Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 1.86 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 2.27% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Japan vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan South Africa
2100 76,995,942 94,734,082
2099 77,380,486 94,523,360
2098 77,759,557 94,316,049
2097 78,135,569 94,125,043
2096 78,515,892 93,927,246
2095 78,892,606 93,719,451
2094 79,267,768 93,494,697
2093 79,645,584 93,267,274
2092 80,025,578 93,041,793
2091 80,401,222 92,793,249
2090 80,778,500 92,561,159
2089 81,158,413 92,322,396
2088 81,539,639 92,080,212
2087 81,926,401 91,833,409
2086 82,322,612 91,581,639
2085 82,727,738 91,352,906
2084 83,141,354 91,106,961
2083 83,562,394 90,845,161
2082 83,998,809 90,583,188
2081 84,447,888 90,313,417
2080 84,918,455 90,039,857
2079 85,406,042 89,770,116
2078 85,916,840 89,494,440
2077 86,453,316 89,217,520
2076 87,012,155 88,954,522
2075 87,597,053 88,681,719
2074 88,209,803 88,397,221
2073 88,854,316 88,118,589
2072 89,519,055 87,835,051
2071 90,204,314 87,509,098
2070 90,919,143 87,178,463
2069 91,645,589 86,870,660
2068 92,388,299 86,558,000
2067 93,133,993 86,237,764
2066 93,889,902 85,904,801
2065 94,654,259 85,573,984
2064 95,412,429 85,214,686
2063 96,169,244 84,845,370
2062 96,924,236 84,473,236
2061 97,675,525 84,103,016
2060 98,422,553 83,719,266
2059 99,166,038 83,325,330
2058 99,890,950 82,918,226
2057 100,607,740 82,508,742
2056 101,318,164 82,098,320
2055 102,012,184 81,669,191
2054 102,706,063 81,227,019
2053 103,381,833 80,789,939
2052 104,059,800 80,338,877
2051 104,729,745 79,858,310
2050 105,400,477 79,383,784
2049 106,076,354 78,897,472
2048 106,754,699 78,409,829
2047 107,442,881 77,894,547
2046 108,139,155 77,369,819
2045 108,844,934 76,852,544
2044 109,553,441 76,330,046
2043 110,269,851 75,800,788
2042 110,992,599 75,264,885
2041 111,729,216 74,721,871
2040 112,463,507 74,179,185
2039 113,200,859 73,636,894
2038 113,940,856 73,079,976
2037 114,687,611 72,506,991
2036 115,436,359 71,930,701
2035 116,187,949 71,337,219
2034 116,936,734 70,737,692
2033 117,678,572 70,128,299
2032 118,419,247 69,502,726
2031 119,153,646 68,865,544
2030 119,882,512 68,221,143
2029 120,600,781 67,549,189
2028 121,314,239 66,860,631
2027 122,015,984 66,166,759
2026 122,704,252 65,473,024
2025 123,366,734 64,747,319
2024 123,975,371 64,007,187
2023 124,516,650 63,212,384
2022 125,124,989 62,378,410
2021 125,681,593 61,502,603
2020 126,261,000 60,562,381
2019 126,633,000 59,587,885
2018 126,811,000 58,613,001
2017 126,972,000 57,635,162
2016 127,076,000 57,259,551
2015 127,141,000 56,723,537
2014 127,276,000 55,594,838
2013 127,445,000 54,678,791
2012 127,629,000 53,782,567
2011 127,833,000 52,995,205
2010 128,070,000 52,344,051
2009 128,047,000 51,728,516
2008 128,063,000 51,114,599
2007 128,001,000 50,528,584
2006 127,854,000 49,998,277
2005 127,773,000 49,490,033
2004 127,761,000 48,991,421
2003 127,718,000 48,500,348
2002 127,445,000 48,019,415
2001 127,149,000 47,566,800
2000 126,843,000 47,159,719
1999 126,631,000 46,730,335
1998 126,400,000 46,223,880
1997 126,057,000 45,666,838
1996 125,757,000 45,123,018
1995 125,472,000 44,541,554
1994 125,178,000 44,004,139
1993 124,829,000 43,297,156
1992 124,425,000 42,443,509
1991 123,964,000 41,687,898
1990 123,478,000 40,746,268
1989 123,069,000 39,628,575
1988 122,578,000 38,480,649
1987 122,069,000 37,326,190
1986 121,482,000 36,180,515
1985 120,837,000 35,042,093
1984 120,083,000 33,892,788
1983 119,307,000 32,739,304
1982 118,480,000 31,615,339
1981 117,661,000 30,541,044
1980 116,807,000 29,518,857
1979 115,890,000 28,634,162
1978 114,913,000 27,869,507
1977 113,872,000 27,118,952
1976 112,775,000 26,395,450
1975 111,573,000 25,690,940
1974 110,162,000 24,989,108
1973 108,707,000 24,294,263
1972 107,188,000 23,609,456
1971 105,697,000 22,942,143
1970 103,403,000 22,279,984
1969 102,219,000 21,614,676
1968 101,011,000 20,957,287
1967 99,879,000 20,314,066
1966 98,851,000 19,690,087
1965 97,952,000 19,089,380
1964 96,903,000 18,511,361
1963 95,900,000 17,954,564
1962 94,933,000 17,418,522
1961 94,055,000 16,908,035
1960 93,216,000 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan South Africa
2100 -0.5% 0.22%
2099 -0.49% 0.22%
2098 -0.48% 0.2%
2097 -0.48% 0.21%
2096 -0.48% 0.22%
2095 -0.47% 0.24%
2094 -0.47% 0.24%
2093 -0.47% 0.24%
2092 -0.47% 0.27%
2091 -0.47% 0.25%
2090 -0.47% 0.26%
2089 -0.47% 0.26%
2088 -0.47% 0.27%
2087 -0.48% 0.27%
2086 -0.49% 0.25%
2085 -0.5% 0.27%
2084 -0.5% 0.29%
2083 -0.52% 0.29%
2082 -0.53% 0.3%
2081 -0.55% 0.3%
2080 -0.57% 0.3%
2079 -0.59% 0.31%
2078 -0.62% 0.31%
2077 -0.64% 0.3%
2076 -0.67% 0.31%
2075 -0.69% 0.32%
2074 -0.73% 0.32%
2073 -0.74% 0.32%
2072 -0.76% 0.37%
2071 -0.79% 0.38%
2070 -0.79% 0.35%
2069 -0.8% 0.36%
2068 -0.8% 0.37%
2067 -0.81% 0.39%
2066 -0.81% 0.39%
2065 -0.79% 0.42%
2064 -0.79% 0.44%
2063 -0.78% 0.44%
2062 -0.77% 0.44%
2061 -0.76% 0.46%
2060 -0.75% 0.47%
2059 -0.73% 0.49%
2058 -0.71% 0.5%
2057 -0.7% 0.5%
2056 -0.68% 0.53%
2055 -0.68% 0.54%
2054 -0.65% 0.54%
2053 -0.65% 0.56%
2052 -0.64% 0.6%
2051 -0.64% 0.6%
2050 -0.64% 0.62%
2049 -0.64% 0.62%
2048 -0.64% 0.66%
2047 -0.64% 0.68%
2046 -0.65% 0.67%
2045 -0.65% 0.68%
2044 -0.65% 0.7%
2043 -0.65% 0.71%
2042 -0.66% 0.73%
2041 -0.65% 0.73%
2040 -0.65% 0.74%
2039 -0.65% 0.76%
2038 -0.65% 0.79%
2037 -0.65% 0.8%
2036 -0.65% 0.83%
2035 -0.64% 0.85%
2034 -0.63% 0.87%
2033 -0.63% 0.9%
2032 -0.62% 0.93%
2031 -0.61% 0.94%
2030 -0.6% 0.99%
2029 -0.59% 1.03%
2028 -0.58% 1.05%
2027 -0.56% 1.06%
2026 -0.54% 1.12%
2025 -0.49% 1.16%
2024 -0.43% 1.26%
2023 -0.49% 1.34%
2022 -0.44% 1.42%
2021 -0.46% 1.55%
2020 -0.29% 1.64%
2019 -0.14% 1.66%
2018 -0.13% 1.7%
2017 -0.08% 0.66%
2016 -0.05% 0.94%
2015 -0.11% 2.03%
2014 -0.13% 1.68%
2013 -0.14% 1.67%
2012 -0.16% 1.49%
2011 -0.19% 1.24%
2010 0.02% 1.19%
2009 -0.01% 1.2%
2008 0.05% 1.16%
2007 0.11% 1.06%
2006 0.06% 1.03%
2005 0.009% 1.02%
2004 0.03% 1.01%
2003 0.21% 1%
2002 0.23% 0.95%
2001 0.24% 0.86%
2000 0.17% 0.92%
1999 0.18% 1.1%
1998 0.27% 1.22%
1997 0.24% 1.21%
1996 0.23% 1.31%
1995 0.23% 1.22%
1994 0.28% 1.63%
1993 0.32% 2.01%
1992 0.37% 1.81%
1991 0.39% 2.31%
1990 0.33% 2.82%
1989 0.4% 2.98%
1988 0.42% 3.09%
1987 0.48% 3.17%
1986 0.53% 3.25%
1985 0.63% 3.39%
1984 0.65% 3.52%
1983 0.7% 3.56%
1982 0.7% 3.52%
1981 0.73% 3.46%
1980 0.79% 3.09%
1979 0.85% 2.74%
1978 0.91% 2.77%
1977 0.97% 2.74%
1976 1.08% 2.74%
1975 1.28% 2.81%
1974 1.34% 2.86%
1973 1.42% 2.9%
1972 1.41% 2.91%
1971 2.22% 2.97%
1970 1.16% 3.08%
1969 1.2% 3.14%
1968 1.13% 3.17%
1967 1.04% 3.17%
1966 0.92% 3.15%
1965 1.08% 3.12%
1964 1.05% 3.1%
1963 1.02% 3.08%
1962 0.93% 3.02%
1961 0.9% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Japan South Africa
Current population
122704252
65829368
Population rank 12/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.79%
One net population change
52 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
44.6 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
19.1 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 91/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 +146,370
Net migration rank 10/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - 146,370
2024 -942,213 153,357 591,618 166,972
2023 -871,617 175,003 602,793 228,222
2022 -825,825 175,003 603,636 233,284
2021 -640,976 -34,996 456,411 458,246
2020 -542,923 42,001 595,873 369,901
2019 -531,858 318,190 652,130 331,124
2018 -456,520 320,601 648,319 318,260
2017 -406,310 322,564 645,975 343,146
2016 -343,106 314,732 641,365 -879,235
2015 -292,424 168,896 668,771 641,150
2014 -267,279 58,109 674,754 272,697
2013 -242,146 66,449 652,427 232,230
2012 -229,733 67,904 643,723 264,091
2011 -204,533 97,720 601,708 65,166
2010 -128,070 131,860 566,834 68,563
2009 -76,828 125,450 554,115 41,528
2008 -51,225 142,605 595,332 36,869
2007 -25,600 138,024 503,567 36,339
2006 12,785 130,065 487,584 33,159
2005 -25,554 113,017 464,464 31,286
2004 76,656 69,014 442,540 58,924
2003 114,946 74,875 415,018 65,604
2002 178,423 60,864 430,926 50,313
2001 203,438 59,563 484,801 -60,793
2000 228,317 23,468 526,963 -136,794
1999 202,610 56,901 594,643 -126,011
1998 265,440 45,912 627,027 -82,722
1997 277,325 43,366 667,969 -98,181
1996 314,392 25,030 710,868 -193,007
1995 276,039 87,714 743,488 -98,403
1994 363,017 154,214 698,609 -268,849
1993 312,073 168,836 789,220 194,977
1992 360,833 170,878 794,415 -71,342
1991 396,685 161,331 827,296 -39,131
1990 407,478 124,582 835,421 259,718
1989 467,662 31,202 884,629 255,605
1988 527,085 51,154 909,221 246,382
1987 598,138 28,001 922,330 231,009
1986 631,706 27,987 903,644 234,378
1985 676,687 -141,323 893,889 244,940
1984 756,523 -273,686 869,011 290,789
1983 775,495 -269,755 837,013 310,172
1982 805,664 -288,550 807,550 293,195
1981 811,861 -278,525 767,833 279,985
1980 864,372 -92,314 738,415 258,127
1979 950,298 -57,692 716,541 56,323
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 694,341 62,121
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 680,929 63,739
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 675,011 27,333
1975 1,204,989 107 667,862 38,809
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 658,438 38,518
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 651,596 41,125
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 638,754 38,163
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 624,761 32,961
1970 1,230,496 33,731 605,102 61,514
1969 1,195,962 49,447 590,794 73,225
1968 1,191,930 43,593 571,841 78,932
1967 1,258,475 29,632 553,741 81,932
1966 682,072 68,934 534,862 77,417
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 506,632 82,514
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 490,606 76,298
1963 987,770 -100,742 473,821 72,844
1962 901,864 -57,075 455,634 69,771
1961 893,522 -58,882 437,851 57,728
1960 894,874 -150,371 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.