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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Germany was 83,491,249 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Germany's population is 82,830,814 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Germany's population is 1.26 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Germany is ranked the 19th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.79% of the world: 1% for Germany vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Germany has had an average growth rate of +0.28% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Germany has increased from 82.4M people to 82.8M (0.55% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Germany vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Germany
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Germany South Africa
2100 70,146,161 94,734,082
2099 70,173,117 94,523,360
2098 70,190,154 94,316,049
2097 70,232,280 94,125,043
2096 70,263,255 93,927,246
2095 70,283,735 93,719,451
2094 70,302,573 93,494,697
2093 70,323,445 93,267,274
2092 70,348,937 93,041,793
2091 70,395,388 92,793,249
2090 70,457,276 92,561,159
2089 70,511,311 92,322,396
2088 70,569,930 92,080,212
2087 70,652,555 91,833,409
2086 70,750,166 91,581,639
2085 70,845,939 91,352,906
2084 70,941,592 91,106,961
2083 71,048,352 90,845,161
2082 71,151,552 90,583,188
2081 71,265,511 90,313,417
2080 71,391,537 90,039,857
2079 71,525,977 89,770,116
2078 71,666,350 89,494,440
2077 71,822,464 89,217,520
2076 71,979,354 88,954,522
2075 72,113,812 88,681,719
2074 72,269,519 88,397,221
2073 72,429,361 88,118,589
2072 72,580,006 87,835,051
2071 72,741,929 87,509,098
2070 72,889,095 87,178,463
2069 73,053,471 86,870,660
2068 73,219,511 86,558,000
2067 73,404,631 86,237,764
2066 73,597,022 85,904,801
2065 73,789,056 85,573,984
2064 73,990,123 85,214,686
2063 74,200,211 84,845,370
2062 74,428,152 84,473,236
2061 74,656,161 84,103,016
2060 74,909,139 83,719,266
2059 75,164,141 83,325,330
2058 75,438,769 82,918,226
2057 75,716,088 82,508,742
2056 75,990,472 82,098,320
2055 76,276,550 81,669,191
2054 76,561,146 81,227,019
2053 76,832,587 80,789,939
2052 77,077,503 80,338,877
2051 77,322,326 79,858,310
2050 77,564,502 79,383,784
2049 77,809,519 78,897,472
2048 78,059,456 78,409,829
2047 78,290,624 77,894,547
2046 78,514,805 77,369,819
2045 78,740,357 76,852,544
2044 78,965,486 76,330,046
2043 79,180,563 75,800,788
2042 79,374,934 75,264,885
2041 79,569,383 74,721,871
2040 79,782,613 74,179,185
2039 80,001,183 73,636,894
2038 80,225,718 73,079,976
2037 80,442,136 72,506,991
2036 80,673,787 71,930,701
2035 80,890,243 71,337,219
2034 81,094,641 70,737,692
2033 81,319,735 70,128,299
2032 81,537,613 69,502,726
2031 81,772,282 68,865,544
2030 81,989,677 68,221,143
2029 82,216,381 67,549,189
2028 82,432,092 66,860,631
2027 82,638,983 66,166,759
2026 82,830,814 65,473,024
2025 83,491,249 64,747,319
2024 83,516,593 64,007,187
2023 83,287,273 63,212,384
2022 83,177,813 62,378,410
2021 83,196,078 61,502,603
2020 83,160,871 60,562,381
2019 83,092,962 59,587,885
2018 82,905,782 58,613,001
2017 82,657,002 57,635,162
2016 82,348,669 57,259,551
2015 81,686,611 56,723,537
2014 80,982,500 55,594,838
2013 80,645,605 54,678,791
2012 80,425,823 53,782,567
2011 80,274,983 52,995,205
2010 81,776,930 52,344,051
2009 81,902,307 51,728,516
2008 82,110,097 51,114,599
2007 82,266,372 50,528,584
2006 82,376,451 49,998,277
2005 82,469,422 49,490,033
2004 82,516,260 48,991,421
2003 82,534,176 48,500,348
2002 82,488,495 48,019,415
2001 82,349,925 47,566,800
2000 82,211,508 47,159,719
1999 82,100,243 46,730,335
1998 82,047,195 46,223,880
1997 82,034,771 45,666,838
1996 81,914,831 45,123,018
1995 81,678,051 44,541,554
1994 81,438,348 44,004,139
1993 81,156,363 43,297,156
1992 80,624,598 42,443,509
1991 80,013,896 41,687,898
1990 79,433,029 40,746,268
1989 78,751,283 39,628,575
1988 78,144,619 38,480,649
1987 77,839,920 37,326,190
1986 77,720,436 36,180,515
1985 77,684,873 35,042,093
1984 77,858,685 33,892,788
1983 78,128,282 32,739,304
1982 78,333,366 31,615,339
1981 78,407,907 30,541,044
1980 78,288,576 29,518,857
1979 78,126,350 28,634,162
1978 78,091,820 27,869,507
1977 78,159,814 27,118,952
1976 78,336,950 26,395,450
1975 78,673,554 25,690,940
1974 78,967,433 24,989,108
1973 78,936,666 24,294,263
1972 78,688,452 23,609,456
1971 78,312,842 22,942,143
1970 78,169,289 22,279,984
1969 77,909,682 21,614,676
1968 77,294,314 20,957,287
1967 76,951,336 20,314,066
1966 76,600,311 19,690,087
1965 75,963,695 19,089,380
1964 75,318,337 18,511,361
1963 74,714,353 17,954,564
1962 74,025,784 17,418,522
1961 73,377,632 16,908,035
1960 72,814,900 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/germany/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Germany decreased by 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Germany gained 482,145 people (a 0.59% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Germany was ranked 14th most populous country in 2006 and is 19th 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) Germany's population will shrink by 6.36% to 77,564,502 people with a rank change from 19th to 24th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Germany's population already peaked in 2024 at 83.5M people and is projected to decrease to 70.1M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Germany
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Germany South Africa
2100 -0.04% 0.22%
2099 -0.02% 0.22%
2098 -0.06% 0.2%
2097 -0.04% 0.21%
2096 -0.03% 0.22%
2095 -0.03% 0.24%
2094 -0.03% 0.24%
2093 -0.04% 0.24%
2092 -0.07% 0.27%
2091 -0.09% 0.25%
2090 -0.08% 0.26%
2089 -0.08% 0.26%
2088 -0.12% 0.27%
2087 -0.14% 0.27%
2086 -0.14% 0.25%
2085 -0.13% 0.27%
2084 -0.15% 0.29%
2083 -0.15% 0.29%
2082 -0.16% 0.3%
2081 -0.18% 0.3%
2080 -0.19% 0.3%
2079 -0.2% 0.31%
2078 -0.22% 0.31%
2077 -0.22% 0.3%
2076 -0.19% 0.31%
2075 -0.22% 0.32%
2074 -0.22% 0.32%
2073 -0.21% 0.32%
2072 -0.22% 0.37%
2071 -0.2% 0.38%
2070 -0.23% 0.35%
2069 -0.23% 0.36%
2068 -0.25% 0.37%
2067 -0.26% 0.39%
2066 -0.26% 0.39%
2065 -0.27% 0.42%
2064 -0.28% 0.44%
2063 -0.31% 0.44%
2062 -0.31% 0.44%
2061 -0.34% 0.46%
2060 -0.34% 0.47%
2059 -0.36% 0.49%
2058 -0.37% 0.5%
2057 -0.36% 0.5%
2056 -0.38% 0.53%
2055 -0.37% 0.54%
2054 -0.35% 0.54%
2053 -0.32% 0.56%
2052 -0.32% 0.6%
2051 -0.31% 0.6%
2050 -0.31% 0.62%
2049 -0.32% 0.62%
2048 -0.3% 0.66%
2047 -0.29% 0.68%
2046 -0.29% 0.67%
2045 -0.29% 0.68%
2044 -0.27% 0.7%
2043 -0.24% 0.71%
2042 -0.24% 0.73%
2041 -0.27% 0.73%
2040 -0.27% 0.74%
2039 -0.28% 0.76%
2038 -0.27% 0.79%
2037 -0.29% 0.8%
2036 -0.27% 0.83%
2035 -0.25% 0.85%
2034 -0.28% 0.87%
2033 -0.27% 0.9%
2032 -0.29% 0.93%
2031 -0.27% 0.94%
2030 -0.28% 0.99%
2029 -0.26% 1.03%
2028 -0.25% 1.05%
2027 -0.23% 1.06%
2026 -0.79% 1.12%
2025 -0.03% 1.16%
2024 0.28% 1.26%
2023 0.13% 1.34%
2022 -0.02% 1.42%
2021 0.04% 1.55%
2020 0.08% 1.64%
2019 0.23% 1.66%
2018 0.3% 1.7%
2017 0.37% 0.66%
2016 0.81% 0.94%
2015 0.87% 2.03%
2014 0.42% 1.68%
2013 0.27% 1.67%
2012 0.19% 1.49%
2011 -1.84% 1.24%
2010 -0.15% 1.19%
2009 -0.25% 1.2%
2008 -0.19% 1.16%
2007 -0.13% 1.06%
2006 -0.11% 1.03%
2005 -0.06% 1.02%
2004 -0.02% 1.01%
2003 0.06% 1%
2002 0.17% 0.95%
2001 0.17% 0.86%
2000 0.14% 0.92%
1999 0.06% 1.1%
1998 0.02% 1.22%
1997 0.15% 1.21%
1996 0.29% 1.31%
1995 0.29% 1.22%
1994 0.35% 1.63%
1993 0.66% 2.01%
1992 0.76% 1.81%
1991 0.73% 2.31%
1990 0.87% 2.82%
1989 0.78% 2.98%
1988 0.39% 3.09%
1987 0.15% 3.17%
1986 0.05% 3.25%
1985 -0.22% 3.39%
1984 -0.35% 3.52%
1983 -0.26% 3.56%
1982 -0.1% 3.52%
1981 0.15% 3.46%
1980 0.21% 3.09%
1979 0.04% 2.74%
1978 -0.09% 2.77%
1977 -0.23% 2.74%
1976 -0.43% 2.74%
1975 -0.37% 2.81%
1974 0.04% 2.86%
1973 0.32% 2.9%
1972 0.48% 2.91%
1971 0.18% 2.97%
1970 0.33% 3.08%
1969 0.8% 3.14%
1968 0.45% 3.17%
1967 0.46% 3.17%
1966 0.84% 3.15%
1965 0.86% 3.12%
1964 0.81% 3.1%
1963 0.93% 3.08%
1962 0.88% 3.02%
1961 0.77% 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/germany/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Germany declined by 0.03%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Germany South Africa
Current population
82830814
65829368
Population rank 19/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1% 0.79%
One net population change
20.8 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
46.6 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
31.2 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -69 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -25,344 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.03% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 159/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.58 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -334,072 +146,370
Net migration rank 192/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 16,750,084 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 2/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 19.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 31/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Germany
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Germany South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -334,072 - 146,370
2024 -334,066 36,954 591,618 166,972
2023 -333,149 609,553 602,793 228,222
2022 -324,394 981,552 603,636 233,284
2021 -224,629 310,264 456,411 458,246
2020 -216,218 203,468 595,873 369,901
2019 -157,877 319,082 652,130 331,124
2018 -165,812 403,908 648,319 318,260
2017 -148,783 452,988 645,975 343,146
2016 -123,523 517,480 641,365 -879,235
2015 -187,879 1,175,283 668,771 641,150
2014 -153,866 592,338 674,754 272,697
2013 -209,679 462,384 652,427 232,230
2012 -193,022 199,143 643,723 264,091
2011 -184,632 295,282 601,708 65,166
2010 -179,909 130,116 566,834 68,563
2009 -188,375 46,533 554,115 41,528
2008 -164,220 -23,341 595,332 36,869
2007 -148,080 -24,772 503,567 36,339
2006 -148,278 -489,056 487,584 33,159
2005 -148,445 81,351 464,464 31,286
2004 -107,271 81,735 442,540 58,924
2003 -140,309 142,009 415,018 65,604
2002 -123,733 218,795 430,926 50,313
2001 -98,820 272,875 484,801 -60,793
2000 -73,990 174,594 526,963 -136,794
1999 -73,890 219,280 594,643 -126,011
1998 -65,637 -754,469 627,027 -82,722
1997 -49,221 93,281 667,969 -98,181
1996 -90,107 281,280 710,868 -193,007
1995 -114,349 398,077 743,488 -98,403
1994 -114,013 315,585 698,609 -268,849
1993 -105,503 462,096 789,220 194,977
1992 -80,625 811,606 794,415 -71,342
1991 -80,014 602,638 827,296 -39,131
1990 -15,887 679,702 835,421 259,718
1989 -23,625 761,002 884,629 255,605
1988 -7,815 515,962 909,221 246,382
1987 -31,136 174,272 922,330 231,009
1986 -77,721 212,822 903,644 234,378
1985 -116,527 103,556 893,889 244,940
1984 -109,002 -150,771 869,011 290,789
1983 -109,380 -81,349 837,013 310,172
1982 -78,333 -58,121 807,550 293,195
1981 -94,090 130,713 767,833 279,985
1980 -86,117 324,203 738,415 258,127
1979 -125,002 237,705 716,541 56,323
1978 -140,566 117,167 694,341 62,121
1977 -125,055 33,881 680,929 63,739
1976 -164,508 -79,761 675,011 27,333
1975 -212,418 -207,740 667,862 38,809
1974 -150,038 -15,126 658,438 38,518
1973 -149,980 386,881 651,596 41,125
1972 -62,950 336,015 638,754 38,163
1971 46,988 450,328 624,761 32,961
1970 70,352 -273,498 605,102 61,514
1969 155,820 584,017 590,794 73,225
1968 239,612 293,307 571,841 78,932
1967 353,977 -174,155 553,741 81,932
1966 405,982 134,107 534,862 77,417
1965 410,204 338,258 506,632 82,514
1964 482,038 69,825 490,606 76,298
1963 455,757 205,976 473,821 72,844
1962 436,752 276,505 455,634 69,771
1961 462,279 27,534 437,851 57,728
1960 385,919 212,666 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Germany is from natural causes (a loss of 2,216,330 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 5,010,532 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, 16,750,084 residents or 19.8% of the population were not native-born in Germany, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K
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/germany/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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