Skip to content

Population in Equatorial Guinea compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Equatorial Guinea was 1,892,516 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Equatorial Guinea's population is 1,998,075 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 32.9 times bigger than Equatorial Guinea's.
  • Equatorial Guinea is ranked the 148th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.02% for Equatorial Guinea vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Equatorial Guinea has had an average growth rate of +3.15% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Equatorial Guinea has increased from 990K people to 2M (101.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Equatorial Guinea vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Equatorial Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Equatorial Guinea South Africa
2100 5,053,285 94,767,727
2099 5,030,801 94,556,931
2098 5,007,228 94,349,546
2097 4,983,150 94,158,472
2096 4,959,082 93,960,605
2095 4,933,332 93,752,736
2094 4,905,464 93,527,902
2093 4,877,815 93,300,398
2092 4,850,016 93,074,837
2091 4,823,911 92,826,204
2090 4,796,204 92,594,033
2089 4,765,373 92,355,184
2088 4,734,246 92,112,914
2087 4,703,695 91,866,024
2086 4,673,217 91,614,165
2085 4,642,131 91,385,350
2084 4,607,210 91,139,318
2083 4,574,316 90,877,425
2082 4,540,818 90,615,359
2081 4,505,519 90,345,492
2080 4,469,469 90,071,835
2079 4,430,966 89,801,998
2078 4,393,054 89,526,224
2077 4,354,278 89,249,206
2076 4,312,881 88,986,114
2075 4,271,277 88,713,215
2074 4,230,374 88,428,616
2073 4,189,634 88,149,885
2072 4,148,110 87,866,246
2071 4,106,996 87,540,177
2070 4,064,376 87,209,425
2069 4,021,900 86,901,512
2068 3,981,311 86,588,742
2067 3,939,430 86,268,392
2066 3,896,865 85,935,310
2065 3,852,791 85,604,376
2064 3,808,133 85,244,950
2063 3,764,740 84,875,503
2062 3,721,365 84,503,237
2061 3,677,181 84,132,885
2060 3,632,328 83,748,999
2059 3,586,049 83,354,923
2058 3,537,963 82,947,675
2057 3,491,303 82,538,045
2056 3,444,436 82,127,477
2055 3,396,599 81,698,196
2054 3,348,286 81,255,867
2053 3,300,634 80,818,632
2052 3,252,844 80,367,409
2051 3,205,569 79,886,672
2050 3,158,891 79,411,977
2049 3,112,260 78,925,493
2048 3,065,466 78,437,677
2047 3,019,272 77,922,211
2046 2,971,402 77,397,298
2045 2,922,377 76,879,838
2044 2,872,776 76,357,155
2043 2,823,692 75,827,709
2042 2,773,582 75,291,615
2041 2,723,897 74,748,408
2040 2,672,567 74,205,530
2039 2,622,347 73,663,047
2038 2,570,184 73,105,930
2037 2,519,310 72,532,742
2036 2,468,819 71,956,247
2035 2,418,856 71,362,555
2034 2,368,775 70,762,815
2033 2,319,952 70,153,205
2032 2,269,637 69,527,410
2031 2,220,861 68,890,002
2030 2,173,192 68,245,372
2029 2,126,230 67,573,179
2028 2,079,176 66,884,377
2027 2,032,075 66,190,258
2026 1,985,469 65,496,277
2025 1,938,873 64,770,314
2024 1,892,516 64,007,187
2023 1,847,549 63,212,384
2022 1,803,545 62,378,410
2021 1,758,786 61,502,603
2020 1,716,468 60,562,381
2019 1,670,177 59,587,885
2018 1,616,422 58,613,001
2017 1,562,396 57,635,162
2016 1,508,186 57,259,551
2015 1,453,923 56,723,537
2014 1,399,828 55,594,838
2013 1,346,218 54,678,791
2012 1,293,483 53,782,567
2011 1,241,835 52,995,205
2010 1,189,085 52,344,051
2009 1,135,673 51,728,516
2008 1,084,530 51,114,599
2007 1,036,044 50,528,584
2006 990,343 49,998,277
2005 947,367 49,490,033
2004 899,917 48,991,421
2003 847,862 48,500,348
2002 797,957 48,019,415
2001 749,836 47,566,800
2000 703,279 47,159,719
1999 667,214 46,730,335
1998 641,474 46,223,880
1997 616,893 45,666,838
1996 593,492 45,123,018
1995 571,264 44,541,554
1994 550,138 44,004,139
1993 530,023 43,297,156
1992 510,770 42,443,509
1991 492,217 41,687,898
1990 474,274 40,746,268
1989 456,808 39,628,575
1988 439,651 38,480,649
1987 422,522 37,326,190
1986 404,728 36,180,515
1985 385,547 35,042,093
1984 364,899 33,892,788
1983 343,421 32,739,304
1982 322,216 31,615,339
1981 303,252 30,541,044
1980 288,644 29,518,857
1979 279,846 28,634,162
1978 276,531 27,869,507
1977 276,779 27,118,952
1976 281,031 26,395,450
1975 287,901 25,690,940
1974 294,953 24,989,108
1973 302,281 24,294,263
1972 309,468 23,609,456
1971 315,940 22,942,143
1970 320,803 22,279,984
1969 322,517 21,614,676
1968 318,849 20,957,287
1967 311,805 20,314,066
1966 304,859 19,690,087
1965 298,238 19,089,380
1964 291,942 18,511,361
1963 285,965 17,954,564
1962 280,286 17,418,522
1961 274,896 16,908,035
1960 269,807 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/equatorial-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Equatorial Guinea increased by 517,843 people (a 52.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Equatorial Guinea gained 489,889 people (a 32.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Equatorial Guinea was ranked 154th most populous country in 2006 and is 148th 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) Equatorial Guinea's population will grow by 58.1% to 3,158,891 people with a rank change from 148th to 140th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Equatorial Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.05M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Equatorial Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Equatorial Guinea South Africa
2100 0.45% 0.22%
2099 0.47% 0.22%
2098 0.48% 0.2%
2097 0.49% 0.21%
2096 0.52% 0.22%
2095 0.57% 0.24%
2094 0.57% 0.24%
2093 0.57% 0.24%
2092 0.54% 0.27%
2091 0.58% 0.25%
2090 0.65% 0.26%
2089 0.66% 0.26%
2088 0.65% 0.27%
2087 0.65% 0.27%
2086 0.67% 0.25%
2085 0.76% 0.27%
2084 0.72% 0.29%
2083 0.74% 0.29%
2082 0.78% 0.3%
2081 0.81% 0.3%
2080 0.87% 0.3%
2079 0.86% 0.31%
2078 0.89% 0.31%
2077 0.96% 0.3%
2076 0.97% 0.31%
2075 0.97% 0.32%
2074 0.97% 0.32%
2073 1% 0.32%
2072 1% 0.37%
2071 1.05% 0.38%
2070 1.06% 0.35%
2069 1.02% 0.36%
2068 1.06% 0.37%
2067 1.09% 0.39%
2066 1.14% 0.39%
2065 1.17% 0.42%
2064 1.15% 0.44%
2063 1.17% 0.44%
2062 1.2% 0.44%
2061 1.23% 0.46%
2060 1.29% 0.47%
2059 1.36% 0.49%
2058 1.34% 0.5%
2057 1.36% 0.5%
2056 1.41% 0.53%
2055 1.44% 0.54%
2054 1.44% 0.54%
2053 1.47% 0.56%
2052 1.47% 0.6%
2051 1.48% 0.6%
2050 1.5% 0.62%
2049 1.53% 0.62%
2048 1.53% 0.66%
2047 1.61% 0.68%
2046 1.68% 0.67%
2045 1.73% 0.68%
2044 1.74% 0.7%
2043 1.81% 0.71%
2042 1.82% 0.73%
2041 1.92% 0.73%
2040 1.92% 0.74%
2039 2.03% 0.76%
2038 2.02% 0.79%
2037 2.05% 0.8%
2036 2.07% 0.83%
2035 2.11% 0.85%
2034 2.1% 0.87%
2033 2.22% 0.9%
2032 2.2% 0.93%
2031 2.19% 0.94%
2030 2.21% 0.99%
2029 2.26% 1.03%
2028 2.32% 1.05%
2027 2.35% 1.06%
2026 2.4% 1.12%
2025 2.45% 1.19%
2024 2.43% 1.26%
2023 2.44% 1.34%
2022 2.54% 1.42%
2021 2.47% 1.55%
2020 2.77% 1.64%
2019 3.33% 1.66%
2018 3.46% 1.7%
2017 3.59% 0.66%
2016 3.73% 0.94%
2015 3.86% 2.03%
2014 3.98% 1.68%
2013 4.08% 1.67%
2012 4.16% 1.49%
2011 4.44% 1.24%
2010 4.7% 1.19%
2009 4.72% 1.2%
2008 4.68% 1.16%
2007 4.61% 1.06%
2006 4.54% 1.03%
2005 5.27% 1.02%
2004 6.14% 1.01%
2003 6.25% 1%
2002 6.42% 0.95%
2001 6.62% 0.86%
2000 5.41% 0.92%
1999 4.01% 1.1%
1998 3.98% 1.22%
1997 3.94% 1.21%
1996 3.89% 1.31%
1995 3.84% 1.22%
1994 3.8% 1.63%
1993 3.77% 2.01%
1992 3.77% 1.81%
1991 3.78% 2.31%
1990 3.82% 2.82%
1989 3.9% 2.98%
1988 4.05% 3.09%
1987 4.4% 3.17%
1986 4.98% 3.25%
1985 5.66% 3.39%
1984 6.25% 3.52%
1983 6.58% 3.56%
1982 6.25% 3.52%
1981 5.06% 3.46%
1980 3.14% 3.09%
1979 1.2% 2.74%
1978 -0.09% 2.77%
1977 -1.51% 2.74%
1976 -2.39% 2.74%
1975 -2.39% 2.81%
1974 -2.42% 2.86%
1973 -2.32% 2.9%
1972 -2.05% 2.91%
1971 -1.52% 2.97%
1970 -0.53% 3.08%
1969 1.15% 3.14%
1968 2.26% 3.17%
1967 2.28% 3.17%
1966 2.22% 3.15%
1965 2.16% 3.12%
1964 2.09% 3.1%
1963 2.03% 3.08%
1962 1.96% 3.02%
1961 1.89% 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/equatorial-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Equatorial Guinea grew by 2.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Equatorial Guinea South Africa
Current population
1998075
65683993
Population rank 148/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
11.7 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
36.1 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +123 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +44,967 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 30/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.3 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +3,812 +146,370
Net migration rank 53/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 248,930 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 106/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 13.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 52/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Equatorial Guinea
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Equatorial Guinea South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 3,812 - 146,370
2024 - 3,891 - 166,972
2023 40,140 3,997 602,793 228,222
2022 39,873 3,997 603,636 233,284
2021 39,160 6,493 456,411 458,246
2020 38,994 0 595,873 369,901
2019 38,894 14,695 652,130 331,124
2018 38,332 15,581 648,319 318,260
2017 37,740 16,399 645,975 343,146
2016 37,180 17,107 641,365 -879,235
2015 36,543 17,697 668,771 641,150
2014 35,889 18,058 674,754 272,697
2013 35,158 18,106 652,427 232,230
2012 34,347 17,860 643,723 264,091
2011 33,502 17,604 601,708 65,166
2010 32,368 22,027 566,834 68,563
2009 31,184 21,235 554,115 41,528
2008 29,941 19,925 595,332 36,869
2007 28,672 18,433 503,567 36,339
2006 27,404 16,889 487,584 33,159
2005 26,116 15,548 464,464 31,286
2004 24,666 28,578 442,540 58,924
2003 23,168 27,696 415,018 65,604
2002 21,744 27,198 430,926 50,313
2001 20,376 26,919 484,801 -60,793
2000 19,132 26,695 526,963 -136,794
1999 18,465 7,846 594,643 -126,011
1998 17,854 7,307 627,027 -82,722
1997 17,305 6,696 667,969 -98,181
1996 16,802 6,003 710,868 -193,007
1995 16,345 5,300 743,488 -98,403
1994 15,937 4,664 698,609 -268,849
1993 15,459 4,175 789,220 194,977
1992 15,010 3,867 794,415 -71,342
1991 14,581 3,642 827,296 -39,131
1990 14,158 3,511 835,421 259,718
1989 13,724 3,545 884,629 255,605
1988 13,266 3,777 909,221 246,382
1987 12,727 4,482 922,330 231,009
1986 12,061 6,317 903,644 234,378
1985 11,179 8,816 893,889 244,940
1984 10,076 11,221 869,011 290,789
1983 8,886 12,766 837,013 310,172
1982 8,182 12,568 807,550 293,195
1981 7,573 9,605 767,833 279,985
1980 7,142 4,903 738,415 258,127
1979 5,786 -235 716,541 56,323
1978 5,635 -4,553 694,341 62,121
1977 5,550 -7,131 680,929 63,739
1976 2,451 -9,377 675,011 27,333
1975 4,580 -11,398 667,862 38,809
1974 5,697 -12,983 658,438 38,518
1973 6,508 -13,875 651,596 41,125
1972 6,572 -13,576 638,754 38,163
1971 4,822 -10,760 624,761 32,961
1970 2,715 -6,499 605,102 61,514
1969 2,593 -2,237 590,794 73,225
1968 6,417 565 571,841 78,932
1967 6,135 974 553,741 81,932
1966 5,868 915 534,862 77,417
1965 5,618 837 506,632 82,514
1964 5,393 735 490,606 76,298
1963 5,192 632 473,821 72,844
1962 5,013 528 455,634 69,771
1961 4,858 384 437,851 57,728
1960 4,727 210 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/equatorial-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 77% of the population change in Equatorial Guinea is from natural causes (a gain of 382,745 people) and 23% is from migration (a gain of 114,024 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, 248,930 residents or 13.2% of the population were not native-born in Equatorial Guinea, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Equatorial Guinea
City Population
Malabo 297K
Bata 290K
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/equatorial-guinea/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.