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Population in East Timor compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of East Timor was 1,400,638 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current East Timor's population is 1,441,764 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 45.6 times bigger than East Timor's.
  • East Timor is ranked the 152nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.02% for East Timor vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, East Timor has had an average growth rate of +1.74% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of East Timor has increased from 977K people to 1.44M (47.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

East Timor vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

East Timor
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
East Timor South Africa
2100 1,987,918 94,767,727
2099 1,992,867 94,556,931
2098 1,999,551 94,349,546
2097 2,006,120 94,158,472
2096 2,014,062 93,960,605
2095 2,022,241 93,752,736
2094 2,029,109 93,527,902
2093 2,034,335 93,300,398
2092 2,039,916 93,074,837
2091 2,046,825 92,826,204
2090 2,053,125 92,594,033
2089 2,060,960 92,355,184
2088 2,066,983 92,112,914
2087 2,074,665 91,866,024
2086 2,077,590 91,614,165
2085 2,083,082 91,385,350
2084 2,088,840 91,139,318
2083 2,094,115 90,877,425
2082 2,096,675 90,615,359
2081 2,100,480 90,345,492
2080 2,103,409 90,071,835
2079 2,102,541 89,801,998
2078 2,105,113 89,526,224
2077 2,106,052 89,249,206
2076 2,105,444 88,986,114
2075 2,105,772 88,713,215
2074 2,104,099 88,428,616
2073 2,103,684 88,149,885
2072 2,100,004 87,866,246
2071 2,092,187 87,540,177
2070 2,089,722 87,209,425
2069 2,084,088 86,901,512
2068 2,077,511 86,588,742
2067 2,070,890 86,268,392
2066 2,062,513 85,935,310
2065 2,055,518 85,604,376
2064 2,047,799 85,244,950
2063 2,039,134 84,875,503
2062 2,032,012 84,503,237
2061 2,026,320 84,132,885
2060 2,018,694 83,748,999
2059 2,008,316 83,354,923
2058 1,996,874 82,947,675
2057 1,984,864 82,538,045
2056 1,970,638 82,127,477
2055 1,957,948 81,698,196
2054 1,949,486 81,255,867
2053 1,933,418 80,818,632
2052 1,920,237 80,367,409
2051 1,909,754 79,886,672
2050 1,892,942 79,411,977
2049 1,878,747 78,925,493
2048 1,861,668 78,437,677
2047 1,845,027 77,922,211
2046 1,829,444 77,397,298
2045 1,813,000 76,879,838
2044 1,797,485 76,357,155
2043 1,777,393 75,827,709
2042 1,756,780 75,291,615
2041 1,738,404 74,748,408
2040 1,720,102 74,205,530
2039 1,699,431 73,663,047
2038 1,679,979 73,105,930
2037 1,659,934 72,532,742
2036 1,640,507 71,956,247
2035 1,617,823 71,362,555
2034 1,597,525 70,762,815
2033 1,578,920 70,153,205
2032 1,560,470 69,527,410
2031 1,540,575 68,890,002
2030 1,518,500 68,245,372
2029 1,496,906 67,573,179
2028 1,475,696 66,884,377
2027 1,455,624 66,190,258
2026 1,436,626 65,496,277
2025 1,418,578 64,770,314
2024 1,400,638 64,007,187
2023 1,384,286 63,212,384
2022 1,369,295 62,378,410
2021 1,350,139 61,502,603
2020 1,326,053 60,562,381
2019 1,300,945 59,587,885
2018 1,275,959 58,613,001
2017 1,251,703 57,635,162
2016 1,228,312 57,259,551
2015 1,205,131 56,723,537
2014 1,181,903 55,594,838
2013 1,158,695 54,678,791
2012 1,134,885 53,782,567
2011 1,110,207 52,995,205
2010 1,084,679 52,344,051
2009 1,058,782 51,728,516
2008 1,032,429 51,114,599
2007 1,004,889 50,528,584
2006 976,597 49,998,277
2005 948,311 49,490,033
2004 929,074 48,991,421
2003 916,878 48,500,348
2002 879,159 48,019,415
2001 812,249 47,566,800
2000 745,088 47,159,719
1999 834,697 46,730,335
1998 942,530 46,223,880
1997 917,184 45,666,838
1996 892,282 45,123,018
1995 868,146 44,541,554
1994 844,493 44,004,139
1993 821,437 43,297,156
1992 799,318 42,443,509
1991 778,278 41,687,898
1990 760,345 40,746,268
1989 744,856 39,628,575
1988 730,745 38,480,649
1987 718,476 37,326,190
1986 707,185 36,180,515
1985 696,665 35,042,093
1984 686,777 33,892,788
1983 677,707 32,739,304
1982 669,149 31,615,339
1981 660,493 30,541,044
1980 649,871 29,518,857
1979 638,719 28,634,162
1978 628,775 27,869,507
1977 618,315 27,118,952
1976 607,620 26,395,450
1975 598,158 25,690,940
1974 590,827 24,989,108
1973 582,855 24,294,263
1972 572,962 23,609,456
1971 562,966 22,942,143
1970 553,069 22,279,984
1969 543,356 21,614,676
1968 533,875 20,957,287
1967 524,648 20,314,066
1966 515,696 19,690,087
1965 507,034 19,089,380
1964 498,659 18,511,361
1963 490,564 17,954,564
1962 482,774 17,418,522
1961 475,291 16,908,035
1960 468,118 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/east-timor/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of East Timor increased by 251,715 people (a 25.8% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, East Timor gained 213,452 people (a 17.4% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

East Timor was ranked 155th most populous country in 2006 and is 152nd 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) East Timor's population will grow by 31.3% to 1,892,942 people with a rank change from 152nd to 149th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

East Timor is projected to reach its peak in 2077 at 2.11M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

East Timor
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
East Timor South Africa
2100 -0.25% 0.22%
2099 -0.33% 0.22%
2098 -0.33% 0.2%
2097 -0.39% 0.21%
2096 -0.4% 0.22%
2095 -0.34% 0.24%
2094 -0.26% 0.24%
2093 -0.27% 0.24%
2092 -0.34% 0.27%
2091 -0.31% 0.25%
2090 -0.38% 0.26%
2089 -0.29% 0.26%
2088 -0.37% 0.27%
2087 -0.14% 0.27%
2086 -0.26% 0.25%
2085 -0.28% 0.27%
2084 -0.25% 0.29%
2083 -0.12% 0.29%
2082 -0.18% 0.3%
2081 -0.14% 0.3%
2080 0.04% 0.3%
2079 -0.12% 0.31%
2078 -0.04% 0.31%
2077 0.03% 0.3%
2076 -0.02% 0.31%
2075 0.08% 0.32%
2074 0.02% 0.32%
2073 0.18% 0.32%
2072 0.37% 0.37%
2071 0.12% 0.38%
2070 0.27% 0.35%
2069 0.32% 0.36%
2068 0.32% 0.37%
2067 0.41% 0.39%
2066 0.34% 0.39%
2065 0.38% 0.42%
2064 0.42% 0.44%
2063 0.35% 0.44%
2062 0.28% 0.44%
2061 0.38% 0.46%
2060 0.52% 0.47%
2059 0.57% 0.49%
2058 0.61% 0.5%
2057 0.72% 0.5%
2056 0.65% 0.53%
2055 0.43% 0.54%
2054 0.83% 0.54%
2053 0.69% 0.56%
2052 0.55% 0.6%
2051 0.89% 0.6%
2050 0.76% 0.62%
2049 0.92% 0.62%
2048 0.9% 0.66%
2047 0.85% 0.68%
2046 0.91% 0.67%
2045 0.86% 0.68%
2044 1.13% 0.7%
2043 1.17% 0.71%
2042 1.06% 0.73%
2041 1.06% 0.73%
2040 1.22% 0.74%
2039 1.16% 0.76%
2038 1.21% 0.79%
2037 1.18% 0.8%
2036 1.4% 0.83%
2035 1.27% 0.85%
2034 1.18% 0.87%
2033 1.18% 0.9%
2032 1.29% 0.93%
2031 1.45% 0.94%
2030 1.44% 0.99%
2029 1.44% 1.03%
2028 1.38% 1.05%
2027 1.32% 1.06%
2026 1.27% 1.12%
2025 1.28% 1.19%
2024 1.18% 1.26%
2023 1.09% 1.34%
2022 1.42% 1.42%
2021 1.82% 1.55%
2020 1.93% 1.64%
2019 1.96% 1.66%
2018 1.94% 1.7%
2017 1.9% 0.66%
2016 1.92% 0.94%
2015 1.97% 2.03%
2014 2% 1.68%
2013 2.1% 1.67%
2012 2.22% 1.49%
2011 2.35% 1.24%
2010 2.45% 1.19%
2009 2.55% 1.2%
2008 2.74% 1.16%
2007 2.9% 1.06%
2006 2.98% 1.03%
2005 2.07% 1.02%
2004 1.33% 1.01%
2003 4.29% 1%
2002 8.24% 0.95%
2001 9.01% 0.86%
2000 -10.7% 0.92%
1999 -11.4% 1.1%
1998 2.76% 1.22%
1997 2.79% 1.21%
1996 2.78% 1.31%
1995 2.8% 1.22%
1994 2.81% 1.63%
1993 2.77% 2.01%
1992 2.7% 1.81%
1991 2.36% 2.31%
1990 2.08% 2.82%
1989 1.93% 2.98%
1988 1.71% 3.09%
1987 1.6% 3.17%
1986 1.51% 3.25%
1985 1.44% 3.39%
1984 1.34% 3.52%
1983 1.28% 3.56%
1982 1.31% 3.52%
1981 1.63% 3.46%
1980 1.75% 3.09%
1979 1.58% 2.74%
1978 1.69% 2.77%
1977 1.76% 2.74%
1976 1.58% 2.74%
1975 1.24% 2.81%
1974 1.37% 2.86%
1973 1.73% 2.9%
1972 1.78% 2.91%
1971 1.79% 2.97%
1970 1.79% 3.08%
1969 1.78% 3.14%
1968 1.76% 3.17%
1967 1.74% 3.17%
1966 1.71% 3.15%
1965 1.68% 3.12%
1964 1.65% 3.1%
1963 1.61% 3.08%
1962 1.57% 3.02%
1961 1.53% 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/east-timor/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of East Timor grew by 1.18%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

East Timor South Africa
Current population
1441764
65683993
Population rank 152/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
32.1 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
17.2 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
52.2 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +45 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +16,352 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 85/197
One migration net change every
3.44 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,550 +146,370
Net migration rank 102/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 8,303 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 179/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 169/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

East Timor
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
East Timor South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,550 - 146,370
2024 - -2,552 - 166,972
2023 20,495 -5,620 602,793 228,222
2022 20,625 -5,519 603,636 233,284
2021 20,101 3,111 456,411 458,246
2020 21,166 3,793 595,873 369,901
2019 21,307 3,942 652,130 331,124
2018 21,650 3,062 648,319 318,260
2017 22,145 1,666 645,975 343,146
2016 22,778 208 641,365 -879,235
2015 23,391 -20 668,771 641,150
2014 24,040 -958 674,754 272,697
2013 24,538 -1,206 652,427 232,230
2012 24,890 -609 643,723 264,091
2011 25,237 -159 601,708 65,166
2010 25,515 470 566,834 68,563
2009 25,696 117 554,115 41,528
2008 25,888 1,009 595,332 36,869
2007 26,074 2,103 503,567 36,339
2006 26,221 2,184 487,584 33,159
2005 26,412 1,759 464,464 31,286
2004 26,751 -16,447 442,540 58,924
2003 26,900 -12,810 415,018 65,604
2002 25,410 35,935 430,926 50,313
2001 23,314 49,159 484,801 -60,793
2000 21,579 40,272 526,963 -136,794
1999 21,871 -262,940 594,643 -126,011
1998 23,590 1,806 627,027 -82,722
1997 23,501 1,804 667,969 -98,181
1996 22,703 1,796 710,868 -193,007
1995 21,962 1,806 743,488 -98,403
1994 21,746 1,794 698,609 -268,849
1993 20,770 1,795 789,220 194,977
1992 19,880 1,794 794,415 -71,342
1991 18,605 1,803 827,296 -39,131
1990 18,343 -2,881 835,421 259,718
1989 17,758 -2,246 884,629 255,605
1988 12,118 587 909,221 246,382
1987 11,945 -106 922,330 231,009
1986 11,062 -316 903,644 234,378
1985 10,788 -495 893,889 244,940
1984 10,922 -1,436 869,011 290,789
1983 9,686 -1,032 837,013 310,172
1982 9,579 -1,125 807,550 293,195
1981 9,336 -482 767,833 279,985
1980 6,940 5,457 738,415 258,127
1979 987 8,924 716,541 56,323
1978 -1,000 10,967 694,341 62,121
1977 296 10,657 680,929 63,739
1976 783 9,662 675,011 27,333
1975 -1,062 9,542 667,862 38,809
1974 8,405 -2,222 658,438 38,518
1973 10,033 -278 651,596 41,125
1972 10,030 0 638,754 38,163
1971 9,964 0 624,761 32,961
1970 9,824 0 605,102 61,514
1969 9,611 0 590,794 73,225
1968 9,356 0 571,841 78,932
1967 9,089 0 553,741 81,932
1966 8,810 0 534,862 77,417
1965 8,526 0 506,632 82,514
1964 8,235 0 490,606 76,298
1963 7,938 0 473,821 72,844
1962 7,639 0 455,634 69,771
1961 7,330 0 437,851 57,728
1960 7,012 0 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/east-timor/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 98.3% of the population change in East Timor is from natural causes (a gain of 217,698 people) and 1.66% is from migration (a gain of 3,665 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, 8,303 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in East Timor, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

East Timor
City Population
Dili 222K
Maliana 15.8K
Baucau 15K
Ainaro 5.45K
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/east-timor/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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