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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Israel was 9,974,400 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Israel's population is 10,290,887 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.38 times bigger than Israel's.
  • Israel is ranked the 95th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.12% for Israel vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Israel has had an average growth rate of +1.96% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Israel has increased from 7.05M people to 10.3M (45.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Israel vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Israel
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Israel South Africa
2100 21,079,031 94,767,727
2099 20,971,907 94,556,931
2098 20,869,188 94,349,546
2097 20,764,637 94,158,472
2096 20,651,056 93,960,605
2095 20,537,392 93,752,736
2094 20,420,251 93,527,902
2093 20,294,077 93,300,398
2092 20,167,075 93,074,837
2091 20,038,540 92,826,204
2090 19,910,123 92,594,033
2089 19,788,579 92,355,184
2088 19,660,357 92,112,914
2087 19,527,597 91,866,024
2086 19,388,628 91,614,165
2085 19,246,899 91,385,350
2084 19,099,510 91,139,318
2083 18,955,502 90,877,425
2082 18,813,463 90,615,359
2081 18,667,367 90,345,492
2080 18,512,469 90,071,835
2079 18,362,060 89,801,998
2078 18,208,724 89,526,224
2077 18,053,774 89,249,206
2076 17,908,513 88,986,114
2075 17,761,880 88,713,215
2074 17,618,257 88,428,616
2073 17,477,875 88,149,885
2072 17,343,227 87,866,246
2071 17,195,556 87,540,177
2070 17,043,216 87,209,425
2069 16,890,521 86,901,512
2068 16,742,334 86,588,742
2067 16,593,617 86,268,392
2066 16,448,006 85,935,310
2065 16,297,575 85,604,376
2064 16,152,550 85,244,950
2063 15,997,249 84,875,503
2062 15,847,545 84,503,237
2061 15,695,962 84,132,885
2060 15,537,020 83,748,999
2059 15,383,512 83,354,923
2058 15,227,838 82,947,675
2057 15,069,709 82,538,045
2056 14,910,638 82,127,477
2055 14,746,579 81,698,196
2054 14,578,352 81,255,867
2053 14,414,886 80,818,632
2052 14,252,277 80,367,409
2051 14,090,930 79,886,672
2050 13,927,651 79,411,977
2049 13,765,178 78,925,493
2048 13,606,737 78,437,677
2047 13,448,310 77,922,211
2046 13,286,110 77,397,298
2045 13,126,049 76,879,838
2044 12,960,184 76,357,155
2043 12,796,533 75,827,709
2042 12,632,183 75,291,615
2041 12,471,494 74,748,408
2040 12,312,998 74,205,530
2039 12,152,920 73,663,047
2038 11,995,851 73,105,930
2037 11,841,052 72,532,742
2036 11,693,469 71,956,247
2035 11,543,041 71,362,555
2034 11,396,608 70,762,815
2033 11,252,344 70,153,205
2032 11,108,763 69,527,410
2031 10,961,050 68,890,002
2030 10,815,614 68,245,372
2029 10,675,258 67,573,179
2028 10,533,711 66,884,377
2027 10,393,227 66,190,258
2026 10,252,942 65,496,277
2025 10,113,937 64,770,314
2024 9,974,400 64,007,187
2023 9,849,000 63,212,384
2022 9,557,500 62,378,410
2021 9,371,400 61,502,603
2020 9,215,100 60,562,381
2019 9,054,000 59,587,885
2018 8,882,800 58,613,001
2017 8,713,300 57,635,162
2016 8,546,000 57,259,551
2015 8,380,100 56,723,537
2014 8,215,700 55,594,838
2013 8,059,500 54,678,791
2012 7,910,500 53,782,567
2011 7,765,800 52,995,205
2010 7,623,600 52,344,051
2009 7,485,600 51,728,516
2008 7,308,800 51,114,599
2007 7,180,100 50,528,584
2006 7,053,700 49,998,277
2005 6,930,100 49,490,033
2004 6,809,000 48,991,421
2003 6,689,700 48,500,348
2002 6,570,000 48,019,415
2001 6,439,000 47,566,800
2000 6,289,000 47,159,719
1999 6,125,000 46,730,335
1998 5,971,000 46,223,880
1997 5,836,000 45,666,838
1996 5,692,000 45,123,018
1995 5,545,000 44,541,554
1994 5,399,000 44,004,139
1993 5,261,000 43,297,156
1992 5,123,000 42,443,509
1991 4,949,000 41,687,898
1990 4,660,000 40,746,268
1989 4,518,000 39,628,575
1988 4,442,000 38,480,649
1987 4,369,000 37,326,190
1986 4,299,000 36,180,515
1985 4,233,000 35,042,093
1984 4,159,000 33,892,788
1983 4,105,000 32,739,304
1982 4,031,000 31,615,339
1981 3,956,000 30,541,044
1980 3,878,000 29,518,857
1979 3,786,000 28,634,162
1978 3,690,000 27,869,507
1977 3,613,000 27,118,952
1976 3,533,000 26,395,450
1975 3,455,000 25,690,940
1974 3,377,000 24,989,108
1973 3,278,000 24,294,263
1972 3,148,000 23,609,456
1971 3,069,000 22,942,143
1970 2,974,000 22,279,984
1969 2,877,000 21,614,676
1968 2,803,000 20,957,287
1967 2,745,000 20,314,066
1966 2,629,000 19,690,087
1965 2,563,000 19,089,380
1964 2,475,000 18,511,361
1963 2,379,000 17,954,564
1962 2,293,000 17,418,522
1961 2,185,000 16,908,035
1960 2,114,020 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/israel/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Israel increased by 1,492,300 people (a 21.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Israel gained 1,744,887 people (a 20.4% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Israel was ranked 99th most populous country in 2006 and is 95th 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) Israel's population will grow by 35.3% to 13,927,651 people with a rank change from 95th to 88th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Israel is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 21.1M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Israel
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Israel South Africa
2100 0.51% 0.22%
2099 0.49% 0.22%
2098 0.5% 0.2%
2097 0.55% 0.21%
2096 0.55% 0.22%
2095 0.57% 0.24%
2094 0.62% 0.24%
2093 0.63% 0.24%
2092 0.64% 0.27%
2091 0.64% 0.25%
2090 0.61% 0.26%
2089 0.65% 0.26%
2088 0.68% 0.27%
2087 0.72% 0.27%
2086 0.74% 0.25%
2085 0.77% 0.27%
2084 0.76% 0.29%
2083 0.75% 0.29%
2082 0.78% 0.3%
2081 0.84% 0.3%
2080 0.82% 0.3%
2079 0.84% 0.31%
2078 0.86% 0.31%
2077 0.81% 0.3%
2076 0.83% 0.31%
2075 0.82% 0.32%
2074 0.8% 0.32%
2073 0.78% 0.32%
2072 0.86% 0.37%
2071 0.89% 0.38%
2070 0.9% 0.35%
2069 0.89% 0.36%
2068 0.9% 0.37%
2067 0.89% 0.39%
2066 0.92% 0.39%
2065 0.9% 0.42%
2064 0.97% 0.44%
2063 0.94% 0.44%
2062 0.97% 0.44%
2061 1.02% 0.46%
2060 1% 0.47%
2059 1.02% 0.49%
2058 1.05% 0.5%
2057 1.07% 0.5%
2056 1.11% 0.53%
2055 1.15% 0.54%
2054 1.13% 0.54%
2053 1.14% 0.56%
2052 1.15% 0.6%
2051 1.17% 0.6%
2050 1.18% 0.62%
2049 1.16% 0.62%
2048 1.18% 0.66%
2047 1.22% 0.68%
2046 1.22% 0.67%
2045 1.28% 0.68%
2044 1.28% 0.7%
2043 1.3% 0.71%
2042 1.29% 0.73%
2041 1.29% 0.73%
2040 1.32% 0.74%
2039 1.31% 0.76%
2038 1.31% 0.79%
2037 1.26% 0.8%
2036 1.3% 0.83%
2035 1.28% 0.85%
2034 1.28% 0.87%
2033 1.29% 0.9%
2032 1.35% 0.93%
2031 1.34% 0.94%
2030 1.31% 0.99%
2029 1.34% 1.03%
2028 1.35% 1.05%
2027 1.37% 1.06%
2026 1.37% 1.12%
2025 1.4% 1.19%
2024 1.27% 1.26%
2023 3.05% 1.34%
2022 1.99% 1.42%
2021 1.7% 1.55%
2020 1.78% 1.64%
2019 1.93% 1.66%
2018 1.95% 1.7%
2017 1.96% 0.66%
2016 1.98% 0.94%
2015 2% 2.03%
2014 1.94% 1.68%
2013 1.88% 1.67%
2012 1.86% 1.49%
2011 1.87% 1.24%
2010 1.84% 1.19%
2009 2.42% 1.2%
2008 1.79% 1.16%
2007 1.79% 1.06%
2006 1.78% 1.03%
2005 1.78% 1.02%
2004 1.78% 1.01%
2003 1.82% 1%
2002 2.03% 0.95%
2001 2.39% 0.86%
2000 2.68% 0.92%
1999 2.58% 1.1%
1998 2.31% 1.22%
1997 2.53% 1.21%
1996 2.65% 1.31%
1995 2.7% 1.22%
1994 2.62% 1.63%
1993 2.69% 2.01%
1992 3.52% 1.81%
1991 6.2% 2.31%
1990 3.14% 2.82%
1989 1.71% 2.98%
1988 1.67% 3.09%
1987 1.63% 3.17%
1986 1.56% 3.25%
1985 1.78% 3.39%
1984 1.32% 3.52%
1983 1.84% 3.56%
1982 1.9% 3.52%
1981 2.01% 3.46%
1980 2.43% 3.09%
1979 2.6% 2.74%
1978 2.13% 2.77%
1977 2.26% 2.74%
1976 2.26% 2.74%
1975 2.31% 2.81%
1974 3.02% 2.86%
1973 4.13% 2.9%
1972 2.57% 2.91%
1971 3.19% 2.97%
1970 3.37% 3.08%
1969 2.64% 3.14%
1968 2.11% 3.17%
1967 4.41% 3.17%
1966 2.58% 3.15%
1965 3.56% 3.12%
1964 4.04% 3.1%
1963 3.75% 3.08%
1962 4.94% 3.02%
1961 3.36% 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/israel/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Israel grew by 1.27%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Israel South Africa
Current population
10290887
65683993
Population rank 95/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.79%
One net population change
4.19 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
2.87 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
10.3 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +344 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +125,400 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.27% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 84/197 85/197
One migration net change every
46 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +11,466 +146,370
Net migration rank 42/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,091,569 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 35/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 22.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 26/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Israel
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Israel South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 11,466 - 146,370
2024 - 10,612 - 166,972
2023 131,977 9,999 602,793 228,222
2022 129,982 50,004 603,636 233,284
2021 134,011 16,859 456,411 458,246
2020 128,089 16,573 595,873 369,901
2019 135,810 16,134 652,130 331,124
2018 140,348 15,615 648,319 318,260
2017 138,541 14,518 645,975 343,146
2016 136,736 24,308 641,365 -879,235
2015 134,082 29,735 668,771 641,150
2014 133,916 25,303 674,754 272,697
2013 129,758 17,075 652,427 232,230
2012 128,941 16,549 643,723 264,091
2011 125,030 10,470 601,708 65,166
2010 126,552 12,906 566,834 68,563
2009 122,015 7,269 554,115 41,528
2008 117,672 7,974 595,332 36,869
2007 111,292 9,654 503,567 36,339
2006 109,332 11,446 487,584 33,159
2005 105,338 10,975 464,464 31,286
2004 106,901 8,494 442,540 58,924
2003 106,366 6,684 415,018 65,604
2002 101,178 17,420 430,926 50,313
2001 99,160 38,643 484,801 -60,793
2000 98,737 63,409 526,963 -136,794
1999 94,325 78,422 594,643 -126,011
1998 93,744 52,713 627,027 -82,722
1997 88,707 60,297 667,969 -98,181
1996 86,518 66,811 710,868 -193,007
1995 82,066 61,800 743,488 -98,403
1994 79,365 57,273 698,609 -268,849
1993 77,337 49,345 789,220 194,977
1992 77,357 57,522 794,415 -71,342
1991 73,740 153,141 827,296 -39,131
1990 71,764 178,732 835,421 259,718
1989 68,674 14,192 884,629 255,605
1988 71,072 1,675 909,221 246,382
1987 69,904 7,511 922,330 231,009
1986 70,073 -3,598 903,644 234,378
1985 71,538 -3,686 893,889 244,940
1984 70,703 10,933 869,011 290,789
1983 70,196 689 837,013 310,172
1982 68,931 16,563 807,550 293,195
1981 67,647 16,021 767,833 279,985
1980 68,253 16,284 738,415 258,127
1979 68,148 15,591 716,541 56,323
1978 67,158 15,556 694,341 62,121
1977 70,092 12,747 680,929 63,739
1976 74,899 10,459 675,011 27,333
1975 70,828 11,726 667,862 38,809
1974 68,891 11,929 658,438 38,518
1973 65,560 14,310 651,596 41,125
1972 62,960 27,415 638,754 38,163
1971 64,449 52,632 624,761 32,961
1970 56,506 56,173 605,102 61,514
1969 53,800 59,928 590,794 73,225
1968 51,014 60,804 571,841 78,932
1967 47,488 59,483 553,741 81,932
1966 50,477 57,347 534,862 77,417
1965 49,979 54,694 506,632 82,514
1964 48,015 54,050 490,606 76,298
1963 44,964 53,877 473,821 72,844
1962 43,337 52,313 455,634 69,771
1961 42,170 34,482 437,851 57,728
1960 44,818 10,990 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 86% of the population change in Israel is from natural causes (a gain of 1,343,492 people) and 14% is from migration (a gain of 219,048 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, 2,091,569 residents or 22.3% of the population were not native-born in Israel, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Israel
City Population
Jerusalem 936K
Tel Aviv 468K
Haifa 283K
Rishon LeZion 250K
Petah Tikva 236K
Netanya 217K
Beersheba 209K
Holon 194K
Bnei Brak 194K
Ramat Gan 159K
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/israel/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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