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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lebanon was 5,805,962 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lebanon's population is 5,906,622 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.1 times bigger than Lebanon's.
  • Lebanon is ranked the 115th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for Lebanon vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Lebanon has had an average growth rate of +0.16% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lebanon has increased from 4.75M people to 5.91M (24.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Lebanon vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Lebanon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lebanon South Africa
2100 7,229,611 94,767,727
2099 7,252,189 94,556,931
2098 7,273,846 94,349,546
2097 7,298,208 94,158,472
2096 7,322,265 93,960,605
2095 7,343,287 93,752,736
2094 7,365,719 93,527,902
2093 7,386,532 93,300,398
2092 7,403,314 93,074,837
2091 7,420,036 92,826,204
2090 7,433,603 92,594,033
2089 7,444,239 92,355,184
2088 7,454,263 92,112,914
2087 7,465,163 91,866,024
2086 7,468,994 91,614,165
2085 7,477,406 91,385,350
2084 7,476,483 91,139,318
2083 7,482,841 90,877,425
2082 7,482,980 90,615,359
2081 7,484,110 90,345,492
2080 7,484,392 90,071,835
2079 7,482,168 89,801,998
2078 7,480,962 89,526,224
2077 7,474,272 89,249,206
2076 7,470,260 88,986,114
2075 7,464,057 88,713,215
2074 7,446,862 88,428,616
2073 7,432,591 88,149,885
2072 7,420,911 87,866,246
2071 7,408,401 87,540,177
2070 7,394,163 87,209,425
2069 7,382,479 86,901,512
2068 7,373,962 86,588,742
2067 7,361,021 86,268,392
2066 7,348,605 85,935,310
2065 7,332,917 85,604,376
2064 7,316,835 85,244,950
2063 7,299,642 84,875,503
2062 7,279,937 84,503,237
2061 7,262,112 84,132,885
2060 7,239,759 83,748,999
2059 7,219,520 83,354,923
2058 7,199,035 82,947,675
2057 7,176,342 82,538,045
2056 7,152,803 82,127,477
2055 7,131,059 81,698,196
2054 7,107,641 81,255,867
2053 7,085,759 80,818,632
2052 7,063,172 80,367,409
2051 7,036,781 79,886,672
2050 7,010,541 79,411,977
2049 6,983,849 78,925,493
2048 6,952,958 78,437,677
2047 6,913,262 77,922,211
2046 6,878,209 77,397,298
2045 6,839,423 76,879,838
2044 6,795,984 76,357,155
2043 6,759,252 75,827,709
2042 6,716,445 75,291,615
2041 6,668,251 74,748,408
2040 6,618,567 74,205,530
2039 6,565,787 73,663,047
2038 6,512,143 73,105,930
2037 6,456,654 72,532,742
2036 6,403,370 71,956,247
2035 6,356,407 71,362,555
2034 6,305,239 70,762,815
2033 6,257,900 70,153,205
2032 6,206,916 69,527,410
2031 6,152,022 68,890,002
2030 6,098,153 68,245,372
2029 6,044,795 67,573,179
2028 5,992,721 66,884,377
2027 5,942,870 66,190,258
2026 5,893,183 65,496,277
2025 5,846,443 64,770,314
2024 5,805,962 64,007,187
2023 5,773,493 63,212,384
2022 5,744,489 62,378,410
2021 5,718,122 61,502,603
2020 5,702,398 60,562,381
2019 5,794,594 59,587,885
2018 5,984,119 58,613,001
2017 6,160,128 57,635,162
2016 6,323,060 57,259,551
2015 6,472,469 56,723,537
2014 6,346,990 55,594,838
2013 5,743,436 54,678,791
2012 5,235,742 53,782,567
2011 5,096,020 52,995,205
2010 5,041,288 52,344,051
2009 4,992,287 51,728,516
2008 4,925,354 51,114,599
2007 4,844,118 50,528,584
2006 4,751,136 49,998,277
2005 4,671,102 49,490,033
2004 4,599,279 48,991,421
2003 4,525,508 48,500,348
2002 4,463,504 48,019,415
2001 4,401,918 47,566,800
2000 4,329,340 47,159,719
1999 4,255,277 46,730,335
1998 4,181,281 46,223,880
1997 4,108,405 45,666,838
1996 4,034,781 45,123,018
1995 3,960,735 44,541,554
1994 3,889,799 44,004,139
1993 3,820,647 43,297,156
1992 3,747,371 42,443,509
1991 3,668,912 41,687,898
1990 3,595,175 40,746,268
1989 3,525,285 39,628,575
1988 3,454,649 38,480,649
1987 3,385,555 37,326,190
1986 3,300,365 36,180,515
1985 3,217,376 35,042,093
1984 3,152,744 33,892,788
1983 3,094,996 32,739,304
1982 3,054,931 31,615,339
1981 3,008,981 30,541,044
1980 2,944,763 29,518,857
1979 2,882,635 28,634,162
1978 2,822,682 27,869,507
1977 2,762,155 27,118,952
1976 2,726,469 26,395,450
1975 2,693,191 25,690,940
1974 2,635,185 24,989,108
1973 2,572,935 24,294,263
1972 2,509,729 23,609,456
1971 2,446,314 22,942,143
1970 2,386,114 22,279,984
1969 2,328,159 21,614,676
1968 2,266,368 20,957,287
1967 2,206,731 20,314,066
1966 2,148,260 19,690,087
1965 2,088,831 19,089,380
1964 2,030,543 18,511,361
1963 1,970,316 17,954,564
1962 1,909,578 17,418,522
1961 1,850,084 16,908,035
1960 1,794,406 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/lebanon/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lebanon increased by 1,571,924 people (a 33.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lebanon lost 416,438 people (a 6.59% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Lebanon was ranked 115th most populous country in 2006 and is still 115th 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) Lebanon's population will grow by 18.7% to 7,010,541 people and will still be ranked 115th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Lebanon is projected to reach its peak in 2080 at 7.48M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Lebanon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lebanon South Africa
2100 -0.31% 0.22%
2099 -0.3% 0.22%
2098 -0.33% 0.2%
2097 -0.33% 0.21%
2096 -0.29% 0.22%
2095 -0.3% 0.24%
2094 -0.28% 0.24%
2093 -0.23% 0.24%
2092 -0.23% 0.27%
2091 -0.18% 0.25%
2090 -0.14% 0.26%
2089 -0.13% 0.26%
2088 -0.15% 0.27%
2087 -0.05% 0.27%
2086 -0.11% 0.25%
2085 0.01% 0.27%
2084 -0.08% 0.29%
2083 -0.002% 0.29%
2082 -0.02% 0.3%
2081 -0.004% 0.3%
2080 0.03% 0.3%
2079 0.02% 0.31%
2078 0.09% 0.31%
2077 0.05% 0.3%
2076 0.08% 0.31%
2075 0.23% 0.32%
2074 0.19% 0.32%
2073 0.16% 0.32%
2072 0.17% 0.37%
2071 0.19% 0.38%
2070 0.16% 0.35%
2069 0.12% 0.36%
2068 0.18% 0.37%
2067 0.17% 0.39%
2066 0.21% 0.39%
2065 0.22% 0.42%
2064 0.24% 0.44%
2063 0.27% 0.44%
2062 0.25% 0.44%
2061 0.31% 0.46%
2060 0.28% 0.47%
2059 0.28% 0.49%
2058 0.32% 0.5%
2057 0.33% 0.5%
2056 0.3% 0.53%
2055 0.33% 0.54%
2054 0.31% 0.54%
2053 0.32% 0.56%
2052 0.38% 0.6%
2051 0.37% 0.6%
2050 0.38% 0.62%
2049 0.44% 0.62%
2048 0.57% 0.66%
2047 0.51% 0.68%
2046 0.57% 0.67%
2045 0.64% 0.68%
2044 0.54% 0.7%
2043 0.64% 0.71%
2042 0.72% 0.73%
2041 0.75% 0.73%
2040 0.8% 0.74%
2039 0.82% 0.76%
2038 0.86% 0.79%
2037 0.83% 0.8%
2036 0.74% 0.83%
2035 0.81% 0.85%
2034 0.76% 0.87%
2033 0.82% 0.9%
2032 0.89% 0.93%
2031 0.88% 0.94%
2030 0.88% 0.99%
2029 0.87% 1.03%
2028 0.84% 1.05%
2027 0.84% 1.06%
2026 0.8% 1.12%
2025 0.7% 1.19%
2024 0.56% 1.26%
2023 0.5% 1.34%
2022 0.46% 1.42%
2021 0.28% 1.55%
2020 -1.59% 1.64%
2019 -3.17% 1.66%
2018 -2.86% 1.7%
2017 -2.58% 0.66%
2016 -2.31% 0.94%
2015 1.98% 2.03%
2014 10.5% 1.68%
2013 9.7% 1.67%
2012 2.74% 1.49%
2011 1.09% 1.24%
2010 0.98% 1.19%
2009 1.36% 1.2%
2008 1.68% 1.16%
2007 1.96% 1.06%
2006 1.71% 1.03%
2005 1.56% 1.02%
2004 1.63% 1.01%
2003 1.39% 1%
2002 1.4% 0.95%
2001 1.68% 0.86%
2000 1.74% 0.92%
1999 1.77% 1.1%
1998 1.77% 1.22%
1997 1.82% 1.21%
1996 1.87% 1.31%
1995 1.82% 1.22%
1994 1.81% 1.63%
1993 1.96% 2.01%
1992 2.14% 1.81%
1991 2.05% 2.31%
1990 1.98% 2.82%
1989 2.04% 2.98%
1988 2.04% 3.09%
1987 2.58% 3.17%
1986 2.58% 3.25%
1985 2.05% 3.39%
1984 1.87% 3.52%
1983 1.31% 3.56%
1982 1.53% 3.52%
1981 2.18% 3.46%
1980 2.16% 3.09%
1979 2.12% 2.74%
1978 2.19% 2.77%
1977 1.31% 2.74%
1976 1.24% 2.74%
1975 2.2% 2.81%
1974 2.42% 2.86%
1973 2.52% 2.9%
1972 2.59% 2.91%
1971 2.52% 2.97%
1970 2.49% 3.08%
1969 2.73% 3.14%
1968 2.7% 3.17%
1967 2.72% 3.17%
1966 2.85% 3.15%
1965 2.87% 3.12%
1964 3.06% 3.1%
1963 3.18% 3.08%
1962 3.22% 3.02%
1961 3.1% 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/lebanon/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lebanon grew by 0.56%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Lebanon South Africa
Current population
5906622
65683993
Population rank 115/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
16.2 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
5.64 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
15.3 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +89 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +32,469 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.56% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 129/197 85/197
One migration net change every
51.5 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -10,230 +146,370
Net migration rank 133/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,422,583 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 47/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 24.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 24/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lebanon
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lebanon South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,230 - 146,370
2024 - -17,267 - 166,972
2023 58,786 -34,193 602,793 228,222
2022 60,909 -27,507 603,636 233,284
2021 46,614 -27,290 456,411 458,246
2020 59,903 -47,787 595,873 369,901
2019 70,486 -266,992 652,130 331,124
2018 77,165 -259,700 648,319 318,260
2017 84,172 -253,664 645,975 343,146
2016 91,551 -247,921 641,365 -879,235
2015 97,385 -239,829 668,771 641,150
2014 92,285 301,111 674,754 272,697
2013 80,218 733,500 652,427 232,230
2012 77,248 124,427 643,723 264,091
2011 75,523 2,246 601,708 65,166
2010 72,605 -40,915 566,834 68,563
2009 69,004 -2,700 554,115 41,528
2008 67,132 430 595,332 36,869
2007 66,965 27,944 503,567 36,339
2006 65,932 25,126 487,584 33,159
2005 67,778 1,224 464,464 31,286
2004 69,675 4,974 442,540 58,924
2003 71,232 1,674 415,018 65,604
2002 72,648 -21,543 430,926 50,313
2001 73,160 -1,094 484,801 -60,793
2000 72,642 455 526,963 -136,794
1999 72,437 2,589 594,643 -126,011
1998 71,889 1,062 627,027 -82,722
1997 71,486 1,313 667,969 -98,181
1996 71,286 3,164 710,868 -193,007
1995 71,016 2,634 743,488 -98,403
1994 73,069 -4,850 698,609 -268,849
1993 75,278 -5,196 789,220 194,977
1992 77,447 -970 794,415 -71,342
1991 79,274 1,159 827,296 -39,131
1990 73,629 -6,595 835,421 259,718
1989 74,577 -1,827 884,629 255,605
1988 70,444 -1,916 909,221 246,382
1987 69,058 607 922,330 231,009
1986 67,162 33,549 903,644 234,378
1985 66,368 -1,108 893,889 244,940
1984 66,785 -2,785 869,011 290,789
1983 66,056 -14,558 837,013 310,172
1982 41,602 -12,981 807,550 293,195
1981 65,084 -1,799 767,833 279,985
1980 63,053 2,104 738,415 258,127
1979 61,184 -2,103 716,541 56,323
1978 60,829 0 694,341 62,121
1977 60,232 0 680,929 63,739
1976 11,138 0 675,011 27,333
1975 55,423 0 667,862 38,809
1974 64,425 -3,831 658,438 38,518
1973 63,420 482 651,596 41,125
1972 62,216 294 638,754 38,163
1971 61,278 3,042 624,761 32,961
1970 60,593 -4,508 605,102 61,514
1969 59,829 0 590,794 73,225
1968 59,247 4,506 571,841 78,932
1967 58,957 -3,434 553,741 81,932
1966 58,546 2,864 534,862 77,417
1965 58,195 -742 506,632 82,514
1964 57,808 1,311 490,606 76,298
1963 57,054 4,269 473,821 72,844
1962 55,585 4,569 455,634 69,771
1961 53,995 4,844 437,851 57,728
1960 52,515 0 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 40.1% of the population change in Lebanon is from natural causes (a gain of 739,256 people) and 59.9% is from migration (a loss of 1,103,772 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, 1,422,583 residents or 24.5% of the population were not native-born in Lebanon, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Lebanon
City Population
Beirut 2.42M
Tripoli 863K
Sidon 164K
Tyre 160K
Jounieh 102K
Zahle 100K
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/lebanon/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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