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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 1.42 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.92% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Iran vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran South Africa
2100 80,713,760 94,767,727
2099 81,246,718 94,556,931
2098 81,770,953 94,349,546
2097 82,295,714 94,158,472
2096 82,818,575 93,960,605
2095 83,338,446 93,752,736
2094 83,854,648 93,527,902
2093 84,371,569 93,300,398
2092 84,888,626 93,074,837
2091 85,410,099 92,826,204
2090 85,934,675 92,594,033
2089 86,466,409 92,355,184
2088 87,004,165 92,112,914
2087 87,549,685 91,866,024
2086 88,105,571 91,614,165
2085 88,668,329 91,385,350
2084 89,239,709 91,139,318
2083 89,817,194 90,877,425
2082 90,402,538 90,615,359
2081 90,995,822 90,345,492
2080 91,595,122 90,071,835
2079 92,196,842 89,801,998
2078 92,801,160 89,526,224
2077 93,405,954 89,249,206
2076 94,007,669 88,986,114
2075 94,606,607 88,713,215
2074 95,197,577 88,428,616
2073 95,783,994 88,149,885
2072 96,355,853 87,866,246
2071 96,915,335 87,540,177
2070 97,460,813 87,209,425
2069 97,988,897 86,901,512
2068 98,496,927 86,588,742
2067 98,978,509 86,268,392
2066 99,439,391 85,935,310
2065 99,877,457 85,604,376
2064 100,288,977 85,244,950
2063 100,668,199 84,875,503
2062 101,017,348 84,503,237
2061 101,332,810 84,132,885
2060 101,612,261 83,748,999
2059 101,858,931 83,354,923
2058 102,061,144 82,947,675
2057 102,228,085 82,538,045
2056 102,358,266 82,127,477
2055 102,449,092 81,698,196
2054 102,498,594 81,255,867
2053 102,508,245 80,818,632
2052 102,480,373 80,367,409
2051 102,417,847 79,886,672
2050 102,318,917 79,411,977
2049 102,189,816 78,925,493
2048 102,024,233 78,437,677
2047 101,832,213 77,922,211
2046 101,613,554 77,397,298
2045 101,371,784 76,879,838
2044 101,104,998 76,357,155
2043 100,818,045 75,827,709
2042 100,512,032 75,291,615
2041 100,188,214 74,748,408
2040 99,849,875 74,205,530
2039 99,501,869 73,663,047
2038 99,137,385 73,105,930
2037 98,759,167 72,532,742
2036 98,366,612 71,956,247
2035 97,963,082 71,362,555
2034 97,546,148 70,762,815
2033 97,118,106 70,153,205
2032 96,671,440 69,527,410
2031 96,204,118 68,890,002
2030 95,718,604 68,245,372
2029 95,195,996 67,573,179
2028 94,623,034 66,884,377
2027 93,987,260 66,190,258
2026 93,276,075 65,496,277
2025 92,478,162 64,770,314
2024 91,567,738 64,007,187
2023 90,608,707 63,212,384
2022 89,524,246 62,378,410
2021 88,455,488 61,502,603
2020 87,723,443 60,562,381
2019 87,051,648 59,587,885
2018 86,117,998 58,613,001
2017 85,026,754 57,635,162
2016 83,812,228 57,259,551
2015 82,619,362 56,723,537
2014 81,502,045 55,594,838
2013 80,414,686 54,678,791
2012 79,370,580 53,782,567
2011 78,383,598 52,995,205
2010 77,420,842 52,344,051
2009 76,457,825 51,728,516
2008 75,514,204 51,114,599
2007 74,602,648 50,528,584
2006 73,392,747 49,998,277
2005 71,828,455 49,490,033
2004 70,256,316 48,991,421
2003 68,769,340 48,500,348
2002 68,011,317 48,019,415
2001 67,452,005 47,566,800
2000 66,418,659 47,159,719
1999 65,445,391 46,730,335
1998 64,519,859 46,223,880
1997 63,639,638 45,666,838
1996 62,881,300 45,123,018
1995 62,205,567 44,541,554
1994 61,520,598 44,004,139
1993 61,403,543 43,297,156
1992 61,184,983 42,443,509
1991 59,986,931 41,687,898
1990 58,380,092 40,746,268
1989 56,704,914 39,628,575
1988 55,072,694 38,480,649
1987 53,323,493 37,326,190
1986 51,446,045 36,180,515
1985 49,582,289 35,042,093
1984 47,793,998 33,892,788
1983 46,029,535 32,739,304
1982 44,272,141 31,615,339
1981 41,989,312 30,541,044
1980 39,842,324 29,518,857
1979 38,424,952 28,634,162
1978 37,126,535 27,869,507
1977 35,933,181 27,118,952
1976 34,837,271 26,395,450
1975 33,802,973 25,690,940
1974 32,796,463 24,989,108
1973 31,839,838 24,294,263
1972 30,921,179 23,609,456
1971 30,029,071 22,942,143
1970 29,145,100 22,279,984
1969 28,273,482 21,614,676
1968 27,437,391 20,957,287
1967 26,628,432 20,314,066
1966 25,829,270 19,690,087
1965 25,036,978 19,089,380
1964 24,262,859 18,511,361
1963 23,519,005 17,954,564
1962 22,807,907 17,418,522
1961 22,125,726 16,908,035
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran South Africa
2100 -0.66% 0.22%
2099 -0.64% 0.22%
2098 -0.64% 0.2%
2097 -0.63% 0.21%
2096 -0.62% 0.22%
2095 -0.62% 0.24%
2094 -0.61% 0.24%
2093 -0.61% 0.24%
2092 -0.61% 0.27%
2091 -0.61% 0.25%
2090 -0.61% 0.26%
2089 -0.62% 0.26%
2088 -0.62% 0.27%
2087 -0.63% 0.27%
2086 -0.63% 0.25%
2085 -0.64% 0.27%
2084 -0.64% 0.29%
2083 -0.65% 0.29%
2082 -0.65% 0.3%
2081 -0.65% 0.3%
2080 -0.65% 0.3%
2079 -0.65% 0.31%
2078 -0.65% 0.31%
2077 -0.64% 0.3%
2076 -0.63% 0.31%
2075 -0.62% 0.32%
2074 -0.61% 0.32%
2073 -0.59% 0.32%
2072 -0.58% 0.37%
2071 -0.56% 0.38%
2070 -0.54% 0.35%
2069 -0.52% 0.36%
2068 -0.49% 0.37%
2067 -0.46% 0.39%
2066 -0.44% 0.39%
2065 -0.41% 0.42%
2064 -0.38% 0.44%
2063 -0.35% 0.44%
2062 -0.31% 0.44%
2061 -0.28% 0.46%
2060 -0.24% 0.47%
2059 -0.2% 0.49%
2058 -0.16% 0.5%
2057 -0.13% 0.5%
2056 -0.09% 0.53%
2055 -0.05% 0.54%
2054 -0.009% 0.54%
2053 0.03% 0.56%
2052 0.06% 0.6%
2051 0.1% 0.6%
2050 0.13% 0.62%
2049 0.16% 0.62%
2048 0.19% 0.66%
2047 0.22% 0.68%
2046 0.24% 0.67%
2045 0.26% 0.68%
2044 0.28% 0.7%
2043 0.3% 0.71%
2042 0.32% 0.73%
2041 0.34% 0.73%
2040 0.35% 0.74%
2039 0.37% 0.76%
2038 0.38% 0.79%
2037 0.4% 0.8%
2036 0.41% 0.83%
2035 0.43% 0.85%
2034 0.44% 0.87%
2033 0.46% 0.9%
2032 0.49% 0.93%
2031 0.51% 0.94%
2030 0.55% 0.99%
2029 0.61% 1.03%
2028 0.68% 1.05%
2027 0.76% 1.06%
2026 0.86% 1.12%
2025 0.99% 1.19%
2024 1.06% 1.26%
2023 1.21% 1.34%
2022 1.21% 1.42%
2021 0.83% 1.55%
2020 0.77% 1.64%
2019 1.08% 1.66%
2018 1.28% 1.7%
2017 1.45% 0.66%
2016 1.44% 0.94%
2015 1.37% 2.03%
2014 1.35% 1.68%
2013 1.32% 1.67%
2012 1.26% 1.49%
2011 1.24% 1.24%
2010 1.26% 1.19%
2009 1.25% 1.2%
2008 1.22% 1.16%
2007 1.65% 1.06%
2006 2.18% 1.03%
2005 2.24% 1.02%
2004 2.16% 1.01%
2003 1.11% 1%
2002 0.83% 0.95%
2001 1.56% 0.86%
2000 1.49% 0.92%
1999 1.43% 1.1%
1998 1.38% 1.22%
1997 1.21% 1.21%
1996 1.09% 1.31%
1995 1.11% 1.22%
1994 0.19% 1.63%
1993 0.36% 2.01%
1992 2% 1.81%
1991 2.75% 2.31%
1990 2.95% 2.82%
1989 2.96% 2.98%
1988 3.28% 3.09%
1987 3.65% 3.17%
1986 3.76% 3.25%
1985 3.74% 3.39%
1984 3.83% 3.52%
1983 3.97% 3.56%
1982 5.44% 3.52%
1981 5.39% 3.46%
1980 3.69% 3.09%
1979 3.5% 2.74%
1978 3.32% 2.77%
1977 3.15% 2.74%
1976 3.06% 2.74%
1975 3.07% 2.81%
1974 3% 2.86%
1973 2.97% 2.9%
1972 2.97% 2.91%
1971 3.03% 2.97%
1970 3.08% 3.08%
1969 3.05% 3.14%
1968 3.04% 3.17%
1967 3.09% 3.17%
1966 3.16% 3.15%
1965 3.19% 3.12%
1964 3.16% 3.1%
1963 3.12% 3.08%
1962 3.08% 3.02%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Iran South Africa
Current population
93468444
65683993
Population rank 17/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.79%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +146,370
Net migration rank 14/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 146,370
2024 - 190,156 - 166,972
2023 750,150 262,044 602,793 228,222
2022 753,525 403,190 603,636 233,284
2021 645,725 334,967 456,411 458,246
2020 663,978 -180,680 595,873 369,901
2019 893,063 -32,794 652,130 331,124
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 648,319 318,260
2017 1,140,549 34,849 645,975 343,146
2016 1,186,949 66,630 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 668,771 641,150
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 674,754 272,697
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 652,427 232,230
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 643,723 264,091
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 601,708 65,166
2010 980,380 -12,849 566,834 68,563
2009 958,322 211 554,115 41,528
2008 940,983 -12,184 595,332 36,869
2007 919,254 -24,950 503,567 36,339
2006 884,529 640,932 487,584 33,159
2005 837,305 765,873 464,464 31,286
2004 801,203 739,996 442,540 58,924
2003 732,600 700,222 415,018 65,604
2002 752,205 -668,962 430,926 50,313
2001 743,658 291,692 484,801 -60,793
2000 731,203 300,133 526,963 -136,794
1999 723,237 191,988 594,643 -126,011
1998 717,655 218,171 627,027 -82,722
1997 726,574 98,009 667,969 -98,181
1996 784,508 -92,435 710,868 -193,007
1995 879,648 -220,258 743,488 -98,403
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 698,609 -268,849
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 789,220 194,977
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 794,415 -71,342
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 827,296 -39,131
1990 1,530,434 200,711 835,421 259,718
1989 1,609,739 9,460 884,629 255,605
1988 1,614,512 30,688 909,221 246,382
1987 1,639,644 213,524 922,330 231,009
1986 1,659,289 242,411 903,644 234,378
1985 1,661,750 163,999 893,889 244,940
1984 1,653,051 97,748 869,011 290,789
1983 1,573,612 204,544 837,013 310,172
1982 1,514,240 222,390 807,550 293,195
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 767,833 279,985
1980 1,361,293 103,674 738,415 258,127
1979 1,294,306 75,451 716,541 56,323
1978 1,156,974 70,088 694,341 62,121
1977 1,091,542 68,093 680,929 63,739
1976 1,013,347 18,825 675,011 27,333
1975 929,481 106,921 667,862 38,809
1974 873,369 103,252 658,438 38,518
1973 831,880 104,779 651,596 41,125
1972 804,043 96,614 638,754 38,163
1971 805,830 77,717 624,761 32,961
1970 794,612 89,757 605,102 61,514
1969 780,660 78,196 590,794 73,225
1968 743,992 69,342 571,841 78,932
1967 727,276 77,313 553,741 81,932
1966 695,040 98,709 534,862 77,417
1965 663,029 127,808 506,632 82,514
1964 635,589 121,817 490,606 76,298
1963 620,126 110,190 473,821 72,844
1962 595,538 96,332 455,634 69,771
1961 594,674 77,811 437,851 57,728
1960 584,060 54,041 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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