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Population in Guinea-Bissau compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Guinea-Bissau was 2,201,352 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Guinea-Bissau's population is 2,311,915 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 28.4 times bigger than Guinea-Bissau's.
  • Guinea-Bissau is ranked the 146th 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 Guinea-Bissau vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Guinea-Bissau has had an average growth rate of +2.4% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Guinea-Bissau has increased from 1.42M people to 2.31M (63.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Guinea-Bissau vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Guinea-Bissau
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Guinea-Bissau South Africa
2100 4,713,717 94,767,727
2099 4,706,710 94,556,931
2098 4,700,179 94,349,546
2097 4,692,465 94,158,472
2096 4,683,547 93,960,605
2095 4,675,216 93,752,736
2094 4,663,709 93,527,902
2093 4,652,393 93,300,398
2092 4,640,186 93,074,837
2091 4,629,025 92,826,204
2090 4,617,372 92,594,033
2089 4,605,435 92,355,184
2088 4,592,696 92,112,914
2087 4,579,003 91,866,024
2086 4,563,387 91,614,165
2085 4,547,611 91,385,350
2084 4,530,795 91,139,318
2083 4,515,144 90,877,425
2082 4,498,757 90,615,359
2081 4,482,173 90,345,492
2080 4,462,572 90,071,835
2079 4,441,414 89,801,998
2078 4,419,851 89,526,224
2077 4,396,170 89,249,206
2076 4,371,588 88,986,114
2075 4,344,499 88,713,215
2074 4,319,080 88,428,616
2073 4,291,330 88,149,885
2072 4,263,400 87,866,246
2071 4,235,126 87,540,177
2070 4,206,800 87,209,425
2069 4,177,044 86,901,512
2068 4,145,996 86,588,742
2067 4,114,778 86,268,392
2066 4,083,481 85,935,310
2065 4,049,028 85,604,376
2064 4,014,305 85,244,950
2063 3,978,845 84,875,503
2062 3,942,144 84,503,237
2061 3,904,704 84,132,885
2060 3,868,649 83,748,999
2059 3,829,775 83,354,923
2058 3,790,102 82,947,675
2057 3,750,628 82,538,045
2056 3,711,479 82,127,477
2055 3,670,706 81,698,196
2054 3,627,775 81,255,867
2053 3,586,800 80,818,632
2052 3,544,101 80,367,409
2051 3,499,300 79,886,672
2050 3,453,604 79,411,977
2049 3,406,207 78,925,493
2048 3,359,168 78,437,677
2047 3,310,573 77,922,211
2046 3,263,932 77,397,298
2045 3,215,095 76,879,838
2044 3,167,811 76,357,155
2043 3,120,502 75,827,709
2042 3,073,261 75,291,615
2041 3,026,226 74,748,408
2040 2,978,546 74,205,530
2039 2,929,745 73,663,047
2038 2,881,381 73,105,930
2037 2,833,162 72,532,742
2036 2,783,763 71,956,247
2035 2,736,596 71,362,555
2034 2,688,639 70,762,815
2033 2,638,770 70,153,205
2032 2,589,298 69,527,410
2031 2,540,343 68,890,002
2030 2,492,311 68,245,372
2029 2,444,595 67,573,179
2028 2,396,565 66,884,377
2027 2,347,456 66,190,258
2026 2,298,738 65,496,277
2025 2,249,807 64,770,314
2024 2,201,352 64,007,187
2023 2,153,339 63,212,384
2022 2,105,529 62,378,410
2021 2,058,841 61,502,603
2020 2,013,255 60,562,381
2019 1,967,696 59,587,885
2018 1,922,168 58,613,001
2017 1,877,072 57,635,162
2016 1,831,893 57,259,551
2015 1,786,457 56,723,537
2014 1,741,122 55,594,838
2013 1,695,973 54,678,791
2012 1,651,417 53,782,567
2011 1,608,076 52,995,205
2010 1,566,347 52,344,051
2009 1,526,377 51,728,516
2008 1,488,054 51,114,599
2007 1,450,986 50,528,584
2006 1,415,303 49,998,277
2005 1,381,585 49,490,033
2004 1,349,563 48,991,421
2003 1,318,806 48,500,348
2002 1,289,307 48,019,415
2001 1,261,273 47,566,800
2000 1,234,741 47,159,719
1999 1,210,206 46,730,335
1998 1,187,473 46,223,880
1997 1,165,545 45,666,838
1996 1,143,535 45,123,018
1995 1,119,949 44,541,554
1994 1,092,031 44,004,139
1993 1,058,745 43,297,156
1992 1,024,356 42,443,509
1991 994,639 41,687,898
1990 973,669 40,746,268
1989 957,789 39,628,575
1988 942,061 38,480,649
1987 926,862 37,326,190
1986 912,126 36,180,515
1985 897,697 35,042,093
1984 883,519 33,892,788
1983 869,592 32,739,304
1982 855,891 31,615,339
1981 842,432 30,541,044
1980 829,303 29,518,857
1979 819,867 28,634,162
1978 791,694 27,869,507
1977 741,789 27,118,952
1976 694,191 26,395,450
1975 650,966 25,690,940
1974 613,338 24,989,108
1973 592,808 24,294,263
1972 586,620 23,609,456
1971 586,221 22,942,143
1970 584,403 22,279,984
1969 581,610 21,614,676
1968 578,170 20,957,287
1967 569,011 20,314,066
1966 566,908 19,690,087
1965 575,005 19,089,380
1964 588,543 18,511,361
1963 594,418 17,954,564
1962 589,474 17,418,522
1961 582,532 16,908,035
1960 577,633 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/guinea-bissau/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Guinea-Bissau increased by 416,590 people (a 29.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Guinea-Bissau gained 480,022 people (a 26.2% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Guinea-Bissau was ranked 148th most populous country in 2006 and is 146th 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) Guinea-Bissau's population will grow by 49.4% to 3,453,604 people with a rank change from 146th to 136th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Guinea-Bissau is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 4.71M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Guinea-Bissau
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Guinea-Bissau South Africa
2100 0.15% 0.22%
2099 0.14% 0.22%
2098 0.16% 0.2%
2097 0.19% 0.21%
2096 0.18% 0.22%
2095 0.25% 0.24%
2094 0.24% 0.24%
2093 0.26% 0.24%
2092 0.24% 0.27%
2091 0.25% 0.25%
2090 0.26% 0.26%
2089 0.28% 0.26%
2088 0.3% 0.27%
2087 0.34% 0.27%
2086 0.35% 0.25%
2085 0.37% 0.27%
2084 0.35% 0.29%
2083 0.36% 0.29%
2082 0.37% 0.3%
2081 0.44% 0.3%
2080 0.48% 0.3%
2079 0.49% 0.31%
2078 0.54% 0.31%
2077 0.56% 0.3%
2076 0.62% 0.31%
2075 0.59% 0.32%
2074 0.65% 0.32%
2073 0.66% 0.32%
2072 0.67% 0.37%
2071 0.67% 0.38%
2070 0.71% 0.35%
2069 0.75% 0.36%
2068 0.76% 0.37%
2067 0.77% 0.39%
2066 0.85% 0.39%
2065 0.86% 0.42%
2064 0.89% 0.44%
2063 0.93% 0.44%
2062 0.96% 0.44%
2061 0.93% 0.46%
2060 1.02% 0.47%
2059 1.05% 0.49%
2058 1.05% 0.5%
2057 1.05% 0.5%
2056 1.11% 0.53%
2055 1.18% 0.54%
2054 1.14% 0.54%
2053 1.2% 0.56%
2052 1.28% 0.6%
2051 1.32% 0.6%
2050 1.39% 0.62%
2049 1.4% 0.62%
2048 1.47% 0.66%
2047 1.43% 0.68%
2046 1.52% 0.67%
2045 1.49% 0.68%
2044 1.52% 0.7%
2043 1.54% 0.71%
2042 1.55% 0.73%
2041 1.6% 0.73%
2040 1.67% 0.74%
2039 1.68% 0.76%
2038 1.7% 0.79%
2037 1.77% 0.8%
2036 1.72% 0.83%
2035 1.78% 0.85%
2034 1.89% 0.87%
2033 1.91% 0.9%
2032 1.93% 0.93%
2031 1.93% 0.94%
2030 1.95% 0.99%
2029 2% 1.03%
2028 2.09% 1.05%
2027 2.12% 1.06%
2026 2.17% 1.12%
2025 2.2% 1.19%
2024 2.23% 1.26%
2023 2.27% 1.34%
2022 2.27% 1.42%
2021 2.26% 1.55%
2020 2.32% 1.64%
2019 2.37% 1.66%
2018 2.4% 1.7%
2017 2.47% 0.66%
2016 2.54% 0.94%
2015 2.6% 2.03%
2014 2.66% 1.68%
2013 2.7% 1.67%
2012 2.7% 1.49%
2011 2.66% 1.24%
2010 2.62% 1.19%
2009 2.58% 1.2%
2008 2.55% 1.16%
2007 2.52% 1.06%
2006 2.44% 1.03%
2005 2.37% 1.02%
2004 2.33% 1.01%
2003 2.29% 1%
2002 2.22% 0.95%
2001 2.15% 0.86%
2000 2.03% 0.92%
1999 1.91% 1.1%
1998 1.88% 1.22%
1997 1.92% 1.21%
1996 2.11% 1.31%
1995 2.56% 1.22%
1994 3.14% 1.63%
1993 3.36% 2.01%
1992 2.99% 1.81%
1991 2.15% 2.31%
1990 1.66% 2.82%
1989 1.67% 2.98%
1988 1.64% 3.09%
1987 1.62% 3.17%
1986 1.61% 3.25%
1985 1.6% 3.39%
1984 1.6% 3.52%
1983 1.6% 3.56%
1982 1.6% 3.52%
1981 1.58% 3.46%
1980 1.15% 3.09%
1979 3.56% 2.74%
1978 6.73% 2.77%
1977 6.86% 2.74%
1976 6.64% 2.74%
1975 6.13% 2.81%
1974 3.46% 2.86%
1973 1.05% 2.9%
1972 0.07% 2.91%
1971 0.31% 2.97%
1970 0.48% 3.08%
1969 0.59% 3.14%
1968 1.61% 3.17%
1967 0.37% 3.17%
1966 -1.41% 3.15%
1965 -2.3% 3.12%
1964 -0.99% 3.1%
1963 0.84% 3.08%
1962 1.19% 3.02%
1961 0.85% 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/guinea-bissau/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Guinea-Bissau grew by 2.23%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Guinea-Bissau South Africa
Current population
2311915
65683993
Population rank 146/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
10.9 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
8.13 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
34.6 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +132 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +48,013 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.23% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 42/197 85/197
One migration net change every
6.4 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -1,373 +146,370
Net migration rank 96/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 15,064 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 172/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 165/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Guinea-Bissau
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Guinea-Bissau South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,373 - 146,370
2024 - -1,712 - 166,972
2023 49,498 -1,400 602,793 228,222
2022 48,920 -1,400 603,636 233,284
2021 47,242 -1,395 456,411 458,246
2020 46,718 -1,394 595,873 369,901
2019 47,196 -1,395 652,130 331,124
2018 46,659 -1,396 648,319 318,260
2017 46,318 -1,398 645,975 343,146
2016 46,814 -1,392 641,365 -879,235
2015 46,846 -1,393 668,771 641,150
2014 46,615 -1,393 674,754 272,697
2013 46,472 -1,395 652,427 232,230
2012 45,480 -1,442 643,723 264,091
2011 44,405 -1,760 601,708 65,166
2010 43,067 -2,257 566,834 68,563
2009 41,950 -2,821 554,115 41,528
2008 40,841 -3,313 595,332 36,869
2007 40,288 -3,676 503,567 36,339
2006 38,886 -4,142 487,584 33,159
2005 37,347 -4,662 464,464 31,286
2004 36,495 -5,144 442,540 58,924
2003 35,649 -5,487 415,018 65,604
2002 34,561 -5,712 430,926 50,313
2001 33,461 -6,239 484,801 -60,793
2000 32,816 -6,971 526,963 -136,794
1999 30,916 -7,686 594,643 -126,011
1998 30,390 -8,163 627,027 -82,722
1997 29,792 -8,176 667,969 -98,181
1996 29,778 -7,369 710,868 -193,007
1995 29,142 -4,376 743,488 -98,403
1994 27,895 3,174 698,609 -268,849
1993 26,943 8,562 789,220 194,977
1992 25,747 7,531 794,415 -71,342
1991 24,527 1,621 827,296 -39,131
1990 23,936 -8,151 835,421 259,718
1989 24,286 -8,296 884,629 255,605
1988 23,940 -8,473 909,221 246,382
1987 23,549 -8,622 922,330 231,009
1986 23,301 -8,748 903,644 234,378
1985 23,116 -8,812 893,889 244,940
1984 22,861 -8,812 869,011 290,789
1983 22,542 -8,729 837,013 310,172
1982 22,131 -8,539 807,550 293,195
1981 21,611 -8,291 767,833 279,985
1980 21,024 -8,086 738,415 258,127
1979 19,736 -13,801 716,541 56,323
1978 17,468 32,936 694,341 62,121
1977 15,484 33,922 680,929 63,739
1976 13,688 32,113 675,011 27,333
1975 11,998 28,645 667,862 38,809
1974 10,321 24,290 658,438 38,518
1973 8,430 -1,985 651,596 41,125
1972 7,911 -1,985 638,754 38,163
1971 8,183 -13,302 624,761 32,961
1970 7,632 1,123 605,102 61,514
1969 7,857 -11,033 590,794 73,225
1968 7,289 2,769 571,841 78,932
1967 6,742 1,516 553,741 81,932
1966 6,955 -11,006 534,862 77,417
1965 7,789 -19,928 506,632 82,514
1964 8,989 -23,936 490,606 76,298
1963 9,190 -5,993 473,821 72,844
1962 10,662 -3,960 455,634 69,771
1961 10,756 -3,575 437,851 57,728
1960 10,618 -8,007 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/guinea-bissau/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 97.1% of the population change in Guinea-Bissau is from natural causes (a gain of 472,826 people) and 2.87% is from migration (a loss of 13,956 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, 15,064 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Guinea-Bissau, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Guinea-Bissau
City Population
Bissau 492K
Bafata 29.6K
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/guinea-bissau/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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