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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,866,124 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,829,763 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 35.9 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 -0.68% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.5% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Latvia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia South Africa
2100 923,408 94,767,727
2099 932,882 94,556,931
2098 942,357 94,349,546
2097 951,702 94,158,472
2096 961,114 93,960,605
2095 970,470 93,752,736
2094 979,811 93,527,902
2093 989,107 93,300,398
2092 998,497 93,074,837
2091 1,007,961 92,826,204
2090 1,017,465 92,594,033
2089 1,026,994 92,355,184
2088 1,036,657 92,112,914
2087 1,046,527 91,866,024
2086 1,056,483 91,614,165
2085 1,066,499 91,385,350
2084 1,076,818 91,139,318
2083 1,087,423 90,877,425
2082 1,098,154 90,615,359
2081 1,109,075 90,345,492
2080 1,120,211 90,071,835
2079 1,131,602 89,801,998
2078 1,143,002 89,526,224
2077 1,154,458 89,249,206
2076 1,166,122 88,986,114
2075 1,177,964 88,713,215
2074 1,189,889 88,428,616
2073 1,201,798 88,149,885
2072 1,213,804 87,866,246
2071 1,226,159 87,540,177
2070 1,238,635 87,209,425
2069 1,251,199 86,901,512
2068 1,264,197 86,588,742
2067 1,277,382 86,268,392
2066 1,290,492 85,935,310
2065 1,304,082 85,604,376
2064 1,317,729 85,244,950
2063 1,331,316 84,875,503
2062 1,344,939 84,503,237
2061 1,358,659 84,132,885
2060 1,372,730 83,748,999
2059 1,386,684 83,354,923
2058 1,400,736 82,947,675
2057 1,414,911 82,538,045
2056 1,429,035 82,127,477
2055 1,442,863 81,698,196
2054 1,456,686 81,255,867
2053 1,470,334 80,818,632
2052 1,483,843 80,367,409
2051 1,496,515 79,886,672
2050 1,509,248 79,411,977
2049 1,521,989 78,925,493
2048 1,534,656 78,437,677
2047 1,547,203 77,922,211
2046 1,559,641 77,397,298
2045 1,572,396 76,879,838
2044 1,584,822 76,357,155
2043 1,597,317 75,827,709
2042 1,609,668 75,291,615
2041 1,622,468 74,748,408
2040 1,635,132 74,205,530
2039 1,648,215 73,663,047
2038 1,661,175 73,105,930
2037 1,674,137 72,532,742
2036 1,687,461 71,956,247
2035 1,700,759 71,362,555
2034 1,714,411 70,762,815
2033 1,728,562 70,153,205
2032 1,742,976 69,527,410
2031 1,757,310 68,890,002
2030 1,772,264 68,245,372
2029 1,786,824 67,573,179
2028 1,801,228 66,884,377
2027 1,815,599 66,190,258
2026 1,829,763 65,496,277
2025 1,850,593 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 1,509,248 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. 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 Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 923K 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 -0.83% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Latvia declined by 0.93%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Latvia South Africa
Current population
1829763
65683993
Population rank 149/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
29.9 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
36.2 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
18.7 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -48 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -17,586 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.93% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 85/197
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 - -2,225 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 82.7% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 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, 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
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/latvia/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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