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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Liberia was 5,612,817 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Liberia's population is 5,887,000 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.2 times bigger than Liberia's.
  • Liberia is ranked the 116th 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 Liberia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Liberia has had an average growth rate of +2.09% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Liberia has increased from 3.49M people to 5.89M (68.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Liberia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Liberia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Liberia South Africa
2100 12,788,823 94,767,727
2099 12,776,207 94,556,931
2098 12,757,308 94,349,546
2097 12,728,620 94,158,472
2096 12,695,873 93,960,605
2095 12,671,037 93,752,736
2094 12,645,345 93,527,902
2093 12,607,806 93,300,398
2092 12,583,276 93,074,837
2091 12,557,861 92,826,204
2090 12,513,262 92,594,033
2089 12,461,083 92,355,184
2088 12,429,523 92,112,914
2087 12,394,685 91,866,024
2086 12,331,734 91,614,165
2085 12,266,313 91,385,350
2084 12,218,274 91,139,318
2083 12,163,782 90,877,425
2082 12,122,513 90,615,359
2081 12,055,108 90,345,492
2080 11,977,065 90,071,835
2079 11,899,224 89,801,998
2078 11,823,772 89,526,224
2077 11,746,009 89,249,206
2076 11,657,329 88,986,114
2075 11,571,881 88,713,215
2074 11,469,695 88,428,616
2073 11,373,802 88,149,885
2072 11,288,250 87,866,246
2071 11,187,594 87,540,177
2070 11,097,891 87,209,425
2069 11,002,270 86,901,512
2068 10,918,600 86,588,742
2067 10,814,021 86,268,392
2066 10,721,693 85,935,310
2065 10,617,436 85,604,376
2064 10,521,037 85,244,950
2063 10,416,221 84,875,503
2062 10,308,855 84,503,237
2061 10,200,557 84,132,885
2060 10,091,553 83,748,999
2059 9,960,069 83,354,923
2058 9,857,338 82,947,675
2057 9,745,295 82,538,045
2056 9,624,041 82,127,477
2055 9,506,843 81,698,196
2054 9,402,297 81,255,867
2053 9,284,854 80,818,632
2052 9,173,091 80,367,409
2051 9,060,243 79,886,672
2050 8,951,514 79,411,977
2049 8,828,384 78,925,493
2048 8,705,146 78,437,677
2047 8,581,923 77,922,211
2046 8,456,286 77,397,298
2045 8,342,861 76,879,838
2044 8,220,755 76,357,155
2043 8,106,429 75,827,709
2042 7,972,152 75,291,615
2041 7,829,310 74,748,408
2040 7,698,463 74,205,530
2039 7,554,021 73,663,047
2038 7,421,960 73,105,930
2037 7,291,328 72,532,742
2036 7,146,172 71,956,247
2035 7,010,827 71,362,555
2034 6,883,638 70,762,815
2033 6,750,553 70,153,205
2032 6,619,507 69,527,410
2031 6,492,799 68,890,002
2030 6,376,029 68,245,372
2029 6,247,795 67,573,179
2028 6,120,673 66,884,377
2027 5,981,051 66,190,258
2026 5,852,128 65,496,277
2025 5,732,938 64,770,314
2024 5,612,817 64,007,187
2023 5,493,031 63,212,384
2022 5,373,294 62,378,410
2021 5,259,323 61,502,603
2020 5,149,463 60,562,381
2019 5,043,721 59,587,885
2018 4,944,726 58,613,001
2017 4,848,925 57,635,162
2016 4,755,608 57,259,551
2015 4,659,431 56,723,537
2014 4,564,293 55,594,838
2013 4,470,239 54,678,791
2012 4,373,043 53,782,567
2011 4,221,178 52,995,205
2010 4,058,890 52,344,051
2009 3,943,028 51,728,516
2008 3,821,003 51,114,599
2007 3,669,050 50,528,584
2006 3,490,787 49,998,277
2005 3,301,015 49,490,033
2004 3,156,892 48,991,421
2003 3,119,532 48,500,348
2002 3,094,782 48,019,415
2001 3,015,338 47,566,800
2000 2,928,117 47,159,719
1999 2,821,684 46,730,335
1998 2,670,124 46,223,880
1997 2,412,989 45,666,838
1996 2,232,289 45,123,018
1995 2,169,162 44,541,554
1994 2,149,928 44,004,139
1993 2,155,126 43,297,156
1992 2,072,461 42,443,509
1991 1,956,518 41,687,898
1990 2,223,667 40,746,268
1989 2,517,858 39,628,575
1988 2,446,941 38,480,649
1987 2,377,229 37,326,190
1986 2,308,511 36,180,515
1985 2,240,539 35,042,093
1984 2,173,312 33,892,788
1983 2,107,113 32,739,304
1982 2,045,073 31,615,339
1981 1,986,867 30,541,044
1980 1,929,253 29,518,857
1979 1,872,713 28,634,162
1978 1,818,247 27,869,507
1977 1,766,019 27,118,952
1976 1,717,060 26,395,450
1975 1,670,913 25,690,940
1974 1,626,362 24,989,108
1973 1,583,588 24,294,263
1972 1,542,670 23,609,456
1971 1,504,077 22,942,143
1970 1,466,676 22,279,984
1969 1,429,605 21,614,676
1968 1,393,530 20,957,287
1967 1,358,435 20,314,066
1966 1,324,383 19,690,087
1965 1,291,156 19,089,380
1964 1,258,745 18,511,361
1963 1,227,414 17,954,564
1962 1,197,039 17,418,522
1961 1,167,717 16,908,035
1960 1,139,522 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/liberia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Liberia increased by 1,264,821 people (a 36.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Liberia gained 1,131,392 people (a 23.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Liberia was ranked 126th most populous country in 2006 and is 116th 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) Liberia's population will grow by 52.1% to 8,951,514 people with a rank change from 116th to 107th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Liberia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 12.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Liberia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Liberia South Africa
2100 0.1% 0.22%
2099 0.15% 0.22%
2098 0.23% 0.2%
2097 0.26% 0.21%
2096 0.2% 0.22%
2095 0.2% 0.24%
2094 0.3% 0.24%
2093 0.19% 0.24%
2092 0.2% 0.27%
2091 0.36% 0.25%
2090 0.42% 0.26%
2089 0.25% 0.26%
2088 0.28% 0.27%
2087 0.51% 0.27%
2086 0.53% 0.25%
2085 0.39% 0.27%
2084 0.45% 0.29%
2083 0.34% 0.29%
2082 0.56% 0.3%
2081 0.65% 0.3%
2080 0.65% 0.3%
2079 0.64% 0.31%
2078 0.66% 0.31%
2077 0.76% 0.3%
2076 0.74% 0.31%
2075 0.89% 0.32%
2074 0.84% 0.32%
2073 0.76% 0.32%
2072 0.9% 0.37%
2071 0.81% 0.38%
2070 0.87% 0.35%
2069 0.77% 0.36%
2068 0.97% 0.37%
2067 0.86% 0.39%
2066 0.98% 0.39%
2065 0.92% 0.42%
2064 1.01% 0.44%
2063 1.04% 0.44%
2062 1.06% 0.44%
2061 1.08% 0.46%
2060 1.32% 0.47%
2059 1.04% 0.49%
2058 1.15% 0.5%
2057 1.26% 0.5%
2056 1.23% 0.53%
2055 1.11% 0.54%
2054 1.26% 0.54%
2053 1.22% 0.56%
2052 1.25% 0.6%
2051 1.21% 0.6%
2050 1.39% 0.62%
2049 1.42% 0.62%
2048 1.44% 0.66%
2047 1.49% 0.68%
2046 1.36% 0.67%
2045 1.49% 0.68%
2044 1.41% 0.7%
2043 1.68% 0.71%
2042 1.82% 0.73%
2041 1.7% 0.73%
2040 1.91% 0.74%
2039 1.78% 0.76%
2038 1.79% 0.79%
2037 2.03% 0.8%
2036 1.93% 0.83%
2035 1.85% 0.85%
2034 1.97% 0.87%
2033 1.98% 0.9%
2032 1.95% 0.93%
2031 1.83% 0.94%
2030 2.05% 0.99%
2029 2.08% 1.03%
2028 2.33% 1.05%
2027 2.2% 1.06%
2026 2.08% 1.12%
2025 2.14% 1.19%
2024 2.18% 1.26%
2023 2.23% 1.34%
2022 2.17% 1.42%
2021 2.13% 1.55%
2020 2.1% 1.64%
2019 2% 1.66%
2018 1.98% 1.7%
2017 1.96% 0.66%
2016 2.06% 0.94%
2015 2.08% 2.03%
2014 2.1% 1.68%
2013 2.22% 1.67%
2012 3.6% 1.49%
2011 4% 1.24%
2010 2.94% 1.19%
2009 3.19% 1.2%
2008 4.14% 1.16%
2007 5.11% 1.06%
2006 5.75% 1.03%
2005 4.57% 1.02%
2004 1.2% 1.01%
2003 0.8% 1%
2002 2.63% 0.95%
2001 2.98% 0.86%
2000 3.77% 0.92%
1999 5.68% 1.1%
1998 10.7% 1.22%
1997 8.09% 1.21%
1996 2.91% 1.31%
1995 0.89% 1.22%
1994 -0.24% 1.63%
1993 3.99% 2.01%
1992 5.93% 1.81%
1991 -12% 2.31%
1990 -11.7% 2.82%
1989 2.9% 2.98%
1988 2.93% 3.09%
1987 2.98% 3.17%
1986 3.03% 3.25%
1985 3.09% 3.39%
1984 3.14% 3.52%
1983 3.03% 3.56%
1982 2.93% 3.52%
1981 2.99% 3.46%
1980 3.02% 3.09%
1979 3% 2.74%
1978 2.96% 2.77%
1977 2.85% 2.74%
1976 2.76% 2.74%
1975 2.74% 2.81%
1974 2.7% 2.86%
1973 2.65% 2.9%
1972 2.57% 2.91%
1971 2.55% 2.97%
1970 2.59% 3.08%
1969 2.59% 3.14%
1968 2.58% 3.17%
1967 2.57% 3.17%
1966 2.57% 3.15%
1965 2.57% 3.12%
1964 2.55% 3.1%
1963 2.54% 3.08%
1962 2.51% 3.02%
1961 2.47% 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/liberia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Liberia grew by 2.18%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Liberia South Africa
Current population
5887000
65683993
Population rank 116/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
4.39 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
3.09 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
11.9 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +328 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +119,786 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.18% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 85/197
One migration net change every
53.4 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -9,870 +146,370
Net migration rank 132/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 72,423 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 142/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 148/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Liberia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Liberia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -9,870 - 146,370
2024 - -7,779 - 166,972
2023 125,730 -5,002 602,793 228,222
2022 123,747 -5,003 603,636 233,284
2021 121,038 -11,852 456,411 458,246
2020 120,632 -10,107 595,873 369,901
2019 120,635 -19,678 652,130 331,124
2018 120,231 -23,199 648,319 318,260
2017 119,376 -24,807 645,975 343,146
2016 118,852 -26,796 641,365 -879,235
2015 115,479 -15,182 668,771 641,150
2014 116,667 -26,690 674,754 272,697
2013 120,138 -22,010 652,427 232,230
2012 121,973 -25,710 643,723 264,091
2011 115,496 91,981 601,708 65,166
2010 114,249 2,850 566,834 68,563
2009 113,429 1,187 554,115 41,528
2008 112,032 17,404 595,332 36,869
2007 109,165 65,306 503,567 36,339
2006 104,099 77,946 487,584 33,159
2005 96,478 101,019 464,464 31,286
2004 91,755 -1,001 442,540 58,924
2003 87,534 -103,564 415,018 65,604
2002 88,643 -23,110 430,926 50,313
2001 86,217 7,142 484,801 -60,793
2000 83,143 -2,060 526,963 -136,794
1999 78,130 53,643 594,643 -126,011
1998 72,146 99,203 627,027 -82,722
1997 61,444 281,480 667,969 -98,181
1996 56,392 -37,922 710,868 -193,007
1995 53,407 54,372 743,488 -98,403
1994 52,101 -121,407 698,609 -268,849
1993 51,609 7,300 789,220 194,977
1992 50,204 56,210 794,415 -71,342
1991 47,426 78,052 827,296 -39,131
1990 52,770 -712,544 835,421 259,718
1989 63,238 8,156 884,629 255,605
1988 62,703 7,734 909,221 246,382
1987 62,147 6,840 922,330 231,009
1986 61,924 6,534 903,644 234,378
1985 59,988 7,487 893,889 244,940
1984 59,460 7,513 869,011 290,789
1983 57,562 7,861 837,013 310,172
1982 56,127 2,530 807,550 293,195
1981 55,003 2,757 767,833 279,985
1980 53,452 4,016 738,415 258,127
1979 52,125 3,500 716,541 56,323
1978 49,813 3,500 694,341 62,121
1977 47,582 3,555 680,929 63,739
1976 45,528 1,246 675,011 27,333
1975 43,478 2,037 667,862 38,809
1974 41,499 2,086 658,438 38,518
1973 39,694 2,272 651,596 41,125
1972 37,860 2,018 638,754 38,163
1971 36,015 1,293 624,761 32,961
1970 35,196 2,285 605,102 61,514
1969 34,677 1,982 590,794 73,225
1968 33,536 1,964 571,841 78,932
1967 32,519 2,177 553,741 81,932
1966 31,454 1,953 534,862 77,417
1965 30,618 2,431 506,632 82,514
1964 29,592 2,189 490,606 76,298
1963 28,708 2,165 473,821 72,844
1962 27,679 2,189 455,634 69,771
1961 26,670 2,115 437,851 57,728
1960 25,713 1,886 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 87.7% of the population change in Liberia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,202,387 people) and 12.3% is from migration (a loss of 168,316 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, 72,423 residents or 1.3% of the population were not native-born in Liberia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Liberia
City Population
Monrovia 1.02M
Sanniquellie 47.1K
Kakata 33.9K
Greenville 17.6K
Yekepa 11K
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/liberia/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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