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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Denmark was 5,976,992 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Denmark's population is 6,032,403 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 10.9 times bigger than Denmark's.
  • Denmark is ranked the 114th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.07% for Denmark vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Denmark has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Denmark has increased from 5.44M people to 6.03M (10.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Denmark vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Denmark
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Denmark South Africa
2100 5,879,692 94,767,727
2099 5,887,324 94,556,931
2098 5,894,688 94,349,546
2097 5,902,451 94,158,472
2096 5,909,729 93,960,605
2095 5,917,219 93,752,736
2094 5,925,288 93,527,902
2093 5,933,241 93,300,398
2092 5,941,337 93,074,837
2091 5,949,626 92,826,204
2090 5,958,205 92,594,033
2089 5,966,645 92,355,184
2088 5,974,290 92,112,914
2087 5,982,321 91,866,024
2086 5,989,976 91,614,165
2085 5,997,455 91,385,350
2084 6,004,175 91,139,318
2083 6,010,595 90,877,425
2082 6,016,013 90,615,359
2081 6,020,048 90,345,492
2080 6,023,906 90,071,835
2079 6,027,570 89,801,998
2078 6,030,553 89,526,224
2077 6,033,561 89,249,206
2076 6,037,007 88,986,114
2075 6,039,523 88,713,215
2074 6,041,944 88,428,616
2073 6,044,803 88,149,885
2072 6,046,641 87,866,246
2071 6,048,624 87,540,177
2070 6,051,078 87,209,425
2069 6,053,869 86,901,512
2068 6,056,924 86,588,742
2067 6,060,476 86,268,392
2066 6,064,191 85,935,310
2065 6,069,049 85,604,376
2064 6,073,904 85,244,950
2063 6,078,625 84,875,503
2062 6,083,792 84,503,237
2061 6,088,815 84,132,885
2060 6,094,310 83,748,999
2059 6,099,236 83,354,923
2058 6,103,864 82,947,675
2057 6,108,995 82,538,045
2056 6,114,524 82,127,477
2055 6,120,037 81,698,196
2054 6,124,581 81,255,867
2053 6,129,266 80,818,632
2052 6,132,944 80,367,409
2051 6,136,666 79,886,672
2050 6,139,893 79,411,977
2049 6,142,477 78,925,493
2048 6,144,414 78,437,677
2047 6,146,231 77,922,211
2046 6,147,918 77,397,298
2045 6,148,320 76,879,838
2044 6,149,066 76,357,155
2043 6,149,226 75,827,709
2042 6,149,216 75,291,615
2041 6,148,827 74,748,408
2040 6,147,418 74,205,530
2039 6,145,884 73,663,047
2038 6,142,758 73,105,930
2037 6,139,788 72,532,742
2036 6,135,708 71,956,247
2035 6,130,764 71,362,555
2034 6,124,513 70,762,815
2033 6,117,467 70,153,205
2032 6,110,061 69,527,410
2031 6,100,566 68,890,002
2030 6,090,119 68,245,372
2029 6,077,752 67,573,179
2028 6,063,214 66,884,377
2027 6,046,188 66,190,258
2026 6,027,292 65,496,277
2025 6,004,069 64,770,314
2024 5,976,992 64,007,187
2023 5,946,952 63,212,384
2022 5,903,037 62,378,410
2021 5,856,733 61,502,603
2020 5,831,404 60,562,381
2019 5,814,422 59,587,885
2018 5,793,636 58,613,001
2017 5,764,980 57,635,162
2016 5,728,010 57,259,551
2015 5,683,483 56,723,537
2014 5,643,475 55,594,838
2013 5,614,932 54,678,791
2012 5,591,572 53,782,567
2011 5,570,572 52,995,205
2010 5,547,683 52,344,051
2009 5,523,095 51,728,516
2008 5,493,621 51,114,599
2007 5,461,438 50,528,584
2006 5,437,272 49,998,277
2005 5,419,432 49,490,033
2004 5,404,523 48,991,421
2003 5,390,574 48,500,348
2002 5,375,931 48,019,415
2001 5,358,783 47,566,800
2000 5,339,616 47,159,719
1999 5,321,799 46,730,335
1998 5,304,219 46,223,880
1997 5,284,991 45,666,838
1996 5,263,074 45,123,018
1995 5,233,373 44,541,554
1994 5,206,180 44,004,139
1993 5,188,628 43,297,156
1992 5,171,370 42,443,509
1991 5,154,298 41,687,898
1990 5,140,939 40,746,268
1989 5,132,594 39,628,575
1988 5,129,516 38,480,649
1987 5,127,024 37,326,190
1986 5,120,534 36,180,515
1985 5,113,691 35,042,093
1984 5,111,619 33,892,788
1983 5,114,297 32,739,304
1982 5,117,810 31,615,339
1981 5,121,572 30,541,044
1980 5,123,027 29,518,857
1979 5,116,801 28,634,162
1978 5,104,248 27,869,507
1977 5,088,419 27,118,952
1976 5,072,596 26,395,450
1975 5,059,862 25,690,940
1974 5,045,297 24,989,108
1973 5,021,861 24,294,263
1972 4,991,596 23,609,456
1971 4,963,126 22,942,143
1970 4,928,757 22,279,984
1969 4,891,860 21,614,676
1968 4,864,883 20,957,287
1967 4,835,354 20,314,066
1966 4,797,381 19,690,087
1965 4,759,012 19,089,380
1964 4,722,072 18,511,361
1963 4,684,483 17,954,564
1962 4,647,727 17,418,522
1961 4,611,687 16,908,035
1960 4,579,603 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/denmark/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Denmark increased by 290,738 people (a 5.35% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Denmark gained 304,393 people (a 5.31% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Denmark was ranked 108th most populous country in 2006 and is 114th 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) Denmark's population will grow by 1.78% to 6,139,893 people with a rank change from 114th to 120th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Denmark is projected to reach its peak in 2043 at 6.15M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Denmark
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Denmark South Africa
2100 -0.13% 0.22%
2099 -0.12% 0.22%
2098 -0.13% 0.2%
2097 -0.12% 0.21%
2096 -0.13% 0.22%
2095 -0.14% 0.24%
2094 -0.13% 0.24%
2093 -0.14% 0.24%
2092 -0.14% 0.27%
2091 -0.14% 0.25%
2090 -0.14% 0.26%
2089 -0.13% 0.26%
2088 -0.13% 0.27%
2087 -0.13% 0.27%
2086 -0.12% 0.25%
2085 -0.11% 0.27%
2084 -0.11% 0.29%
2083 -0.09% 0.29%
2082 -0.07% 0.3%
2081 -0.06% 0.3%
2080 -0.06% 0.3%
2079 -0.05% 0.31%
2078 -0.05% 0.31%
2077 -0.06% 0.3%
2076 -0.04% 0.31%
2075 -0.04% 0.32%
2074 -0.05% 0.32%
2073 -0.03% 0.32%
2072 -0.03% 0.37%
2071 -0.04% 0.38%
2070 -0.05% 0.35%
2069 -0.05% 0.36%
2068 -0.06% 0.37%
2067 -0.06% 0.39%
2066 -0.08% 0.39%
2065 -0.08% 0.42%
2064 -0.08% 0.44%
2063 -0.08% 0.44%
2062 -0.08% 0.44%
2061 -0.09% 0.46%
2060 -0.08% 0.47%
2059 -0.08% 0.49%
2058 -0.08% 0.5%
2057 -0.09% 0.5%
2056 -0.09% 0.53%
2055 -0.07% 0.54%
2054 -0.08% 0.54%
2053 -0.06% 0.56%
2052 -0.06% 0.6%
2051 -0.05% 0.6%
2050 -0.04% 0.62%
2049 -0.03% 0.62%
2048 -0.03% 0.66%
2047 -0.03% 0.68%
2046 -0.007% 0.67%
2045 -0.01% 0.68%
2044 -0.003% 0.7%
2043 0% 0.71%
2042 0.006% 0.73%
2041 0.02% 0.73%
2040 0.02% 0.74%
2039 0.05% 0.76%
2038 0.05% 0.79%
2037 0.07% 0.8%
2036 0.08% 0.83%
2035 0.1% 0.85%
2034 0.12% 0.87%
2033 0.12% 0.9%
2032 0.16% 0.93%
2031 0.17% 0.94%
2030 0.2% 0.99%
2029 0.24% 1.03%
2028 0.28% 1.05%
2027 0.31% 1.06%
2026 0.39% 1.12%
2025 0.45% 1.19%
2024 0.51% 1.26%
2023 0.74% 1.34%
2022 0.79% 1.42%
2021 0.43% 1.55%
2020 0.29% 1.64%
2019 0.36% 1.66%
2018 0.5% 1.7%
2017 0.65% 0.66%
2016 0.78% 0.94%
2015 0.71% 2.03%
2014 0.51% 1.68%
2013 0.42% 1.67%
2012 0.38% 1.49%
2011 0.41% 1.24%
2010 0.45% 1.19%
2009 0.54% 1.2%
2008 0.59% 1.16%
2007 0.44% 1.06%
2006 0.33% 1.03%
2005 0.28% 1.02%
2004 0.26% 1.01%
2003 0.27% 1%
2002 0.32% 0.95%
2001 0.36% 0.86%
2000 0.33% 0.92%
1999 0.33% 1.1%
1998 0.36% 1.22%
1997 0.42% 1.21%
1996 0.57% 1.31%
1995 0.52% 1.22%
1994 0.34% 1.63%
1993 0.33% 2.01%
1992 0.33% 1.81%
1991 0.26% 2.31%
1990 0.16% 2.82%
1989 0.06% 2.98%
1988 0.05% 3.09%
1987 0.13% 3.17%
1986 0.13% 3.25%
1985 0.04% 3.39%
1984 -0.05% 3.52%
1983 -0.07% 3.56%
1982 -0.07% 3.52%
1981 -0.03% 3.46%
1980 0.12% 3.09%
1979 0.25% 2.74%
1978 0.31% 2.77%
1977 0.31% 2.74%
1976 0.25% 2.74%
1975 0.29% 2.81%
1974 0.47% 2.86%
1973 0.61% 2.9%
1972 0.57% 2.91%
1971 0.7% 2.97%
1970 0.75% 3.08%
1969 0.55% 3.14%
1968 0.61% 3.17%
1967 0.79% 3.17%
1966 0.81% 3.15%
1965 0.78% 3.12%
1964 0.8% 3.1%
1963 0.79% 3.08%
1962 0.78% 3.02%
1961 0.7% 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/denmark/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Denmark grew by 0.51%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Denmark South Africa
Current population
6032403
65683993
Population rank 114/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
17.5 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.11 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
9.02 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +82 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +30,040 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.51% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 132/197 85/197
One migration net change every
23.8 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +22,103 +146,370
Net migration rank 32/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 847,475 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 65/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 46/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Denmark
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Denmark South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 22,103 - 146,370
2024 - 25,639 - 166,972
2023 -595 31,006 602,793 228,222
2022 -1,180 60,219 603,636 233,284
2021 5,857 26,887 456,411 458,246
2020 5,831 10,851 595,873 369,901
2019 6,977 9,488 652,130 331,124
2018 6,373 18,919 648,319 318,260
2017 8,071 24,561 645,975 343,146
2016 9,165 33,391 641,365 -879,235
2015 5,683 42,284 668,771 641,150
2014 5,644 27,242 674,754 272,697
2013 3,931 21,359 652,427 232,230
2012 5,592 16,871 643,723 264,091
2011 6,685 13,495 601,708 65,166
2010 8,876 17,533 566,834 68,563
2009 8,285 15,551 554,115 41,528
2008 10,438 25,775 595,332 36,869
2007 8,192 20,560 503,567 36,339
2006 9,787 10,491 487,584 33,159
2005 9,755 6,887 464,464 31,286
2004 9,188 5,166 442,540 58,924
2003 7,007 7,228 415,018 65,604
2002 5,376 9,629 430,926 50,313
2001 6,967 12,192 484,801 -60,793
2000 9,078 10,441 526,963 -136,794
1999 6,919 9,520 594,643 -126,011
1998 7,956 11,098 627,027 -82,722
1997 7,927 12,269 667,969 -98,181
1996 6,842 17,534 710,868 -193,007
1995 6,280 28,958 743,488 -98,403
1994 8,850 10,766 698,609 -268,849
1993 4,670 11,411 789,220 194,977
1992 6,722 11,937 794,415 -71,342
1991 4,639 10,827 827,296 -39,131
1990 2,056 8,667 835,421 259,718
1989 2,053 3,720 884,629 255,605
1988 0 677 909,221 246,382
1987 -1,538 6,338 922,330 231,009
1986 -2,561 11,463 903,644 234,378
1985 -4,603 9,957 893,889 244,940
1984 -5,623 4,325 869,011 290,789
1983 -6,649 1,952 837,013 310,172
1982 -2,559 235 807,550 293,195
1981 -3,073 -1,741 767,833 279,985
1980 1,537 803 738,415 258,127
1979 4,605 5,808 716,541 56,323
1978 9,187 5,678 694,341 62,121
1977 11,703 5,548 680,929 63,739
1976 11,667 3,182 675,011 27,333
1975 20,746 -10,672 667,862 38,809
1974 19,676 -437 658,438 38,518
1973 21,092 7,107 651,596 41,125
1972 24,958 7,053 638,754 38,163
1971 26,801 -1,159 624,761 32,961
1970 22,673 20,947 605,102 61,514
1969 23,481 6,687 590,794 73,225
1968 27,243 -3,557 571,841 78,932
1967 33,363 1,623 553,741 81,932
1966 38,858 2,011 534,862 77,417
1965 37,596 -2,098 506,632 82,514
1964 36,832 1,333 490,606 76,298
1963 36,539 594 473,821 72,844
1962 32,070 3,900 455,634 69,771
1961 33,205 3,012 437,851 57,728
1960 32,515 -4,047 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 15.4% of the population change in Denmark is from natural causes (a gain of 51,826 people) and 84.6% is from migration (a gain of 284,848 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, 847,475 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Denmark, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Denmark
City Population
Copenhagen 667K
Aarhus 291K
Odense 185K
Aalborg 122K
Frederiksberg 106K
Gentofte 75.8K
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.5K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K
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/denmark/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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