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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Madagascar was 31,964,956 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Madagascar's population is 33,750,171 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.95 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 +2.6% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Madagascar has increased from 19.7M people to 33.8M (71.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Madagascar vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Madagascar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Madagascar South Africa
2100 86,197,674 94,767,727
2099 85,808,382 94,556,931
2098 85,404,097 94,349,546
2097 84,987,607 94,158,472
2096 84,559,113 93,960,605
2095 84,119,392 93,752,736
2094 83,665,834 93,527,902
2093 83,200,140 93,300,398
2092 82,723,075 93,074,837
2091 82,233,465 92,826,204
2090 81,734,626 92,594,033
2089 81,223,857 92,355,184
2088 80,700,261 92,112,914
2087 80,164,903 91,866,024
2086 79,619,760 91,614,165
2085 79,064,003 91,385,350
2084 78,499,094 91,139,318
2083 77,922,946 90,877,425
2082 77,337,305 90,615,359
2081 76,740,524 90,345,492
2080 76,133,028 90,071,835
2079 75,513,518 89,801,998
2078 74,881,435 89,526,224
2077 74,236,865 89,249,206
2076 73,582,256 88,986,114
2075 72,914,884 88,713,215
2074 72,235,202 88,428,616
2073 71,545,378 88,149,885
2072 70,843,401 87,866,246
2071 70,130,366 87,540,177
2070 69,409,326 87,209,425
2069 68,677,859 86,901,512
2068 67,936,195 86,588,742
2067 67,185,066 86,268,392
2066 66,425,210 85,935,310
2065 65,658,016 85,604,376
2064 64,881,253 85,244,950
2063 64,097,223 84,875,503
2062 63,305,402 84,503,237
2061 62,506,578 84,132,885
2060 61,701,267 83,748,999
2059 60,889,495 83,354,923
2058 60,073,702 82,947,675
2057 59,254,008 82,538,045
2056 58,428,653 82,127,477
2055 57,600,579 81,698,196
2054 56,769,869 81,255,867
2053 55,935,411 80,818,632
2052 55,097,962 80,367,409
2051 54,258,057 79,886,672
2050 53,415,029 79,411,977
2049 52,570,680 78,925,493
2048 51,725,320 78,437,677
2047 50,879,659 77,922,211
2046 50,033,785 77,397,298
2045 49,188,703 76,879,838
2044 48,344,009 76,357,155
2043 47,499,657 75,827,709
2042 46,656,643 75,291,615
2041 45,815,621 74,748,408
2040 44,976,152 74,205,530
2039 44,140,155 73,663,047
2038 43,305,683 73,105,930
2037 42,474,372 72,532,742
2036 41,645,556 71,956,247
2035 40,819,415 71,362,555
2034 39,997,842 70,762,815
2033 39,178,430 70,153,205
2032 38,361,932 69,527,410
2031 37,547,484 68,890,002
2030 36,737,238 68,245,372
2029 35,930,925 67,573,179
2028 35,128,136 66,884,377
2027 34,329,429 66,190,258
2026 33,535,391 65,496,277
2025 32,747,552 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 7,650,219 people (a 29.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 58.3% to 53,415,029 people with a rank change from 49th to 37th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 2.45% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Madagascar grew by 2.47%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Madagascar South Africa
Current population
33750171
65683993
Population rank 49/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.41% 0.79%
One net population change
41 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
31.5 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.24 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,107 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +769,024 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.47% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 29/197 85/197
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 - -1,795 - 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 2026-04-06).

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 7,165,578 people) and 0.31% is from migration (a loss of 22,384 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, 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
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/madagascar/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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