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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Madagascar was 32,740,678 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Madagascar's population is 33,936,132 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.94 times bigger than Madagascar's.
  • Madagascar is ranked the 49th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.2% of the world: 0.41% for Madagascar vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Madagascar has had an average growth rate of +2.57% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Madagascar has increased from 19.7M people to 33.9M (72% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Madagascar vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Madagascar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Madagascar South Africa
2100 86,179,580 94,734,082
2099 85,790,370 94,523,360
2098 85,386,169 94,316,049
2097 84,969,767 94,125,043
2096 84,541,363 93,927,246
2095 84,101,733 93,719,451
2094 83,648,271 93,494,697
2093 83,182,675 93,267,274
2092 82,705,710 93,041,793
2091 82,216,203 92,793,249
2090 81,717,468 92,561,159
2089 81,206,806 92,322,396
2088 80,683,320 92,080,212
2087 80,148,075 91,833,409
2086 79,603,046 91,581,639
2085 79,047,406 91,352,906
2084 78,482,616 91,106,961
2083 77,906,589 90,845,161
2082 77,321,070 90,583,188
2081 76,724,415 90,313,417
2080 76,117,046 90,039,857
2079 75,497,666 89,770,116
2078 74,865,716 89,494,440
2077 74,221,281 89,217,520
2076 73,566,810 88,954,522
2075 72,899,578 88,681,719
2074 72,220,039 88,397,221
2073 71,530,359 88,118,589
2072 70,828,530 87,835,051
2071 70,115,645 87,509,098
2070 69,394,756 87,178,463
2069 68,663,443 86,870,660
2068 67,921,934 86,558,000
2067 67,170,963 86,237,764
2066 66,411,266 85,904,801
2065 65,644,233 85,573,984
2064 64,867,634 85,214,686
2063 64,083,768 84,845,370
2062 63,292,113 84,473,236
2061 62,493,456 84,103,016
2060 61,688,314 83,719,266
2059 60,876,714 83,325,330
2058 60,061,091 82,918,226
2057 59,241,569 82,508,742
2056 58,416,388 82,098,320
2055 57,588,488 81,669,191
2054 56,757,952 81,227,019
2053 55,923,669 80,789,939
2052 55,086,396 80,338,877
2051 54,246,667 79,858,310
2050 53,403,817 79,383,784
2049 52,559,645 78,897,472
2048 51,714,462 78,409,829
2047 50,868,979 77,894,547
2046 50,023,282 77,369,819
2045 49,178,377 76,852,544
2044 48,333,861 76,330,046
2043 47,489,686 75,800,788
2042 46,646,849 75,264,885
2041 45,806,003 74,721,871
2040 44,966,710 74,179,185
2039 44,130,890 73,636,894
2038 43,296,592 73,079,976
2037 42,465,456 72,506,991
2036 41,636,814 71,930,701
2035 40,810,847 71,337,219
2034 39,989,445 70,737,692
2033 39,170,206 70,128,299
2032 38,353,879 69,502,726
2031 37,539,603 68,865,544
2030 36,729,526 68,221,143
2029 35,923,382 67,549,189
2028 35,120,762 66,860,631
2027 34,322,223 66,166,759
2026 33,528,352 65,473,024
2025 32,740,678 64,747,319
2024 31,964,956 64,007,187
2023 31,195,932 63,212,384
2022 30,437,261 62,378,410
2021 29,691,083 61,502,603
2020 28,953,556 60,562,381
2019 28,219,554 59,587,885
2018 27,494,926 58,613,001
2017 26,788,375 57,635,162
2016 26,099,952 57,259,551
2015 25,426,702 56,723,537
2014 24,764,348 55,594,838
2013 24,109,290 54,678,791
2012 23,462,438 53,782,567
2011 22,822,300 52,995,205
2010 22,183,340 52,344,051
2009 21,547,280 51,728,516
2008 20,923,840 51,114,599
2007 20,318,583 50,528,584
2006 19,730,909 49,998,277
2005 19,159,707 49,490,033
2004 18,606,608 48,991,421
2003 18,071,854 48,500,348
2002 17,549,913 48,019,415
2001 17,032,939 47,566,800
2000 16,516,338 47,159,719
1999 16,000,506 46,730,335
1998 15,489,364 46,223,880
1997 14,990,814 45,666,838
1996 14,510,711 45,123,018
1995 14,051,275 44,541,554
1994 13,613,850 44,004,139
1993 13,197,345 43,297,156
1992 12,800,870 42,443,509
1991 12,421,412 41,687,898
1990 12,055,639 40,746,268
1989 11,704,998 39,628,575
1988 11,369,462 38,480,649
1987 11,047,291 37,326,190
1986 10,736,857 36,180,515
1985 10,433,142 35,042,093
1984 10,134,550 33,892,788
1983 9,843,044 32,739,304
1982 9,557,671 31,615,339
1981 9,279,011 30,541,044
1980 9,006,032 29,518,857
1979 8,737,581 28,634,162
1978 8,475,864 27,869,507
1977 8,222,240 27,118,952
1976 7,976,831 26,395,450
1975 7,739,336 25,690,940
1974 7,509,726 24,989,108
1973 7,288,048 24,294,263
1972 7,074,398 23,609,456
1971 6,868,868 22,942,143
1970 6,672,003 22,279,984
1969 6,484,716 21,614,676
1968 6,306,493 20,957,287
1967 6,136,486 20,314,066
1966 5,974,279 19,690,087
1965 5,819,116 19,089,380
1964 5,669,863 18,511,361
1963 5,525,185 17,954,564
1962 5,384,150 17,418,522
1961 5,246,158 16,908,035
1960 5,111,029 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/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Madagascar increased by 6,369,043 people (a 32.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Madagascar gained 7,836,180 people (a 30% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Madagascar was ranked 57th most populous country in 2006 and is 49th 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) Madagascar's population will grow by 57.4% to 53,403,817 people with a rank change from 49th to 37th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Madagascar is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 86.2M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Madagascar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Madagascar South Africa
2100 0.45% 0.22%
2099 0.47% 0.22%
2098 0.49% 0.2%
2097 0.51% 0.21%
2096 0.52% 0.22%
2095 0.54% 0.24%
2094 0.56% 0.24%
2093 0.58% 0.24%
2092 0.6% 0.27%
2091 0.61% 0.25%
2090 0.63% 0.26%
2089 0.65% 0.26%
2088 0.67% 0.27%
2087 0.68% 0.27%
2086 0.7% 0.25%
2085 0.72% 0.27%
2084 0.74% 0.29%
2083 0.76% 0.29%
2082 0.78% 0.3%
2081 0.8% 0.3%
2080 0.82% 0.3%
2079 0.84% 0.31%
2078 0.87% 0.31%
2077 0.89% 0.3%
2076 0.92% 0.31%
2075 0.94% 0.32%
2074 0.96% 0.32%
2073 0.99% 0.32%
2072 1.02% 0.37%
2071 1.04% 0.38%
2070 1.07% 0.35%
2069 1.09% 0.36%
2068 1.12% 0.37%
2067 1.14% 0.39%
2066 1.17% 0.39%
2065 1.2% 0.42%
2064 1.22% 0.44%
2063 1.25% 0.44%
2062 1.28% 0.44%
2061 1.31% 0.46%
2060 1.33% 0.47%
2059 1.36% 0.49%
2058 1.38% 0.5%
2057 1.41% 0.5%
2056 1.44% 0.53%
2055 1.46% 0.54%
2054 1.49% 0.54%
2053 1.52% 0.56%
2052 1.55% 0.6%
2051 1.58% 0.6%
2050 1.61% 0.62%
2049 1.63% 0.62%
2048 1.66% 0.66%
2047 1.69% 0.68%
2046 1.72% 0.67%
2045 1.75% 0.68%
2044 1.78% 0.7%
2043 1.81% 0.71%
2042 1.84% 0.73%
2041 1.87% 0.73%
2040 1.89% 0.74%
2039 1.93% 0.76%
2038 1.96% 0.79%
2037 1.99% 0.8%
2036 2.02% 0.83%
2035 2.05% 0.85%
2034 2.09% 0.87%
2033 2.13% 0.9%
2032 2.17% 0.93%
2031 2.21% 0.94%
2030 2.24% 0.99%
2029 2.29% 1.03%
2028 2.33% 1.05%
2027 2.37% 1.06%
2026 2.41% 1.12%
2025 2.43% 1.16%
2024 2.47% 1.26%
2023 2.49% 1.34%
2022 2.51% 1.42%
2021 2.55% 1.55%
2020 2.6% 1.64%
2019 2.64% 1.66%
2018 2.64% 1.7%
2017 2.64% 0.66%
2016 2.65% 0.94%
2015 2.67% 2.03%
2014 2.72% 1.68%
2013 2.76% 1.67%
2012 2.8% 1.49%
2011 2.88% 1.24%
2010 2.95% 1.19%
2009 2.98% 1.2%
2008 2.98% 1.16%
2007 2.98% 1.06%
2006 2.98% 1.03%
2005 2.97% 1.02%
2004 2.96% 1.01%
2003 2.97% 1%
2002 3.04% 0.95%
2001 3.13% 0.86%
2000 3.22% 0.92%
1999 3.3% 1.1%
1998 3.33% 1.22%
1997 3.31% 1.21%
1996 3.27% 1.31%
1995 3.21% 1.22%
1994 3.16% 1.63%
1993 3.1% 2.01%
1992 3.05% 1.81%
1991 3.03% 2.31%
1990 3% 2.82%
1989 2.95% 2.98%
1988 2.92% 3.09%
1987 2.89% 3.17%
1986 2.91% 3.25%
1985 2.95% 3.39%
1984 2.96% 3.52%
1983 2.99% 3.56%
1982 3% 3.52%
1981 3.03% 3.46%
1980 3.07% 3.09%
1979 3.09% 2.74%
1978 3.08% 2.77%
1977 3.08% 2.74%
1976 3.07% 2.74%
1975 3.06% 2.81%
1974 3.04% 2.86%
1973 3.02% 2.9%
1972 2.99% 2.91%
1971 2.95% 2.97%
1970 2.89% 3.08%
1969 2.83% 3.14%
1968 2.77% 3.17%
1967 2.72% 3.17%
1966 2.67% 3.15%
1965 2.63% 3.12%
1964 2.62% 3.1%
1963 2.62% 3.08%
1962 2.63% 3.02%
1961 2.64% 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/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Madagascar grew by 2.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Madagascar South Africa
Current population
33936132
65829368
Population rank 49/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.41% 0.79%
One net population change
40.8 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
31.1 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.2 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,125 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +775,722 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 28/197 91/197
One migration net change every
3.94 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,227 +146,370
Net migration rank 100/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 38,625 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 158/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 193/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Madagascar
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Madagascar South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,227 - 146,370
2024 774,926 -1,795 591,618 166,972
2023 766,391 -1,487 602,793 228,222
2022 753,931 -1,487 603,636 233,284
2021 741,416 -1,480 456,411 458,246
2020 736,607 -1,480 595,873 369,901
2019 735,853 -2,976 652,130 331,124
2018 719,267 -2,887 648,319 318,260
2017 699,498 -2,784 645,975 343,146
2016 682,801 -2,687 641,365 -879,235
2015 668,977 -2,594 668,771 641,150
2014 660,837 -2,522 674,754 272,697
2013 654,230 -2,445 652,427 232,230
2012 644,255 -2,334 643,723 264,091
2011 640,577 -2,219 601,708 65,166
2010 641,543 -1,979 566,834 68,563
2009 634,008 -1,429 554,115 41,528
2008 615,580 -1,255 595,332 36,869
2007 597,772 -1,563 503,567 36,339
2006 581,489 -2,336 487,584 33,159
2005 568,143 -4,869 464,464 31,286
2004 556,319 -13,393 442,540 58,924
2003 544,903 -18,345 415,018 65,604
2002 535,518 -18,209 430,926 50,313
2001 529,656 -13,014 484,801 -60,793
2000 520,860 -4,298 526,963 -136,794
1999 516,976 -1,891 594,643 -126,011
1998 508,408 -1,222 627,027 -82,722
1997 490,905 -986 667,969 -98,181
1996 471,453 -1,161 710,868 -193,007
1995 450,259 -1,670 743,488 -98,403
1994 428,169 -1,905 698,609 -268,849
1993 408,801 -2,063 789,220 194,977
1992 388,430 -2,216 794,415 -71,342
1991 375,040 -2,330 827,296 -39,131
1990 360,621 -1,777 835,421 259,718
1989 344,279 -1,848 884,629 255,605
1988 330,510 -1,883 909,221 246,382
1987 317,621 -1,896 922,330 231,009
1986 307,074 -1,914 903,644 234,378
1985 304,199 -1,947 893,889 244,940
1984 296,892 -1,965 869,011 290,789
1983 290,085 -1,979 837,013 310,172
1982 284,733 -2,093 807,550 293,195
1981 277,535 -2,864 767,833 279,985
1980 275,287 -4,005 738,415 258,127
1979 270,752 -5,126 716,541 56,323
1978 263,684 -5,874 694,341 62,121
1977 255,399 -5,957 680,929 63,739
1976 247,026 -5,655 675,011 27,333
1975 238,774 -5,173 667,862 38,809
1974 230,233 -4,607 658,438 38,518
1973 221,768 -4,037 651,596 41,125
1972 213,138 -3,583 638,754 38,163
1971 204,617 -3,118 624,761 32,961
1970 194,889 -2,658 605,102 61,514
1969 184,562 -2,216 590,794 73,225
1968 175,869 -1,766 571,841 78,932
1967 167,287 -1,383 553,741 81,932
1966 159,483 -964 534,862 77,417
1965 152,362 -550 506,632 82,514
1964 146,894 -204 490,606 76,298
1963 142,666 0 473,821 72,844
1962 139,412 0 455,634 69,771
1961 136,578 0 437,851 57,728
1960 133,684 0 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.7% of the population change in Madagascar is from natural causes (a gain of 7,279,667 people) and 0.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,657 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, 38,625 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in Madagascar, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Madagascar
City Population
Antananarivo 1.28M
Antsirabe 265K
Toamasina 225K
Toliara 169K
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/madagascar/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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