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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,847,785 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,826,986 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 36 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Latvia is ranked the 149th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.02% for Latvia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Latvia has had an average growth rate of -0.69% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.6% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Latvia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia South Africa
2100 922,007 94,734,082
2099 931,466 94,523,360
2098 940,927 94,316,049
2097 950,258 94,125,043
2096 959,655 93,927,246
2095 968,997 93,719,451
2094 978,324 93,494,697
2093 987,606 93,267,274
2092 996,982 93,041,793
2091 1,006,431 92,793,249
2090 1,015,921 92,561,159
2089 1,025,435 92,322,396
2088 1,035,083 92,080,212
2087 1,044,938 91,833,409
2086 1,054,879 91,581,639
2085 1,064,880 91,352,906
2084 1,075,183 91,106,961
2083 1,085,772 90,845,161
2082 1,096,487 90,583,188
2081 1,107,392 90,313,417
2080 1,118,511 90,039,857
2079 1,129,885 89,770,116
2078 1,141,268 89,494,440
2077 1,152,706 89,217,520
2076 1,164,352 88,954,522
2075 1,176,176 88,681,719
2074 1,188,082 88,397,221
2073 1,199,974 88,118,589
2072 1,211,961 87,835,051
2071 1,224,298 87,509,098
2070 1,236,755 87,178,463
2069 1,249,300 86,870,660
2068 1,262,278 86,558,000
2067 1,275,443 86,237,764
2066 1,288,533 85,904,801
2065 1,302,103 85,573,984
2064 1,315,729 85,214,686
2063 1,329,295 84,845,370
2062 1,342,898 84,473,236
2061 1,356,597 84,103,016
2060 1,370,646 83,719,266
2059 1,384,579 83,325,330
2058 1,398,610 82,918,226
2057 1,412,764 82,508,742
2056 1,426,866 82,098,320
2055 1,440,673 81,669,191
2054 1,454,475 81,227,019
2053 1,468,103 80,789,939
2052 1,481,591 80,338,877
2051 1,494,244 79,858,310
2050 1,506,958 79,383,784
2049 1,519,679 78,897,472
2048 1,532,326 78,409,829
2047 1,544,855 77,894,547
2046 1,557,274 77,369,819
2045 1,570,010 76,852,544
2044 1,582,416 76,330,046
2043 1,594,893 75,800,788
2042 1,607,225 75,264,885
2041 1,620,006 74,721,871
2040 1,632,650 74,179,185
2039 1,645,713 73,636,894
2038 1,658,653 73,079,976
2037 1,671,596 72,506,991
2036 1,684,899 71,930,701
2035 1,698,177 71,337,219
2034 1,711,808 70,737,692
2033 1,725,938 70,128,299
2032 1,740,330 69,502,726
2031 1,754,642 68,865,544
2030 1,769,574 68,221,143
2029 1,784,112 67,549,189
2028 1,798,494 66,860,631
2027 1,812,843 66,166,759
2026 1,826,986 65,473,024
2025 1,847,785 64,747,319
2024 1,866,124 64,007,187
2023 1,883,710 63,212,384
2022 1,879,383 62,378,410
2021 1,884,490 61,502,603
2020 1,900,449 60,562,381
2019 1,913,822 59,587,885
2018 1,927,174 58,613,001
2017 1,942,248 57,635,162
2016 1,959,537 57,259,551
2015 1,977,527 56,723,537
2014 1,993,782 55,594,838
2013 2,012,647 54,678,791
2012 2,034,319 53,782,567
2011 2,059,709 52,995,205
2010 2,097,555 52,344,051
2009 2,141,669 51,728,516
2008 2,177,322 51,114,599
2007 2,200,325 50,528,584
2006 2,218,357 49,998,277
2005 2,238,799 49,490,033
2004 2,263,122 48,991,421
2003 2,287,955 48,500,348
2002 2,310,173 48,019,415
2001 2,337,170 47,566,800
2000 2,367,550 47,159,719
1999 2,390,482 46,730,335
1998 2,410,019 46,223,880
1997 2,432,851 45,666,838
1996 2,457,222 45,123,018
1995 2,485,056 44,541,554
1994 2,520,742 44,004,139
1993 2,563,290 43,297,156
1992 2,614,338 42,443,509
1991 2,650,581 41,687,898
1990 2,663,151 40,746,268
1989 2,666,955 39,628,575
1988 2,653,434 38,480,649
1987 2,626,583 37,326,190
1986 2,599,892 36,180,515
1985 2,578,873 35,042,093
1984 2,562,047 33,892,788
1983 2,546,011 32,739,304
1982 2,531,080 31,615,339
1981 2,519,421 30,541,044
1980 2,511,701 29,518,857
1979 2,505,953 28,634,162
1978 2,497,921 27,869,507
1977 2,485,073 27,118,952
1976 2,470,989 26,395,450
1975 2,456,130 25,690,940
1974 2,437,186 24,989,108
1973 2,415,819 24,294,263
1972 2,395,674 23,609,456
1971 2,376,389 22,942,143
1970 2,359,164 22,279,984
1969 2,343,173 21,614,676
1968 2,323,619 20,957,287
1967 2,301,220 20,314,066
1966 2,283,217 19,690,087
1965 2,265,919 19,089,380
1964 2,240,623 18,511,361
1963 2,210,919 17,954,564
1962 2,181,586 17,418,522
1961 2,152,681 16,908,035
1960 2,120,979 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/latvia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Latvia decreased by 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Latvia lost 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Latvia was ranked 140th most populous country in 2006 and is 149th 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) Latvia's population will shrink by 17.5% to 1,506,958 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. 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 Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 922K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Latvia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Latvia South Africa
2100 -1.02% 0.22%
2099 -1.01% 0.22%
2098 -0.98% 0.2%
2097 -0.98% 0.21%
2096 -0.96% 0.22%
2095 -0.95% 0.24%
2094 -0.94% 0.24%
2093 -0.94% 0.24%
2092 -0.94% 0.27%
2091 -0.93% 0.25%
2090 -0.93% 0.26%
2089 -0.93% 0.26%
2088 -0.94% 0.27%
2087 -0.94% 0.27%
2086 -0.94% 0.25%
2085 -0.96% 0.27%
2084 -0.98% 0.29%
2083 -0.98% 0.29%
2082 -0.98% 0.3%
2081 -0.99% 0.3%
2080 -1.01% 0.3%
2079 -1% 0.31%
2078 -0.99% 0.31%
2077 -1% 0.3%
2076 -1.01% 0.31%
2075 -1% 0.32%
2074 -0.99% 0.32%
2073 -0.99% 0.32%
2072 -1.01% 0.37%
2071 -1.01% 0.38%
2070 -1% 0.35%
2069 -1.03% 0.36%
2068 -1.03% 0.37%
2067 -1.02% 0.39%
2066 -1.04% 0.39%
2065 -1.04% 0.42%
2064 -1.02% 0.44%
2063 -1.01% 0.44%
2062 -1.01% 0.44%
2061 -1.03% 0.46%
2060 -1.01% 0.47%
2059 -1% 0.49%
2058 -1% 0.5%
2057 -0.99% 0.5%
2056 -0.96% 0.53%
2055 -0.95% 0.54%
2054 -0.93% 0.54%
2053 -0.91% 0.56%
2052 -0.85% 0.6%
2051 -0.84% 0.6%
2050 -0.84% 0.62%
2049 -0.83% 0.62%
2048 -0.81% 0.66%
2047 -0.8% 0.68%
2046 -0.81% 0.67%
2045 -0.78% 0.68%
2044 -0.78% 0.7%
2043 -0.77% 0.71%
2042 -0.79% 0.73%
2041 -0.77% 0.73%
2040 -0.79% 0.74%
2039 -0.78% 0.76%
2038 -0.77% 0.79%
2037 -0.79% 0.8%
2036 -0.78% 0.83%
2035 -0.8% 0.85%
2034 -0.82% 0.87%
2033 -0.83% 0.9%
2032 -0.82% 0.93%
2031 -0.84% 0.94%
2030 -0.81% 0.99%
2029 -0.8% 1.03%
2028 -0.79% 1.05%
2027 -0.77% 1.06%
2026 -1.13% 1.12%
2025 -0.98% 1.16%
2024 -0.93% 1.26%
2023 0.23% 1.34%
2022 -0.27% 1.42%
2021 -0.84% 1.55%
2020 -0.7% 1.64%
2019 -0.69% 1.66%
2018 -0.78% 1.7%
2017 -0.88% 0.66%
2016 -0.91% 0.94%
2015 -0.82% 2.03%
2014 -0.94% 1.68%
2013 -1.07% 1.67%
2012 -1.23% 1.49%
2011 -1.8% 1.24%
2010 -2.06% 1.19%
2009 -1.64% 1.2%
2008 -1.05% 1.16%
2007 -0.81% 1.06%
2006 -0.91% 1.03%
2005 -1.07% 1.02%
2004 -1.09% 1.01%
2003 -0.96% 1%
2002 -1.16% 0.95%
2001 -1.28% 0.86%
2000 -0.96% 0.92%
1999 -0.81% 1.1%
1998 -0.94% 1.22%
1997 -0.99% 1.21%
1996 -1.12% 1.31%
1995 -1.42% 1.22%
1994 -1.66% 1.63%
1993 -1.95% 2.01%
1992 -1.37% 1.81%
1991 -0.47% 2.31%
1990 -0.14% 2.82%
1989 0.51% 2.98%
1988 1.02% 3.09%
1987 1.03% 3.17%
1986 0.82% 3.25%
1985 0.66% 3.39%
1984 0.63% 3.52%
1983 0.59% 3.56%
1982 0.46% 3.52%
1981 0.31% 3.46%
1980 0.23% 3.09%
1979 0.32% 2.74%
1978 0.52% 2.77%
1977 0.57% 2.74%
1976 0.6% 2.74%
1975 0.78% 2.81%
1974 0.88% 2.86%
1973 0.84% 2.9%
1972 0.81% 2.91%
1971 0.73% 2.97%
1970 0.68% 3.08%
1969 0.84% 3.14%
1968 0.97% 3.17%
1967 0.79% 3.17%
1966 0.76% 3.15%
1965 1.13% 3.12%
1964 1.34% 3.1%
1963 1.34% 3.08%
1962 1.34% 3.02%
1961 1.49% 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/latvia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Latvia declined by 0.98%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Latvia South Africa
Current population
1826986
65829368
Population rank 149/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
28.7 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
40.8 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
19.7 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -50 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -18,339 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.98% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.2 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -7,330 +146,370
Net migration rank 125/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 220,471 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 108/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 11.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 57/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Latvia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Latvia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,330 - 146,370
2024 -13,809 -2,225 591,618 166,972
2023 -13,563 7,966 602,793 228,222
2022 -14,847 22,027 603,636 233,284
2021 -17,337 -280 456,411 458,246
2020 -11,402 -3,147 595,873 369,901
2019 -8,995 -3,416 652,130 331,124
2018 -9,636 -4,972 648,319 318,260
2017 -7,963 -7,867 645,975 343,146
2016 -6,663 -12,327 641,365 -879,235
2015 -6,526 -10,826 668,771 641,150
2014 -6,779 -8,799 674,754 272,697
2013 -8,252 -14,386 652,427 232,230
2012 -9,154 -11,914 643,723 264,091
2011 -9,886 -20,202 601,708 65,166
2010 -10,278 -36,128 566,834 68,563
2009 -7,924 -34,807 554,115 41,528
2008 -6,531 -22,445 595,332 36,869
2007 -9,021 -8,027 503,567 36,339
2006 -10,204 -9,211 487,584 33,159
2005 -10,746 -11,134 464,464 31,286
2004 -11,542 -15,136 442,540 58,924
2003 -11,439 -11,422 415,018 65,604
2002 -12,475 -9,160 430,926 50,313
2001 -13,322 -18,634 484,801 -60,793
2000 -11,838 -15,679 526,963 -136,794
1999 -13,387 -3,229 594,643 -126,011
1998 -15,906 -5,504 627,027 -82,722
1997 -14,841 -9,183 667,969 -98,181
1996 -14,498 -9,888 710,868 -193,007
1995 -17,396 -13,288 743,488 -98,403
1994 -17,645 -21,446 698,609 -268,849
1993 -12,560 -32,914 789,220 194,977
1992 -3,660 -52,180 794,415 -71,342
1991 0 -12,020 827,296 -39,131
1990 2,929 -13,196 835,421 259,718
1989 6,401 -4,960 884,629 255,605
1988 9,022 15,784 909,221 246,382
1987 9,981 19,249 922,330 231,009
1986 10,660 13,972 903,644 234,378
1985 5,673 12,037 893,889 244,940
1984 7,430 8,847 869,011 290,789
1983 8,147 8,115 837,013 310,172
1982 6,327 8,116 807,550 293,195
1981 3,779 6,536 767,833 279,985
1980 3,265 3,099 738,415 258,127
1979 2,506 3,661 716,541 56,323
1978 2,997 7,399 694,341 62,121
1977 3,480 11,992 680,929 63,739
1976 4,200 8,870 675,011 27,333
1975 4,913 12,166 667,862 38,809
1974 6,824 14,420 658,438 38,518
1973 6,040 15,997 651,596 41,125
1972 7,666 11,077 638,754 38,163
1971 8,793 10,846 624,761 32,961
1970 7,785 12,494 605,102 61,514
1969 6,561 13,718 590,794 73,225
1968 7,668 13,465 571,841 78,932
1967 7,825 14,177 553,741 81,932
1966 8,677 13,465 534,862 77,417
1965 8,384 13,218 506,632 82,514
1964 12,100 13,010 490,606 76,298
1963 11,055 12,308 473,821 72,844
1962 11,562 12,344 455,634 69,771
1961 14,207 12,364 437,851 57,728
1960 14,211 11,420 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 88% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 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, 220,471 residents or 11.8% of the population were not native-born in Latvia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K
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/latvia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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