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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of India was 1,450,935,791 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current India's population is 1,480,351,380 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • India's population is 22.5 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • India is ranked the 1st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 18.7% of the world: 17.9% for India vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, India has had an average growth rate of +1.03% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of India has increased from 1.17B people to 1.48B (26.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

India vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

India
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
India South Africa
2100 1,515,897,176 94,767,727
2099 1,523,583,618 94,556,931
2098 1,531,281,096 94,349,546
2097 1,538,914,978 94,158,472
2096 1,546,515,506 93,960,605
2095 1,554,100,337 93,752,736
2094 1,561,632,624 93,527,902
2093 1,569,112,481 93,300,398
2092 1,576,470,228 93,074,837
2091 1,583,793,450 92,826,204
2090 1,591,038,578 92,594,033
2089 1,598,165,996 92,355,184
2088 1,605,169,643 92,112,914
2087 1,612,023,916 91,866,024
2086 1,618,795,931 91,614,165
2085 1,625,424,591 91,385,350
2084 1,631,854,605 91,139,318
2083 1,638,132,423 90,877,425
2082 1,644,206,476 90,615,359
2081 1,650,106,942 90,345,492
2080 1,655,799,569 90,071,835
2079 1,661,261,962 89,801,998
2078 1,666,477,951 89,526,224
2077 1,671,444,317 89,249,206
2076 1,676,151,275 88,986,114
2075 1,680,606,119 88,713,215
2074 1,684,743,082 88,428,616
2073 1,688,579,113 88,149,885
2072 1,692,138,648 87,866,246
2071 1,695,351,098 87,540,177
2070 1,698,255,829 87,209,425
2069 1,700,813,392 86,901,512
2068 1,703,025,450 86,588,742
2067 1,704,872,725 86,268,392
2066 1,706,347,017 85,935,310
2065 1,707,540,131 85,604,376
2064 1,708,362,011 85,244,950
2063 1,708,845,280 84,875,503
2062 1,709,011,618 84,503,237
2061 1,708,866,368 84,132,885
2060 1,708,344,645 83,748,999
2059 1,707,488,768 83,354,923
2058 1,706,314,224 82,947,675
2057 1,704,805,210 82,538,045
2056 1,703,013,988 82,127,477
2055 1,700,890,479 81,698,196
2054 1,698,473,703 81,255,867
2053 1,695,661,388 80,818,632
2052 1,692,531,993 80,367,409
2051 1,689,057,795 79,886,672
2050 1,685,236,057 79,411,977
2049 1,681,083,344 78,925,493
2048 1,676,576,931 78,437,677
2047 1,671,678,054 77,922,211
2046 1,666,371,707 77,397,298
2045 1,660,667,112 76,879,838
2044 1,654,556,840 76,357,155
2043 1,648,067,988 75,827,709
2042 1,641,136,901 75,291,615
2041 1,633,771,970 74,748,408
2040 1,625,990,392 74,205,530
2039 1,617,818,911 73,663,047
2038 1,609,238,166 73,105,930
2037 1,600,212,760 72,532,742
2036 1,590,731,970 71,956,247
2035 1,580,864,963 71,362,555
2034 1,570,629,033 70,762,815
2033 1,560,043,145 70,153,205
2032 1,549,098,676 69,527,410
2031 1,537,810,507 68,890,002
2030 1,526,192,552 68,245,372
2029 1,514,274,850 67,573,179
2028 1,502,102,657 66,884,377
2027 1,489,628,314 66,190,258
2026 1,476,911,618 65,496,277
2025 1,463,993,377 64,770,314
2024 1,450,935,791 64,007,187
2023 1,438,069,596 63,212,384
2022 1,425,423,212 62,378,410
2021 1,414,203,896 61,502,603
2020 1,402,617,695 60,562,381
2019 1,389,030,312 59,587,885
2018 1,374,659,064 58,613,001
2017 1,359,657,400 57,635,162
2016 1,343,944,296 57,259,551
2015 1,328,024,498 56,723,537
2014 1,312,277,191 55,594,838
2013 1,295,829,511 54,678,791
2012 1,278,674,502 53,782,567
2011 1,261,224,954 52,995,205
2010 1,243,481,564 52,344,051
2009 1,225,524,753 51,728,516
2008 1,207,930,964 51,114,599
2007 1,190,676,021 50,528,584
2006 1,172,878,890 49,998,277
2005 1,154,676,322 49,490,033
2004 1,135,991,513 48,991,421
2003 1,116,803,006 48,500,348
2002 1,097,600,380 48,019,415
2001 1,077,898,575 47,566,800
2000 1,057,922,733 47,159,719
1999 1,038,225,823 46,730,335
1998 1,018,665,080 46,223,880
1997 999,133,762 45,666,838
1996 979,678,458 45,123,018
1995 960,301,044 44,541,554
1994 941,163,767 44,004,139
1993 922,118,387 43,297,156
1992 902,957,070 42,443,509
1991 883,927,600 41,687,898
1990 864,972,221 40,746,268
1989 846,039,529 39,628,575
1988 827,342,990 38,480,649
1987 808,931,270 37,326,190
1986 790,689,978 36,180,515
1985 772,647,793 35,042,093
1984 754,875,449 33,892,788
1983 737,372,681 32,739,304
1982 720,313,473 31,615,339
1981 703,696,250 30,541,044
1980 687,354,025 29,518,857
1979 671,155,747 28,634,162
1978 655,728,229 27,869,507
1977 640,801,103 27,118,952
1976 625,861,883 26,395,450
1975 611,309,535 25,690,940
1974 597,041,391 24,989,108
1973 583,465,598 24,294,263
1972 570,482,142 23,609,456
1971 558,096,387 22,942,143
1970 545,864,268 22,279,984
1969 533,880,544 21,614,676
1968 522,716,889 20,957,287
1967 511,606,372 20,314,066
1966 500,740,247 19,690,087
1965 490,140,146 19,089,380
1964 479,229,598 18,511,361
1963 468,138,575 17,954,564
1962 457,283,090 17,418,522
1961 446,564,729 16,908,035
1960 435,990,338 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/india/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of India increased by 171,065,406 people (a 14.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, India gained 136,407,084 people (a 10.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

India was ranked 2nd most populous country in 2006 and is 1st 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) India's population will grow by 13.8% to 1,685,236,057 people and will still be ranked 1st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

India is projected to reach its peak in 2062 at 1.71B people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

India
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
India South Africa
2100 -0.5% 0.22%
2099 -0.5% 0.22%
2098 -0.5% 0.2%
2097 -0.49% 0.21%
2096 -0.49% 0.22%
2095 -0.48% 0.24%
2094 -0.48% 0.24%
2093 -0.47% 0.24%
2092 -0.46% 0.27%
2091 -0.46% 0.25%
2090 -0.45% 0.26%
2089 -0.44% 0.26%
2088 -0.43% 0.27%
2087 -0.42% 0.27%
2086 -0.41% 0.25%
2085 -0.39% 0.27%
2084 -0.38% 0.29%
2083 -0.37% 0.29%
2082 -0.36% 0.3%
2081 -0.34% 0.3%
2080 -0.33% 0.3%
2079 -0.31% 0.31%
2078 -0.3% 0.31%
2077 -0.28% 0.3%
2076 -0.27% 0.31%
2075 -0.25% 0.32%
2074 -0.23% 0.32%
2073 -0.21% 0.32%
2072 -0.19% 0.37%
2071 -0.17% 0.38%
2070 -0.15% 0.35%
2069 -0.13% 0.36%
2068 -0.11% 0.37%
2067 -0.09% 0.39%
2066 -0.07% 0.39%
2065 -0.05% 0.42%
2064 -0.03% 0.44%
2063 -0.01% 0.44%
2062 0.008% 0.44%
2061 0.03% 0.46%
2060 0.05% 0.47%
2059 0.07% 0.49%
2058 0.09% 0.5%
2057 0.11% 0.5%
2056 0.12% 0.53%
2055 0.14% 0.54%
2054 0.17% 0.54%
2053 0.18% 0.56%
2052 0.21% 0.6%
2051 0.23% 0.6%
2050 0.25% 0.62%
2049 0.27% 0.62%
2048 0.29% 0.66%
2047 0.32% 0.68%
2046 0.34% 0.67%
2045 0.37% 0.68%
2044 0.39% 0.7%
2043 0.42% 0.71%
2042 0.45% 0.73%
2041 0.48% 0.73%
2040 0.51% 0.74%
2039 0.53% 0.76%
2038 0.56% 0.79%
2037 0.6% 0.8%
2036 0.62% 0.83%
2035 0.65% 0.85%
2034 0.68% 0.87%
2033 0.71% 0.9%
2032 0.73% 0.93%
2031 0.76% 0.94%
2030 0.79% 0.99%
2029 0.81% 1.03%
2028 0.84% 1.05%
2027 0.86% 1.06%
2026 0.88% 1.12%
2025 0.9% 1.19%
2024 0.89% 1.26%
2023 0.89% 1.34%
2022 0.79% 1.42%
2021 0.83% 1.55%
2020 0.98% 1.64%
2019 1.05% 1.66%
2018 1.1% 1.7%
2017 1.17% 0.66%
2016 1.2% 0.94%
2015 1.2% 2.03%
2014 1.27% 1.68%
2013 1.34% 1.67%
2012 1.38% 1.49%
2011 1.43% 1.24%
2010 1.47% 1.19%
2009 1.46% 1.2%
2008 1.45% 1.16%
2007 1.52% 1.06%
2006 1.58% 1.03%
2005 1.64% 1.02%
2004 1.72% 1.01%
2003 1.75% 1%
2002 1.83% 0.95%
2001 1.89% 0.86%
2000 1.9% 0.92%
1999 1.92% 1.1%
1998 1.95% 1.22%
1997 1.99% 1.21%
1996 2.02% 1.31%
1995 2.03% 1.22%
1994 2.07% 1.63%
1993 2.12% 2.01%
1992 2.15% 1.81%
1991 2.19% 2.31%
1990 2.24% 2.82%
1989 2.26% 2.98%
1988 2.28% 3.09%
1987 2.31% 3.17%
1986 2.34% 3.25%
1985 2.35% 3.39%
1984 2.37% 3.52%
1983 2.37% 3.56%
1982 2.36% 3.52%
1981 2.38% 3.46%
1980 2.41% 3.09%
1979 2.35% 2.74%
1978 2.33% 2.77%
1977 2.39% 2.74%
1976 2.38% 2.74%
1975 2.39% 2.81%
1974 2.33% 2.86%
1973 2.28% 2.9%
1972 2.22% 2.91%
1971 2.24% 2.97%
1970 2.24% 3.08%
1969 2.14% 3.14%
1968 2.17% 3.17%
1967 2.17% 3.17%
1966 2.16% 3.15%
1965 2.28% 3.12%
1964 2.37% 3.1%
1963 2.37% 3.08%
1962 2.4% 3.02%
1961 2.43% 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/india/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of India grew by 0.89%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

India South Africa
Current population
1480351380
65683993
Population rank 1/197 24/197
Percent of world population 17.9% 0.79%
One net population change
2.45 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.36 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
3.32 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +35,250 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +12,866,195 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.89% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 107/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.06 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -495,753 +146,370
Net migration rank 195/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 4,796,255 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 15/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 181/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

India
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
India South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -495,753 - 146,370
2024 - -630,830 - 166,972
2023 13,711,993 -979,179 602,793 228,222
2022 13,912,130 -1,353,478 603,636 233,284
2021 10,227,523 -348,916 456,411 458,246
2020 13,366,946 -73,806 595,873 369,901
2019 14,859,846 -978,969 652,130 331,124
2018 15,451,168 -589,794 648,319 318,260
2017 15,394,041 -251,642 645,975 343,146
2016 16,202,593 81,248 641,365 -879,235
2015 16,211,195 -655,085 668,771 641,150
2014 16,165,943 -227,263 674,754 272,697
2013 17,107,541 -151,372 652,427 232,230
2012 17,552,365 -198,935 643,723 264,091
2011 17,793,362 -247,017 601,708 65,166
2010 17,991,935 -50,905 566,834 68,563
2009 18,286,055 -312,905 554,115 41,528
2008 18,234,926 -1,020,047 595,332 36,869
2007 18,331,648 -1,037,200 503,567 36,339
2006 18,641,737 -342,177 487,584 33,159
2005 19,034,839 -929,454 464,464 31,286
2004 19,469,758 -206,660 442,540 58,924
2003 19,720,507 -606,970 415,018 65,604
2002 20,024,621 -732,419 430,926 50,313
2001 20,182,573 -70,346 484,801 -60,793
2000 19,984,160 -143,960 526,963 -136,794
1999 19,648,424 -95,320 594,643 -126,011
1998 19,569,575 -1,049 627,027 -82,722
1997 19,494,098 880 667,969 -98,181
1996 19,442,699 -26,388 710,868 -193,007
1995 19,396,161 -57,297 743,488 -98,403
1994 19,310,798 -375,253 698,609 -268,849
1993 19,152,399 2,364 789,220 194,977
1992 19,132,757 35,155 794,415 -71,342
1991 19,049,524 -157,911 827,296 -39,131
1990 18,893,588 125,514 835,421 259,718
1989 18,848,915 -2,907 884,629 255,605
1988 18,702,916 -155,676 909,221 246,382
1987 18,496,213 -219,150 922,330 231,009
1986 18,455,495 -249,545 903,644 234,378
1985 17,968,697 -89,991 893,889 244,940
1984 17,698,810 -32,313 869,011 290,789
1983 17,219,127 119,694 837,013 310,172
1982 16,790,507 -10,687 807,550 293,195
1981 16,422,159 33,243 767,833 279,985
1980 16,018,786 210,914 738,415 258,127
1979 15,392,957 774,094 716,541 56,323
1978 14,898,145 -210,444 694,341 62,121
1977 14,575,662 590,626 680,929 63,739
1976 14,435,504 275,984 675,011 27,333
1975 13,958,642 434,205 667,862 38,809
1974 13,795,836 347,869 658,438 38,518
1973 13,412,707 -404,743 651,596 41,125
1972 13,041,792 -82,816 638,754 38,163
1971 12,787,104 -974,574 624,761 32,961
1970 12,417,866 233,782 605,102 61,514
1969 12,167,671 -851,844 590,794 73,225
1968 12,006,807 -995,416 571,841 78,932
1967 11,279,897 -70,314 553,741 81,932
1966 11,089,894 -566,982 534,862 77,417
1965 10,925,714 -248,299 506,632 82,514
1964 11,285,378 -141,916 490,606 76,298
1963 11,016,705 21,640 473,821 72,844
1962 10,743,409 -70,514 455,634 69,771
1961 10,468,816 295,177 437,851 57,728
1960 10,237,489 146,955 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 96.4% of the population change in India is from natural causes (a gain of 145,503,378 people) and 3.56% is from migration (a loss of 5,376,884 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, 4,796,255 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in India, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
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/india/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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