Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Montenegro was 623,525 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Montenegro's population is 612,312 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 107.3 times bigger than Montenegro's.
  • Montenegro is ranked the 166th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.007% for Montenegro vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Montenegro has had an average growth rate of +0.01% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Montenegro has decreased from 615K people to 612K (0.44% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Montenegro vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Montenegro
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Montenegro South Africa
2100 319,719 94,767,727
2099 323,351 94,556,931
2098 326,940 94,349,546
2097 330,574 94,158,472
2096 334,217 93,960,605
2095 337,856 93,752,736
2094 341,490 93,527,902
2093 345,159 93,300,398
2092 348,826 93,074,837
2091 352,520 92,826,204
2090 356,219 92,594,033
2089 359,924 92,355,184
2088 363,602 92,112,914
2087 367,324 91,866,024
2086 371,059 91,614,165
2085 374,829 91,385,350
2084 378,644 91,139,318
2083 382,455 90,877,425
2082 386,310 90,615,359
2081 390,224 90,345,492
2080 394,179 90,071,835
2079 398,175 89,801,998
2078 402,181 89,526,224
2077 406,200 89,249,206
2076 410,263 88,986,114
2075 414,376 88,713,215
2074 418,534 88,428,616
2073 422,748 88,149,885
2072 426,952 87,866,246
2071 431,230 87,540,177
2070 435,563 87,209,425
2069 439,868 86,901,512
2068 444,186 86,588,742
2067 448,555 86,268,392
2066 452,869 85,935,310
2065 457,298 85,604,376
2064 461,706 85,244,950
2063 466,110 84,875,503
2062 470,496 84,503,237
2061 474,871 84,132,885
2060 479,291 83,748,999
2059 483,635 83,354,923
2058 487,928 82,947,675
2057 492,253 82,538,045
2056 496,682 82,127,477
2055 501,038 81,698,196
2054 505,324 81,255,867
2053 509,555 80,818,632
2052 513,782 80,367,409
2051 517,954 79,886,672
2050 522,097 79,411,977
2049 526,241 78,925,493
2048 530,291 78,437,677
2047 534,410 77,922,211
2046 538,441 77,397,298
2045 542,441 76,879,838
2044 546,404 76,357,155
2043 550,390 75,827,709
2042 554,278 75,291,615
2041 558,200 74,748,408
2040 562,081 74,205,530
2039 565,966 73,663,047
2038 569,835 73,105,930
2037 573,678 72,532,742
2036 577,477 71,956,247
2035 581,230 71,362,555
2034 584,919 70,762,815
2033 588,552 70,153,205
2032 592,122 69,527,410
2031 595,610 68,890,002
2030 599,030 68,245,372
2029 602,416 67,573,179
2028 605,742 66,884,377
2027 608,990 66,190,258
2026 612,312 65,496,277
2025 621,659 64,770,314
2024 623,525 64,007,187
2023 623,529 63,212,384
2022 623,591 62,378,410
2021 625,053 61,502,603
2020 626,590 60,562,381
2019 626,753 59,587,885
2018 626,438 58,613,001
2017 625,982 57,635,162
2016 625,353 57,259,551
2015 624,651 56,723,537
2014 623,744 55,594,838
2013 622,587 54,678,791
2012 621,418 53,782,567
2011 620,345 52,995,205
2010 619,428 52,344,051
2009 618,294 51,728,516
2008 616,969 51,114,599
2007 615,875 50,528,584
2006 615,025 49,998,277
2005 614,261 49,490,033
2004 613,353 48,991,421
2003 612,267 48,500,348
2002 609,828 48,019,415
2001 607,389 47,566,800
2000 604,950 47,159,719
1999 606,001 46,730,335
1998 607,662 46,223,880
1997 609,520 45,666,838
1996 611,003 45,123,018
1995 611,712 44,541,554
1994 611,389 44,004,139
1993 610,170 43,297,156
1992 608,516 42,443,509
1991 607,105 41,687,898
1990 606,372 40,746,268
1989 606,571 39,628,575
1988 607,413 38,480,649
1987 608,144 37,326,190
1986 607,711 36,180,515
1985 605,398 35,042,093
1984 600,884 33,892,788
1983 594,506 32,739,304
1982 587,001 31,615,339
1981 579,445 30,541,044
1980 572,608 29,518,857
1979 566,888 28,634,162
1978 562,065 27,869,507
1977 557,576 27,118,952
1976 552,562 26,395,450
1975 546,487 25,690,940
1974 538,902 24,989,108
1973 530,220 24,294,263
1972 521,785 23,609,456
1971 515,449 22,942,143
1970 512,407 22,279,984
1969 513,340 21,614,676
1968 517,481 20,957,287
1967 522,796 20,314,066
1966 526,419 19,690,087
1965 526,327 19,089,380
1964 521,753 18,511,361
1963 513,409 17,954,564
1962 502,558 17,418,522
1961 491,140 16,908,035
1960 480,579 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/montenegro/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Montenegro increased by 10,328 people (a 1.68% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Montenegro lost 13,041 people (a 2.09% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Montenegro was ranked 162nd most populous country in 2006 and is 166th 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) Montenegro's population will shrink by 14.7% to 522,097 people with a rank change from 166th to 170th. 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 Montenegro's population already peaked in 2019 at 627K people and is projected to decrease to 320K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Montenegro
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Montenegro South Africa
2100 -1.12% 0.22%
2099 -1.1% 0.22%
2098 -1.1% 0.2%
2097 -1.09% 0.21%
2096 -1.08% 0.22%
2095 -1.06% 0.24%
2094 -1.06% 0.24%
2093 -1.05% 0.24%
2092 -1.05% 0.27%
2091 -1.04% 0.25%
2090 -1.03% 0.26%
2089 -1.01% 0.26%
2088 -1.01% 0.27%
2087 -1.01% 0.27%
2086 -1.01% 0.25%
2085 -1.01% 0.27%
2084 -1% 0.29%
2083 -1% 0.29%
2082 -1% 0.3%
2081 -1% 0.3%
2080 -1% 0.3%
2079 -1% 0.31%
2078 -0.99% 0.31%
2077 -0.99% 0.3%
2076 -0.99% 0.31%
2075 -0.99% 0.32%
2074 -1% 0.32%
2073 -0.98% 0.32%
2072 -0.99% 0.37%
2071 -0.99% 0.38%
2070 -0.98% 0.35%
2069 -0.97% 0.36%
2068 -0.97% 0.37%
2067 -0.95% 0.39%
2066 -0.97% 0.39%
2065 -0.95% 0.42%
2064 -0.94% 0.44%
2063 -0.93% 0.44%
2062 -0.92% 0.44%
2061 -0.92% 0.46%
2060 -0.9% 0.47%
2059 -0.88% 0.49%
2058 -0.88% 0.5%
2057 -0.89% 0.5%
2056 -0.87% 0.53%
2055 -0.85% 0.54%
2054 -0.83% 0.54%
2053 -0.82% 0.56%
2052 -0.81% 0.6%
2051 -0.79% 0.6%
2050 -0.79% 0.62%
2049 -0.76% 0.62%
2048 -0.77% 0.66%
2047 -0.75% 0.68%
2046 -0.74% 0.67%
2045 -0.73% 0.68%
2044 -0.72% 0.7%
2043 -0.7% 0.71%
2042 -0.7% 0.73%
2041 -0.69% 0.73%
2040 -0.69% 0.74%
2039 -0.68% 0.76%
2038 -0.67% 0.79%
2037 -0.66% 0.8%
2036 -0.65% 0.83%
2035 -0.63% 0.85%
2034 -0.62% 0.87%
2033 -0.6% 0.9%
2032 -0.59% 0.93%
2031 -0.57% 0.94%
2030 -0.56% 0.99%
2029 -0.55% 1.03%
2028 -0.53% 1.05%
2027 -0.54% 1.06%
2026 -1.5% 1.12%
2025 -0.3% 1.19%
2024 -0.001% 1.26%
2023 -0.01% 1.34%
2022 -0.23% 1.42%
2021 -0.25% 1.55%
2020 -0.03% 1.64%
2019 0.05% 1.66%
2018 0.07% 1.7%
2017 0.1% 0.66%
2016 0.11% 0.94%
2015 0.15% 2.03%
2014 0.19% 1.68%
2013 0.19% 1.67%
2012 0.17% 1.49%
2011 0.15% 1.24%
2010 0.18% 1.19%
2009 0.21% 1.2%
2008 0.18% 1.16%
2007 0.14% 1.06%
2006 0.12% 1.03%
2005 0.15% 1.02%
2004 0.18% 1.01%
2003 0.4% 1%
2002 0.4% 0.95%
2001 0.4% 0.86%
2000 -0.17% 0.92%
1999 -0.27% 1.1%
1998 -0.3% 1.22%
1997 -0.24% 1.21%
1996 -0.12% 1.31%
1995 0.05% 1.22%
1994 0.2% 1.63%
1993 0.27% 2.01%
1992 0.23% 1.81%
1991 0.12% 2.31%
1990 -0.03% 2.82%
1989 -0.14% 2.98%
1988 -0.12% 3.09%
1987 0.07% 3.17%
1986 0.38% 3.25%
1985 0.75% 3.39%
1984 1.07% 3.52%
1983 1.28% 3.56%
1982 1.3% 3.52%
1981 1.19% 3.46%
1980 1.01% 3.09%
1979 0.86% 2.74%
1978 0.81% 2.77%
1977 0.91% 2.74%
1976 1.11% 2.74%
1975 1.41% 2.81%
1974 1.64% 2.86%
1973 1.62% 2.9%
1972 1.23% 2.91%
1971 0.59% 2.97%
1970 -0.18% 3.08%
1969 -0.8% 3.14%
1968 -1.02% 3.17%
1967 -0.69% 3.17%
1966 0.02% 3.15%
1965 0.88% 3.12%
1964 1.63% 3.1%
1963 2.16% 3.08%
1962 2.32% 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/montenegro/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Montenegro declined by 0.0006%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Montenegro South Africa
Current population
612312
65683993
Population rank 166/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 0.79%
One net population change
3.26 months
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.25 hours
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.39 hours
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +0 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -4 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.0006% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 164/197 85/197
One migration net change every
56.8 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -9,279 +146,370
Net migration rank 131/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 92,237 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 134/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 45/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Montenegro
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Montenegro South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -9,279 - 146,370
2024 - -1,686 - 166,972
2023 686 12,000 602,793 228,222
2022 0 26,332 603,636 233,284
2021 -2,062 -2,344 456,411 458,246
2020 -188 -3,310 595,873 369,901
2019 627 -4,083 652,130 331,124
2018 752 -5,058 648,319 318,260
2017 939 -4,948 645,975 343,146
2016 1,125 -5,274 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,062 -4,863 668,771 641,150
2014 1,560 -4,357 674,754 272,697
2013 1,557 -2,478 652,427 232,230
2012 1,554 -1,583 643,723 264,091
2011 1,365 0 601,708 65,166
2010 1,797 -2,276 566,834 68,563
2009 2,783 -3,456 554,115 41,528
2008 2,530 -3,326 595,332 36,869
2007 1,848 -3,056 503,567 36,339
2006 1,599 -2,735 487,584 33,159
2005 1,536 -2,247 464,464 31,286
2004 2,146 -1,997 442,540 58,924
2003 2,632 -3,178 415,018 65,604
2002 2,988 -3,357 430,926 50,313
2001 3,462 -3,511 484,801 -60,793
2000 3,751 -3,734 526,963 -136,794
1999 3,454 -3,487 594,643 -126,011
1998 3,889 -3,326 627,027 -82,722
1997 3,597 -3,077 667,969 -98,181
1996 4,155 -3,051 710,868 -193,007
1995 4,527 -3,082 743,488 -98,403
1994 4,381 -2,889 698,609 -268,849
1993 4,638 -2,835 789,220 194,977
1992 5,015 -2,942 794,415 -71,342
1991 5,191 -2,630 827,296 -39,131
1990 5,010 -1,705 835,421 259,718
1989 5,129 -1,730 884,629 255,605
1988 5,529 -2,165 909,221 246,382
1987 5,958 -2,569 922,330 231,009
1986 6,097 -2,747 903,644 234,378
1985 6,283 -3,013 893,889 244,940
1984 6,337 -3,074 869,011 290,789
1983 6,482 -3,190 837,013 310,172
1982 6,419 -3,151 807,550 293,195
1981 6,275 -2,287 767,833 279,985
1980 6,383 -450 738,415 258,127
1979 6,139 -718 716,541 56,323
1978 6,408 -1,103 694,341 62,121
1977 6,650 -1,364 680,929 63,739
1976 6,845 -1,447 675,011 27,333
1975 6,878 -1,588 667,862 38,809
1974 6,919 -1,669 658,438 38,518
1973 7,096 -1,778 651,596 41,125
1972 7,252 -1,922 638,754 38,163
1971 7,168 -1,856 624,761 32,961
1970 7,069 -2,013 605,102 61,514
1969 7,449 -2,456 590,794 73,225
1968 7,497 -2,404 571,841 78,932
1967 7,961 -2,519 553,741 81,932
1966 8,661 -2,751 534,862 77,417
1965 9,010 -2,743 506,632 82,514
1964 9,227 -2,734 490,606 76,298
1963 9,449 -2,800 473,821 72,844
1962 9,402 -2,606 455,634 69,771
1961 9,278 -2,254 437,851 57,728
1960 9,144 -2,467 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 52.4% of the population change in Montenegro is from natural causes (a gain of 4,501 people) and 47.6% is from migration (a gain of 4,095 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, 92,237 residents or 14.4% of the population were not native-born in Montenegro, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Montenegro
City Population
Podgorica 151K
Ulcinj 19.9K
Cetinje 14K
Plav 13.8K
Bar 13.7K
Budva 13.3K
Berane 11.1K
Mojkovac 3.59K
Kotor 961
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/montenegro/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.