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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ecuador was 18,135,478 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ecuador's population is 18,487,749 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.55 times bigger than Ecuador's.
  • Ecuador is ranked the 71st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.02% of the world: 0.22% for Ecuador vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Ecuador has had an average growth rate of +1.26% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ecuador has increased from 14.1M people to 18.5M (31.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Ecuador vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ecuador South Africa
2100 19,229,713 94,767,727
2099 19,341,033 94,556,931
2098 19,451,634 94,349,546
2097 19,561,648 94,158,472
2096 19,670,931 93,960,605
2095 19,779,419 93,752,736
2094 19,887,014 93,527,902
2093 19,993,637 93,300,398
2092 20,099,245 93,074,837
2091 20,203,483 92,826,204
2090 20,306,051 92,594,033
2089 20,406,878 92,355,184
2088 20,505,637 92,112,914
2087 20,602,336 91,866,024
2086 20,696,910 91,614,165
2085 20,788,583 91,385,350
2084 20,877,503 91,139,318
2083 20,963,515 90,877,425
2082 21,046,396 90,615,359
2081 21,126,142 90,345,492
2080 21,202,360 90,071,835
2079 21,275,051 89,801,998
2078 21,343,714 89,526,224
2077 21,408,164 89,249,206
2076 21,468,178 88,986,114
2075 21,523,680 88,713,215
2074 21,575,092 88,428,616
2073 21,621,989 88,149,885
2072 21,664,137 87,866,246
2071 21,701,599 87,540,177
2070 21,734,495 87,209,425
2069 21,762,453 86,901,512
2068 21,785,682 86,588,742
2067 21,804,316 86,268,392
2066 21,818,306 85,935,310
2065 21,828,156 85,604,376
2064 21,833,185 85,244,950
2063 21,833,449 84,875,503
2062 21,828,963 84,503,237
2061 21,819,781 84,132,885
2060 21,805,954 83,748,999
2059 21,787,357 83,354,923
2058 21,764,005 82,947,675
2057 21,735,561 82,538,045
2056 21,702,294 82,127,477
2055 21,664,097 81,698,196
2054 21,620,873 81,255,867
2053 21,572,669 80,818,632
2052 21,519,295 80,367,409
2051 21,460,703 79,886,672
2050 21,396,494 79,411,977
2049 21,326,969 78,925,493
2048 21,251,792 78,437,677
2047 21,171,429 77,922,211
2046 21,085,795 77,397,298
2045 20,994,872 76,879,838
2044 20,898,682 76,357,155
2043 20,797,349 75,827,709
2042 20,691,071 75,291,615
2041 20,579,788 74,748,408
2040 20,463,641 74,205,530
2039 20,342,868 73,663,047
2038 20,217,211 73,105,930
2037 20,087,384 72,532,742
2036 19,953,661 71,956,247
2035 19,816,154 71,362,555
2034 19,674,920 70,762,815
2033 19,529,719 70,153,205
2032 19,381,178 69,527,410
2031 19,229,060 68,890,002
2030 19,073,682 68,245,372
2029 18,916,480 67,573,179
2028 18,758,598 66,884,377
2027 18,601,326 66,190,258
2026 18,445,637 65,496,277
2025 18,290,781 64,770,314
2024 18,135,478 64,007,187
2023 17,980,083 63,212,384
2022 17,823,897 62,378,410
2021 17,682,454 61,502,603
2020 17,546,065 60,562,381
2019 17,340,021 59,587,885
2018 17,049,547 58,613,001
2017 16,759,519 57,635,162
2016 16,505,139 57,259,551
2015 16,266,225 56,723,537
2014 16,035,124 55,594,838
2013 15,807,128 54,678,791
2012 15,572,194 53,782,567
2011 15,326,227 52,995,205
2010 15,076,695 52,344,051
2009 14,825,954 51,728,516
2008 14,575,202 51,114,599
2007 14,328,773 50,528,584
2006 14,086,131 49,998,277
2005 13,846,163 49,490,033
2004 13,608,701 48,991,421
2003 13,372,306 48,500,348
2002 13,138,472 48,019,415
2001 12,910,740 47,566,800
2000 12,689,206 47,159,719
1999 12,470,795 46,730,335
1998 12,251,184 46,223,880
1997 12,031,127 45,666,838
1996 11,810,950 45,123,018
1995 11,590,514 44,541,554
1994 11,372,197 44,004,139
1993 11,154,274 43,297,156
1992 10,930,128 42,443,509
1991 10,702,380 41,687,898
1990 10,473,673 40,746,268
1989 10,241,852 39,628,575
1988 10,010,808 38,480,649
1987 9,779,290 37,326,190
1986 9,545,998 36,180,515
1985 9,311,154 35,042,093
1984 9,074,782 33,892,788
1983 8,840,417 32,739,304
1982 8,611,298 31,615,339
1981 8,386,910 30,541,044
1980 8,165,877 29,518,857
1979 7,948,869 28,634,162
1978 7,736,167 27,869,507
1977 7,526,819 27,118,952
1976 7,320,912 26,395,450
1975 7,118,251 25,690,940
1974 6,918,573 24,989,108
1973 6,722,033 24,294,263
1972 6,529,034 23,609,456
1971 6,340,052 22,942,143
1970 6,155,387 22,279,984
1969 5,975,236 21,614,676
1968 5,799,680 20,957,287
1967 5,629,057 20,314,066
1966 5,463,748 19,690,087
1965 5,303,963 19,089,380
1964 5,149,918 18,511,361
1963 5,001,716 17,954,564
1962 4,859,269 17,418,522
1961 4,722,331 16,908,035
1960 4,590,891 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/ecuador/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ecuador increased by 2,419,008 people (a 17.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ecuador gained 1,982,610 people (a 12% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Ecuador was ranked 65th most populous country in 2006 and is 71st 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) Ecuador's population will grow by 15.7% to 21,396,494 people with a rank change from 71st to 74th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Ecuador is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 21.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ecuador South Africa
2100 -0.58% 0.22%
2099 -0.57% 0.22%
2098 -0.56% 0.2%
2097 -0.56% 0.21%
2096 -0.55% 0.22%
2095 -0.54% 0.24%
2094 -0.53% 0.24%
2093 -0.53% 0.24%
2092 -0.52% 0.27%
2091 -0.51% 0.25%
2090 -0.49% 0.26%
2089 -0.48% 0.26%
2088 -0.47% 0.27%
2087 -0.46% 0.27%
2086 -0.44% 0.25%
2085 -0.43% 0.27%
2084 -0.41% 0.29%
2083 -0.39% 0.29%
2082 -0.38% 0.3%
2081 -0.36% 0.3%
2080 -0.34% 0.3%
2079 -0.32% 0.31%
2078 -0.3% 0.31%
2077 -0.28% 0.3%
2076 -0.26% 0.31%
2075 -0.24% 0.32%
2074 -0.22% 0.32%
2073 -0.19% 0.32%
2072 -0.17% 0.37%
2071 -0.15% 0.38%
2070 -0.13% 0.35%
2069 -0.11% 0.36%
2068 -0.09% 0.37%
2067 -0.06% 0.39%
2066 -0.05% 0.39%
2065 -0.02% 0.42%
2064 -0.001% 0.44%
2063 0.02% 0.44%
2062 0.04% 0.44%
2061 0.06% 0.46%
2060 0.09% 0.47%
2059 0.11% 0.49%
2058 0.13% 0.5%
2057 0.15% 0.5%
2056 0.18% 0.53%
2055 0.2% 0.54%
2054 0.22% 0.54%
2053 0.25% 0.56%
2052 0.27% 0.6%
2051 0.3% 0.6%
2050 0.33% 0.62%
2049 0.35% 0.62%
2048 0.38% 0.66%
2047 0.41% 0.68%
2046 0.43% 0.67%
2045 0.46% 0.68%
2044 0.49% 0.7%
2043 0.51% 0.71%
2042 0.54% 0.73%
2041 0.57% 0.73%
2040 0.59% 0.74%
2039 0.62% 0.76%
2038 0.65% 0.79%
2037 0.67% 0.8%
2036 0.69% 0.83%
2035 0.72% 0.85%
2034 0.74% 0.87%
2033 0.77% 0.9%
2032 0.79% 0.93%
2031 0.81% 0.94%
2030 0.83% 0.99%
2029 0.84% 1.03%
2028 0.85% 1.05%
2027 0.84% 1.06%
2026 0.85% 1.12%
2025 0.86% 1.19%
2024 0.86% 1.26%
2023 0.88% 1.34%
2022 0.8% 1.42%
2021 0.78% 1.55%
2020 1.19% 1.64%
2019 1.7% 1.66%
2018 1.73% 1.7%
2017 1.54% 0.66%
2016 1.47% 0.94%
2015 1.44% 2.03%
2014 1.44% 1.68%
2013 1.51% 1.67%
2012 1.6% 1.49%
2011 1.66% 1.24%
2010 1.69% 1.19%
2009 1.72% 1.2%
2008 1.72% 1.16%
2007 1.72% 1.06%
2006 1.73% 1.03%
2005 1.74% 1.02%
2004 1.77% 1.01%
2003 1.78% 1%
2002 1.76% 0.95%
2001 1.75% 0.86%
2000 1.75% 0.92%
1999 1.79% 1.1%
1998 1.83% 1.22%
1997 1.86% 1.21%
1996 1.9% 1.31%
1995 1.92% 1.22%
1994 1.95% 1.63%
1993 2.05% 2.01%
1992 2.13% 1.81%
1991 2.18% 2.31%
1990 2.26% 2.82%
1989 2.31% 2.98%
1988 2.37% 3.09%
1987 2.44% 3.17%
1986 2.52% 3.25%
1985 2.6% 3.39%
1984 2.65% 3.52%
1983 2.66% 3.56%
1982 2.68% 3.52%
1981 2.71% 3.46%
1980 2.73% 3.09%
1979 2.75% 2.74%
1978 2.78% 2.77%
1977 2.81% 2.74%
1976 2.85% 2.74%
1975 2.89% 2.81%
1974 2.92% 2.86%
1973 2.96% 2.9%
1972 2.98% 2.91%
1971 3% 2.97%
1970 3.01% 3.08%
1969 3.03% 3.14%
1968 3.03% 3.17%
1967 3.03% 3.17%
1966 3.01% 3.15%
1965 2.99% 3.12%
1964 2.96% 3.1%
1963 2.93% 3.08%
1962 2.9% 3.02%
1961 2.86% 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/ecuador/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ecuador grew by 0.86%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Ecuador South Africa
Current population
18487749
65683993
Population rank 71/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.79%
One net population change
3.38 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.94 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.7 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +426 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +155,395 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.86% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 109/197 85/197
One migration net change every
30.6 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -17,219 +146,370
Net migration rank 151/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 747,749 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 67/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 104/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ecuador
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ecuador South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,219 - 146,370
2024 - -19,704 - 166,972
2023 178,093 -21,948 602,793 228,222
2022 179,308 -23,090 603,636 233,284
2021 155,146 -28,503 456,411 458,246
2020 156,458 -10,320 595,873 369,901
2019 211,045 54,921 652,130 331,124
2018 219,513 95,482 648,319 318,260
2017 211,355 53,707 645,975 343,146
2016 208,245 35,461 641,365 -879,235
2015 219,399 14,724 668,771 641,150
2014 225,790 2,273 674,754 272,697
2013 234,103 -6,182 652,427 232,230
2012 249,825 -7,883 643,723 264,091
2011 258,171 -8,167 601,708 65,166
2010 257,404 -8,330 566,834 68,563
2009 260,892 -8,491 554,115 41,528
2008 257,894 -8,799 595,332 36,869
2007 253,419 -9,644 503,567 36,339
2006 254,184 -12,679 487,584 33,159
2005 255,295 -16,855 464,464 31,286
2004 257,436 -20,940 442,540 58,924
2003 258,928 -22,641 415,018 65,604
2002 259,446 -28,090 430,926 50,313
2001 259,376 -35,275 484,801 -60,793
2000 259,837 -40,859 526,963 -136,794
1999 261,650 -43,813 594,643 -126,011
1998 263,927 -42,550 627,027 -82,722
1997 266,020 -47,287 667,969 -98,181
1996 267,695 -46,082 710,868 -193,007
1995 264,449 -45,201 743,488 -98,403
1994 261,788 -44,399 698,609 -268,849
1993 260,330 -41,867 789,220 194,977
1992 259,787 -29,958 794,415 -71,342
1991 257,713 -32,064 827,296 -39,131
1990 252,919 -21,164 835,421 259,718
1989 248,129 -16,240 884,629 255,605
1988 241,191 -10,977 909,221 246,382
1987 237,724 -4,886 922,330 231,009
1986 237,084 -3,345 903,644 234,378
1985 236,438 -494 893,889 244,940
1984 236,543 249 869,011 290,789
1983 231,336 578 837,013 310,172
1982 227,606 -1,282 807,550 293,195
1981 224,073 -1,605 767,833 279,985
1980 220,120 -517 738,415 258,127
1979 216,162 -1,749 716,541 56,323
1978 212,497 -1,518 694,341 62,121
1977 209,095 -1,377 680,929 63,739
1976 205,366 -1,264 675,011 27,333
1975 202,407 -1,189 667,862 38,809
1974 199,276 -1,133 658,438 38,518
1973 196,028 -1,090 651,596 41,125
1972 192,136 -1,078 638,754 38,163
1971 187,995 -1,096 624,761 32,961
1970 183,517 -1,091 605,102 61,514
1969 178,403 -518 590,794 73,225
1968 173,828 -582 571,841 78,932
1967 168,629 -623 553,741 81,932
1966 163,317 -710 534,862 77,417
1965 157,915 -957 506,632 82,514
1964 152,263 -1,130 490,606 76,298
1963 146,531 -1,254 473,821 72,844
1962 140,943 -1,315 455,634 69,771
1961 135,573 -1,317 437,851 57,728
1960 130,368 -1,746 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.9% of the population change in Ecuador is from natural causes (a gain of 1,964,352 people) and 8.08% is from migration (a gain of 172,707 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, 747,749 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in Ecuador, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Ecuador
City Population
Guayaquil 2.65M
Quito 1.76M
Cuenca 362K
Santo Domingo 335K
Duran 295K
Machala 288K
Manta 259K
Portoviejo 244K
Loja 203K
Quevedo 178K
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/ecuador/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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