,017 -46,901 554,115 41,528
2008 576,654 -63,313 595,332 36,869
2007 583,115 -49,634 503,567 36,339
2006 594,388 -39,303 487,584 33,159
2005 610,618 -41,465 464,464 31,286
2004 628,424 -25,949 442,540 58,924
2003 642,144 -33,114 415,018 65,604
2002 640,840 -24,387 430,926 50,313
2001 642,933 -28,582 484,801 -60,793
2000 652,176 -27,878 526,963 -136,794
1999 668,576 -22,698 594,643 -126,011
1998 687,704 -8,186 627,027 -82,722
1997 686,073 -23,600 667,969 -98,181
1996 682,547 -28,251 710,868 -193,007
1995 694,968 -33,097 743,488 -98,403
1994 708,660 -16,023 698,609 -268,849
1993 709,287 -30,103 789,220 194,977
1992 697,763 -15,147 794,415 -71,342
1991 690,266 -48,458 827,296 -39,131
1990 682,409 -7,590 835,421 259,718
1989 674,102 -21,329 884,629 255,605
1988 663,796 -25,064 909,221 246,382
1987 659,429 -36,040 922,330 231,009
1986 659,701 -42,368 903,644 234,378
1985 625,379 -21,408 893,889 244,940
1984 666,315 -18,692 869,011 290,789
1983 674,767 -13,329 837,013 310,172
1982 675,339 -37,090 807,550 293,195
1981 662,195 -50,351 767,833 279,985
1980 649,872 -44,203 738,415 258,127
1979 635,747 -63,657 716,541 56,323
1978 626,378 -67,870 694,341 62,121
1977 622,814 -67,638 680,929 63,739
1976 612,265 -98,057 675,011 27,333
1975 598,580 -84,462 667,862 38,809
1974 589,035 -80,816 658,438 38,518
1973 583,608 -75,630 651,596 41,125
1972 581,361 -77,708 638,754 38,163
1971 582,011 -84,712 624,761 32,961
1970 583,396 -66,065 605,102 61,514
1969 586,559 -64,238 590,794 73,225
1968 589,407 -61,442 571,841 78,932
1967 591,649 -57,256 553,741 81,932
1966 590,855 -59,395 534,862 77,417
1965 587,677 -51,855 506,632 82,514
1964 581,435 -53,972 490,606 76,298
1963 572,355 -52,631 473,821 72,844
1962 559,985 -50,108 455,634 69,771
1961 545,627 -47,849 437,851 57,728
1960 529,316 -49,115 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.6% of the population change in Colombia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,162,856 people) and 33.4% is from migration (a gain of 2,083,051 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, 3,063,518 residents or 5.8% of the population were not native-born in Colombia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Colombia
City Population
Bogota 8.03M
Medellin 2.53M
Cali 2.47M
Barranquilla 1.33M
Cartagena 915K
Cucuta 806K
Soacha 783K
Soledad 676K
Villavicencio 664K
Bucaramanga 615K
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/colombia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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