Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mozambique was 34,631,766 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mozambique's population is 36,941,128 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.78 times bigger than Mozambique's.
  • Mozambique is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.24% of the world: 0.45% for Mozambique vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mozambique has had an average growth rate of +2.99% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mozambique has increased from 20.8M people to 36.9M (77.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Mozambique vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mozambique South Africa
2100 105,684,658 94,767,727
2099 105,291,198 94,556,931
2098 104,859,475 94,349,546
2097 104,428,679 94,158,472
2096 103,962,668 93,960,605
2095 103,480,514 93,752,736
2094 102,989,197 93,527,902
2093 102,464,565 93,300,398
2092 101,929,545 93,074,837
2091 101,410,418 92,826,204
2090 100,829,728 92,594,033
2089 100,211,758 92,355,184
2088 99,594,130 92,112,914
2087 98,943,096 91,866,024
2086 98,288,529 91,614,165
2085 97,609,760 91,385,350
2084 96,926,143 91,139,318
2083 96,193,441 90,877,425
2082 95,449,095 90,615,359
2081 94,708,064 90,345,492
2080 93,957,824 90,071,835
2079 93,171,561 89,801,998
2078 92,350,666 89,526,224
2077 91,530,198 89,249,206
2076 90,699,125 88,986,114
2075 89,848,943 88,713,215
2074 88,999,187 88,428,616
2073 88,113,398 88,149,885
2072 87,210,961 87,866,246
2071 86,283,286 87,540,177
2070 85,349,704 87,209,425
2069 84,361,565 86,901,512
2068 83,400,997 86,588,742
2067 82,437,397 86,268,392
2066 81,437,030 85,935,310
2065 80,446,244 85,604,376
2064 79,433,801 85,244,950
2063 78,430,632 84,875,503
2062 77,376,597 84,503,237
2061 76,274,806 84,132,885
2060 75,197,384 83,748,999
2059 74,082,771 83,354,923
2058 72,958,774 82,947,675
2057 71,828,186 82,538,045
2056 70,677,889 82,127,477
2055 69,542,373 81,698,196
2054 68,419,331 81,255,867
2053 67,306,817 80,818,632
2052 66,163,407 80,367,409
2051 65,032,770 79,886,672
2050 63,898,302 79,411,977
2049 62,731,532 78,925,493
2048 61,579,833 78,437,677
2047 60,424,101 77,922,211
2046 59,273,421 77,397,298
2045 58,132,244 76,879,838
2044 56,969,604 76,357,155
2043 55,814,906 75,827,709
2042 54,633,120 75,291,615
2041 53,476,191 74,748,408
2040 52,305,805 74,205,530
2039 51,136,087 73,663,047
2038 49,973,820 73,105,930
2037 48,827,661 72,532,742
2036 47,668,628 71,956,247
2035 46,520,419 71,362,555
2034 45,358,645 70,762,815
2033 44,229,218 70,153,205
2032 43,102,655 69,527,410
2031 41,993,535 68,890,002
2030 40,901,742 68,245,372
2029 39,818,379 67,573,179
2028 38,748,841 66,884,377
2027 37,696,739 66,190,258
2026 36,660,958 65,496,277
2025 35,650,681 64,770,314
2024 34,631,766 64,007,187
2023 33,635,160 63,212,384
2022 32,656,246 62,378,410
2021 31,707,800 61,502,603
2020 30,783,688 60,562,381
2019 29,884,380 59,587,885
2018 29,018,644 58,613,001
2017 28,166,393 57,635,162
2016 27,337,105 57,259,551
2015 26,547,572 56,723,537
2014 25,788,475 55,594,838
2013 25,051,611 54,678,791
2012 24,337,846 53,782,567
2011 23,649,039 52,995,205
2010 22,999,235 52,344,051
2009 22,391,745 51,728,516
2008 21,819,036 51,114,599
2007 21,287,635 50,528,584
2006 20,787,087 49,998,277
2005 20,304,569 49,490,033
2004 19,840,313 48,991,421
2003 19,392,475 48,500,348
2002 18,958,338 48,019,415
2001 18,537,729 47,566,800
2000 18,129,653 47,159,719
1999 17,734,506 46,730,335
1998 17,340,464 46,223,880
1997 16,949,982 45,666,838
1996 16,492,480 45,123,018
1995 15,960,530 44,541,554
1994 15,033,853 44,004,139
1993 14,051,192 43,297,156
1992 13,613,316 42,443,509
1991 13,352,090 41,687,898
1990 13,094,537 40,746,268
1989 12,906,842 39,628,575
1988 12,800,558 38,480,649
1987 12,822,574 37,326,190
1986 12,770,578 36,180,515
1985 12,548,949 35,042,093
1984 12,315,954 33,892,788
1983 12,073,822 32,739,304
1982 11,824,370 31,615,339
1981 11,568,127 30,541,044
1980 11,336,221 29,518,857
1979 11,028,809 28,634,162
1978 10,618,250 27,869,507
1977 10,224,975 27,118,952
1976 9,867,209 26,395,450
1975 9,540,817 25,690,940
1974 9,236,093 24,989,108
1973 8,954,242 24,294,263
1972 8,692,935 23,609,456
1971 8,456,317 22,942,143
1970 8,250,506 22,279,984
1969 8,066,951 21,614,676
1968 7,892,613 20,957,287
1967 7,724,550 20,314,066
1966 7,562,990 19,690,087
1965 7,406,421 19,089,380
1964 7,255,061 18,511,361
1963 7,109,828 17,954,564
1962 6,969,364 17,418,522
1961 6,834,936 16,908,035
1960 6,713,695 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/mozambique/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mozambique increased by 6,550,018 people (a 31.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mozambique gained 9,604,023 people (a 35.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Mozambique was ranked 52nd most populous country in 2006 and is 43rd 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) Mozambique's population will grow by 73% to 63,898,302 people with a rank change from 43rd to 32nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Mozambique is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 106M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mozambique South Africa
2100 0.37% 0.22%
2099 0.41% 0.22%
2098 0.41% 0.2%
2097 0.45% 0.21%
2096 0.47% 0.22%
2095 0.48% 0.24%
2094 0.51% 0.24%
2093 0.52% 0.24%
2092 0.51% 0.27%
2091 0.58% 0.25%
2090 0.62% 0.26%
2089 0.62% 0.26%
2088 0.66% 0.27%
2087 0.67% 0.27%
2086 0.7% 0.25%
2085 0.71% 0.27%
2084 0.76% 0.29%
2083 0.78% 0.29%
2082 0.78% 0.3%
2081 0.8% 0.3%
2080 0.84% 0.3%
2079 0.89% 0.31%
2078 0.9% 0.31%
2077 0.92% 0.3%
2076 0.95% 0.31%
2075 0.95% 0.32%
2074 1.01% 0.32%
2073 1.03% 0.32%
2072 1.08% 0.37%
2071 1.09% 0.38%
2070 1.17% 0.35%
2069 1.15% 0.36%
2068 1.17% 0.37%
2067 1.23% 0.39%
2066 1.23% 0.39%
2065 1.27% 0.42%
2064 1.28% 0.44%
2063 1.36% 0.44%
2062 1.44% 0.44%
2061 1.43% 0.46%
2060 1.5% 0.47%
2059 1.54% 0.49%
2058 1.57% 0.5%
2057 1.63% 0.5%
2056 1.63% 0.53%
2055 1.64% 0.54%
2054 1.65% 0.54%
2053 1.73% 0.56%
2052 1.74% 0.6%
2051 1.78% 0.6%
2050 1.86% 0.62%
2049 1.87% 0.62%
2048 1.91% 0.66%
2047 1.94% 0.68%
2046 1.96% 0.67%
2045 2.04% 0.68%
2044 2.07% 0.7%
2043 2.16% 0.71%
2042 2.16% 0.73%
2041 2.24% 0.73%
2040 2.29% 0.74%
2039 2.33% 0.76%
2038 2.35% 0.79%
2037 2.43% 0.8%
2036 2.47% 0.83%
2035 2.56% 0.85%
2034 2.55% 0.87%
2033 2.61% 0.9%
2032 2.64% 0.93%
2031 2.67% 0.94%
2030 2.72% 0.99%
2029 2.76% 1.03%
2028 2.79% 1.05%
2027 2.83% 1.06%
2026 2.83% 1.12%
2025 2.94% 1.19%
2024 2.96% 1.26%
2023 3% 1.34%
2022 2.99% 1.42%
2021 3% 1.55%
2020 3.01% 1.64%
2019 2.98% 1.66%
2018 3.03% 1.7%
2017 3.03% 0.66%
2016 2.97% 0.94%
2015 2.94% 2.03%
2014 2.94% 1.68%
2013 2.93% 1.67%
2012 2.91% 1.49%
2011 2.83% 1.24%
2010 2.71% 1.19%
2009 2.62% 1.2%
2008 2.5% 1.16%
2007 2.41% 1.06%
2006 2.38% 1.03%
2005 2.34% 1.02%
2004 2.31% 1.01%
2003 2.29% 1%
2002 2.27% 0.95%
2001 2.25% 0.86%
2000 2.23% 0.92%
1999 2.27% 1.1%
1998 2.3% 1.22%
1997 2.77% 1.21%
1996 3.33% 1.31%
1995 6.16% 1.22%
1994 6.99% 1.63%
1993 3.22% 2.01%
1992 1.96% 1.81%
1991 1.97% 2.31%
1990 1.45% 2.82%
1989 0.83% 2.98%
1988 -0.17% 3.09%
1987 0.41% 3.17%
1986 1.77% 3.25%
1985 1.89% 3.39%
1984 2.01% 3.52%
1983 2.11% 3.56%
1982 2.22% 3.52%
1981 2.05% 3.46%
1980 2.79% 3.09%
1979 3.87% 2.74%
1978 3.85% 2.77%
1977 3.63% 2.74%
1976 3.42% 2.74%
1975 3.3% 2.81%
1974 3.15% 2.86%
1973 3.01% 2.9%
1972 2.8% 2.91%
1971 2.49% 2.97%
1970 2.28% 3.08%
1969 2.21% 3.14%
1968 2.18% 3.17%
1967 2.14% 3.17%
1966 2.11% 3.15%
1965 2.09% 3.12%
1964 2.04% 3.1%
1963 2.02% 3.08%
1962 1.97% 3.02%
1961 1.81% 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/mozambique/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mozambique grew by 2.96%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Mozambique South Africa
Current population
36941128
65683993
Population rank 43/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.45% 0.79%
One net population change
31.6 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
25 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.23 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,730 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +996,606 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.96% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 16/197 85/197
One migration net change every
8.04 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -65,573 +146,370
Net migration rank 178/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 353,143 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 93/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 154/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mozambique
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mozambique South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -65,573 - 146,370
2024 - -38,940 - 166,972
2023 1,025,334 -36,276 602,793 228,222
2022 1,003,689 -34,936 603,636 233,284
2021 951,234 -23,103 456,411 458,246
2020 945,952 -25,864 595,873 369,901
2019 927,581 -49,080 652,130 331,124
2018 903,176 -50,224 648,319 318,260
2017 876,594 -25,043 645,975 343,146
2016 850,430 -43,398 641,365 -879,235
2015 824,435 -52,374 668,771 641,150
2014 799,778 -53,625 674,754 272,697
2013 784,641 -57,067 652,427 232,230
2012 763,088 -63,131 643,723 264,091
2011 741,303 -63,638 601,708 65,166
2010 719,025 -97,079 566,834 68,563
2009 693,673 -100,625 554,115 41,528
2008 654,920 -102,534 595,332 36,869
2007 610,913 -100,490 503,567 36,339
2006 586,009 -95,333 487,584 33,159
2005 570,132 -95,770 464,464 31,286
2004 554,973 -100,824 442,540 58,924
2003 540,992 -99,484 415,018 65,604
2002 529,867 -103,102 430,926 50,313
2001 519,594 -105,130 484,801 -60,793
2000 506,162 -104,476 526,963 -136,794
1999 491,814 -103,223 594,643 -126,011
1998 474,453 -74,952 627,027 -82,722
1997 461,209 -79,732 667,969 -98,181
1996 442,559 90,975 710,868 -193,007
1995 421,630 108,751 743,488 -98,403
1994 384,821 938,163 698,609 -268,849
1993 369,518 272,829 789,220 194,977
1992 362,373 -128,960 794,415 -71,342
1991 357,676 -68,644 827,296 -39,131
1990 353,290 -127,215 835,421 259,718
1989 348,833 -199,509 884,629 255,605
1988 349,480 -286,247 909,221 246,382
1987 334,438 -441,710 922,330 231,009
1986 332,609 -121,350 903,644 234,378
1985 307,625 -75,642 893,889 244,940
1984 304,524 -70,532 869,011 290,789
1983 324,158 -73,899 837,013 310,172
1982 321,493 -72,852 807,550 293,195
1981 322,207 -58,347 767,833 279,985
1980 349,586 -149,650 738,415 258,127
1979 331,162 83,699 716,541 56,323
1978 310,403 95,859 694,341 62,121
1977 289,193 91,082 680,929 63,739
1976 273,924 61,326 675,011 27,333
1975 257,984 59,562 667,862 38,809
1974 240,665 51,238 658,438 38,518
1973 226,847 44,951 651,596 41,125
1972 215,793 35,023 638,754 38,163
1971 211,137 11,297 624,761 32,961
1970 207,385 -18,197 605,102 61,514
1969 202,174 -24,251 590,794 73,225
1968 197,623 -26,872 571,841 78,932
1967 193,044 -27,672 553,741 81,932
1966 189,218 -31,462 534,862 77,417
1965 185,931 -30,538 506,632 82,514
1964 182,334 -35,005 490,606 76,298
1963 180,867 -37,738 473,821 72,844
1962 176,297 -38,504 455,634 69,771
1961 171,236 -40,181 437,851 57,728
1960 165,774 -54,351 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.9% of the population change in Mozambique is from natural causes (a gain of 9,108,203 people) and 4.15% is from migration (a loss of 393,923 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, 353,143 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in Mozambique, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Mozambique
City Population
Maputo 1.13M
Matola 1.03M
Nampula 743K
Beira 531K
Quelimane 350K
Chimoio 239K
Nacala 225K
Tete 153K
Pemba 141K
Xai-Xai 116K
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/mozambique/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.