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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 28.1 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.57% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Moldova vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova South Africa
2100 1,175,882 94,767,727
2099 1,186,641 94,556,931
2098 1,197,541 94,349,546
2097 1,208,458 94,158,472
2096 1,219,478 93,960,605
2095 1,230,573 93,752,736
2094 1,241,540 93,527,902
2093 1,252,531 93,300,398
2092 1,263,471 93,074,837
2091 1,274,372 92,826,204
2090 1,285,020 92,594,033
2089 1,295,696 92,355,184
2088 1,306,424 92,112,914
2087 1,317,064 91,866,024
2086 1,327,799 91,614,165
2085 1,338,702 91,385,350
2084 1,349,432 91,139,318
2083 1,360,333 90,877,425
2082 1,371,322 90,615,359
2081 1,382,447 90,345,492
2080 1,393,733 90,071,835
2079 1,405,298 89,801,998
2078 1,417,062 89,526,224
2077 1,429,240 89,249,206
2076 1,441,240 88,986,114
2075 1,453,677 88,713,215
2074 1,466,568 88,428,616
2073 1,479,672 88,149,885
2072 1,493,311 87,866,246
2071 1,507,315 87,540,177
2070 1,522,149 87,209,425
2069 1,537,091 86,901,512
2068 1,552,724 86,588,742
2067 1,568,676 86,268,392
2066 1,584,782 85,935,310
2065 1,601,356 85,604,376
2064 1,618,317 85,244,950
2063 1,635,288 84,875,503
2062 1,652,720 84,503,237
2061 1,670,255 84,132,885
2060 1,688,120 83,748,999
2059 1,705,595 83,354,923
2058 1,722,942 82,947,675
2057 1,740,252 82,538,045
2056 1,757,829 82,127,477
2055 1,775,082 81,698,196
2054 1,792,262 81,255,867
2053 1,809,221 80,818,632
2052 1,825,831 80,367,409
2051 1,842,337 79,886,672
2050 1,858,281 79,411,977
2049 1,874,666 78,925,493
2048 1,890,586 78,437,677
2047 1,906,615 77,922,211
2046 1,922,962 77,397,298
2045 1,939,938 76,879,838
2044 1,956,858 76,357,155
2043 1,974,616 75,827,709
2042 1,992,765 75,291,615
2041 2,011,342 74,748,408
2040 2,030,732 74,205,530
2039 2,051,163 73,663,047
2038 2,071,871 73,105,930
2037 2,093,068 72,532,742
2036 2,114,669 71,956,247
2035 2,136,998 71,362,555
2034 2,159,450 70,762,815
2033 2,182,023 70,153,205
2032 2,204,431 69,527,410
2031 2,227,006 68,890,002
2030 2,250,038 68,245,372
2029 2,272,963 67,573,179
2028 2,295,739 66,884,377
2027 2,318,425 66,190,258
2026 2,341,166 65,496,277
2025 2,373,265 64,770,314
2024 2,402,306 64,007,187
2023 2,457,783 63,212,384
2022 2,528,654 62,378,410
2021 2,595,809 61,502,603
2020 2,635,130 60,562,381
2019 2,664,224 59,587,885
2018 2,707,203 58,613,001
2017 2,755,189 57,635,162
2016 2,803,186 57,259,551
2015 2,835,978 56,723,537
2014 2,857,815 55,594,838
2013 2,859,558 54,678,791
2012 2,860,324 53,782,567
2011 2,860,699 52,995,205
2010 2,862,354 52,344,051
2009 2,865,213 51,728,516
2008 2,868,833 51,114,599
2007 2,874,299 50,528,584
2006 2,880,967 49,998,277
2005 2,888,985 49,490,033
2004 2,896,023 48,991,421
2003 2,903,198 48,500,348
2002 2,911,385 48,019,415
2001 2,918,135 47,566,800
2000 2,924,668 47,159,719
1999 2,930,622 46,730,335
1998 2,935,227 46,223,880
1997 2,936,413 45,666,838
1996 2,947,293 45,123,018
1995 2,953,200 44,541,554
1994 2,966,745 44,004,139
1993 2,975,966 43,297,156
1992 2,980,965 42,443,509
1991 2,981,566 41,687,898
1990 2,977,912 40,746,268
1989 2,970,039 39,628,575
1988 2,948,891 38,480,649
1987 2,916,306 37,326,190
1986 2,883,057 36,180,515
1985 2,850,787 35,042,093
1984 2,820,518 33,892,788
1983 2,791,207 32,739,304
1982 2,763,101 31,615,339
1981 2,735,987 30,541,044
1980 2,708,675 29,518,857
1979 2,683,035 28,634,162
1978 2,656,211 27,869,507
1977 2,626,298 27,118,952
1976 2,596,491 26,395,450
1975 2,566,998 25,690,940
1974 2,538,164 24,989,108
1973 2,510,584 24,294,263
1972 2,484,742 23,609,456
1971 2,460,611 22,942,143
1970 2,437,590 22,279,984
1969 2,408,469 21,614,676
1968 2,373,073 20,957,287
1967 2,337,695 20,314,066
1966 2,301,871 19,690,087
1965 2,265,287 19,089,380
1964 2,228,000 18,511,361
1963 2,188,895 17,954,564
1962 2,147,227 17,418,522
1961 2,103,327 16,908,035
1960 2,058,020 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/moldova/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.18M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova South Africa
2100 -0.91% 0.22%
2099 -0.91% 0.22%
2098 -0.9% 0.2%
2097 -0.9% 0.21%
2096 -0.9% 0.22%
2095 -0.88% 0.24%
2094 -0.88% 0.24%
2093 -0.87% 0.24%
2092 -0.86% 0.27%
2091 -0.83% 0.25%
2090 -0.82% 0.26%
2089 -0.82% 0.26%
2088 -0.81% 0.27%
2087 -0.81% 0.27%
2086 -0.81% 0.25%
2085 -0.8% 0.27%
2084 -0.8% 0.29%
2083 -0.8% 0.29%
2082 -0.8% 0.3%
2081 -0.81% 0.3%
2080 -0.82% 0.3%
2079 -0.83% 0.31%
2078 -0.85% 0.31%
2077 -0.83% 0.3%
2076 -0.86% 0.31%
2075 -0.88% 0.32%
2074 -0.89% 0.32%
2073 -0.91% 0.32%
2072 -0.93% 0.37%
2071 -0.97% 0.38%
2070 -0.97% 0.35%
2069 -1.01% 0.36%
2068 -1.02% 0.37%
2067 -1.02% 0.39%
2066 -1.03% 0.39%
2065 -1.05% 0.42%
2064 -1.04% 0.44%
2063 -1.05% 0.44%
2062 -1.05% 0.44%
2061 -1.06% 0.46%
2060 -1.02% 0.47%
2059 -1.01% 0.49%
2058 -0.99% 0.5%
2057 -1% 0.5%
2056 -0.97% 0.53%
2055 -0.96% 0.54%
2054 -0.94% 0.54%
2053 -0.91% 0.56%
2052 -0.9% 0.6%
2051 -0.86% 0.6%
2050 -0.87% 0.62%
2049 -0.84% 0.62%
2048 -0.84% 0.66%
2047 -0.85% 0.68%
2046 -0.88% 0.67%
2045 -0.86% 0.68%
2044 -0.9% 0.7%
2043 -0.91% 0.71%
2042 -0.92% 0.73%
2041 -0.95% 0.73%
2040 -1% 0.74%
2039 -1% 0.76%
2038 -1.01% 0.79%
2037 -1.02% 0.8%
2036 -1.04% 0.83%
2035 -1.04% 0.85%
2034 -1.03% 0.87%
2033 -1.02% 0.9%
2032 -1.01% 0.93%
2031 -1.02% 0.94%
2030 -1.01% 0.99%
2029 -0.99% 1.03%
2028 -0.98% 1.05%
2027 -0.97% 1.06%
2026 -1.35% 1.12%
2025 -1.21% 1.19%
2024 -2.26% 1.26%
2023 -2.8% 1.34%
2022 -2.59% 1.42%
2021 -1.49% 1.55%
2020 -1.09% 1.64%
2019 -1.59% 1.66%
2018 -1.74% 1.7%
2017 -1.71% 0.66%
2016 -1.16% 0.94%
2015 -0.76% 2.03%
2014 -0.06% 1.68%
2013 -0.03% 1.67%
2012 -0.01% 1.49%
2011 -0.06% 1.24%
2010 -0.1% 1.19%
2009 -0.13% 1.2%
2008 -0.19% 1.16%
2007 -0.23% 1.06%
2006 -0.28% 1.03%
2005 -0.24% 1.02%
2004 -0.25% 1.01%
2003 -0.28% 1%
2002 -0.23% 0.95%
2001 -0.22% 0.86%
2000 -0.2% 0.92%
1999 -0.16% 1.1%
1998 -0.04% 1.22%
1997 -0.37% 1.21%
1996 -0.2% 1.31%
1995 -0.46% 1.22%
1994 -0.31% 1.63%
1993 -0.17% 2.01%
1992 -0.02% 1.81%
1991 0.12% 2.31%
1990 0.27% 2.82%
1989 0.72% 2.98%
1988 1.12% 3.09%
1987 1.15% 3.17%
1986 1.13% 3.25%
1985 1.07% 3.39%
1984 1.05% 3.52%
1983 1.02% 3.56%
1982 0.99% 3.52%
1981 1.01% 3.46%
1980 0.96% 3.09%
1979 1.01% 2.74%
1978 1.14% 2.77%
1977 1.15% 2.74%
1976 1.15% 2.74%
1975 1.14% 2.81%
1974 1.1% 2.86%
1973 1.04% 2.9%
1972 0.98% 2.91%
1971 0.94% 2.97%
1970 1.21% 3.08%
1969 1.49% 3.14%
1968 1.51% 3.17%
1967 1.56% 3.17%
1966 1.61% 3.15%
1965 1.67% 3.12%
1964 1.79% 3.1%
1963 1.94% 3.08%
1962 2.09% 3.02%
1961 2.2% 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/moldova/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Moldova South Africa
Current population
2341166
65683993
Population rank 145/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
9.47 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
19.9 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
15.7 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -152 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -55,477 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -2.26% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 85/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -29,766 +146,370
Net migration rank 164/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - 146,370
2024 - -27,088 - 166,972
2023 -7,007 -18,570 602,793 228,222
2022 -6,385 89,154 603,636 233,284
2021 -13,444 -33,405 456,411 458,246
2020 -7,067 -33,405 595,873 369,901
2019 -3,416 -41,233 652,130 331,124
2018 -961 -36,085 648,319 318,260
2017 1,402 -43,871 645,975 343,146
2016 4,580 -51,642 641,365 -879,235
2015 6,049 -59,399 668,771 641,150
2014 7,248 -67,175 674,754 272,697
2013 3,537 -77,571 652,427 232,230
2012 5,581 -81,215 643,723 264,091
2011 5,948 -82,271 601,708 65,166
2010 7,456 -84,039 566,834 68,563
2009 7,492 -83,546 554,115 41,528
2008 5,210 -79,593 595,332 36,869
2007 3,490 -75,734 503,567 36,339
2006 2,406 -72,061 487,584 33,159
2005 2,005 -68,681 464,464 31,286
2004 1,714 -52,491 442,540 58,924
2003 -322 -46,947 415,018 65,604
2002 -1,249 -45,833 430,926 50,313
2001 -718 -45,043 484,801 -60,793
2000 -324 -43,854 526,963 -136,794
1999 642 -43,111 594,643 -126,011
1998 2,140 -41,975 627,027 -82,722
1997 4,669 -41,743 667,969 -98,181
1996 2,655 -33,369 710,868 -193,007
1995 5,534 -31,975 743,488 -98,403
1994 9,921 -31,616 698,609 -268,849
1993 13,886 -31,526 789,220 194,977
1992 17,373 -30,136 794,415 -71,342
1991 21,127 -29,204 827,296 -39,131
1990 25,824 -30,053 835,421 259,718
1989 29,638 -29,307 884,629 255,605
1988 35,608 -4,989 909,221 246,382
1987 40,122 -10,796 922,330 231,009
1986 39,463 -8,769 903,644 234,378
1985 38,060 -10,627 893,889 244,940
1984 38,108 -12,732 869,011 290,789
1983 36,076 -10,543 837,013 310,172
1982 32,814 -8,412 807,550 293,195
1981 31,360 -6,452 767,833 279,985
1980 30,053 -3,693 738,415 258,127
1979 28,322 -6,912 716,541 56,323
1978 27,622 3,483 694,341 62,121
1977 27,707 3,245 680,929 63,739
1976 27,801 2,885 675,011 27,333
1975 27,677 2,355 667,862 38,809
1974 27,219 1,785 658,438 38,518
1973 25,967 1,156 651,596 41,125
1972 24,626 481 638,754 38,163
1971 23,359 -61 624,761 32,961
1970 22,314 606 605,102 61,514
1969 21,768 20,561 590,794 73,225
1968 22,005 19,830 571,841 78,932
1967 22,654 19,175 553,741 81,932
1966 23,720 18,601 534,862 77,417
1965 24,916 18,066 506,632 82,514
1964 25,860 17,509 490,606 76,298
1963 29,382 16,816 473,821 72,844
1962 32,082 15,884 455,634 69,771
1961 35,180 14,818 437,851 57,728
1960 36,352 13,697 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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