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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 13.2 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Kuwait vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait South Africa
2100 9,334,340 94,734,082
2099 9,260,081 94,523,360
2098 9,186,463 94,316,049
2097 9,113,170 94,125,043
2096 9,040,141 93,927,246
2095 8,967,450 93,719,451
2094 8,895,114 93,494,697
2093 8,823,113 93,267,274
2092 8,751,505 93,041,793
2091 8,680,321 92,793,249
2090 8,609,595 92,561,159
2089 8,539,136 92,322,396
2088 8,469,109 92,080,212
2087 8,399,564 91,833,409
2086 8,330,533 91,581,639
2085 8,261,971 91,352,906
2084 8,193,896 91,106,961
2083 8,126,269 90,845,161
2082 8,059,106 90,583,188
2081 7,992,347 90,313,417
2080 7,926,024 90,039,857
2079 7,860,286 89,770,116
2078 7,795,005 89,494,440
2077 7,730,203 89,217,520
2076 7,665,903 88,954,522
2075 7,602,169 88,681,719
2074 7,538,993 88,397,221
2073 7,476,318 88,118,589
2072 7,414,183 87,835,051
2071 7,352,798 87,509,098
2070 7,292,103 87,178,463
2069 7,231,928 86,870,660
2068 7,172,407 86,558,000
2067 7,113,525 86,237,764
2066 7,055,300 85,904,801
2065 6,997,659 85,573,984
2064 6,940,617 85,214,686
2063 6,883,966 84,845,370
2062 6,827,893 84,473,236
2061 6,772,426 84,103,016
2060 6,717,567 83,719,266
2059 6,663,194 83,325,330
2058 6,609,283 82,918,226
2057 6,555,790 82,508,742
2056 6,502,807 82,098,320
2055 6,450,126 81,669,191
2054 6,397,735 81,227,019
2053 6,345,468 80,789,939
2052 6,293,294 80,338,877
2051 6,241,127 79,858,310
2050 6,188,892 79,383,784
2049 6,136,684 78,897,472
2048 6,084,369 78,409,829
2047 6,032,063 77,894,547
2046 5,979,700 77,369,819
2045 5,927,211 76,852,544
2044 5,874,608 76,330,046
2043 5,822,127 75,800,788
2042 5,769,628 75,264,885
2041 5,717,337 74,721,871
2040 5,665,332 74,179,185
2039 5,613,613 73,636,894
2038 5,562,201 73,079,976
2037 5,511,310 72,506,991
2036 5,460,951 71,930,701
2035 5,411,185 71,337,219
2034 5,362,082 70,737,692
2033 5,313,716 70,128,299
2032 5,266,162 69,502,726
2031 5,219,420 68,865,544
2030 5,173,547 68,221,143
2029 5,125,419 67,549,189
2028 5,073,776 66,860,631
2027 5,015,009 66,166,759
2026 4,945,732 65,473,024
2025 4,865,298 64,747,319
2024 4,897,263 64,007,187
2023 4,853,420 63,212,384
2022 4,589,643 62,378,410
2021 4,360,865 61,502,603
2020 4,400,267 60,562,381
2019 4,442,316 59,587,885
2018 4,323,515 58,613,001
2017 4,154,812 57,635,162
2016 4,004,096 57,259,551
2015 3,834,574 56,723,537
2014 3,665,876 55,594,838
2013 3,507,844 54,678,791
2012 3,337,109 53,782,567
2011 3,132,814 52,995,205
2010 2,943,372 52,344,051
2009 2,795,484 51,728,516
2008 2,651,421 51,114,599
2007 2,507,887 50,528,584
2006 2,364,733 49,998,277
2005 2,236,788 49,490,033
2004 2,157,320 48,991,421
2003 2,109,881 48,500,348
2002 2,059,974 48,019,415
2001 2,008,121 47,566,800
2000 1,954,709 47,159,719
1999 1,900,030 46,730,335
1998 1,844,302 46,223,880
1997 1,787,683 45,666,838
1996 1,730,246 45,123,018
1995 1,681,513 44,541,554
1994 1,664,361 44,004,139
1993 1,672,151 43,297,156
1992 1,634,961 42,443,509
1991 1,351,399 41,687,898
1990 1,684,819 40,746,268
1989 2,217,468 39,628,575
1988 2,134,707 38,480,649
1987 2,052,994 37,326,190
1986 1,972,520 36,180,515
1985 1,894,242 35,042,093
1984 1,820,688 33,892,788
1983 1,744,295 32,739,304
1982 1,662,480 31,615,339
1981 1,583,426 30,541,044
1980 1,504,782 29,518,857
1979 1,423,514 28,634,162
1978 1,340,319 27,869,507
1977 1,258,023 27,118,952
1976 1,178,711 26,395,450
1975 1,104,863 25,690,940
1974 1,038,346 24,989,108
1973 977,654 24,294,263
1972 920,352 23,609,456
1971 865,076 22,942,143
1970 809,114 22,279,984
1969 749,452 21,614,676
1968 687,716 20,957,287
1967 628,089 20,314,066
1966 572,590 19,690,087
1965 521,174 19,089,380
1964 473,115 18,511,361
1963 427,694 17,954,564
1962 384,995 17,418,522
1961 345,945 16,908,035
1960 311,060 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/kuwait/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th 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) Kuwait's population will grow by 24.2% to 6,188,892 people with a rank change from 127th to 119th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait South Africa
2100 0.8% 0.22%
2099 0.8% 0.22%
2098 0.8% 0.2%
2097 0.81% 0.21%
2096 0.81% 0.22%
2095 0.81% 0.24%
2094 0.82% 0.24%
2093 0.82% 0.24%
2092 0.82% 0.27%
2091 0.82% 0.25%
2090 0.83% 0.26%
2089 0.83% 0.26%
2088 0.83% 0.27%
2087 0.83% 0.27%
2086 0.83% 0.25%
2085 0.83% 0.27%
2084 0.83% 0.29%
2083 0.83% 0.29%
2082 0.84% 0.3%
2081 0.84% 0.3%
2080 0.84% 0.3%
2079 0.84% 0.31%
2078 0.84% 0.31%
2077 0.84% 0.3%
2076 0.84% 0.31%
2075 0.84% 0.32%
2074 0.84% 0.32%
2073 0.84% 0.32%
2072 0.83% 0.37%
2071 0.83% 0.38%
2070 0.83% 0.35%
2069 0.83% 0.36%
2068 0.83% 0.37%
2067 0.83% 0.39%
2066 0.82% 0.39%
2065 0.82% 0.42%
2064 0.82% 0.44%
2063 0.82% 0.44%
2062 0.82% 0.44%
2061 0.82% 0.46%
2060 0.82% 0.47%
2059 0.82% 0.49%
2058 0.82% 0.5%
2057 0.81% 0.5%
2056 0.82% 0.53%
2055 0.82% 0.54%
2054 0.82% 0.54%
2053 0.83% 0.56%
2052 0.84% 0.6%
2051 0.84% 0.6%
2050 0.85% 0.62%
2049 0.86% 0.62%
2048 0.87% 0.66%
2047 0.88% 0.68%
2046 0.89% 0.67%
2045 0.9% 0.68%
2044 0.9% 0.7%
2043 0.91% 0.71%
2042 0.91% 0.73%
2041 0.92% 0.73%
2040 0.92% 0.74%
2039 0.92% 0.76%
2038 0.92% 0.79%
2037 0.92% 0.8%
2036 0.92% 0.83%
2035 0.92% 0.85%
2034 0.91% 0.87%
2033 0.9% 0.9%
2032 0.9% 0.93%
2031 0.89% 0.94%
2030 0.94% 0.99%
2029 1.02% 1.03%
2028 1.17% 1.05%
2027 1.4% 1.06%
2026 1.65% 1.12%
2025 -0.65% 1.16%
2024 0.9% 1.26%
2023 5.75% 1.34%
2022 5.25% 1.42%
2021 -0.9% 1.55%
2020 -0.95% 1.64%
2019 2.75% 1.66%
2018 4.06% 1.7%
2017 3.76% 0.66%
2016 4.42% 0.94%
2015 4.6% 2.03%
2014 4.51% 1.68%
2013 5.12% 1.67%
2012 6.52% 1.49%
2011 6.44% 1.24%
2010 5.29% 1.19%
2009 5.43% 1.2%
2008 5.72% 1.16%
2007 6.05% 1.06%
2006 5.72% 1.03%
2005 3.68% 1.02%
2004 2.25% 1.01%
2003 2.42% 1%
2002 2.58% 0.95%
2001 2.73% 0.86%
2000 2.88% 0.92%
1999 3.02% 1.1%
1998 3.17% 1.22%
1997 3.32% 1.21%
1996 2.9% 1.31%
1995 1.03% 1.22%
1994 -0.47% 1.63%
1993 2.27% 2.01%
1992 21% 1.81%
1991 -19.8% 2.31%
1990 -24% 2.82%
1989 3.88% 2.98%
1988 3.98% 3.09%
1987 4.08% 3.17%
1986 4.13% 3.25%
1985 4.04% 3.39%
1984 4.38% 3.52%
1983 4.92% 3.56%
1982 4.99% 3.52%
1981 5.23% 3.46%
1980 5.71% 3.09%
1979 6.21% 2.74%
1978 6.54% 2.77%
1977 6.73% 2.74%
1976 6.68% 2.74%
1975 6.41% 2.81%
1974 6.21% 2.86%
1973 6.23% 2.9%
1972 6.39% 2.91%
1971 6.92% 2.97%
1970 7.96% 3.08%
1969 8.98% 3.14%
1968 9.49% 3.17%
1967 9.69% 3.17%
1966 9.87% 3.15%
1965 10.2% 3.12%
1964 10.6% 3.1%
1963 11.1% 3.08%
1962 11.3% 3.02%
1961 11.2% 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/kuwait/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Kuwait South Africa
Current population
4981316
65829368
Population rank 127/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.79%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
10.7 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
1.18 hours
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -88 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 91/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +146,370
Net migration rank 24/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 146,370
2024 41,627 61,624 591,618 166,972
2023 42,568 50,008 602,793 228,222
2022 41,752 368,560 603,636 233,284
2021 42,057 19,678 456,411 458,246
2020 41,083 -168,379 595,873 369,901
2019 46,268 181 652,130 331,124
2018 47,222 145,973 648,319 318,260
2017 51,498 92,717 645,975 343,146
2016 51,397 105,818 641,365 -879,235
2015 52,127 129,695 668,771 641,150
2014 54,673 100,891 674,754 272,697
2013 52,666 107,821 652,427 232,230
2012 53,181 127,777 643,723 264,091
2011 50,733 176,732 601,708 65,166
2010 49,838 101,566 566,834 68,563
2009 48,879 95,483 554,115 41,528
2008 47,505 96,268 595,332 36,869
2007 46,539 96,765 503,567 36,339
2006 45,911 97,087 487,584 33,159
2005 45,243 67,638 464,464 31,286
2004 44,341 1,713 442,540 58,924
2003 42,934 5,895 415,018 65,604
2002 41,651 9,335 430,926 50,313
2001 40,662 12,055 484,801 -60,793
2000 39,811 14,296 526,963 -136,794
1999 39,342 15,912 594,643 -126,011
1998 39,324 16,878 627,027 -82,722
1997 39,581 17,457 667,969 -98,181
1996 39,920 17,914 710,868 -193,007
1995 39,198 438 743,488 -98,403
1994 36,533 -41,862 698,609 -268,849
1993 33,239 -43,501 789,220 194,977
1992 32,016 52,620 794,415 -71,342
1991 21,867 460,628 827,296 -39,131
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 835,421 259,718
1989 49,390 34,643 884,629 255,605
1988 50,037 31,455 909,221 246,382
1987 50,690 31,243 922,330 231,009
1986 51,824 27,187 903,644 234,378
1985 51,772 25,777 893,889 244,940
1984 52,539 17,020 869,011 290,789
1983 51,460 31,758 837,013 310,172
1982 49,981 30,437 807,550 293,195
1981 48,098 29,600 767,833 279,985
1980 47,096 32,483 738,415 258,127
1979 45,569 37,383 716,541 56,323
1978 44,277 39,159 694,341 62,121
1977 42,922 38,225 680,929 63,739
1976 41,439 36,050 675,011 27,333
1975 39,295 30,909 667,862 38,809
1974 37,425 25,398 658,438 38,518
1973 35,741 22,830 651,596 41,125
1972 34,045 21,984 638,754 38,163
1971 32,339 22,182 624,761 32,961
1970 30,789 26,614 605,102 61,514
1969 28,774 33,143 590,794 73,225
1968 26,161 35,399 571,841 78,932
1967 23,520 34,177 553,741 81,932
1966 20,914 32,383 534,862 77,417
1965 18,952 30,580 506,632 82,514
1964 17,064 29,537 490,606 76,298
1963 15,357 28,889 473,821 72,844
1962 13,730 27,417 455,634 69,771
1961 12,327 24,618 437,851 57,728
1960 11,054 21,769 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 36.2% of the population change in Kuwait is from natural causes (a gain of 457,599 people) and 63.8% is from migration (a gain of 805,875 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, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
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/kuwait/south-africa | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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