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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Morocco was 38,430,770 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Morocco's population is 38,938,817 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.69 times bigger than Morocco's.
  • Morocco is ranked the 41st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.26% of the world: 0.47% for Morocco vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Morocco has had an average growth rate of +1.06% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Morocco has increased from 30.8M people to 38.9M (26.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Morocco vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Morocco
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Morocco South Africa
2100 38,169,376 94,734,082
2099 38,399,800 94,523,360
2098 38,627,357 94,316,049
2097 38,851,192 94,125,043
2096 39,072,685 93,927,246
2095 39,290,298 93,719,451
2094 39,503,336 93,494,697
2093 39,714,423 93,267,274
2092 39,921,868 93,041,793
2091 40,126,152 92,793,249
2090 40,325,215 92,561,159
2089 40,519,616 92,322,396
2088 40,706,061 92,080,212
2087 40,889,974 91,833,409
2086 41,072,468 91,581,639
2085 41,252,209 91,352,906
2084 41,425,986 91,106,961
2083 41,591,998 90,845,161
2082 41,755,476 90,583,188
2081 41,914,644 90,313,417
2080 42,069,073 90,039,857
2079 42,220,167 89,770,116
2078 42,364,299 89,494,440
2077 42,502,554 89,217,520
2076 42,634,865 88,954,522
2075 42,762,096 88,681,719
2074 42,885,545 88,397,221
2073 43,003,930 88,118,589
2072 43,115,594 87,835,051
2071 43,219,147 87,509,098
2070 43,319,278 87,178,463
2069 43,409,990 86,870,660
2068 43,494,031 86,558,000
2067 43,572,598 86,237,764
2066 43,641,156 85,904,801
2065 43,710,126 85,573,984
2064 43,767,514 85,214,686
2063 43,815,039 84,845,370
2062 43,857,629 84,473,236
2061 43,889,133 84,103,016
2060 43,913,417 83,719,266
2059 43,928,921 83,325,330
2058 43,931,406 82,918,226
2057 43,926,107 82,508,742
2056 43,914,039 82,098,320
2055 43,889,084 81,669,191
2054 43,852,920 81,227,019
2053 43,805,549 80,789,939
2052 43,745,706 80,338,877
2051 43,674,633 79,858,310
2050 43,591,589 79,383,784
2049 43,504,461 78,897,472
2048 43,404,127 78,409,829
2047 43,295,069 77,894,547
2046 43,179,153 77,369,819
2045 43,052,251 76,852,544
2044 42,912,359 76,330,046
2043 42,766,985 75,800,788
2042 42,610,691 75,264,885
2041 42,442,983 74,721,871
2040 42,267,502 74,179,185
2039 42,085,886 73,636,894
2038 41,889,492 73,079,976
2037 41,687,645 72,506,991
2036 41,476,060 71,930,701
2035 41,253,454 71,337,219
2034 41,024,367 70,737,692
2033 40,782,838 70,128,299
2032 40,532,216 69,502,726
2031 40,268,078 68,865,544
2030 39,993,270 68,221,143
2029 39,707,804 67,549,189
2028 39,409,825 66,860,631
2027 39,097,054 66,166,759
2026 38,771,691 65,473,024
2025 38,430,770 64,747,319
2024 38,081,173 64,007,187
2023 37,712,505 63,212,384
2022 37,329,064 62,378,410
2021 36,954,442 61,502,603
2020 36,584,208 60,562,381
2019 36,210,898 59,587,885
2018 35,839,760 58,613,001
2017 35,446,392 57,635,162
2016 35,023,457 57,259,551
2015 34,607,588 56,723,537
2014 34,204,780 55,594,838
2013 33,787,571 54,678,791
2012 33,355,241 53,782,567
2011 32,912,588 52,995,205
2010 32,467,016 52,344,051
2009 32,030,778 51,728,516
2008 31,606,767 51,114,599
2007 31,186,468 50,528,584
2006 30,771,178 49,998,277
2005 30,358,144 49,490,033
2004 29,953,018 48,991,421
2003 29,571,415 48,500,348
2002 29,198,142 48,019,415
2001 28,814,643 47,566,800
2000 28,423,435 47,159,719
1999 28,027,179 46,730,335
1998 27,621,648 46,223,880
1997 27,213,337 45,666,838
1996 26,808,107 45,123,018
1995 26,399,429 44,541,554
1994 26,000,822 44,004,139
1993 25,614,586 43,297,156
1992 25,212,468 42,443,509
1991 24,799,014 41,687,898
1990 24,375,551 40,746,268
1989 23,939,414 39,628,575
1988 23,500,524 38,480,649
1987 23,054,392 37,326,190
1986 22,600,803 36,180,515
1985 22,113,953 35,042,093
1984 21,593,778 33,892,788
1983 21,060,696 32,739,304
1982 20,520,318 31,615,339
1981 19,985,401 30,541,044
1980 19,459,943 29,518,857
1979 18,955,589 28,634,162
1978 18,477,385 27,869,507
1977 18,014,756 27,118,952
1976 17,574,182 26,395,450
1975 17,150,786 25,690,940
1974 16,733,842 24,989,108
1973 16,326,269 24,294,263
1972 15,924,692 23,609,456
1971 15,527,225 22,942,143
1970 15,129,449 22,279,984
1969 14,734,255 21,614,676
1968 14,347,899 20,957,287
1967 13,968,175 20,314,066
1966 13,597,065 19,690,087
1965 13,239,171 19,089,380
1964 12,898,886 18,511,361
1963 12,577,502 17,954,564
1962 12,253,092 17,418,522
1961 11,931,085 16,908,035
1960 11,624,933 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/morocco/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Morocco increased by 4,252,279 people (a 13.8% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Morocco gained 3,915,360 people (a 11.2% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Morocco was ranked 37th most populous country in 2006 and is 41st 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) Morocco's population will grow by 11.9% to 43,591,589 people with a rank change from 41st to 50th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Morocco is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 43.9M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Morocco
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Morocco South Africa
2100 -0.6% 0.22%
2099 -0.59% 0.22%
2098 -0.58% 0.2%
2097 -0.57% 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 -0.49% 0.25%
2090 -0.48% 0.26%
2089 -0.46% 0.26%
2088 -0.45% 0.27%
2087 -0.44% 0.27%
2086 -0.44% 0.25%
2085 -0.42% 0.27%
2084 -0.4% 0.29%
2083 -0.39% 0.29%
2082 -0.38% 0.3%
2081 -0.37% 0.3%
2080 -0.36% 0.3%
2079 -0.34% 0.31%
2078 -0.33% 0.31%
2077 -0.31% 0.3%
2076 -0.3% 0.31%
2075 -0.29% 0.32%
2074 -0.28% 0.32%
2073 -0.26% 0.32%
2072 -0.24% 0.37%
2071 -0.23% 0.38%
2070 -0.21% 0.35%
2069 -0.19% 0.36%
2068 -0.18% 0.37%
2067 -0.16% 0.39%
2066 -0.16% 0.39%
2065 -0.13% 0.42%
2064 -0.11% 0.44%
2063 -0.1% 0.44%
2062 -0.07% 0.44%
2061 -0.06% 0.46%
2060 -0.04% 0.47%
2059 -0.006% 0.49%
2058 0.01% 0.5%
2057 0.03% 0.5%
2056 0.06% 0.53%
2055 0.08% 0.54%
2054 0.11% 0.54%
2053 0.14% 0.56%
2052 0.16% 0.6%
2051 0.19% 0.6%
2050 0.2% 0.62%
2049 0.23% 0.62%
2048 0.25% 0.66%
2047 0.27% 0.68%
2046 0.29% 0.67%
2045 0.33% 0.68%
2044 0.34% 0.7%
2043 0.37% 0.71%
2042 0.4% 0.73%
2041 0.42% 0.73%
2040 0.43% 0.74%
2039 0.47% 0.76%
2038 0.48% 0.79%
2037 0.51% 0.8%
2036 0.54% 0.83%
2035 0.56% 0.85%
2034 0.59% 0.87%
2033 0.62% 0.9%
2032 0.66% 0.93%
2031 0.69% 0.94%
2030 0.72% 0.99%
2029 0.76% 1.03%
2028 0.8% 1.05%
2027 0.84% 1.06%
2026 0.89% 1.12%
2025 0.92% 1.16%
2024 0.98% 1.26%
2023 1.03% 1.34%
2022 1.01% 1.42%
2021 1.01% 1.55%
2020 1.03% 1.64%
2019 1.04% 1.66%
2018 1.11% 1.7%
2017 1.21% 0.66%
2016 1.2% 0.94%
2015 1.18% 2.03%
2014 1.23% 1.68%
2013 1.3% 1.67%
2012 1.34% 1.49%
2011 1.37% 1.24%
2010 1.36% 1.19%
2009 1.34% 1.2%
2008 1.35% 1.16%
2007 1.35% 1.06%
2006 1.36% 1.03%
2005 1.35% 1.02%
2004 1.29% 1.01%
2003 1.28% 1%
2002 1.33% 0.95%
2001 1.38% 0.86%
2000 1.41% 0.92%
1999 1.47% 1.1%
1998 1.5% 1.22%
1997 1.51% 1.21%
1996 1.55% 1.31%
1995 1.53% 1.22%
1994 1.51% 1.63%
1993 1.59% 2.01%
1992 1.67% 1.81%
1991 1.74% 2.31%
1990 1.82% 2.82%
1989 1.87% 2.98%
1988 1.94% 3.09%
1987 2.01% 3.17%
1986 2.2% 3.25%
1985 2.41% 3.39%
1984 2.53% 3.52%
1983 2.63% 3.56%
1982 2.68% 3.52%
1981 2.7% 3.46%
1980 2.66% 3.09%
1979 2.59% 2.74%
1978 2.57% 2.77%
1977 2.51% 2.74%
1976 2.47% 2.74%
1975 2.49% 2.81%
1974 2.5% 2.86%
1973 2.52% 2.9%
1972 2.56% 2.91%
1971 2.63% 2.97%
1970 2.68% 3.08%
1969 2.69% 3.14%
1968 2.72% 3.17%
1967 2.73% 3.17%
1966 2.7% 3.15%
1965 2.64% 3.12%
1964 2.56% 3.1%
1963 2.65% 3.08%
1962 2.7% 3.02%
1961 2.63% 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/morocco/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Morocco grew by 0.92%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Morocco South Africa
Current population
38938817
65829368
Population rank 41/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.47% 0.79%
One net population change
1.51 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
50.5 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.41 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +958 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +349,597 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.92% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 105/197 91/197
One migration net change every
9.37 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -56,254 +146,370
Net migration rank 176/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 111,069 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 129/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 182/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Morocco
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Morocco South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -56,254 - 146,370
2024 406,555 -46,802 591,618 166,972
2023 417,213 -39,650 602,793 228,222
2022 427,903 -38,594 603,636 233,284
2021 407,829 -47,902 456,411 458,246
2020 415,999 -35,474 595,873 369,901
2019 457,307 -91,217 652,130 331,124
2018 464,375 -88,159 648,319 318,260
2017 471,011 -60,472 645,975 343,146
2016 474,637 -39,302 641,365 -879,235
2015 477,654 -81,248 668,771 641,150
2014 481,295 -72,065 674,754 272,697
2013 492,284 -67,096 652,427 232,230
2012 504,698 -65,251 643,723 264,091
2011 513,305 -67,447 601,708 65,166
2010 515,804 -70,510 566,834 68,563
2009 509,386 -82,203 554,115 41,528
2008 499,766 -78,912 595,332 36,869
2007 493,526 -73,759 503,567 36,339
2006 483,200 -72,364 487,584 33,159
2005 474,285 -59,024 464,464 31,286
2004 461,756 -66,749 442,540 58,924
2003 452,650 -84,460 415,018 65,604
2002 446,147 -67,802 430,926 50,313
2001 452,621 -63,967 484,801 -60,793
2000 461,341 -67,569 526,963 -136,794
1999 473,071 -74,343 594,643 -126,011
1998 492,604 -80,286 627,027 -82,722
1997 500,807 -96,502 667,969 -98,181
1996 501,499 -95,331 710,868 -193,007
1995 496,573 -85,386 743,488 -98,403
1994 501,426 -115,404 698,609 -268,849
1993 507,707 -121,254 789,220 194,977
1992 525,680 -107,911 794,415 -71,342
1991 539,850 -130,717 827,296 -39,131
1990 535,506 -97,711 835,421 259,718
1989 538,996 -104,509 884,629 255,605
1988 545,800 -102,484 909,221 246,382
1987 553,005 -104,029 922,330 231,009
1986 558,105 -99,905 903,644 234,378
1985 560,810 -45,336 893,889 244,940
1984 564,159 -39,319 869,011 290,789
1983 566,301 -24,988 837,013 310,172
1982 564,904 -25,471 807,550 293,195
1981 552,936 -22,553 767,833 279,985
1980 534,448 -13,899 738,415 258,127
1979 515,554 -27,374 716,541 56,323
1978 498,834 -30,600 694,341 62,121
1977 489,173 -32,161 680,929 63,739
1976 482,130 -58,019 675,011 27,333
1975 474,631 -51,968 667,862 38,809
1974 464,147 -52,927 658,438 38,518
1973 455,699 -51,772 651,596 41,125
1972 446,449 -47,226 638,754 38,163
1971 435,104 -39,385 624,761 32,961
1970 426,015 -26,168 605,102 61,514
1969 414,931 -24,389 590,794 73,225
1968 407,437 -25,267 571,841 78,932
1967 400,594 -23,309 553,741 81,932
1966 391,881 -26,945 534,862 77,417
1965 383,989 -33,139 506,632 82,514
1964 375,835 -46,106 490,606 76,298
1963 369,250 -56,214 473,821 72,844
1962 363,843 -28,071 455,634 69,771
1961 348,650 -40,413 437,851 57,728
1960 323,499 -19,434 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 88.6% of the population change in Morocco is from natural causes (a gain of 4,420,483 people) and 11.4% is from migration (a loss of 568,820 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, 111,069 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Morocco, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Morocco
City Population
Casablanca 3.22M
Tangier 1.28M
Fez 1.17M
Marrakesh 1M
Sale 945K
Meknes 601K
Rabat 573K
Agadir 538K
Kenitra 508K
Oujda 506K
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/morocco/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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