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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mongolia was 3,524,788 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mongolia's population is 3,620,317 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 18.1 times bigger than Mongolia's.
  • Mongolia is ranked the 132nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.84% of the world: 0.04% for Mongolia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mongolia has had an average growth rate of +1.79% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mongolia has increased from 2.57M people to 3.62M (41% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Mongolia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mongolia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mongolia South Africa
2100 5,629,299 94,767,727
2099 5,623,066 94,556,931
2098 5,615,212 94,349,546
2097 5,606,511 94,158,472
2096 5,597,140 93,960,605
2095 5,585,917 93,752,736
2094 5,574,522 93,527,902
2093 5,562,381 93,300,398
2092 5,549,290 93,074,837
2091 5,535,819 92,826,204
2090 5,521,210 92,594,033
2089 5,505,877 92,355,184
2088 5,490,024 92,112,914
2087 5,474,226 91,866,024
2086 5,458,465 91,614,165
2085 5,441,196 91,385,350
2084 5,423,740 91,139,318
2083 5,405,563 90,877,425
2082 5,387,443 90,615,359
2081 5,368,417 90,345,492
2080 5,348,645 90,071,835
2079 5,328,073 89,801,998
2078 5,306,120 89,526,224
2077 5,285,225 89,249,206
2076 5,263,067 88,986,114
2075 5,240,553 88,713,215
2074 5,217,755 88,428,616
2073 5,194,484 88,149,885
2072 5,171,399 87,866,246
2071 5,147,939 87,540,177
2070 5,123,730 87,209,425
2069 5,100,078 86,901,512
2068 5,075,923 86,588,742
2067 5,051,712 86,268,392
2066 5,026,451 85,935,310
2065 5,001,559 85,604,376
2064 4,977,095 85,244,950
2063 4,952,721 84,875,503
2062 4,928,284 84,503,237
2061 4,903,616 84,132,885
2060 4,877,808 83,748,999
2059 4,851,900 83,354,923
2058 4,825,704 82,947,675
2057 4,798,069 82,538,045
2056 4,770,106 82,127,477
2055 4,741,145 81,698,196
2054 4,710,703 81,255,867
2053 4,678,720 80,818,632
2052 4,645,641 80,367,409
2051 4,611,080 79,886,672
2050 4,575,698 79,411,977
2049 4,538,221 78,925,493
2048 4,499,652 78,437,677
2047 4,459,534 77,922,211
2046 4,418,220 77,397,298
2045 4,375,263 76,879,838
2044 4,332,061 76,357,155
2043 4,288,836 75,827,709
2042 4,244,827 75,291,615
2041 4,200,917 74,748,408
2040 4,157,409 74,205,530
2039 4,114,122 73,663,047
2038 4,071,754 73,105,930
2037 4,029,761 72,532,742
2036 3,988,994 71,956,247
2035 3,949,374 71,362,555
2034 3,910,459 70,762,815
2033 3,872,505 70,153,205
2032 3,835,471 69,527,410
2031 3,799,194 68,890,002
2030 3,762,550 68,245,372
2029 3,725,673 67,573,179
2028 3,687,959 66,884,377
2027 3,649,213 66,190,258
2026 3,609,604 65,496,277
2025 3,568,196 64,770,314
2024 3,524,788 64,007,187
2023 3,481,145 63,212,384
2022 3,433,748 62,378,410
2021 3,383,741 61,502,603
2020 3,327,204 60,562,381
2019 3,267,673 59,587,885
2018 3,208,189 58,613,001
2017 3,148,917 57,635,162
2016 3,088,856 57,259,551
2015 3,026,864 56,723,537
2014 2,963,113 55,594,838
2013 2,899,011 54,678,791
2012 2,839,705 53,782,567
2011 2,786,317 52,995,205
2010 2,738,622 52,344,051
2009 2,691,115 51,728,516
2008 2,643,201 51,114,599
2007 2,601,850 50,528,584
2006 2,567,168 49,998,277
2005 2,536,407 49,490,033
2004 2,508,412 48,991,421
2003 2,480,374 48,500,348
2002 2,449,027 48,019,415
2001 2,417,751 47,566,800
2000 2,388,299 47,159,719
1999 2,356,813 46,730,335
1998 2,323,809 46,223,880
1997 2,291,750 45,666,838
1996 2,259,507 45,123,018
1995 2,224,945 44,541,554
1994 2,189,395 44,004,139
1993 2,165,130 43,297,156
1992 2,167,790 42,443,509
1991 2,165,342 41,687,898
1990 2,098,710 40,746,268
1989 2,124,185 39,628,575
1988 2,076,322 38,480,649
1987 2,022,800 37,326,190
1986 1,970,965 36,180,515
1985 1,921,514 35,042,093
1984 1,874,349 33,892,788
1983 1,829,092 32,739,304
1982 1,785,364 31,615,339
1981 1,742,857 30,541,044
1980 1,701,335 29,518,857
1979 1,660,659 28,634,162
1978 1,619,468 27,869,507
1977 1,576,245 27,118,952
1976 1,531,945 26,395,450
1975 1,488,296 25,690,940
1974 1,446,050 24,989,108
1973 1,405,502 24,294,263
1972 1,366,821 23,609,456
1971 1,330,071 22,942,143
1970 1,295,272 22,279,984
1969 1,262,284 21,614,676
1968 1,229,930 20,957,287
1967 1,196,996 20,314,066
1966 1,163,754 19,690,087
1965 1,131,177 19,089,380
1964 1,100,234 18,511,361
1963 1,071,362 17,954,564
1962 1,041,444 17,418,522
1961 1,009,284 16,908,035
1960 977,595 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/mongolia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mongolia increased by 521,688 people (a 20.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mongolia gained 531,461 people (a 17.2% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Mongolia was ranked 137th most populous country in 2006 and is 132nd 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) Mongolia's population will grow by 26.4% to 4,575,698 people with a rank change from 132nd to 130th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Mongolia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.63M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Mongolia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mongolia South Africa
2100 0.11% 0.22%
2099 0.14% 0.22%
2098 0.16% 0.2%
2097 0.17% 0.21%
2096 0.2% 0.22%
2095 0.2% 0.24%
2094 0.22% 0.24%
2093 0.24% 0.24%
2092 0.24% 0.27%
2091 0.26% 0.25%
2090 0.28% 0.26%
2089 0.29% 0.26%
2088 0.29% 0.27%
2087 0.29% 0.27%
2086 0.32% 0.25%
2085 0.32% 0.27%
2084 0.34% 0.29%
2083 0.34% 0.29%
2082 0.35% 0.3%
2081 0.37% 0.3%
2080 0.39% 0.3%
2079 0.41% 0.31%
2078 0.4% 0.31%
2077 0.42% 0.3%
2076 0.43% 0.31%
2075 0.44% 0.32%
2074 0.45% 0.32%
2073 0.45% 0.32%
2072 0.46% 0.37%
2071 0.47% 0.38%
2070 0.46% 0.35%
2069 0.48% 0.36%
2068 0.48% 0.37%
2067 0.5% 0.39%
2066 0.5% 0.39%
2065 0.49% 0.42%
2064 0.49% 0.44%
2063 0.5% 0.44%
2062 0.5% 0.44%
2061 0.53% 0.46%
2060 0.53% 0.47%
2059 0.54% 0.49%
2058 0.58% 0.5%
2057 0.59% 0.5%
2056 0.61% 0.53%
2055 0.65% 0.54%
2054 0.68% 0.54%
2053 0.71% 0.56%
2052 0.75% 0.6%
2051 0.77% 0.6%
2050 0.83% 0.62%
2049 0.86% 0.62%
2048 0.9% 0.66%
2047 0.94% 0.68%
2046 0.98% 0.67%
2045 1% 0.68%
2044 1.01% 0.7%
2043 1.04% 0.71%
2042 1.05% 0.73%
2041 1.05% 0.73%
2040 1.05% 0.74%
2039 1.04% 0.76%
2038 1.04% 0.79%
2037 1.02% 0.8%
2036 1% 0.83%
2035 1% 0.85%
2034 0.98% 0.87%
2033 0.97% 0.9%
2032 0.95% 0.93%
2031 0.97% 0.94%
2030 0.99% 0.99%
2029 1.02% 1.03%
2028 1.06% 1.05%
2027 1.1% 1.06%
2026 1.16% 1.12%
2025 1.23% 1.19%
2024 1.25% 1.26%
2023 1.38% 1.34%
2022 1.48% 1.42%
2021 1.7% 1.55%
2020 1.82% 1.64%
2019 1.85% 1.66%
2018 1.88% 1.7%
2017 1.94% 0.66%
2016 2.05% 0.94%
2015 2.15% 2.03%
2014 2.21% 1.68%
2013 2.09% 1.67%
2012 1.92% 1.49%
2011 1.74% 1.24%
2010 1.77% 1.19%
2009 1.81% 1.2%
2008 1.59% 1.16%
2007 1.35% 1.06%
2006 1.21% 1.03%
2005 1.12% 1.02%
2004 1.13% 1.01%
2003 1.28% 1%
2002 1.29% 0.95%
2001 1.23% 0.86%
2000 1.34% 0.92%
1999 1.42% 1.1%
1998 1.4% 1.22%
1997 1.43% 1.21%
1996 1.55% 1.31%
1995 1.62% 1.22%
1994 1.12% 1.63%
1993 -0.12% 2.01%
1992 0.11% 1.81%
1991 3.17% 2.31%
1990 -1.2% 2.82%
1989 2.31% 2.98%
1988 2.65% 3.09%
1987 2.63% 3.17%
1986 2.57% 3.25%
1985 2.52% 3.39%
1984 2.47% 3.52%
1983 2.45% 3.56%
1982 2.44% 3.52%
1981 2.44% 3.46%
1980 2.45% 3.09%
1979 2.54% 2.74%
1978 2.74% 2.77%
1977 2.89% 2.74%
1976 2.93% 2.74%
1975 2.92% 2.81%
1974 2.88% 2.86%
1973 2.83% 2.9%
1972 2.76% 2.91%
1971 2.69% 2.97%
1970 2.61% 3.08%
1969 2.63% 3.14%
1968 2.75% 3.17%
1967 2.86% 3.17%
1966 2.88% 3.15%
1965 2.81% 3.12%
1964 2.69% 3.1%
1963 2.87% 3.08%
1962 3.19% 3.02%
1961 3.24% 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/mongolia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mongolia grew by 1.25%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Mongolia South Africa
Current population
3620317
65683993
Population rank 132/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
12 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
7.95 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
27.5 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +120 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +43,643 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.25% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 86/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.63 days
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +79 +146,370
Net migration rank 74/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 22,589 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 169/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 171/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mongolia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mongolia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 79 - 146,370
2024 - 83 - 166,972
2023 46,995 0 602,793 228,222
2022 47,730 0 603,636 233,284
2021 52,109 0 456,411 458,246
2020 60,888 0 595,873 369,901
2019 61,433 8,660 652,130 331,124
2018 60,635 7,811 648,319 318,260
2017 57,940 6,831 645,975 343,146
2016 62,086 5,633 641,365 -879,235
2015 64,473 4,307 668,771 641,150
2014 66,078 2,921 674,754 272,697
2013 62,618 1,505 652,427 232,230
2012 55,942 351 643,723 264,091
2011 50,711 -505 601,708 65,166
2010 44,914 -6,444 566,834 68,563
2009 48,876 -15,007 554,115 41,528
2008 45,843 -17,277 595,332 36,869
2007 39,636 -15,220 503,567 36,339
2006 33,609 -11,934 487,584 33,159
2005 29,290 -8,924 464,464 31,286
2004 28,418 -8,148 442,540 58,924
2003 28,827 -7,986 415,018 65,604
2002 30,439 -8,934 430,926 50,313
2001 32,052 -10,244 484,801 -60,793
2000 32,753 -11,241 526,963 -136,794
1999 32,283 -13,481 594,643 -126,011
1998 31,757 -10,315 627,027 -82,722
1997 32,403 -9,132 667,969 -98,181
1996 33,741 -8,626 710,868 -193,007
1995 34,473 -7,346 743,488 -98,403
1994 34,711 -5,449 698,609 -268,849
1993 36,924 -5,429 789,220 194,977
1992 42,437 -8,404 794,415 -71,342
1991 47,884 -11,427 827,296 -39,131
1990 49,443 -11,881 835,421 259,718
1989 51,420 -9,757 884,629 255,605
1988 51,588 2,459 909,221 246,382
1987 51,140 1,855 922,330 231,009
1986 50,329 354 903,644 234,378
1985 49,944 -1,719 893,889 244,940
1984 48,562 -2,452 869,011 290,789
1983 46,919 -2,522 837,013 310,172
1982 45,179 -2,132 807,550 293,195
1981 43,588 -1,615 767,833 279,985
1980 42,343 -1,268 738,415 258,127
1979 41,568 -1,296 716,541 56,323
1978 40,276 1,833 694,341 62,121
1977 38,995 5,354 680,929 63,739
1976 37,670 6,577 675,011 27,333
1975 36,490 6,556 667,862 38,809
1974 35,297 6,153 658,438 38,518
1973 33,993 5,647 651,596 41,125
1972 32,727 4,999 638,754 38,163
1971 31,536 4,238 624,761 32,961
1970 30,558 3,263 605,102 61,514
1969 29,781 2,366 590,794 73,225
1968 29,017 3,535 571,841 78,932
1967 28,178 5,139 553,741 81,932
1966 27,338 5,837 534,862 77,417
1965 26,364 5,610 506,632 82,514
1964 25,317 4,599 490,606 76,298
1963 24,142 3,687 473,821 72,844
1962 22,960 9,049 455,634 69,771
1961 21,873 10,440 437,851 57,728
1960 20,726 10,334 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.1% of the population change in Mongolia is from natural causes (a gain of 580,367 people) and 5.87% is from migration (a gain of 36,163 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, 22,589 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Mongolia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Mongolia
City Population
Ulaanbaatar 1.4M
Bulgan 12.3K
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/mongolia/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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