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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 2.14 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 2.49% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Ethiopia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia South Africa
2100 371,078,260 94,734,082
2099 369,338,252 94,523,360
2098 367,513,542 94,316,049
2097 365,567,496 94,125,043
2096 363,536,294 93,927,246
2095 361,596,042 93,719,451
2094 359,531,317 93,494,697
2093 357,460,480 93,267,274
2092 355,389,829 93,041,793
2091 353,218,632 92,793,249
2090 350,960,021 92,561,159
2089 348,751,618 92,322,396
2088 346,517,326 92,080,212
2087 344,162,324 91,833,409
2086 341,671,994 91,581,639
2085 339,167,930 91,352,906
2084 336,649,520 91,106,961
2083 334,083,247 90,845,161
2082 331,401,460 90,583,188
2081 328,715,487 90,313,417
2080 326,013,981 90,039,857
2079 323,282,865 89,770,116
2078 320,422,535 89,494,440
2077 317,492,915 89,217,520
2076 314,518,328 88,954,522
2075 311,487,723 88,681,719
2074 308,416,133 88,397,221
2073 305,383,505 88,118,589
2072 302,258,564 87,835,051
2071 299,119,280 87,509,098
2070 295,963,235 87,178,463
2069 292,756,723 86,870,660
2068 289,522,748 86,558,000
2067 286,191,689 86,237,764
2066 282,905,709 85,904,801
2065 279,576,283 85,573,984
2064 276,197,958 85,214,686
2063 272,782,685 84,845,370
2062 269,340,926 84,473,236
2061 265,803,351 84,103,016
2060 262,269,354 83,719,266
2059 258,692,767 83,325,330
2058 255,205,644 82,918,226
2057 251,656,356 82,508,742
2056 248,002,497 82,098,320
2055 244,426,069 81,669,191
2054 240,794,405 81,227,019
2053 237,155,110 80,789,939
2052 233,479,314 80,338,877
2051 229,733,593 79,858,310
2050 226,055,085 79,383,784
2049 222,351,471 78,897,472
2048 218,627,197 78,409,829
2047 214,883,954 77,894,547
2046 211,161,780 77,369,819
2045 207,461,987 76,852,544
2044 203,749,820 76,330,046
2043 200,035,613 75,800,788
2042 196,351,202 75,264,885
2041 192,689,672 74,721,871
2040 189,023,384 74,179,185
2039 185,365,776 73,636,894
2038 181,733,067 73,079,976
2037 178,124,993 72,506,991
2036 174,515,366 71,930,701
2035 170,904,339 71,337,219
2034 167,316,305 70,737,692
2033 163,763,376 70,128,299
2032 160,167,364 69,502,726
2031 156,590,018 68,865,544
2030 153,023,174 68,221,143
2029 149,461,578 67,549,189
2028 145,944,350 66,860,631
2027 142,419,893 66,166,759
2026 138,930,724 65,473,024
2025 135,472,051 64,747,319
2024 132,059,767 64,007,187
2023 128,691,692 63,212,384
2022 125,384,287 62,378,410
2021 122,138,588 61,502,603
2020 118,917,671 60,562,381
2019 115,737,383 59,587,885
2018 112,664,152 58,613,001
2017 109,666,481 57,635,162
2016 106,718,162 57,259,551
2015 103,867,135 56,723,537
2014 101,115,610 55,594,838
2013 98,438,751 54,678,791
2012 95,798,767 53,782,567
2011 93,149,970 52,995,205
2010 90,538,514 52,344,051
2009 88,007,636 51,728,516
2008 85,543,668 51,114,599
2007 83,103,217 50,528,584
2006 80,703,490 49,998,277
2005 78,367,470 49,490,033
2004 76,077,206 48,991,421
2003 73,832,663 48,500,348
2002 71,635,517 48,019,415
2001 69,487,762 47,566,800
2000 67,411,494 47,159,719
1999 65,374,561 46,730,335
1998 63,363,524 46,223,880
1997 61,404,539 45,666,838
1996 59,467,635 45,123,018
1995 57,537,335 44,541,554
1994 55,611,508 44,004,139
1993 53,708,891 43,297,156
1992 51,853,747 42,443,509
1991 49,717,198 41,687,898
1990 47,609,755 40,746,268
1989 45,879,690 39,628,575
1988 44,150,825 38,480,649
1987 42,460,039 37,326,190
1986 41,037,656 36,180,515
1985 39,842,136 35,042,093
1984 38,735,722 33,892,788
1983 37,740,817 32,739,304
1982 36,701,290 31,615,339
1981 35,304,012 30,541,044
1980 34,428,514 29,518,857
1979 34,238,652 28,634,162
1978 33,734,592 27,869,507
1977 33,167,272 27,118,952
1976 32,534,418 26,395,450
1975 31,723,252 25,690,940
1974 30,957,273 24,989,108
1973 30,166,785 24,294,263
1972 29,374,608 23,609,456
1971 28,600,106 22,942,143
1970 27,829,128 22,279,984
1969 27,072,571 21,614,676
1968 26,337,930 20,957,287
1967 25,620,276 20,314,066
1966 24,952,689 19,690,087
1965 24,310,612 19,089,380
1964 23,666,548 18,511,361
1963 23,051,637 17,954,564
1962 22,465,126 17,418,522
1961 21,906,102 16,908,035
1960 21,376,693 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia South Africa
2100 0.47% 0.22%
2099 0.5% 0.22%
2098 0.53% 0.2%
2097 0.56% 0.21%
2096 0.54% 0.22%
2095 0.57% 0.24%
2094 0.58% 0.24%
2093 0.58% 0.24%
2092 0.61% 0.27%
2091 0.64% 0.25%
2090 0.63% 0.26%
2089 0.64% 0.26%
2088 0.68% 0.27%
2087 0.73% 0.27%
2086 0.74% 0.25%
2085 0.75% 0.27%
2084 0.77% 0.29%
2083 0.81% 0.29%
2082 0.82% 0.3%
2081 0.83% 0.3%
2080 0.84% 0.3%
2079 0.89% 0.31%
2078 0.92% 0.31%
2077 0.95% 0.3%
2076 0.97% 0.31%
2075 1% 0.32%
2074 0.99% 0.32%
2073 1.03% 0.32%
2072 1.05% 0.37%
2071 1.07% 0.38%
2070 1.1% 0.35%
2069 1.12% 0.36%
2068 1.16% 0.37%
2067 1.16% 0.39%
2066 1.19% 0.39%
2065 1.22% 0.42%
2064 1.25% 0.44%
2063 1.28% 0.44%
2062 1.33% 0.44%
2061 1.35% 0.46%
2060 1.38% 0.47%
2059 1.37% 0.49%
2058 1.41% 0.5%
2057 1.47% 0.5%
2056 1.46% 0.53%
2055 1.51% 0.54%
2054 1.53% 0.54%
2053 1.57% 0.56%
2052 1.63% 0.6%
2051 1.63% 0.6%
2050 1.67% 0.62%
2049 1.7% 0.62%
2048 1.74% 0.66%
2047 1.76% 0.68%
2046 1.78% 0.67%
2045 1.82% 0.68%
2044 1.86% 0.7%
2043 1.88% 0.71%
2042 1.9% 0.73%
2041 1.94% 0.73%
2040 1.97% 0.74%
2039 2% 0.76%
2038 2.03% 0.79%
2037 2.07% 0.8%
2036 2.11% 0.83%
2035 2.14% 0.85%
2034 2.17% 0.87%
2033 2.25% 0.9%
2032 2.28% 0.93%
2031 2.33% 0.94%
2030 2.38% 0.99%
2029 2.41% 1.03%
2028 2.47% 1.05%
2027 2.51% 1.06%
2026 2.55% 1.12%
2025 2.58% 1.16%
2024 2.62% 1.26%
2023 2.64% 1.34%
2022 2.66% 1.42%
2021 2.71% 1.55%
2020 2.75% 1.64%
2019 2.73% 1.66%
2018 2.73% 1.7%
2017 2.76% 0.66%
2016 2.74% 0.94%
2015 2.72% 2.03%
2014 2.72% 1.68%
2013 2.76% 1.67%
2012 2.84% 1.49%
2011 2.88% 1.24%
2010 2.88% 1.19%
2009 2.88% 1.2%
2008 2.94% 1.16%
2007 2.97% 1.06%
2006 2.98% 1.03%
2005 3.01% 1.02%
2004 3.04% 1.01%
2003 3.07% 1%
2002 3.09% 0.95%
2001 3.08% 0.86%
2000 3.12% 0.92%
1999 3.17% 1.1%
1998 3.19% 1.22%
1997 3.26% 1.21%
1996 3.35% 1.31%
1995 3.46% 1.22%
1994 3.54% 1.63%
1993 3.58% 2.01%
1992 4.3% 1.81%
1991 4.43% 2.31%
1990 3.77% 2.82%
1989 3.92% 2.98%
1988 3.98% 3.09%
1987 3.47% 3.17%
1986 3% 3.25%
1985 2.86% 3.39%
1984 2.64% 3.52%
1983 2.83% 3.56%
1982 3.96% 3.52%
1981 2.54% 3.46%
1980 0.55% 3.09%
1979 1.49% 2.74%
1978 1.71% 2.77%
1977 1.95% 2.74%
1976 2.56% 2.74%
1975 2.47% 2.81%
1974 2.62% 2.86%
1973 2.7% 2.9%
1972 2.71% 2.91%
1971 2.77% 2.97%
1970 2.79% 3.08%
1969 2.79% 3.14%
1968 2.8% 3.17%
1967 2.68% 3.17%
1966 2.64% 3.15%
1965 2.72% 3.12%
1964 2.67% 3.1%
1963 2.61% 3.08%
1962 2.55% 3.02%
1961 2.48% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia South Africa
Current population
140722974
65829368
Population rank 10/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.79%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
7.59 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
40.6 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 91/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 +146,370
Net migration rank 31/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 146,370
2024 3,379,409 30,069 591,618 166,972
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 602,793 228,222
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 603,636 233,284
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 456,411 458,246
2020 3,199,718 38,866 595,873 369,901
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 652,130 331,124
2018 3,015,231 9,302 648,319 318,260
2017 2,899,143 71,766 645,975 343,146
2016 2,809,889 115,823 641,365 -879,235
2015 2,713,529 62,785 668,771 641,150
2014 2,623,647 103,122 674,754 272,697
2013 2,546,020 80,955 652,427 232,230
2012 2,533,398 119,517 643,723 264,091
2011 2,527,811 116,793 601,708 65,166
2010 2,498,048 80,213 566,834 68,563
2009 2,467,118 16,315 554,115 41,528
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 595,332 36,869
2007 2,436,753 -381 503,567 36,339
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 487,584 33,159
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 464,464 31,286
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 442,540 58,924
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 415,018 65,604
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 430,926 50,313
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 484,801 -60,793
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 526,963 -136,794
1999 2,010,987 29,142 594,643 -126,011
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 627,027 -82,722
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 667,969 -98,181
1996 1,896,364 41,456 710,868 -193,007
1995 1,831,068 91,727 743,488 -98,403
1994 1,788,133 140,715 698,609 -268,849
1993 1,734,851 141,545 789,220 194,977
1992 1,673,839 160,106 794,415 -71,342
1991 1,579,416 859,737 827,296 -39,131
1990 1,479,663 296,014 835,421 259,718
1989 1,441,769 242,614 884,629 255,605
1988 1,393,356 379,966 909,221 246,382
1987 1,356,853 251,387 922,330 231,009
1986 1,050,277 186,227 903,644 234,378
1985 997,050 157,476 893,889 244,940
1984 920,670 137,632 869,011 290,789
1983 863,472 68,022 837,013 310,172
1982 1,080,853 66,702 807,550 293,195
1981 1,018,838 628,135 767,833 279,985
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 738,415 258,127
1979 987,203 -711,455 716,541 56,323
1978 943,388 -210,991 694,341 62,121
1977 929,381 -527,133 680,929 63,739
1976 899,577 -36,125 675,011 27,333
1975 801,425 -42,540 667,862 38,809
1974 777,306 -4,232 658,438 38,518
1973 807,535 347 651,596 41,125
1972 779,808 -3,375 638,754 38,163
1971 787,047 -14,510 624,761 32,961
1970 760,821 8,589 605,102 61,514
1969 736,428 7,258 590,794 73,225
1968 715,602 9,992 571,841 78,932
1967 695,283 14,437 553,741 81,932
1966 616,281 9,160 534,862 77,417
1965 642,359 16,348 506,632 82,514
1964 618,667 10,749 490,606 76,298
1963 590,998 9,418 473,821 72,844
1962 563,650 8,960 455,634 69,771
1961 538,518 6,938 437,851 57,728
1960 511,694 1,696 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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