Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Gabon was 2,538,952 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gabon's population is 2,663,339 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 24.7 times bigger than Gabon's.
  • Gabon is ranked the 141st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.03% for Gabon vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Gabon has had an average growth rate of +2.61% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Gabon has increased from 1.51M people to 2.66M (76.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Gabon vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Gabon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gabon South Africa
2100 6,955,864 94,767,727
2099 6,912,052 94,556,931
2098 6,867,857 94,349,546
2097 6,822,087 94,158,472
2096 6,775,495 93,960,605
2095 6,727,815 93,752,736
2094 6,680,075 93,527,902
2093 6,631,425 93,300,398
2092 6,582,261 93,074,837
2091 6,532,342 92,826,204
2090 6,481,491 92,594,033
2089 6,429,956 92,355,184
2088 6,376,859 92,112,914
2087 6,323,194 91,866,024
2086 6,269,178 91,614,165
2085 6,215,121 91,385,350
2084 6,160,019 91,139,318
2083 6,103,820 90,877,425
2082 6,046,995 90,615,359
2081 5,989,415 90,345,492
2080 5,931,520 90,071,835
2079 5,873,052 89,801,998
2078 5,814,259 89,526,224
2077 5,754,857 89,249,206
2076 5,695,764 88,986,114
2075 5,636,043 88,713,215
2074 5,576,620 88,428,616
2073 5,516,502 88,149,885
2072 5,456,238 87,866,246
2071 5,395,666 87,540,177
2070 5,335,269 87,209,425
2069 5,274,817 86,901,512
2068 5,214,405 86,588,742
2067 5,153,427 86,268,392
2066 5,092,586 85,935,310
2065 5,031,764 85,604,376
2064 4,970,757 85,244,950
2063 4,909,630 84,875,503
2062 4,848,693 84,503,237
2061 4,787,706 84,132,885
2060 4,726,341 83,748,999
2059 4,664,287 83,354,923
2058 4,602,087 82,947,675
2057 4,540,068 82,538,045
2056 4,477,242 82,127,477
2055 4,414,477 81,698,196
2054 4,350,938 81,255,867
2053 4,287,630 80,818,632
2052 4,224,256 80,367,409
2051 4,160,459 79,886,672
2050 4,096,708 79,411,977
2049 4,032,976 78,925,493
2048 3,968,977 78,437,677
2047 3,904,724 77,922,211
2046 3,840,333 77,397,298
2045 3,775,786 76,879,838
2044 3,711,691 76,357,155
2043 3,647,956 75,827,709
2042 3,584,695 75,291,615
2041 3,521,560 74,748,408
2040 3,458,896 74,205,530
2039 3,397,011 73,663,047
2038 3,335,835 73,105,930
2037 3,275,298 72,532,742
2036 3,215,119 71,956,247
2035 3,155,791 71,362,555
2034 3,097,371 70,762,815
2033 3,039,514 70,153,205
2032 2,982,347 69,527,410
2031 2,925,690 68,890,002
2030 2,869,476 68,245,372
2029 2,813,855 67,573,179
2028 2,758,554 66,884,377
2027 2,703,425 66,190,258
2026 2,648,476 65,496,277
2025 2,593,715 64,770,314
2024 2,538,952 64,007,187
2023 2,484,789 63,212,384
2022 2,430,747 62,378,410
2021 2,376,722 61,502,603
2020 2,322,539 60,562,381
2019 2,267,706 59,587,885
2018 2,212,318 58,613,001
2017 2,156,900 57,635,162
2016 2,100,306 57,259,551
2015 2,040,989 56,723,537
2014 1,978,399 55,594,838
2013 1,913,059 54,678,791
2012 1,846,889 53,782,567
2011 1,781,985 52,995,205
2010 1,719,879 52,344,051
2009 1,661,556 51,728,516
2008 1,607,175 51,114,599
2007 1,556,237 50,528,584
2006 1,508,337 49,998,277
2005 1,463,495 49,490,033
2004 1,421,609 48,991,421
2003 1,382,350 48,500,348
2002 1,345,135 48,019,415
2001 1,309,589 47,566,800
2000 1,275,572 47,159,719
1999 1,243,016 46,730,335
1998 1,211,736 46,223,880
1997 1,181,439 45,666,838
1996 1,152,015 45,123,018
1995 1,123,213 44,541,554
1994 1,094,720 44,004,139
1993 1,066,405 43,297,156
1992 1,038,380 42,443,509
1991 1,010,818 41,687,898
1990 983,734 40,746,268
1989 957,138 39,628,575
1988 931,020 38,480,649
1987 905,479 37,326,190
1986 880,705 36,180,515
1985 856,726 35,042,093
1984 833,501 33,892,788
1983 811,005 32,739,304
1982 789,286 31,615,339
1981 768,385 30,541,044
1980 748,389 29,518,857
1979 729,375 28,634,162
1978 711,245 27,869,507
1977 693,984 27,118,952
1976 677,628 26,395,450
1975 662,197 25,690,940
1974 647,691 24,989,108
1973 633,995 24,294,263
1972 620,960 23,609,456
1971 608,348 22,942,143
1970 595,846 22,279,984
1969 583,276 21,614,676
1968 572,257 20,957,287
1967 563,108 20,314,066
1966 554,463 19,690,087
1965 546,308 19,089,380
1964 538,657 18,511,361
1963 531,452 17,954,564
1962 524,649 17,418,522
1961 518,266 16,908,035
1960 512,316 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/gabon/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Gabon increased by 591,969 people (a 39.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Gabon gained 563,033 people (a 26.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Gabon was ranked 147th most populous country in 2006 and is 141st 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) Gabon's population will grow by 53.8% to 4,096,708 people with a rank change from 141st to 133rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Gabon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 6.96M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Gabon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gabon South Africa
2100 0.63% 0.22%
2099 0.64% 0.22%
2098 0.67% 0.2%
2097 0.69% 0.21%
2096 0.71% 0.22%
2095 0.71% 0.24%
2094 0.73% 0.24%
2093 0.75% 0.24%
2092 0.76% 0.27%
2091 0.78% 0.25%
2090 0.8% 0.26%
2089 0.83% 0.26%
2088 0.85% 0.27%
2087 0.86% 0.27%
2086 0.87% 0.25%
2085 0.89% 0.27%
2084 0.92% 0.29%
2083 0.94% 0.29%
2082 0.96% 0.3%
2081 0.98% 0.3%
2080 1% 0.3%
2079 1.01% 0.31%
2078 1.03% 0.31%
2077 1.04% 0.3%
2076 1.06% 0.31%
2075 1.07% 0.32%
2074 1.09% 0.32%
2073 1.1% 0.32%
2072 1.12% 0.37%
2071 1.13% 0.38%
2070 1.15% 0.35%
2069 1.16% 0.36%
2068 1.18% 0.37%
2067 1.19% 0.39%
2066 1.21% 0.39%
2065 1.23% 0.42%
2064 1.25% 0.44%
2063 1.26% 0.44%
2062 1.27% 0.44%
2061 1.3% 0.46%
2060 1.33% 0.47%
2059 1.35% 0.49%
2058 1.37% 0.5%
2057 1.4% 0.5%
2056 1.42% 0.53%
2055 1.46% 0.54%
2054 1.48% 0.54%
2053 1.5% 0.56%
2052 1.53% 0.6%
2051 1.56% 0.6%
2050 1.58% 0.62%
2049 1.61% 0.62%
2048 1.65% 0.66%
2047 1.68% 0.68%
2046 1.71% 0.67%
2045 1.73% 0.68%
2044 1.75% 0.7%
2043 1.76% 0.71%
2042 1.79% 0.73%
2041 1.81% 0.73%
2040 1.82% 0.74%
2039 1.83% 0.76%
2038 1.85% 0.79%
2037 1.87% 0.8%
2036 1.88% 0.83%
2035 1.89% 0.85%
2034 1.9% 0.87%
2033 1.92% 0.9%
2032 1.94% 0.93%
2031 1.96% 0.94%
2030 1.98% 0.99%
2029 2% 1.03%
2028 2.04% 1.05%
2027 2.07% 1.06%
2026 2.11% 1.12%
2025 2.16% 1.19%
2024 2.18% 1.26%
2023 2.22% 1.34%
2022 2.27% 1.42%
2021 2.33% 1.55%
2020 2.42% 1.64%
2019 2.5% 1.66%
2018 2.57% 1.7%
2017 2.69% 0.66%
2016 2.91% 0.94%
2015 3.16% 2.03%
2014 3.42% 1.68%
2013 3.58% 1.67%
2012 3.64% 1.49%
2011 3.61% 1.24%
2010 3.51% 1.19%
2009 3.38% 1.2%
2008 3.27% 1.16%
2007 3.18% 1.06%
2006 3.06% 1.03%
2005 2.95% 1.02%
2004 2.84% 1.01%
2003 2.77% 1%
2002 2.71% 0.95%
2001 2.67% 0.86%
2000 2.62% 0.92%
1999 2.58% 1.1%
1998 2.56% 1.22%
1997 2.55% 1.21%
1996 2.56% 1.31%
1995 2.6% 1.22%
1994 2.66% 1.63%
1993 2.7% 2.01%
1992 2.73% 1.81%
1991 2.75% 2.31%
1990 2.78% 2.82%
1989 2.81% 2.98%
1988 2.82% 3.09%
1987 2.81% 3.17%
1986 2.8% 3.25%
1985 2.79% 3.39%
1984 2.77% 3.52%
1983 2.75% 3.56%
1982 2.72% 3.52%
1981 2.67% 3.46%
1980 2.61% 3.09%
1979 2.55% 2.74%
1978 2.49% 2.77%
1977 2.41% 2.74%
1976 2.33% 2.74%
1975 2.24% 2.81%
1974 2.16% 2.86%
1973 2.1% 2.9%
1972 2.07% 2.91%
1971 2.1% 2.97%
1970 2.16% 3.08%
1969 1.93% 3.14%
1968 1.62% 3.17%
1967 1.56% 3.17%
1966 1.49% 3.15%
1965 1.42% 3.12%
1964 1.36% 3.1%
1963 1.3% 3.08%
1962 1.23% 3.02%
1961 1.16% 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/gabon/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Gabon grew by 2.18%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Gabon South Africa
Current population
2663339
65683993
Population rank 141/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
9.7 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
7.65 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
33.7 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +148 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +54,163 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.18% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 44/197 85/197
One migration net change every
7.87 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,116 +146,370
Net migration rank 62/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 449,746 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 84/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 17.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 34/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gabon
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gabon South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,116 - 146,370
2024 - 1,105 - 166,972
2023 53,167 987 602,793 228,222
2022 52,944 987 603,636 233,284
2021 52,611 1,503 456,411 458,246
2020 52,745 1,506 595,873 369,901
2019 53,185 2,233 652,130 331,124
2018 52,476 2,886 648,319 318,260
2017 51,455 4,013 645,975 343,146
2016 50,321 7,398 641,365 -879,235
2015 48,876 12,041 668,771 641,150
2014 47,704 16,565 674,754 272,697
2013 46,829 19,587 652,427 232,230
2012 45,941 19,973 643,723 264,091
2011 44,922 18,967 601,708 65,166
2010 43,061 17,274 566,834 68,563
2009 41,037 15,277 554,115 41,528
2008 39,002 13,441 595,332 36,869
2007 37,394 12,045 503,567 36,339
2006 35,984 10,382 487,584 33,159
2005 34,766 8,555 464,464 31,286
2004 33,615 6,830 442,540 58,924
2003 32,633 5,434 415,018 65,604
2002 31,777 4,582 430,926 50,313
2001 30,941 3,801 484,801 -60,793
2000 30,210 3,086 526,963 -136,794
1999 29,330 2,480 594,643 -126,011
1998 28,697 2,055 627,027 -82,722
1997 28,053 1,786 667,969 -98,181
1996 27,450 1,555 710,868 -193,007
1995 27,290 1,314 743,488 -98,403
1994 27,271 1,110 698,609 -268,849
1993 27,235 1,009 789,220 194,977
1992 26,810 990 794,415 -71,342
1991 26,334 990 827,296 -39,131
1990 25,858 990 835,421 259,718
1989 25,359 990 884,629 255,605
1988 24,888 990 909,221 246,382
1987 24,212 990 922,330 231,009
1986 23,362 990 903,644 234,378
1985 22,617 990 893,889 244,940
1984 21,851 990 869,011 290,789
1983 21,162 990 837,013 310,172
1982 20,292 990 807,550 293,195
1981 19,528 990 767,833 279,985
1980 18,503 990 738,415 258,127
1979 17,553 990 716,541 56,323
1978 16,714 990 694,341 62,121
1977 15,842 972 680,929 63,739
1976 14,998 899 675,011 27,333
1975 14,162 792 667,862 38,809
1974 13,381 680 658,438 38,518
1973 12,731 608 651,596 41,125
1972 12,095 639 638,754 38,163
1971 11,357 1,130 624,761 32,961
1970 10,635 1,882 605,102 61,514
1969 9,969 2,650 590,794 73,225
1968 9,417 0 571,841 78,932
1967 8,883 0 553,741 81,932
1966 8,410 0 534,862 77,417
1965 7,902 0 506,632 82,514
1964 7,402 0 490,606 76,298
1963 7,001 0 473,821 72,844
1962 6,609 0 455,634 69,771
1961 6,161 0 437,851 57,728
1960 5,732 0 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.1% of the population change in Gabon is from natural causes (a gain of 515,484 people) and 8.86% is from migration (a gain of 50,119 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, 449,746 residents or 17.7% of the population were not native-born in Gabon, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Gabon
City Population
Libreville 899K
Port-Gentil 155K
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/gabon/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.