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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Montenegro was 623,129 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Montenegro's population is 613,759 people compared to 65,829,368 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 -0.009% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Montenegro has decreased from 615K people to 614K (0.21% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Montenegro vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Montenegro
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Montenegro South Africa
2100 320,475 94,734,082
2099 324,115 94,523,360
2098 327,713 94,316,049
2097 331,355 94,125,043
2096 335,007 93,927,246
2095 338,654 93,719,451
2094 342,297 93,494,697
2093 345,975 93,267,274
2092 349,650 93,041,793
2091 353,353 92,793,249
2090 357,061 92,561,159
2089 360,774 92,322,396
2088 364,461 92,080,212
2087 368,192 91,833,409
2086 371,937 91,581,639
2085 375,715 91,352,906
2084 379,539 91,106,961
2083 383,359 90,845,161
2082 387,223 90,583,188
2081 391,147 90,313,417
2080 395,110 90,039,857
2079 399,116 89,770,116
2078 403,132 89,494,440
2077 407,160 89,217,520
2076 411,233 88,954,522
2075 415,356 88,681,719
2074 419,523 88,397,221
2073 423,747 88,118,589
2072 427,961 87,835,051
2071 432,249 87,509,098
2070 436,592 87,178,463
2069 440,907 86,870,660
2068 445,235 86,558,000
2067 449,615 86,237,764
2066 453,939 85,904,801
2065 458,379 85,573,984
2064 462,797 85,214,686
2063 467,212 84,845,370
2062 471,608 84,473,236
2061 475,993 84,103,016
2060 480,424 83,719,266
2059 484,778 83,325,330
2058 489,082 82,918,226
2057 493,417 82,508,742
2056 497,856 82,098,320
2055 502,222 81,669,191
2054 506,518 81,227,019
2053 510,759 80,789,939
2052 514,996 80,338,877
2051 519,179 79,858,310
2050 523,331 79,383,784
2049 527,485 78,897,472
2048 531,545 78,409,829
2047 535,674 77,894,547
2046 539,713 77,369,819
2045 543,724 76,852,544
2044 547,696 76,330,046
2043 551,691 75,800,788
2042 555,589 75,264,885
2041 559,520 74,721,871
2040 563,410 74,179,185
2039 567,304 73,636,894
2038 571,182 73,079,976
2037 575,034 72,506,991
2036 578,842 71,930,701
2035 582,604 71,337,219
2034 586,301 70,737,692
2033 589,943 70,128,299
2032 593,521 69,502,726
2031 597,018 68,865,544
2030 600,445 68,221,143
2029 603,840 67,549,189
2028 607,174 66,860,631
2027 610,430 66,166,759
2026 613,759 65,473,024
2025 623,129 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 11,594 people (a 1.85% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 523,331 people with a rank change from 166th to 170th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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 -0.06% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Montenegro declined by 0.06%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Montenegro South Africa
Current population
613759
65829368
Population rank 166/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.007% 0.79%
One net population change
22.2 hours
42.7 seconds
One birth every
1.25 hours
26.7 seconds
One death every
1.38 hours
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -1 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -396 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.06% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 163/197 91/197
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 624 -1,686 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 34.5% of the population change in Montenegro is from natural causes (a gain of 3,565 people) and 65.5% is from migration (a gain of 6,766 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, 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
Cetinje 14K
Plav 13.8K
Bar 13.7K
Budva 13.3K
Ulcinj 11.5K
Berane 11.1K
Mojkovac 3.59K
Kotor 961
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/montenegro/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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