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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mexico was 131,946,900 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mexico's population is 133,551,566 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Mexico's population is 2.03 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Mexico is ranked the 11th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 2.4% of the world: 1.61% for Mexico vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mexico has had an average growth rate of +0.88% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mexico has increased from 107M people to 134M (24.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Mexico vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mexico
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mexico South Africa
2100 131,158,772 94,734,082
2099 131,919,278 94,523,360
2098 132,676,226 94,316,049
2097 133,430,730 94,125,043
2096 134,179,811 93,927,246
2095 134,924,667 93,719,451
2094 135,662,399 93,494,697
2093 136,390,414 93,267,274
2092 137,102,695 93,041,793
2091 137,808,909 92,793,249
2090 138,501,995 92,561,159
2089 139,183,536 92,322,396
2088 139,849,476 92,080,212
2087 140,504,916 91,833,409
2086 141,148,688 91,581,639
2085 141,779,696 91,352,906
2084 142,390,038 91,106,961
2083 142,983,168 90,845,161
2082 143,553,646 90,583,188
2081 144,112,618 90,313,417
2080 144,651,130 90,039,857
2079 145,168,756 89,770,116
2078 145,664,735 89,494,440
2077 146,138,472 89,217,520
2076 146,589,999 88,954,522
2075 147,020,176 88,681,719
2074 147,428,934 88,397,221
2073 147,814,398 88,118,589
2072 148,174,180 87,835,051
2071 148,507,034 87,509,098
2070 148,821,087 87,178,463
2069 149,107,578 86,870,660
2068 149,368,537 86,558,000
2067 149,603,163 86,237,764
2066 149,814,864 85,904,801
2065 150,001,973 85,573,984
2064 150,160,667 85,214,686
2063 150,292,498 84,845,370
2062 150,396,857 84,473,236
2061 150,474,868 84,103,016
2060 150,528,257 83,719,266
2059 150,549,825 83,325,330
2058 150,541,650 82,918,226
2057 150,507,950 82,508,742
2056 150,447,865 82,098,320
2055 150,356,976 81,669,191
2054 150,235,899 81,227,019
2053 150,083,305 80,789,939
2052 149,896,641 80,338,877
2051 149,677,830 79,858,310
2050 149,423,583 79,383,784
2049 149,138,900 78,897,472
2048 148,809,771 78,409,829
2047 148,451,951 77,894,547
2046 148,054,747 77,369,819
2045 147,620,456 76,852,544
2044 147,146,325 76,330,046
2043 146,641,077 75,800,788
2042 146,096,981 75,264,885
2041 145,517,171 74,721,871
2040 144,905,265 74,179,185
2039 144,260,027 73,636,894
2038 143,575,746 73,079,976
2037 142,857,009 72,506,991
2036 142,113,069 71,930,701
2035 141,334,167 71,337,219
2034 140,529,082 70,737,692
2033 139,687,630 70,128,299
2032 138,818,384 69,502,726
2031 137,922,237 68,865,544
2030 136,998,375 68,221,143
2029 136,046,964 67,549,189
2028 135,066,178 66,860,631
2027 134,056,943 66,166,759
2026 133,017,798 65,473,024
2025 131,946,900 64,747,319
2024 130,861,007 64,007,187
2023 129,739,759 63,212,384
2022 128,613,117 62,378,410
2021 127,648,148 61,502,603
2020 126,799,054 60,562,381
2019 125,762,982 59,587,885
2018 124,573,711 58,613,001
2017 123,400,057 57,635,162
2016 122,251,351 57,259,551
2015 121,072,306 56,723,537
2014 119,784,261 55,594,838
2013 118,343,573 54,678,791
2012 116,818,208 53,782,567
2011 115,243,504 52,995,205
2010 113,623,895 52,344,051
2009 111,999,721 51,728,516
2008 110,374,288 51,114,599
2007 108,774,360 50,528,584
2006 107,253,666 49,998,277
2005 105,811,504 49,490,033
2004 104,394,131 48,991,421
2003 102,978,515 48,500,348
2002 101,548,624 48,019,415
2001 100,099,099 47,566,800
2000 98,625,552 47,159,719
1999 97,115,707 46,730,335
1998 95,575,245 46,223,880
1997 94,021,207 45,666,838
1996 92,452,702 45,123,018
1995 90,862,455 44,541,554
1994 89,259,205 44,004,139
1993 87,653,807 43,297,156
1992 86,044,809 42,443,509
1991 84,430,572 41,687,898
1990 82,820,170 40,746,268
1989 81,247,182 39,628,575
1988 79,695,531 38,480,649
1987 78,136,651 37,326,190
1986 76,585,637 36,180,515
1985 75,043,414 35,042,093
1984 73,506,846 33,892,788
1983 71,971,240 32,739,304
1982 70,433,260 31,615,339
1981 68,892,108 30,541,044
1980 67,300,334 29,518,857
1979 65,648,865 28,634,162
1978 63,979,046 27,869,507
1977 62,308,493 27,118,952
1976 60,645,512 26,395,450
1975 58,982,400 25,690,940
1974 57,320,149 24,989,108
1973 55,667,284 24,294,263
1972 54,030,168 23,609,456
1971 52,412,558 22,942,143
1970 50,814,953 22,279,984
1969 49,233,194 21,614,676
1968 47,668,303 20,957,287
1967 46,129,608 20,314,066
1966 44,629,106 19,690,087
1965 43,174,477 19,089,380
1964 41,772,049 18,511,361
1963 40,424,065 17,954,564
1962 39,129,200 17,418,522
1961 37,890,118 16,908,035
1960 36,724,615 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/mexico/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mexico increased by 14,997,685 people (a 14% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mexico gained 11,300,215 people (a 9.24% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Mexico was ranked 11th most populous country in 2006 and is still 11th 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) Mexico's population will grow by 11.9% to 149,423,583 people with a rank change from 11th to 12th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Mexico is projected to reach its peak in 2059 at 151M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Mexico
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mexico South Africa
2100 -0.58% 0.22%
2099 -0.57% 0.22%
2098 -0.57% 0.2%
2097 -0.56% 0.21%
2096 -0.55% 0.22%
2095 -0.54% 0.24%
2094 -0.53% 0.24%
2093 -0.52% 0.24%
2092 -0.51% 0.27%
2091 -0.5% 0.25%
2090 -0.49% 0.26%
2089 -0.48% 0.26%
2088 -0.47% 0.27%
2087 -0.46% 0.27%
2086 -0.45% 0.25%
2085 -0.43% 0.27%
2084 -0.41% 0.29%
2083 -0.4% 0.29%
2082 -0.39% 0.3%
2081 -0.37% 0.3%
2080 -0.36% 0.3%
2079 -0.34% 0.31%
2078 -0.32% 0.31%
2077 -0.31% 0.3%
2076 -0.29% 0.31%
2075 -0.28% 0.32%
2074 -0.26% 0.32%
2073 -0.24% 0.32%
2072 -0.22% 0.37%
2071 -0.21% 0.38%
2070 -0.19% 0.35%
2069 -0.17% 0.36%
2068 -0.16% 0.37%
2067 -0.14% 0.39%
2066 -0.12% 0.39%
2065 -0.11% 0.42%
2064 -0.09% 0.44%
2063 -0.07% 0.44%
2062 -0.05% 0.44%
2061 -0.04% 0.46%
2060 -0.01% 0.47%
2059 0.005% 0.49%
2058 0.02% 0.5%
2057 0.04% 0.5%
2056 0.06% 0.53%
2055 0.08% 0.54%
2054 0.1% 0.54%
2053 0.12% 0.56%
2052 0.15% 0.6%
2051 0.17% 0.6%
2050 0.19% 0.62%
2049 0.22% 0.62%
2048 0.24% 0.66%
2047 0.27% 0.68%
2046 0.29% 0.67%
2045 0.32% 0.68%
2044 0.34% 0.7%
2043 0.37% 0.71%
2042 0.4% 0.73%
2041 0.42% 0.73%
2040 0.45% 0.74%
2039 0.48% 0.76%
2038 0.5% 0.79%
2037 0.52% 0.8%
2036 0.55% 0.83%
2035 0.57% 0.85%
2034 0.6% 0.87%
2033 0.63% 0.9%
2032 0.65% 0.93%
2031 0.67% 0.94%
2030 0.7% 0.99%
2029 0.73% 1.03%
2028 0.75% 1.05%
2027 0.78% 1.06%
2026 0.81% 1.12%
2025 0.83% 1.16%
2024 0.86% 1.26%
2023 0.88% 1.34%
2022 0.76% 1.42%
2021 0.67% 1.55%
2020 0.82% 1.64%
2019 0.95% 1.66%
2018 0.95% 1.7%
2017 0.94% 0.66%
2016 0.97% 0.94%
2015 1.08% 2.03%
2014 1.22% 1.68%
2013 1.31% 1.67%
2012 1.37% 1.49%
2011 1.43% 1.24%
2010 1.45% 1.19%
2009 1.47% 1.2%
2008 1.47% 1.16%
2007 1.42% 1.06%
2006 1.36% 1.03%
2005 1.36% 1.02%
2004 1.37% 1.01%
2003 1.41% 1%
2002 1.45% 0.95%
2001 1.49% 0.86%
2000 1.55% 0.92%
1999 1.61% 1.1%
1998 1.65% 1.22%
1997 1.7% 1.21%
1996 1.75% 1.31%
1995 1.8% 1.22%
1994 1.83% 1.63%
1993 1.87% 2.01%
1992 1.91% 1.81%
1991 1.94% 2.31%
1990 1.94% 2.82%
1989 1.95% 2.98%
1988 2% 3.09%
1987 2.03% 3.17%
1986 2.06% 3.25%
1985 2.09% 3.39%
1984 2.13% 3.52%
1983 2.18% 3.56%
1982 2.24% 3.52%
1981 2.37% 3.46%
1980 2.52% 3.09%
1979 2.61% 2.74%
1978 2.68% 2.77%
1977 2.74% 2.74%
1976 2.82% 2.74%
1975 2.9% 2.81%
1974 2.97% 2.86%
1973 3.03% 2.9%
1972 3.09% 2.91%
1971 3.14% 2.97%
1970 3.21% 3.08%
1969 3.28% 3.14%
1968 3.34% 3.17%
1967 3.36% 3.17%
1966 3.37% 3.15%
1965 3.36% 3.12%
1964 3.33% 3.1%
1963 3.31% 3.08%
1962 3.27% 3.02%
1961 3.17% 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/mexico/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mexico grew by 0.83%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Mexico South Africa
Current population
133551566
65829368
Population rank 11/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.61% 0.79%
One net population change
29.1 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
15.6 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
38.8 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,975 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +1,085,893 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.83% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 109/197 91/197
One migration net change every
4.88 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -108,037 +146,370
Net migration rank 181/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,726,089 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 42/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 149/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mexico
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mexico South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -108,037 - 146,370
2024 1,209,810 -104,581 591,618 166,972
2023 1,238,366 -101,044 602,793 228,222
2022 1,224,397 -108,438 603,636 233,284
2021 936,682 -122,791 456,411 458,246
2020 1,031,637 -147,456 595,873 369,901
2019 1,357,485 -169,628 652,130 331,124
2018 1,366,076 -175,356 648,319 318,260
2017 1,384,178 -227,499 645,975 343,146
2016 1,445,256 -304,472 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,508,439 -291,044 668,771 641,150
2014 1,587,620 -228,816 674,754 272,697
2013 1,642,609 -120,058 652,427 232,230
2012 1,656,599 -128,485 643,723 264,091
2011 1,659,161 -37,826 601,708 65,166
2010 1,658,682 -40,845 566,834 68,563
2009 1,661,180 -30,809 554,115 41,528
2008 1,670,846 -50,347 595,332 36,869
2007 1,684,915 -105,524 503,567 36,339
2006 1,706,084 -244,140 487,584 33,159
2005 1,732,663 -310,278 464,464 31,286
2004 1,759,250 -346,912 442,540 58,924
2003 1,788,016 -369,183 415,018 65,604
2002 1,820,665 -379,812 430,926 50,313
2001 1,836,418 -378,348 484,801 -60,793
2000 1,845,383 -356,433 526,963 -136,794
1999 1,859,475 -328,773 594,643 -126,011
1998 1,871,650 -321,385 627,027 -82,722
1997 1,898,383 -340,546 667,969 -98,181
1996 1,922,554 -343,399 710,868 -193,007
1995 1,941,458 -340,091 743,488 -98,403
1994 1,959,775 -354,573 698,609 -268,849
1993 1,963,708 -358,039 789,220 194,977
1992 1,956,659 -344,313 794,415 -71,342
1991 1,942,832 -326,691 827,296 -39,131
1990 1,926,480 -321,764 835,421 259,718
1989 1,927,752 -386,467 884,629 255,605
1988 1,936,601 -374,544 909,221 246,382
1987 1,971,231 -415,521 922,330 231,009
1986 1,998,043 -451,756 903,644 234,378
1985 1,983,622 -445,447 893,889 244,940
1984 1,960,428 -425,467 869,011 290,789
1983 1,939,193 -402,937 837,013 310,172
1982 1,921,772 -382,048 807,550 293,195
1981 1,904,384 -361,791 767,833 279,985
1980 1,893,158 -252,177 738,415 258,127
1979 1,908,018 -246,034 716,541 56,323
1978 1,921,419 -243,714 694,341 62,121
1977 1,902,964 -239,521 680,929 63,739
1976 1,891,958 -229,450 675,011 27,333
1975 1,880,241 -216,556 667,862 38,809
1974 1,868,809 -207,995 658,438 38,518
1973 1,845,593 -200,688 651,596 41,125
1972 1,823,302 -193,965 638,754 38,163
1971 1,790,990 -185,062 624,761 32,961
1970 1,753,370 -164,100 605,102 61,514
1969 1,711,297 -137,051 590,794 73,225
1968 1,671,918 -116,358 571,841 78,932
1967 1,620,534 -98,680 553,741 81,932
1966 1,566,170 -87,018 534,862 77,417
1965 1,508,344 -78,288 506,632 82,514
1964 1,447,360 -72,581 490,606 76,298
1963 1,387,678 -66,515 473,821 72,844
1962 1,328,319 -59,833 455,634 69,771
1961 1,265,833 -56,174 437,851 57,728
1960 1,206,955 -85,591 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 87.9% of the population change in Mexico is from natural causes (a gain of 12,702,326 people) and 12.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,752,309 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, 1,726,089 residents or 1.3% of the population were not native-born in Mexico, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Mexico
City Population
Mexico 9.21M
Veracruz 8.06M
San Luis Potosi 2.82M
Tijuana 1.96M
Leon 1.58M
Puebla 1.43M
Guadalajara 1.39M
Ciudad Juarez 1.32M
Zapopan 1.26M
Monterrey 1.14M
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/mexico/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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