Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cuba was 10,979,783 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cuba's population is 10,894,785 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.03 times bigger than Cuba's.
  • Cuba is ranked the 90th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.13% for Cuba vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Cuba has had an average growth rate of -0.26% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cuba has decreased from 11.3M people to 10.9M (3.4% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Cuba vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Cuba
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cuba South Africa
2100 5,596,718 94,767,727
2099 5,657,375 94,556,931
2098 5,718,645 94,349,546
2097 5,780,569 94,158,472
2096 5,843,224 93,960,605
2095 5,906,751 93,752,736
2094 5,970,804 93,527,902
2093 6,035,854 93,300,398
2092 6,101,659 93,074,837
2091 6,168,154 92,826,204
2090 6,235,722 92,594,033
2089 6,304,222 92,355,184
2088 6,373,377 92,112,914
2087 6,443,413 91,866,024
2086 6,514,289 91,614,165
2085 6,585,780 91,385,350
2084 6,657,505 91,139,318
2083 6,729,522 90,877,425
2082 6,801,995 90,615,359
2081 6,874,468 90,345,492
2080 6,947,089 90,071,835
2079 7,019,723 89,801,998
2078 7,092,413 89,526,224
2077 7,165,274 89,249,206
2076 7,238,004 88,986,114
2075 7,311,071 88,713,215
2074 7,384,626 88,428,616
2073 7,458,600 88,149,885
2072 7,533,524 87,866,246
2071 7,609,105 87,540,177
2070 7,686,135 87,209,425
2069 7,764,393 86,901,512
2068 7,843,807 86,588,742
2067 7,924,753 86,268,392
2066 8,007,003 85,935,310
2065 8,090,881 85,604,376
2064 8,176,150 85,244,950
2063 8,262,542 84,875,503
2062 8,350,350 84,503,237
2061 8,439,080 84,132,885
2060 8,528,768 83,748,999
2059 8,618,786 83,354,923
2058 8,708,762 82,947,675
2057 8,798,693 82,538,045
2056 8,888,562 82,127,477
2055 8,977,652 81,698,196
2054 9,066,133 81,255,867
2053 9,153,249 80,818,632
2052 9,238,892 80,367,409
2051 9,323,021 79,886,672
2050 9,405,481 79,411,977
2049 9,486,566 78,925,493
2048 9,565,607 78,437,677
2047 9,643,403 77,922,211
2046 9,719,554 77,397,298
2045 9,793,859 76,879,838
2044 9,866,367 76,357,155
2043 9,937,436 75,827,709
2042 10,006,554 75,291,615
2041 10,073,994 74,748,408
2040 10,139,368 74,205,530
2039 10,203,016 73,663,047
2038 10,264,587 73,105,930
2037 10,325,061 72,532,742
2036 10,383,547 71,956,247
2035 10,440,509 71,362,555
2034 10,496,359 70,762,815
2033 10,550,821 70,153,205
2032 10,603,749 69,527,410
2031 10,655,312 68,890,002
2030 10,705,845 68,245,372
2029 10,755,262 67,573,179
2028 10,803,047 66,884,377
2027 10,849,321 66,190,258
2026 10,894,785 65,496,277
2025 10,938,241 64,770,314
2024 10,979,783 64,007,187
2023 11,019,931 63,212,384
2022 11,059,820 62,378,410
2021 11,122,168 61,502,603
2020 11,176,354 60,562,381
2019 11,202,846 59,587,885
2018 11,227,118 58,613,001
2017 11,247,829 57,635,162
2016 11,265,612 57,259,551
2015 11,275,065 56,723,537
2014 11,285,775 55,594,838
2013 11,298,167 54,678,791
2012 11,303,175 53,782,567
2011 11,301,571 52,995,205
2010 11,297,409 52,344,051
2009 11,294,719 51,728,516
2008 11,291,762 51,114,599
2007 11,287,272 50,528,584
2006 11,278,550 49,998,277
2005 11,262,554 49,490,033
2004 11,238,756 48,991,421
2003 11,209,383 48,500,348
2002 11,177,418 48,019,415
2001 11,144,132 47,566,800
2000 11,109,109 47,159,719
1999 11,072,230 46,730,335
1998 11,034,712 46,223,880
1997 10,997,934 45,666,838
1996 10,962,010 45,123,018
1995 10,925,362 44,541,554
1994 10,886,021 44,004,139
1993 10,841,031 43,297,156
1992 10,785,801 42,443,509
1991 10,717,640 41,687,898
1990 10,631,799 40,746,268
1989 10,533,243 39,628,575
1988 10,432,585 38,480,649
1987 10,335,342 37,326,190
1986 10,244,247 36,180,515
1985 10,157,228 35,042,093
1984 10,073,299 33,892,788
1983 9,991,026 32,739,304
1982 9,912,681 31,615,339
1981 9,849,320 30,541,044
1980 9,804,796 29,518,857
1979 9,763,355 28,634,162
1978 9,711,980 27,869,507
1977 9,648,440 27,118,952
1976 9,571,242 26,395,450
1975 9,479,726 25,690,940
1974 9,374,183 24,989,108
1973 9,255,328 24,294,263
1972 9,123,891 23,609,456
1971 8,979,085 22,942,143
1970 8,824,382 22,279,984
1969 8,666,640 21,614,676
1968 8,509,522 20,957,287
1967 8,352,625 20,314,066
1966 8,193,450 19,690,087
1965 8,030,797 19,089,380
1964 7,866,020 18,511,361
1963 7,701,660 17,954,564
1962 7,541,098 17,418,522
1961 7,387,117 16,908,035
1960 7,238,081 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/cuba/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cuba decreased by 12,938 people (a 0.11% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cuba lost 370,827 people (a 3.29% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Cuba was ranked 73rd most populous country in 2006 and is 90th 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) Cuba's population will shrink by 13.7% to 9,405,481 people with a rank change from 90th to 104th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Cuba's population already peaked in 2012 at 11.3M people and is projected to decrease to 5.6M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Cuba
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cuba South Africa
2100 -1.07% 0.22%
2099 -1.07% 0.22%
2098 -1.07% 0.2%
2097 -1.07% 0.21%
2096 -1.08% 0.22%
2095 -1.07% 0.24%
2094 -1.08% 0.24%
2093 -1.08% 0.24%
2092 -1.08% 0.27%
2091 -1.08% 0.25%
2090 -1.09% 0.26%
2089 -1.09% 0.26%
2088 -1.09% 0.27%
2087 -1.09% 0.27%
2086 -1.09% 0.25%
2085 -1.08% 0.27%
2084 -1.07% 0.29%
2083 -1.07% 0.29%
2082 -1.05% 0.3%
2081 -1.05% 0.3%
2080 -1.03% 0.3%
2079 -1.02% 0.31%
2078 -1.02% 0.31%
2077 -1% 0.3%
2076 -1% 0.31%
2075 -1% 0.32%
2074 -0.99% 0.32%
2073 -0.99% 0.32%
2072 -0.99% 0.37%
2071 -1% 0.38%
2070 -1.01% 0.35%
2069 -1.01% 0.36%
2068 -1.02% 0.37%
2067 -1.03% 0.39%
2066 -1.04% 0.39%
2065 -1.04% 0.42%
2064 -1.05% 0.44%
2063 -1.05% 0.44%
2062 -1.05% 0.44%
2061 -1.05% 0.46%
2060 -1.04% 0.47%
2059 -1.03% 0.49%
2058 -1.02% 0.5%
2057 -1.01% 0.5%
2056 -0.99% 0.53%
2055 -0.98% 0.54%
2054 -0.95% 0.54%
2053 -0.93% 0.56%
2052 -0.9% 0.6%
2051 -0.88% 0.6%
2050 -0.85% 0.62%
2049 -0.83% 0.62%
2048 -0.81% 0.66%
2047 -0.78% 0.68%
2046 -0.76% 0.67%
2045 -0.73% 0.68%
2044 -0.72% 0.7%
2043 -0.69% 0.71%
2042 -0.67% 0.73%
2041 -0.64% 0.73%
2040 -0.62% 0.74%
2039 -0.6% 0.76%
2038 -0.59% 0.79%
2037 -0.56% 0.8%
2036 -0.55% 0.83%
2035 -0.53% 0.85%
2034 -0.52% 0.87%
2033 -0.5% 0.9%
2032 -0.48% 0.93%
2031 -0.47% 0.94%
2030 -0.46% 0.99%
2029 -0.44% 1.03%
2028 -0.43% 1.05%
2027 -0.42% 1.06%
2026 -0.4% 1.12%
2025 -0.38% 1.19%
2024 -0.36% 1.26%
2023 -0.36% 1.34%
2022 -0.56% 1.42%
2021 -0.48% 1.55%
2020 -0.24% 1.64%
2019 -0.22% 1.66%
2018 -0.18% 1.7%
2017 -0.16% 0.66%
2016 -0.08% 0.94%
2015 -0.09% 2.03%
2014 -0.11% 1.68%
2013 -0.04% 1.67%
2012 0.01% 1.49%
2011 0.04% 1.24%
2010 0.02% 1.19%
2009 0.03% 1.2%
2008 0.04% 1.16%
2007 0.08% 1.06%
2006 0.14% 1.03%
2005 0.21% 1.02%
2004 0.26% 1.01%
2003 0.29% 1%
2002 0.3% 0.95%
2001 0.32% 0.86%
2000 0.33% 0.92%
1999 0.34% 1.1%
1998 0.33% 1.22%
1997 0.33% 1.21%
1996 0.34% 1.31%
1995 0.36% 1.22%
1994 0.41% 1.63%
1993 0.51% 2.01%
1992 0.64% 1.81%
1991 0.81% 2.31%
1990 0.94% 2.82%
1989 0.96% 2.98%
1988 0.94% 3.09%
1987 0.89% 3.17%
1986 0.86% 3.25%
1985 0.83% 3.39%
1984 0.82% 3.52%
1983 0.79% 3.56%
1982 0.64% 3.52%
1981 0.45% 3.46%
1980 0.42% 3.09%
1979 0.53% 2.74%
1978 0.66% 2.77%
1977 0.81% 2.74%
1976 0.97% 2.74%
1975 1.13% 2.81%
1974 1.28% 2.86%
1973 1.44% 2.9%
1972 1.61% 2.91%
1971 1.75% 2.97%
1970 1.82% 3.08%
1969 1.85% 3.14%
1968 1.88% 3.17%
1967 1.94% 3.17%
1966 2.03% 3.15%
1965 2.09% 3.12%
1964 2.13% 3.1%
1963 2.13% 3.08%
1962 2.08% 3.02%
1961 2.06% 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/cuba/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cuba declined by 0.36%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Cuba South Africa
Current population
10894785
65683993
Population rank 90/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.79%
One net population change
13.1 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
5.48 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.7 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -110 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -40,148 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.36% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 182/197 85/197
One migration net change every
23.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -22,244 +146,370
Net migration rank 153/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,144 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 193/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.12% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 191/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cuba
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cuba South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -22,244 - 146,370
2024 - -22,356 - 166,972
2023 -15,880 -22,797 602,793 228,222
2022 -17,961 -23,149 603,636 233,284
2021 -71,616 -11,976 456,411 458,246
2020 -12,808 -11,976 595,873 369,901
2019 -4,245 -23,955 652,130 331,124
2018 3,436 -23,779 648,319 318,260
2017 2,306 -23,394 645,975 343,146
2016 9,677 -24,146 641,365 -879,235
2015 20,464 -24,910 668,771 641,150
2014 22,448 -39,426 674,754 272,697
2013 29,827 -37,619 652,427 232,230
2012 33,864 -36,101 643,723 264,091
2011 40,753 -35,313 601,708 65,166
2010 37,021 -34,121 566,834 68,563
2009 37,543 -35,063 554,115 41,528
2008 32,848 -29,427 595,332 36,869
2007 24,617 -19,050 503,567 36,339
2006 24,508 -12,619 487,584 33,159
2005 36,660 -16,561 464,464 31,286
2004 44,258 -16,776 442,540 58,924
2003 56,170 -24,916 415,018 65,604
2002 58,212 -25,535 430,926 50,313
2001 57,325 -23,442 484,801 -60,793
2000 61,133 -24,980 526,963 -136,794
1999 69,069 -31,456 594,643 -126,011
1998 71,284 -33,863 627,027 -82,722
1997 71,828 -35,712 667,969 -98,181
1996 61,837 -26,105 710,868 -193,007
1995 66,809 -29,235 743,488 -98,403
1994 68,604 -27,501 698,609 -268,849
1993 73,221 -24,358 789,220 194,977
1992 83,461 -21,867 794,415 -71,342
1991 95,398 -20,665 827,296 -39,131
1990 112,378 -15,438 835,421 259,718
1989 114,865 -14,705 884,629 255,605
1988 116,626 -15,474 909,221 246,382
1987 109,617 -16,290 922,330 231,009
1986 105,997 -17,146 903,644 234,378
1985 103,228 -18,048 893,889 244,940
1984 101,670 -18,994 869,011 290,789
1983 101,858 -19,994 837,013 310,172
1982 95,866 -21,055 807,550 293,195
1981 74,067 -22,159 767,833 279,985
1980 74,271 -37,114 738,415 258,127
1979 81,192 -35,473 716,541 56,323
1978 86,864 -29,839 694,341 62,121
1977 106,875 -36,811 680,929 63,739
1976 125,383 -41,042 675,011 27,333
1975 144,964 -46,268 667,862 38,809
1974 165,099 -52,697 658,438 38,518
1973 177,387 -52,073 651,596 41,125
1972 187,588 -50,031 638,754 38,163
1971 195,106 -43,056 624,761 32,961
1970 201,823 -44,466 605,102 61,514
1969 205,581 -47,446 590,794 73,225
1968 205,487 -49,387 571,841 78,932
1967 207,245 -49,556 553,741 81,932
1966 209,179 -48,509 534,862 77,417
1965 211,322 -46,683 506,632 82,514
1964 209,315 -44,406 490,606 76,298
1963 205,788 -41,979 473,821 72,844
1962 196,423 -39,116 455,634 69,771
1961 183,806 -33,163 437,851 57,728
1960 172,816 -25,396 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 21.9% of the population change in Cuba is from natural causes (a loss of 64,179 people) and 78.1% is from migration (a loss of 229,508 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, 2,144 residents or 0.12% of the population were not native-born in Cuba, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K
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/cuba/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.