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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Jamaica was 2,839,175 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Jamaica's population is 2,834,980 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 23.2 times bigger than Jamaica's.
  • Jamaica is ranked the 139th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.03% for Jamaica vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Jamaica has had an average growth rate of +0.18% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Jamaica has increased from 2.7M people to 2.83M (4.96% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Jamaica vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Jamaica
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Jamaica South Africa
2100 1,075,936 94,767,727
2099 1,095,350 94,556,931
2098 1,115,242 94,349,546
2097 1,135,653 94,158,472
2096 1,156,525 93,960,605
2095 1,177,966 93,752,736
2094 1,200,045 93,527,902
2093 1,222,794 93,300,398
2092 1,246,199 93,074,837
2091 1,270,303 92,826,204
2090 1,294,988 92,594,033
2089 1,320,362 92,355,184
2088 1,346,290 92,112,914
2087 1,372,809 91,866,024
2086 1,399,955 91,614,165
2085 1,427,808 91,385,350
2084 1,456,011 91,139,318
2083 1,484,393 90,877,425
2082 1,513,542 90,615,359
2081 1,543,136 90,345,492
2080 1,573,400 90,071,835
2079 1,603,926 89,801,998
2078 1,634,499 89,526,224
2077 1,665,602 89,249,206
2076 1,696,763 88,986,114
2075 1,728,143 88,713,215
2074 1,760,036 88,428,616
2073 1,791,818 88,149,885
2072 1,823,794 87,866,246
2071 1,855,585 87,540,177
2070 1,887,318 87,209,425
2069 1,918,759 86,901,512
2068 1,950,157 86,588,742
2067 1,981,247 86,268,392
2066 2,012,035 85,935,310
2065 2,043,276 85,604,376
2064 2,073,988 85,244,950
2063 2,104,265 84,875,503
2062 2,134,508 84,503,237
2061 2,164,312 84,132,885
2060 2,194,058 83,748,999
2059 2,223,310 83,354,923
2058 2,252,286 82,947,675
2057 2,280,579 82,538,045
2056 2,308,936 82,127,477
2055 2,336,830 81,698,196
2054 2,364,245 81,255,867
2053 2,390,891 80,818,632
2052 2,416,741 80,367,409
2051 2,441,989 79,886,672
2050 2,466,771 79,411,977
2049 2,491,589 78,925,493
2048 2,515,667 78,437,677
2047 2,539,219 77,922,211
2046 2,562,324 77,397,298
2045 2,584,663 76,879,838
2044 2,606,489 76,357,155
2043 2,627,486 75,827,709
2042 2,647,490 75,291,615
2041 2,666,429 74,748,408
2040 2,684,551 74,205,530
2039 2,702,027 73,663,047
2038 2,718,374 73,105,930
2037 2,734,180 72,532,742
2036 2,748,725 71,956,247
2035 2,761,886 71,362,555
2034 2,774,297 70,762,815
2033 2,785,381 70,153,205
2032 2,795,619 69,527,410
2031 2,804,329 68,890,002
2030 2,812,297 68,245,372
2029 2,819,213 67,573,179
2028 2,825,235 66,884,377
2027 2,830,534 66,190,258
2026 2,834,980 65,496,277
2025 2,837,881 64,770,314
2024 2,839,175 64,007,187
2023 2,839,786 63,212,384
2022 2,839,144 62,378,410
2021 2,837,682 61,502,603
2020 2,830,739 60,562,381
2019 2,823,271 59,587,885
2018 2,820,097 58,613,001
2017 2,815,764 57,635,162
2016 2,809,915 57,259,551
2015 2,802,534 56,723,537
2014 2,793,749 55,594,838
2013 2,783,687 54,678,791
2012 2,772,430 53,782,567
2011 2,760,494 52,995,205
2010 2,748,568 52,344,051
2009 2,736,995 51,728,516
2008 2,725,635 51,114,599
2007 2,713,800 50,528,584
2006 2,700,968 49,998,277
2005 2,687,066 49,490,033
2004 2,672,225 48,991,421
2003 2,656,623 48,500,348
2002 2,640,572 48,019,415
2001 2,624,403 47,566,800
2000 2,607,826 47,159,719
1999 2,589,795 46,730,335
1998 2,569,736 46,223,880
1997 2,547,848 45,666,838
1996 2,524,463 45,123,018
1995 2,500,151 44,541,554
1994 2,475,220 44,004,139
1993 2,449,916 43,297,156
1992 2,424,701 42,443,509
1991 2,400,869 41,687,898
1990 2,379,877 40,746,268
1989 2,361,916 39,628,575
1988 2,345,777 38,480,649
1987 2,329,813 37,326,190
1986 2,312,125 36,180,515
1985 2,290,656 35,042,093
1984 2,264,562 33,892,788
1983 2,234,832 32,739,304
1982 2,203,889 31,615,339
1981 2,173,818 30,541,044
1980 2,145,658 29,518,857
1979 2,119,486 28,634,162
1978 2,094,836 27,869,507
1977 2,070,657 27,118,952
1976 2,045,578 26,395,450
1975 2,018,981 25,690,940
1974 1,990,906 24,989,108
1973 1,961,219 24,294,263
1972 1,931,542 23,609,456
1971 1,903,728 22,942,143
1970 1,878,196 22,279,984
1969 1,855,127 21,614,676
1968 1,833,765 20,957,287
1967 1,812,865 20,314,066
1966 1,791,475 19,690,087
1965 1,769,192 19,089,380
1964 1,745,568 18,511,361
1963 1,721,099 17,954,564
1962 1,696,932 17,418,522
1961 1,673,261 16,908,035
1960 1,650,005 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/jamaica/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Jamaica increased by 108,947 people (a 4.03% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Jamaica gained 25,065 people (a 0.89% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Jamaica was ranked 136th most populous country in 2006 and is 139th 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) Jamaica's population will shrink by 13% to 2,466,771 people with a rank change from 139th to 143rd. 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 Jamaica's population already peaked in 2023 at 2.84M people and is projected to decrease to 1.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Jamaica
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Jamaica South Africa
2100 -1.77% 0.22%
2099 -1.78% 0.22%
2098 -1.8% 0.2%
2097 -1.8% 0.21%
2096 -1.82% 0.22%
2095 -1.84% 0.24%
2094 -1.86% 0.24%
2093 -1.88% 0.24%
2092 -1.9% 0.27%
2091 -1.91% 0.25%
2090 -1.92% 0.26%
2089 -1.93% 0.26%
2088 -1.93% 0.27%
2087 -1.94% 0.27%
2086 -1.95% 0.25%
2085 -1.94% 0.27%
2084 -1.91% 0.29%
2083 -1.93% 0.29%
2082 -1.92% 0.3%
2081 -1.92% 0.3%
2080 -1.9% 0.3%
2079 -1.87% 0.31%
2078 -1.87% 0.31%
2077 -1.84% 0.3%
2076 -1.82% 0.31%
2075 -1.81% 0.32%
2074 -1.77% 0.32%
2073 -1.75% 0.32%
2072 -1.71% 0.37%
2071 -1.68% 0.38%
2070 -1.64% 0.35%
2069 -1.61% 0.36%
2068 -1.57% 0.37%
2067 -1.53% 0.39%
2066 -1.53% 0.39%
2065 -1.48% 0.42%
2064 -1.44% 0.44%
2063 -1.42% 0.44%
2062 -1.38% 0.44%
2061 -1.36% 0.46%
2060 -1.32% 0.47%
2059 -1.29% 0.49%
2058 -1.24% 0.5%
2057 -1.23% 0.5%
2056 -1.19% 0.53%
2055 -1.16% 0.54%
2054 -1.11% 0.54%
2053 -1.07% 0.56%
2052 -1.03% 0.6%
2051 -1% 0.6%
2050 -1% 0.62%
2049 -0.96% 0.62%
2048 -0.93% 0.66%
2047 -0.9% 0.68%
2046 -0.86% 0.67%
2045 -0.84% 0.68%
2044 -0.8% 0.7%
2043 -0.76% 0.71%
2042 -0.71% 0.73%
2041 -0.68% 0.73%
2040 -0.65% 0.74%
2039 -0.6% 0.76%
2038 -0.58% 0.79%
2037 -0.53% 0.8%
2036 -0.48% 0.83%
2035 -0.45% 0.85%
2034 -0.4% 0.87%
2033 -0.37% 0.9%
2032 -0.31% 0.93%
2031 -0.28% 0.94%
2030 -0.25% 0.99%
2029 -0.21% 1.03%
2028 -0.19% 1.05%
2027 -0.16% 1.06%
2026 -0.1% 1.12%
2025 -0.05% 1.19%
2024 -0.02% 1.26%
2023 0.02% 1.34%
2022 0.05% 1.42%
2021 0.25% 1.55%
2020 0.26% 1.64%
2019 0.11% 1.66%
2018 0.15% 1.7%
2017 0.21% 0.66%
2016 0.26% 0.94%
2015 0.31% 2.03%
2014 0.36% 1.68%
2013 0.41% 1.67%
2012 0.43% 1.49%
2011 0.43% 1.24%
2010 0.42% 1.19%
2009 0.42% 1.2%
2008 0.44% 1.16%
2007 0.48% 1.06%
2006 0.52% 1.03%
2005 0.56% 1.02%
2004 0.59% 1.01%
2003 0.61% 1%
2002 0.62% 0.95%
2001 0.64% 0.86%
2000 0.7% 0.92%
1999 0.78% 1.1%
1998 0.86% 1.22%
1997 0.93% 1.21%
1996 0.97% 1.31%
1995 1.01% 1.22%
1994 1.03% 1.63%
1993 1.04% 2.01%
1992 0.99% 1.81%
1991 0.88% 2.31%
1990 0.76% 2.82%
1989 0.69% 2.98%
1988 0.69% 3.09%
1987 0.77% 3.17%
1986 0.94% 3.25%
1985 1.15% 3.39%
1984 1.33% 3.52%
1983 1.4% 3.56%
1982 1.38% 3.52%
1981 1.31% 3.46%
1980 1.23% 3.09%
1979 1.18% 2.74%
1978 1.17% 2.77%
1977 1.23% 2.74%
1976 1.32% 2.74%
1975 1.41% 2.81%
1974 1.51% 2.86%
1973 1.54% 2.9%
1972 1.46% 2.91%
1971 1.36% 2.97%
1970 1.24% 3.08%
1969 1.16% 3.14%
1968 1.15% 3.17%
1967 1.19% 3.17%
1966 1.26% 3.15%
1965 1.35% 3.12%
1964 1.42% 3.1%
1963 1.42% 3.08%
1962 1.41% 3.02%
1961 1.41% 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/jamaica/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Jamaica declined by 0.02%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Jamaica South Africa
Current population
2834980
65683993
Population rank 139/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
14.3 hours
39.7 seconds
One birth every
15.9 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
22.9 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -2 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -611 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 166/197 85/197
One migration net change every
47.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -11,053 +146,370
Net migration rank 135/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 24,007 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 168/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 161/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Jamaica
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Jamaica South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,053 - 146,370
2024 - -10,506 - 166,972
2023 10,072 -10,003 602,793 228,222
2022 11,215 -10,003 603,636 233,284
2021 6,382 -4,665 456,411 458,246
2020 12,170 0 595,873 369,901
2019 13,094 -10,335 652,130 331,124
2018 13,929 -10,335 648,319 318,260
2017 15,419 -10,335 645,975 343,146
2016 16,944 -10,335 641,365 -879,235
2015 18,489 -10,335 668,771 641,150
2014 19,751 -10,335 674,754 272,697
2013 21,037 -10,335 652,427 232,230
2012 22,320 -10,498 643,723 264,091
2011 23,627 -11,577 601,708 65,166
2010 25,031 -13,248 566,834 68,563
2009 26,311 -14,941 554,115 41,528
2008 27,553 -16,191 595,332 36,869
2007 28,886 -16,588 503,567 36,339
2006 30,213 -16,840 487,584 33,159
2005 31,506 -17,071 464,464 31,286
2004 32,500 -17,256 442,540 58,924
2003 33,340 -17,380 415,018 65,604
2002 33,572 -17,428 430,926 50,313
2001 33,666 -17,466 484,801 -60,793
2000 34,452 -17,498 526,963 -136,794
1999 36,649 -17,542 594,643 -126,011
1998 38,628 -17,623 627,027 -82,722
1997 40,521 -17,756 667,969 -98,181
1996 42,297 -18,285 710,868 -193,007
1995 43,705 -19,092 743,488 -98,403
1994 45,210 -19,960 698,609 -268,849
1993 46,090 -20,731 789,220 194,977
1992 46,494 -21,426 794,415 -71,342
1991 45,617 -23,014 827,296 -39,131
1990 44,465 -25,085 835,421 259,718
1989 43,591 -27,049 884,629 255,605
1988 43,978 -28,247 909,221 246,382
1987 44,155 -27,958 922,330 231,009
1986 44,520 -25,339 903,644 234,378
1985 45,122 -21,371 893,889 244,940
1984 45,644 -17,211 869,011 290,789
1983 45,095 -14,065 837,013 310,172
1982 43,816 -12,952 807,550 293,195
1981 42,898 -13,619 767,833 279,985
1980 42,316 -15,277 738,415 258,127
1979 42,449 -17,143 716,541 56,323
1978 42,475 -18,483 694,341 62,121
1977 42,999 -18,630 680,929 63,739
1976 43,878 -18,084 675,011 27,333
1975 44,736 -17,340 667,862 38,809
1974 45,526 -16,769 658,438 38,518
1973 47,438 -16,822 651,596 41,125
1972 46,676 -17,934 638,754 38,163
1971 47,206 -20,322 624,761 32,961
1970 47,547 -23,371 605,102 61,514
1969 48,258 -26,304 590,794 73,225
1968 49,189 -28,424 571,841 78,932
1967 50,187 -29,147 553,741 81,932
1966 50,808 -29,065 534,862 77,417
1965 51,423 -28,611 506,632 82,514
1964 52,501 -28,066 490,606 76,298
1963 52,277 -27,757 473,821 72,844
1962 51,758 -27,936 455,634 69,771
1961 51,931 -28,416 437,851 57,728
1960 51,944 -28,952 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 61.3% of the population change in Jamaica is from natural causes (a gain of 137,465 people) and 38.7% is from migration (a loss of 86,681 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, 24,007 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Jamaica, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
Half Way Tree 96.5K
May Pen 61.5K
Mandeville 48.3K
Old Harbour 28.7K
Linstead 22.8K
Savanna-la-Mar 22.6K
Port Antonio 14.8K
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/jamaica/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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