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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Finland was 5,646,436 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Finland's population is 5,647,947 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.7 times bigger than Finland's.
  • Finland is ranked the 120th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for Finland vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Finland has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Finland has increased from 5.27M people to 5.65M (7.25% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Finland vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Finland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Finland South Africa
2100 4,629,053 94,734,082
2099 4,645,228 94,523,360
2098 4,661,258 94,316,049
2097 4,676,964 94,125,043
2096 4,692,260 93,927,246
2095 4,707,633 93,719,451
2094 4,722,751 93,494,697
2093 4,738,088 93,267,274
2092 4,753,259 93,041,793
2091 4,768,754 92,793,249
2090 4,784,445 92,561,159
2089 4,799,982 92,322,396
2088 4,815,528 92,080,212
2087 4,831,523 91,833,409
2086 4,847,503 91,581,639
2085 4,863,391 91,352,906
2084 4,878,695 91,106,961
2083 4,894,099 90,845,161
2082 4,909,902 90,583,188
2081 4,925,741 90,313,417
2080 4,941,601 90,039,857
2079 4,957,156 89,770,116
2078 4,972,238 89,494,440
2077 4,987,486 89,217,520
2076 5,002,755 88,954,522
2075 5,017,572 88,681,719
2074 5,032,306 88,397,221
2073 5,046,593 88,118,589
2072 5,060,464 87,835,051
2071 5,074,179 87,509,098
2070 5,087,802 87,178,463
2069 5,101,058 86,870,660
2068 5,114,493 86,558,000
2067 5,127,889 86,237,764
2066 5,141,202 85,904,801
2065 5,155,429 85,573,984
2064 5,169,525 85,214,686
2063 5,183,843 84,845,370
2062 5,198,043 84,473,236
2061 5,212,670 84,103,016
2060 5,227,697 83,719,266
2059 5,242,988 83,325,330
2058 5,257,844 82,918,226
2057 5,273,628 82,508,742
2056 5,289,765 82,098,320
2055 5,305,934 81,669,191
2054 5,321,736 81,227,019
2053 5,337,053 80,789,939
2052 5,352,244 80,338,877
2051 5,367,229 79,858,310
2050 5,381,479 79,383,784
2049 5,395,348 78,897,472
2048 5,408,876 78,409,829
2047 5,422,100 77,894,547
2046 5,434,914 77,369,819
2045 5,447,770 76,852,544
2044 5,460,322 76,330,046
2043 5,473,016 75,800,788
2042 5,485,319 75,264,885
2041 5,497,690 74,721,871
2040 5,509,866 74,179,185
2039 5,522,256 73,636,894
2038 5,534,448 73,079,976
2037 5,546,603 72,506,991
2036 5,558,413 71,930,701
2035 5,569,919 71,337,219
2034 5,580,966 70,737,692
2033 5,591,512 70,128,299
2032 5,601,550 69,502,726
2031 5,611,269 68,865,544
2030 5,620,291 68,221,143
2029 5,628,791 67,549,189
2028 5,636,422 66,860,631
2027 5,643,240 66,166,759
2026 5,647,947 65,473,024
2025 5,646,436 64,747,319
2024 5,619,911 64,007,187
2023 5,583,911 63,212,384
2022 5,556,106 62,378,410
2021 5,541,017 61,502,603
2020 5,529,543 60,562,381
2019 5,521,606 59,587,885
2018 5,515,525 58,613,001
2017 5,508,214 57,635,162
2016 5,495,303 57,259,551
2015 5,479,531 56,723,537
2014 5,461,512 55,594,838
2013 5,438,972 54,678,791
2012 5,413,971 53,782,567
2011 5,388,272 52,995,205
2010 5,363,352 52,344,051
2009 5,338,871 51,728,516
2008 5,313,399 51,114,599
2007 5,288,720 50,528,584
2006 5,266,268 49,998,277
2005 5,246,096 49,490,033
2004 5,228,172 48,991,421
2003 5,213,014 48,500,348
2002 5,200,598 48,019,415
2001 5,188,008 47,566,800
2000 5,176,209 47,159,719
1999 5,165,474 46,730,335
1998 5,153,498 46,223,880
1997 5,139,835 45,666,838
1996 5,124,573 45,123,018
1995 5,107,790 44,541,554
1994 5,088,333 44,004,139
1993 5,066,447 43,297,156
1992 5,041,992 42,443,509
1991 5,013,740 41,687,898
1990 4,986,431 40,746,268
1989 4,964,371 39,628,575
1988 4,946,481 38,480,649
1987 4,932,123 37,326,190
1986 4,918,154 36,180,515
1985 4,902,206 35,042,093
1984 4,881,803 33,892,788
1983 4,855,787 32,739,304
1982 4,826,933 31,615,339
1981 4,799,964 30,541,044
1980 4,779,535 29,518,857
1979 4,764,690 28,634,162
1978 4,752,528 27,869,507
1977 4,738,902 27,118,952
1976 4,725,664 26,395,450
1975 4,711,440 25,690,940
1974 4,690,574 24,989,108
1973 4,666,081 24,294,263
1972 4,639,657 23,609,456
1971 4,612,124 22,942,143
1970 4,606,307 22,279,984
1969 4,623,785 21,614,676
1968 4,626,469 20,957,287
1967 4,605,744 20,314,066
1966 4,580,869 19,690,087
1965 4,563,732 19,089,380
1964 4,548,543 18,511,361
1963 4,523,309 17,954,564
1962 4,491,443 17,418,522
1961 4,461,005 16,908,035
1960 4,429,634 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/finland/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Finland increased by 229,035 people (a 4.35% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Finland gained 152,644 people (a 2.78% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Finland was ranked 111th most populous country in 2006 and is 120th 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) Finland's population will shrink by 4.72% to 5,381,479 people with a rank change from 120th to 126th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Finland is projected to reach its peak in 2026 at 5.65M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Finland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Finland South Africa
2100 -0.35% 0.22%
2099 -0.34% 0.22%
2098 -0.34% 0.2%
2097 -0.33% 0.21%
2096 -0.33% 0.22%
2095 -0.32% 0.24%
2094 -0.32% 0.24%
2093 -0.32% 0.24%
2092 -0.32% 0.27%
2091 -0.33% 0.25%
2090 -0.32% 0.26%
2089 -0.32% 0.26%
2088 -0.33% 0.27%
2087 -0.33% 0.27%
2086 -0.33% 0.25%
2085 -0.31% 0.27%
2084 -0.31% 0.29%
2083 -0.32% 0.29%
2082 -0.32% 0.3%
2081 -0.32% 0.3%
2080 -0.31% 0.3%
2079 -0.3% 0.31%
2078 -0.31% 0.31%
2077 -0.31% 0.3%
2076 -0.3% 0.31%
2075 -0.29% 0.32%
2074 -0.28% 0.32%
2073 -0.27% 0.32%
2072 -0.27% 0.37%
2071 -0.27% 0.38%
2070 -0.26% 0.35%
2069 -0.26% 0.36%
2068 -0.26% 0.37%
2067 -0.26% 0.39%
2066 -0.28% 0.39%
2065 -0.27% 0.42%
2064 -0.28% 0.44%
2063 -0.27% 0.44%
2062 -0.28% 0.44%
2061 -0.29% 0.46%
2060 -0.29% 0.47%
2059 -0.28% 0.49%
2058 -0.3% 0.5%
2057 -0.31% 0.5%
2056 -0.3% 0.53%
2055 -0.3% 0.54%
2054 -0.29% 0.54%
2053 -0.28% 0.56%
2052 -0.28% 0.6%
2051 -0.26% 0.6%
2050 -0.26% 0.62%
2049 -0.25% 0.62%
2048 -0.24% 0.66%
2047 -0.24% 0.68%
2046 -0.24% 0.67%
2045 -0.23% 0.68%
2044 -0.23% 0.7%
2043 -0.22% 0.71%
2042 -0.23% 0.73%
2041 -0.22% 0.73%
2040 -0.22% 0.74%
2039 -0.22% 0.76%
2038 -0.22% 0.79%
2037 -0.21% 0.8%
2036 -0.21% 0.83%
2035 -0.2% 0.85%
2034 -0.19% 0.87%
2033 -0.18% 0.9%
2032 -0.17% 0.93%
2031 -0.16% 0.94%
2030 -0.15% 0.99%
2029 -0.14% 1.03%
2028 -0.12% 1.05%
2027 -0.08% 1.06%
2026 0.03% 1.12%
2025 0.47% 1.16%
2024 0.64% 1.26%
2023 0.5% 1.34%
2022 0.27% 1.42%
2021 0.21% 1.55%
2020 0.14% 1.64%
2019 0.11% 1.66%
2018 0.13% 1.7%
2017 0.23% 0.66%
2016 0.29% 0.94%
2015 0.33% 2.03%
2014 0.41% 1.68%
2013 0.46% 1.67%
2012 0.48% 1.49%
2011 0.46% 1.24%
2010 0.46% 1.19%
2009 0.48% 1.2%
2008 0.47% 1.16%
2007 0.43% 1.06%
2006 0.38% 1.03%
2005 0.34% 1.02%
2004 0.29% 1.01%
2003 0.24% 1%
2002 0.24% 0.95%
2001 0.23% 0.86%
2000 0.21% 0.92%
1999 0.23% 1.1%
1998 0.27% 1.22%
1997 0.3% 1.21%
1996 0.33% 1.31%
1995 0.38% 1.22%
1994 0.43% 1.63%
1993 0.49% 2.01%
1992 0.56% 1.81%
1991 0.55% 2.31%
1990 0.44% 2.82%
1989 0.36% 2.98%
1988 0.29% 3.09%
1987 0.28% 3.17%
1986 0.33% 3.25%
1985 0.42% 3.39%
1984 0.54% 3.52%
1983 0.6% 3.56%
1982 0.56% 3.52%
1981 0.43% 3.46%
1980 0.31% 3.09%
1979 0.26% 2.74%
1978 0.29% 2.77%
1977 0.28% 2.74%
1976 0.3% 2.74%
1975 0.44% 2.81%
1974 0.52% 2.86%
1973 0.57% 2.9%
1972 0.6% 2.91%
1971 0.13% 2.97%
1970 -0.38% 3.08%
1969 -0.06% 3.14%
1968 0.45% 3.17%
1967 0.54% 3.17%
1966 0.38% 3.15%
1965 0.33% 3.12%
1964 0.56% 3.1%
1963 0.71% 3.08%
1962 0.68% 3.02%
1961 0.71% 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/finland/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Finland grew by 0.47%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Finland South Africa
Current population
5647947
65829368
Population rank 120/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
19.9 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
12 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
8.99 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +73 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +26,525 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.47% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 130/197 91/197
One migration net change every
28.9 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +18,246 +146,370
Net migration rank 33/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 514,432 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 79/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 9.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 69/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Finland
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Finland South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 18,246 - 146,370
2024 -14,612 26,894 591,618 166,972
2023 -17,869 38,156 602,793 228,222
2022 -18,335 60,353 603,636 233,284
2021 -7,757 22,484 456,411 458,246
2020 -8,847 17,504 595,873 369,901
2019 -8,282 15,671 652,130 331,124
2018 -7,170 11,822 648,319 318,260
2017 -3,856 13,356 645,975 343,146
2016 -1,099 17,321 641,365 -879,235
2015 2,740 12,655 668,771 641,150
2014 4,915 15,915 674,754 272,697
2013 6,527 18,164 652,427 232,230
2012 7,579 17,894 643,723 264,091
2011 9,160 16,798 601,708 65,166
2010 10,191 14,080 566,834 68,563
2009 10,678 14,877 554,115 41,528
2008 10,627 15,626 595,332 36,869
2007 9,519 14,027 503,567 36,339
2006 11,059 10,820 487,584 33,159
2005 9,968 9,251 464,464 31,286
2004 9,933 6,956 442,540 58,924
2003 7,819 5,929 415,018 65,604
2002 6,241 5,255 430,926 50,313
2001 7,263 6,241 484,801 -60,793
2000 7,765 2,497 526,963 -136,794
1999 7,748 3,604 594,643 -126,011
1998 7,730 4,417 627,027 -82,722
1997 9,766 4,925 667,969 -98,181
1996 11,274 3,757 710,868 -193,007
1995 13,791 4,325 743,488 -98,403
1994 17,300 3,834 698,609 -268,849
1993 13,679 9,036 789,220 194,977
1992 16,639 9,356 794,415 -71,342
1991 16,044 14,515 827,296 -39,131
1990 15,458 8,920 835,421 259,718
1989 14,396 5,775 884,629 255,605
1988 14,344 1,765 909,221 246,382
1987 11,837 831 922,330 231,009
1986 13,279 1,491 903,644 234,378
1985 14,707 2,416 893,889 244,940
1984 20,015 3,972 869,011 290,789
1983 21,851 6,925 837,013 310,172
1982 22,686 7,109 807,550 293,195
1981 18,720 5,287 767,833 279,985
1980 18,640 -2,212 738,415 258,127
1979 19,535 -6,612 716,541 56,323
1978 20,436 -9,348 694,341 62,121
1977 21,799 -5,697 680,929 63,739
1976 21,738 -11,843 675,011 27,333
1975 21,673 -3,807 667,862 38,809
1974 17,824 5,891 658,438 38,518
1973 13,532 11,558 651,596 41,125
1972 14,847 12,613 638,754 38,163
1971 15,220 12,286 624,761 32,961
1970 20,268 -36,579 605,102 61,514
1969 21,732 -42,207 590,794 73,225
1968 28,684 -15,561 571,841 78,932
1967 33,622 -5,353 553,741 81,932
1966 34,356 -12,059 534,862 77,417
1965 33,771 -21,731 506,632 82,514
1964 38,208 -20,414 490,606 76,298
1963 40,258 -7,624 473,821 72,844
1962 38,627 -6,852 455,634 69,771
1961 41,487 -11,828 437,851 57,728
1960 42,082 -9,489 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 26.5% of the population change in Finland is from natural causes (a loss of 85,087 people) and 73.5% is from migration (a gain of 236,216 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, 514,432 residents or 9.2% of the population were not native-born in Finland, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Finland
City Population
Helsinki 694K
Espoo 326K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 217K
Turku 210K
Jyvaskyla 150K
Kuopio 127K
Lahti 122K
Pori 83K
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/finland/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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