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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Guatemala was 18,406,359 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Guatemala's population is 19,049,936 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.45 times bigger than Guatemala's.
  • Guatemala is ranked the 69th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.02% of the world: 0.23% for Guatemala vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Guatemala has had an average growth rate of +1.64% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Guatemala has increased from 13.4M people to 19M (42.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Guatemala vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Guatemala
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Guatemala South Africa
2100 26,157,456 94,767,727
2099 26,245,641 94,556,931
2098 26,331,619 94,349,546
2097 26,416,090 94,158,472
2096 26,497,966 93,960,605
2095 26,577,430 93,752,736
2094 26,654,549 93,527,902
2093 26,728,912 93,300,398
2092 26,800,726 93,074,837
2091 26,869,103 92,826,204
2090 26,933,745 92,594,033
2089 26,994,393 92,355,184
2088 27,051,725 92,112,914
2087 27,105,725 91,866,024
2086 27,155,743 91,614,165
2085 27,200,252 91,385,350
2084 27,240,081 91,139,318
2083 27,274,635 90,877,425
2082 27,304,601 90,615,359
2081 27,328,275 90,345,492
2080 27,346,322 90,071,835
2079 27,358,846 89,801,998
2078 27,364,710 89,526,224
2077 27,363,544 89,249,206
2076 27,356,220 88,986,114
2075 27,343,275 88,713,215
2074 27,324,366 88,428,616
2073 27,298,193 88,149,885
2072 27,264,801 87,866,246
2071 27,224,139 87,540,177
2070 27,176,996 87,209,425
2069 27,121,679 86,901,512
2068 27,058,279 86,588,742
2067 26,987,818 86,268,392
2066 26,909,977 85,935,310
2065 26,825,610 85,604,376
2064 26,733,472 85,244,950
2063 26,634,443 84,875,503
2062 26,529,537 84,503,237
2061 26,418,318 84,132,885
2060 26,300,043 83,748,999
2059 26,175,298 83,354,923
2058 26,043,910 82,947,675
2057 25,905,522 82,538,045
2056 25,761,415 82,127,477
2055 25,611,347 81,698,196
2054 25,455,341 81,255,867
2053 25,292,387 80,818,632
2052 25,124,081 80,367,409
2051 24,950,631 79,886,672
2050 24,772,432 79,411,977
2049 24,588,164 78,925,493
2048 24,398,840 78,437,677
2047 24,205,409 77,922,211
2046 24,005,250 77,397,298
2045 23,799,564 76,879,838
2044 23,587,909 76,357,155
2043 23,370,717 75,827,709
2042 23,147,742 75,291,615
2041 22,919,092 74,748,408
2040 22,684,402 74,205,530
2039 22,443,876 73,663,047
2038 22,196,908 73,105,930
2037 21,945,561 72,532,742
2036 21,689,784 71,956,247
2035 21,429,391 71,362,555
2034 21,165,636 70,762,815
2033 20,899,157 70,153,205
2032 20,630,118 69,527,410
2031 20,359,005 68,890,002
2030 20,085,689 68,245,372
2029 19,810,652 67,573,179
2028 19,534,112 66,884,377
2027 19,255,397 66,190,258
2026 18,973,755 65,496,277
2025 18,690,875 64,770,314
2024 18,406,359 64,007,187
2023 18,124,838 63,212,384
2022 17,847,877 62,378,410
2021 17,598,650 61,502,603
2020 17,357,325 60,562,381
2019 17,103,803 59,587,885
2018 16,845,685 58,613,001
2017 16,567,357 57,635,162
2016 16,268,760 57,259,551
2015 15,971,743 56,723,537
2014 15,681,725 55,594,838
2013 15,387,337 54,678,791
2012 15,089,647 53,782,567
2011 14,792,126 52,995,205
2010 14,500,112 52,344,051
2009 14,215,611 51,728,516
2008 13,935,174 51,114,599
2007 13,652,040 50,528,584
2006 13,367,459 49,998,277
2005 13,087,629 49,490,033
2004 12,807,402 48,991,421
2003 12,525,842 48,500,348
2002 12,246,915 48,019,415
2001 11,969,422 47,566,800
2000 11,697,592 47,159,719
1999 11,422,965 46,730,335
1998 11,139,145 46,223,880
1997 10,857,754 45,666,838
1996 10,583,526 45,123,018
1995 10,312,996 44,541,554
1994 10,043,718 44,004,139
1993 9,779,761 43,297,156
1992 9,522,266 42,443,509
1991 9,272,584 41,687,898
1990 9,024,773 40,746,268
1989 8,775,546 39,628,575
1988 8,532,099 38,480,649
1987 8,296,485 37,326,190
1986 8,070,818 36,180,515
1985 7,849,693 35,042,093
1984 7,630,682 33,892,788
1983 7,419,642 32,739,304
1982 7,240,241 31,615,339
1981 7,075,648 30,541,044
1980 6,900,212 29,518,857
1979 6,727,797 28,634,162
1978 6,561,534 27,869,507
1977 6,401,515 27,118,952
1976 6,262,404 26,395,450
1975 6,128,731 25,690,940
1974 5,981,197 24,989,108
1973 5,831,631 24,294,263
1972 5,682,833 23,609,456
1971 5,538,355 22,942,143
1970 5,396,966 22,279,984
1969 5,257,081 21,614,676
1968 5,118,111 20,957,287
1967 4,978,862 20,314,066
1966 4,840,958 19,690,087
1965 4,704,965 19,089,380
1964 4,571,109 18,511,361
1963 4,440,264 17,954,564
1962 4,312,044 17,418,522
1961 4,186,201 16,908,035
1960 4,063,655 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/guatemala/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Guatemala increased by 2,901,301 people (a 21.7% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Guatemala gained 2,781,176 people (a 17.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Guatemala was ranked 68th most populous country in 2006 and is 69th 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) Guatemala's population will grow by 30% to 24,772,432 people with a rank change from 69th to 67th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Guatemala is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 27.4M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Guatemala
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Guatemala South Africa
2100 -0.34% 0.22%
2099 -0.33% 0.22%
2098 -0.32% 0.2%
2097 -0.31% 0.21%
2096 -0.3% 0.22%
2095 -0.29% 0.24%
2094 -0.28% 0.24%
2093 -0.27% 0.24%
2092 -0.25% 0.27%
2091 -0.24% 0.25%
2090 -0.22% 0.26%
2089 -0.21% 0.26%
2088 -0.2% 0.27%
2087 -0.18% 0.27%
2086 -0.16% 0.25%
2085 -0.15% 0.27%
2084 -0.13% 0.29%
2083 -0.11% 0.29%
2082 -0.09% 0.3%
2081 -0.07% 0.3%
2080 -0.05% 0.3%
2079 -0.02% 0.31%
2078 0.004% 0.31%
2077 0.03% 0.3%
2076 0.05% 0.31%
2075 0.07% 0.32%
2074 0.1% 0.32%
2073 0.12% 0.32%
2072 0.15% 0.37%
2071 0.17% 0.38%
2070 0.2% 0.35%
2069 0.23% 0.36%
2068 0.26% 0.37%
2067 0.29% 0.39%
2066 0.31% 0.39%
2065 0.34% 0.42%
2064 0.37% 0.44%
2063 0.4% 0.44%
2062 0.42% 0.44%
2061 0.45% 0.46%
2060 0.48% 0.47%
2059 0.5% 0.49%
2058 0.53% 0.5%
2057 0.56% 0.5%
2056 0.59% 0.53%
2055 0.61% 0.54%
2054 0.64% 0.54%
2053 0.67% 0.56%
2052 0.7% 0.6%
2051 0.72% 0.6%
2050 0.75% 0.62%
2049 0.78% 0.62%
2048 0.8% 0.66%
2047 0.83% 0.68%
2046 0.86% 0.67%
2045 0.9% 0.68%
2044 0.93% 0.7%
2043 0.96% 0.71%
2042 1% 0.73%
2041 1.03% 0.73%
2040 1.07% 0.74%
2039 1.11% 0.76%
2038 1.15% 0.79%
2037 1.18% 0.8%
2036 1.22% 0.83%
2035 1.25% 0.85%
2034 1.28% 0.87%
2033 1.3% 0.9%
2032 1.33% 0.93%
2031 1.36% 0.94%
2030 1.39% 0.99%
2029 1.42% 1.03%
2028 1.45% 1.05%
2027 1.48% 1.06%
2026 1.51% 1.12%
2025 1.55% 1.19%
2024 1.55% 1.26%
2023 1.55% 1.34%
2022 1.42% 1.42%
2021 1.39% 1.55%
2020 1.48% 1.64%
2019 1.53% 1.66%
2018 1.68% 1.7%
2017 1.84% 0.66%
2016 1.86% 0.94%
2015 1.85% 2.03%
2014 1.91% 1.68%
2013 1.97% 1.67%
2012 2.01% 1.49%
2011 2.01% 1.24%
2010 2% 1.19%
2009 2.01% 1.2%
2008 2.07% 1.16%
2007 2.13% 1.06%
2006 2.14% 1.03%
2005 2.19% 1.02%
2004 2.25% 1.01%
2003 2.28% 1%
2002 2.32% 0.95%
2001 2.32% 0.86%
2000 2.4% 0.92%
1999 2.55% 1.1%
1998 2.59% 1.22%
1997 2.59% 1.21%
1996 2.62% 1.31%
1995 2.68% 1.22%
1994 2.7% 1.63%
1993 2.7% 2.01%
1992 2.69% 1.81%
1991 2.75% 2.31%
1990 2.84% 2.82%
1989 2.85% 2.98%
1988 2.84% 3.09%
1987 2.8% 3.17%
1986 2.82% 3.25%
1985 2.87% 3.39%
1984 2.84% 3.52%
1983 2.48% 3.56%
1982 2.33% 3.52%
1981 2.54% 3.46%
1980 2.56% 3.09%
1979 2.53% 2.74%
1978 2.5% 2.77%
1977 2.22% 2.74%
1976 2.18% 2.74%
1975 2.47% 2.81%
1974 2.56% 2.86%
1973 2.62% 2.9%
1972 2.61% 2.91%
1971 2.62% 2.97%
1970 2.66% 3.08%
1969 2.72% 3.14%
1968 2.8% 3.17%
1967 2.85% 3.17%
1966 2.89% 3.15%
1965 2.93% 3.12%
1964 2.95% 3.1%
1963 2.97% 3.08%
1962 3.01% 3.02%
1961 3.02% 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/guatemala/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Guatemala grew by 1.55%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Guatemala South Africa
Current population
19049936
65683993
Population rank 69/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.79%
One net population change
1.87 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.39 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
6.01 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +771 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +281,521 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.55% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 69/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.1 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -7,959 +146,370
Net migration rank 128/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 92,732 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 133/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 176/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Guatemala
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Guatemala South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,959 - 146,370
2024 - -7,725 - 166,972
2023 289,635 -8,940 602,793 228,222
2022 281,675 -8,463 603,636 233,284
2021 255,145 -29,908 456,411 458,246
2020 281,328 -23,927 595,873 369,901
2019 307,389 -57,746 652,130 331,124
2018 323,100 -56,487 648,319 318,260
2017 332,838 -42,779 645,975 343,146
2016 338,114 -30,980 641,365 -879,235
2015 335,072 -48,179 668,771 641,150
2014 333,551 -40,409 674,754 272,697
2013 331,321 -35,698 652,427 232,230
2012 332,365 -32,624 643,723 264,091
2011 328,548 -33,238 601,708 65,166
2010 324,802 -36,076 566,834 68,563
2009 323,320 -43,046 554,115 41,528
2008 323,226 -42,624 595,332 36,869
2007 326,298 -40,632 503,567 36,339
2006 325,604 -42,118 487,584 33,159
2005 325,816 -49,636 464,464 31,286
2004 331,699 -47,409 442,540 58,924
2003 333,539 -54,701 415,018 65,604
2002 334,255 -55,247 430,926 50,313
2001 335,503 -59,536 484,801 -60,793
2000 332,891 -65,197 526,963 -136,794
1999 328,890 -47,325 594,643 -126,011
1998 325,174 -39,104 627,027 -82,722
1997 320,087 -43,377 667,969 -98,181
1996 315,252 -43,501 710,868 -193,007
1995 309,236 -39,917 743,488 -98,403
1994 302,708 -33,462 698,609 -268,849
1993 295,515 -36,848 789,220 194,977
1992 288,411 -32,093 794,415 -71,342
1991 283,917 -40,868 827,296 -39,131
1990 280,318 -27,735 835,421 259,718
1989 276,736 -30,860 884,629 255,605
1988 271,466 -30,450 909,221 246,382
1987 261,746 -31,539 922,330 231,009
1986 252,754 -31,631 903,644 234,378
1985 246,119 -24,991 893,889 244,940
1984 241,892 -25,010 869,011 290,789
1983 238,059 -32,877 837,013 310,172
1982 199,809 -46,174 807,550 293,195
1981 221,044 -45,490 767,833 279,985
1980 218,460 -43,144 738,415 258,127
1979 216,810 -47,278 716,541 56,323
1978 211,301 -48,309 694,341 62,121
1977 203,299 -46,249 680,929 63,739
1976 171,903 -50,745 675,011 27,333
1975 188,501 -42,329 667,862 38,809
1974 184,992 -36,089 658,438 38,518
1973 179,871 -29,641 651,596 41,125
1972 173,162 -25,807 638,754 38,163
1971 165,104 -23,513 624,761 32,961
1970 155,946 -14,755 605,102 61,514
1969 149,516 -10,937 590,794 73,225
1968 146,946 -7,589 571,841 78,932
1967 143,859 -4,715 553,741 81,932
1966 140,494 -3,824 534,862 77,417
1965 135,997 -681 506,632 82,514
1964 132,832 -440 490,606 76,298
1963 129,065 240 473,821 72,844
1962 126,429 713 455,634 69,771
1961 123,753 797 437,851 57,728
1960 120,728 -186 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.8% of the population change in Guatemala is from natural causes (a gain of 3,077,847 people) and 10.2% is from migration (a loss of 347,818 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, 92,732 residents or 0.5% of the population were not native-born in Guatemala, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Guatemala
City Population
Guatemala 995K
Mixco 528K
Coban 229K
Quetzaltenango 208K
Jalapa 193K
San Miguel Petapa 151K
Momostenango 140K
Mazatenango 83.8K
Flores 44.7K
Panajachel 16.1K
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/guatemala/south-africa | CC BY

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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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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