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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mexico was 130,861,007 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mexico's population is 133,323,134 people compared to 65,683,993 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 +0.92% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mexico has increased from 107M people to 133M (24.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Mexico vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mexico
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mexico South Africa
2100 131,182,639 94,767,727
2099 131,943,283 94,556,931
2098 132,700,369 94,349,546
2097 133,455,010 94,158,472
2096 134,204,227 93,960,605
2095 134,949,218 93,752,736
2094 135,687,085 93,527,902
2093 136,415,232 93,300,398
2092 137,127,644 93,074,837
2091 137,833,985 92,826,204
2090 138,527,198 92,594,033
2089 139,208,862 92,355,184
2088 139,874,924 92,112,914
2087 140,530,483 91,866,024
2086 141,174,372 91,614,165
2085 141,805,496 91,385,350
2084 142,415,948 91,139,318
2083 143,009,187 90,877,425
2082 143,579,768 90,615,359
2081 144,138,842 90,345,492
2080 144,677,451 90,071,835
2079 145,195,172 89,801,998
2078 145,691,242 89,526,224
2077 146,165,064 89,249,206
2076 146,616,674 88,986,114
2075 147,046,928 88,713,215
2074 147,455,761 88,428,616
2073 147,841,295 88,149,885
2072 148,201,143 87,866,246
2071 148,534,057 87,540,177
2070 148,848,168 87,209,425
2069 149,134,711 86,901,512
2068 149,395,717 86,588,742
2067 149,630,386 86,268,392
2066 149,842,125 85,935,310
2065 150,029,268 85,604,376
2064 150,187,992 85,244,950
2063 150,319,846 84,875,503
2062 150,424,224 84,503,237
2061 150,502,250 84,132,885
2060 150,555,648 83,748,999
2059 150,577,220 83,354,923
2058 150,569,044 82,947,675
2057 150,535,337 82,538,045
2056 150,475,242 82,127,477
2055 150,384,336 81,698,196
2054 150,263,237 81,255,867
2053 150,110,615 80,818,632
2052 149,923,918 80,367,409
2051 149,705,066 79,886,672
2050 149,450,774 79,411,977
2049 149,166,038 78,925,493
2048 148,836,849 78,437,677
2047 148,478,965 77,922,211
2046 148,081,688 77,397,298
2045 147,647,318 76,879,838
2044 147,173,101 76,357,155
2043 146,667,761 75,827,709
2042 146,123,566 75,291,615
2041 145,543,650 74,748,408
2040 144,931,633 74,205,530
2039 144,286,278 73,663,047
2038 143,601,872 73,105,930
2037 142,883,005 72,532,742
2036 142,138,929 71,956,247
2035 141,359,885 71,362,555
2034 140,554,653 70,762,815
2033 139,713,048 70,153,205
2032 138,843,644 69,527,410
2031 137,947,334 68,890,002
2030 137,023,304 68,245,372
2029 136,071,720 67,573,179
2028 135,090,755 66,884,377
2027 134,081,337 66,190,258
2026 133,042,003 65,496,277
2025 131,970,909 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 11,071,783 people (a 9.06% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 12.1% to 149,450,774 people with a rank change from 11th to 12th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 0.85% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Mexico grew by 0.86%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Mexico South Africa
Current population
133323134
65683993
Population rank 11/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.61% 0.79%
One net population change
28.1 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
15.5 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
39.5 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,072 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +1,121,248 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.86% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 110/197 85/197
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 - -104,581 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 87.5% of the population change in Mexico is from natural causes (a gain of 13,080,136 people) and 12.5% is from migration (a loss of 1,876,544 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, 1,726,089 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
Tijuana 1.96M
Ecatepec de Morelos 1.93M
Leon 1.58M
Puebla 1.43M
Guadalajara 1.39M
Ciudad Juarez 1.32M
Zapopan 1.26M
Monterrey 1.14M
Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl 1.07M
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/mexico/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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