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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Hungary was 9,562,065 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Hungary's population is 9,475,525 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.93 times bigger than Hungary's.
  • Hungary is ranked the 98th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.11% for Hungary vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Hungary has had an average growth rate of -0.29% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Hungary has decreased from 10.1M people to 9.48M (5.92% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Hungary vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Hungary
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Hungary South Africa
2100 7,370,355 94,767,727
2099 7,386,200 94,556,931
2098 7,401,408 94,349,546
2097 7,415,908 94,158,472
2096 7,430,531 93,960,605
2095 7,445,269 93,752,736
2094 7,460,108 93,527,902
2093 7,475,111 93,300,398
2092 7,489,534 93,074,837
2091 7,504,343 92,826,204
2090 7,519,276 92,594,033
2089 7,534,960 92,355,184
2088 7,550,399 92,112,914
2087 7,566,507 91,866,024
2086 7,583,518 91,614,165
2085 7,600,748 91,385,350
2084 7,617,497 91,139,318
2083 7,634,894 90,877,425
2082 7,653,272 90,615,359
2081 7,672,270 90,345,492
2080 7,692,156 90,071,835
2079 7,712,929 89,801,998
2078 7,734,118 89,526,224
2077 7,756,481 89,249,206
2076 7,780,266 88,986,114
2075 7,805,336 88,713,215
2074 7,832,068 88,428,616
2073 7,860,016 88,149,885
2072 7,889,448 87,866,246
2071 7,920,271 87,540,177
2070 7,952,370 87,209,425
2069 7,985,309 86,901,512
2068 8,019,321 86,588,742
2067 8,053,791 86,268,392
2066 8,088,854 85,935,310
2065 8,125,079 85,604,376
2064 8,161,993 85,244,950
2063 8,198,019 84,875,503
2062 8,233,954 84,503,237
2061 8,269,395 84,132,885
2060 8,304,498 83,748,999
2059 8,339,351 83,354,923
2058 8,372,516 82,947,675
2057 8,405,403 82,538,045
2056 8,438,397 82,127,477
2055 8,470,451 81,698,196
2054 8,502,165 81,255,867
2053 8,533,102 80,818,632
2052 8,563,943 80,367,409
2051 8,594,925 79,886,672
2050 8,625,864 79,411,977
2049 8,657,469 78,925,493
2048 8,689,207 78,437,677
2047 8,721,846 77,922,211
2046 8,755,100 77,397,298
2045 8,789,106 76,879,838
2044 8,823,256 76,357,155
2043 8,857,823 75,827,709
2042 8,893,508 75,291,615
2041 8,929,696 74,748,408
2040 8,966,615 74,205,530
2039 9,004,383 73,663,047
2038 9,041,989 73,105,930
2037 9,080,597 72,532,742
2036 9,118,668 71,956,247
2035 9,157,148 71,362,555
2034 9,195,286 70,762,815
2033 9,232,883 70,153,205
2032 9,270,132 69,527,410
2031 9,306,671 68,890,002
2030 9,342,584 68,245,372
2029 9,377,706 67,573,179
2028 9,411,230 66,884,377
2027 9,443,534 66,190,258
2026 9,475,525 65,496,277
2025 9,535,248 64,770,314
2024 9,562,065 64,007,187
2023 9,592,186 63,212,384
2022 9,605,074 62,378,410
2021 9,630,932 61,502,603
2020 9,670,419 60,562,381
2019 9,694,824 59,587,885
2018 9,706,964 58,613,001
2017 9,726,756 57,635,162
2016 9,759,755 57,259,551
2015 9,797,755 56,723,537
2014 9,833,038 55,594,838
2013 9,872,734 54,678,791
2012 9,920,362 53,782,567
2011 9,971,727 52,995,205
2010 10,000,023 52,344,051
2009 10,022,650 51,728,516
2008 10,038,188 51,114,599
2007 10,055,780 50,528,584
2006 10,071,370 49,998,277
2005 10,087,065 49,490,033
2004 10,107,146 48,991,421
2003 10,129,552 48,500,348
2002 10,158,608 48,019,415
2001 10,187,576 47,566,800
2000 10,210,971 47,159,719
1999 10,237,530 46,730,335
1998 10,266,570 46,223,880
1997 10,290,486 45,666,838
1996 10,311,238 45,123,018
1995 10,328,965 44,541,554
1994 10,343,355 44,004,139
1993 10,357,523 43,297,156
1992 10,369,341 42,443,509
1991 10,373,400 41,687,898
1990 10,373,988 40,746,268
1989 10,481,719 39,628,575
1988 10,596,487 38,480,649
1987 10,612,741 37,326,190
1986 10,630,564 36,180,515
1985 10,648,713 35,042,093
1984 10,668,095 33,892,788
1983 10,689,463 32,739,304
1982 10,705,535 31,615,339
1981 10,711,848 30,541,044
1980 10,711,122 29,518,857
1979 10,704,152 28,634,162
1978 10,684,822 27,869,507
1977 10,648,031 27,118,952
1976 10,598,677 26,395,450
1975 10,540,525 25,690,940
1974 10,478,720 24,989,108
1973 10,432,055 24,294,263
1972 10,398,489 23,609,456
1971 10,367,537 22,942,143
1970 10,337,910 22,279,984
1969 10,298,723 21,614,676
1968 10,255,815 20,957,287
1967 10,216,604 20,314,066
1966 10,178,653 19,690,087
1965 10,147,935 19,089,380
1964 10,119,835 18,511,361
1963 10,087,947 17,954,564
1962 10,060,825 17,418,522
1961 10,027,958 16,908,035
1960 9,983,512 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/hungary/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Hungary decreased by 311,615 people (a 3.09% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Hungary lost 284,230 people (a 2.91% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Hungary was ranked 81st most populous country in 2006 and is 98th 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) Hungary's population will shrink by 8.97% to 8,625,864 people with a rank change from 98th to 111th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Hungary's population already peaked in 1981 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 7.37M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Hungary
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Hungary South Africa
2100 -0.21% 0.22%
2099 -0.21% 0.22%
2098 -0.2% 0.2%
2097 -0.2% 0.21%
2096 -0.2% 0.22%
2095 -0.2% 0.24%
2094 -0.2% 0.24%
2093 -0.19% 0.24%
2092 -0.2% 0.27%
2091 -0.2% 0.25%
2090 -0.21% 0.26%
2089 -0.2% 0.26%
2088 -0.21% 0.27%
2087 -0.22% 0.27%
2086 -0.23% 0.25%
2085 -0.22% 0.27%
2084 -0.23% 0.29%
2083 -0.24% 0.29%
2082 -0.25% 0.3%
2081 -0.26% 0.3%
2080 -0.27% 0.3%
2079 -0.27% 0.31%
2078 -0.29% 0.31%
2077 -0.31% 0.3%
2076 -0.32% 0.31%
2075 -0.34% 0.32%
2074 -0.36% 0.32%
2073 -0.37% 0.32%
2072 -0.39% 0.37%
2071 -0.4% 0.38%
2070 -0.41% 0.35%
2069 -0.42% 0.36%
2068 -0.43% 0.37%
2067 -0.43% 0.39%
2066 -0.45% 0.39%
2065 -0.45% 0.42%
2064 -0.44% 0.44%
2063 -0.44% 0.44%
2062 -0.43% 0.44%
2061 -0.42% 0.46%
2060 -0.42% 0.47%
2059 -0.4% 0.49%
2058 -0.39% 0.5%
2057 -0.39% 0.5%
2056 -0.38% 0.53%
2055 -0.37% 0.54%
2054 -0.36% 0.54%
2053 -0.36% 0.56%
2052 -0.36% 0.6%
2051 -0.36% 0.6%
2050 -0.37% 0.62%
2049 -0.37% 0.62%
2048 -0.37% 0.66%
2047 -0.38% 0.68%
2046 -0.39% 0.67%
2045 -0.39% 0.68%
2044 -0.39% 0.7%
2043 -0.4% 0.71%
2042 -0.41% 0.73%
2041 -0.41% 0.73%
2040 -0.42% 0.74%
2039 -0.42% 0.76%
2038 -0.43% 0.79%
2037 -0.42% 0.8%
2036 -0.42% 0.83%
2035 -0.41% 0.85%
2034 -0.41% 0.87%
2033 -0.4% 0.9%
2032 -0.39% 0.93%
2031 -0.38% 0.94%
2030 -0.37% 0.99%
2029 -0.36% 1.03%
2028 -0.34% 1.05%
2027 -0.34% 1.06%
2026 -0.63% 1.12%
2025 -0.28% 1.19%
2024 -0.31% 1.26%
2023 -0.13% 1.34%
2022 -0.27% 1.42%
2021 -0.41% 1.55%
2020 -0.25% 1.64%
2019 -0.13% 1.66%
2018 -0.2% 1.7%
2017 -0.34% 0.66%
2016 -0.39% 0.94%
2015 -0.36% 2.03%
2014 -0.4% 1.68%
2013 -0.48% 1.67%
2012 -0.52% 1.49%
2011 -0.28% 1.24%
2010 -0.23% 1.19%
2009 -0.15% 1.2%
2008 -0.17% 1.16%
2007 -0.15% 1.06%
2006 -0.16% 1.03%
2005 -0.2% 1.02%
2004 -0.22% 1.01%
2003 -0.29% 1%
2002 -0.28% 0.95%
2001 -0.23% 0.86%
2000 -0.26% 0.92%
1999 -0.28% 1.1%
1998 -0.23% 1.22%
1997 -0.2% 1.21%
1996 -0.17% 1.31%
1995 -0.14% 1.22%
1994 -0.14% 1.63%
1993 -0.11% 2.01%
1992 -0.04% 1.81%
1991 -0.006% 2.31%
1990 -1.03% 2.82%
1989 -1.08% 2.98%
1988 -0.15% 3.09%
1987 -0.17% 3.17%
1986 -0.17% 3.25%
1985 -0.18% 3.39%
1984 -0.2% 3.52%
1983 -0.15% 3.56%
1982 -0.06% 3.52%
1981 0.007% 3.46%
1980 0.07% 3.09%
1979 0.18% 2.74%
1978 0.35% 2.77%
1977 0.47% 2.74%
1976 0.55% 2.74%
1975 0.59% 2.81%
1974 0.45% 2.86%
1973 0.32% 2.9%
1972 0.3% 2.91%
1971 0.29% 2.97%
1970 0.38% 3.08%
1969 0.42% 3.14%
1968 0.38% 3.17%
1967 0.37% 3.17%
1966 0.3% 3.15%
1965 0.28% 3.12%
1964 0.32% 3.1%
1963 0.27% 3.08%
1962 0.33% 3.02%
1961 0.45% 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/hungary/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Hungary declined by 0.31%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Hungary South Africa
Current population
9475525
65683993
Population rank 98/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.79%
One net population change
17.4 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
6.02 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.09 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -83 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -30,121 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.31% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 179/197 85/197
One migration net change every
32.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -16,331 +146,370
Net migration rank 149/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 689,565 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 71/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 79/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Hungary
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Hungary South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -16,331 - 146,370
2024 - 16,223 - 166,972
2023 -41,247 49,213 602,793 228,222
2022 -47,065 41,871 603,636 233,284
2021 -61,638 20,372 456,411 458,246
2020 -47,385 9,147 595,873 369,901
2019 -36,840 34,339 652,130 331,124
2018 -37,858 34,190 648,319 318,260
2017 -37,934 20,200 645,975 343,146
2016 -31,231 68 641,365 -879,235
2015 -39,191 13,856 668,771 641,150
2014 -32,449 11,581 674,754 272,697
2013 -36,529 5,635 652,427 232,230
2012 -38,689 15,286 643,723 264,091
2011 -40,884 1,859 601,708 65,166
2010 -40,000 10,592 566,834 68,563
2009 -34,077 17,281 554,115 41,528
2008 -31,118 16,166 595,332 36,869
2007 -35,195 13,697 503,567 36,339
2006 -32,228 19,890 487,584 33,159
2005 -38,331 16,925 464,464 31,286
2004 -37,396 16,637 442,540 58,924
2003 -41,531 13,879 415,018 65,604
2002 -36,571 2,822 430,926 50,313
2001 -35,657 10,386 484,801 -60,793
2000 -37,780 13,414 526,963 -136,794
1999 -49,140 12,819 594,643 -126,011
1998 -43,120 13,568 627,027 -82,722
1997 -38,075 14,186 667,969 -98,181
1996 -38,152 14,605 710,868 -193,007
1995 -34,086 14,927 743,488 -98,403
1994 -31,030 15,159 698,609 -268,849
1993 -33,144 15,540 789,220 194,977
1992 -26,960 16,238 794,415 -71,342
1991 -17,635 16,873 827,296 -39,131
1990 -19,710 16,991 835,421 259,718
1989 -20,963 -16,991 884,629 255,605
1988 -15,895 -16,052 909,221 246,382
1987 -15,919 -16,175 922,330 231,009
1986 -18,072 -16,339 903,644 234,378
1985 -18,103 -15,890 893,889 244,940
1984 -21,336 -16,216 869,011 290,789
1983 -21,379 -16,047 837,013 310,172
1982 -10,705 -16,531 807,550 293,195
1981 -2,142 -16,869 767,833 279,985
1980 3,213 -17,795 738,415 258,127
1979 23,549 3,629 716,541 56,323
1978 27,780 290 694,341 62,121
1977 45,787 -54 680,929 63,739
1976 52,993 -472 675,011 27,333
1975 63,243 -335 667,862 38,809
1974 60,777 132 658,438 38,518
1973 33,382 -1,512 651,596 41,125
1972 34,315 -8 638,754 38,163
1971 26,956 -15 624,761 32,961
1970 32,048 -96 605,102 61,514
1969 38,105 -333 590,794 73,225
1968 39,997 -324 571,841 78,932
1967 39,845 -414 553,741 81,932
1966 36,643 -726 534,862 77,417
1965 24,355 -537 506,632 82,514
1964 31,371 -739 490,606 76,298
1963 32,282 -822 473,821 72,844
1962 21,128 -1,738 455,634 69,771
1961 44,123 -1,177 437,851 57,728
1960 44,926 -1,108 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 63.7% of the population change in Hungary is from natural causes (a loss of 412,838 people) and 36.3% is from migration (a gain of 234,837 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, 689,565 residents or 7.1% of the population were not native-born in Hungary, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Hungary
City Population
Budapest 1.69M
Debrecen 202K
Szeged 157K
Miskolc 141K
Pecs 139K
Gyor 129K
Nyiregyhaza 115K
Kecskemet 109K
Szekesfehervar 95.2K
Szombathely 76.9K
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/hungary/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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