Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Myanmar was 54,500,091 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Myanmar's population is 55,292,116 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.19 times bigger than Myanmar's.
  • Myanmar is ranked the 27th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.46% of the world: 0.67% for Myanmar vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Myanmar has had an average growth rate of +0.74% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Myanmar has increased from 47.8M people to 55.3M (15.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Myanmar vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Myanmar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Myanmar South Africa
2100 49,949,080 94,767,727
2099 50,198,343 94,556,931
2098 50,447,153 94,349,546
2097 50,695,410 94,158,472
2096 50,944,916 93,960,605
2095 51,196,278 93,752,736
2094 51,446,607 93,527,902
2093 51,693,545 93,300,398
2092 51,939,182 93,074,837
2091 52,186,904 92,826,204
2090 52,430,723 92,594,033
2089 52,669,995 92,355,184
2088 52,907,277 92,112,914
2087 53,143,840 91,866,024
2086 53,378,681 91,614,165
2085 53,610,966 91,385,350
2084 53,838,657 91,139,318
2083 54,062,724 90,877,425
2082 54,285,392 90,615,359
2081 54,505,055 90,345,492
2080 54,722,128 90,071,835
2079 54,937,654 89,801,998
2078 55,150,792 89,526,224
2077 55,357,283 89,249,206
2076 55,562,845 88,986,114
2075 55,765,753 88,713,215
2074 55,964,774 88,428,616
2073 56,160,415 88,149,885
2072 56,349,733 87,866,246
2071 56,533,780 87,540,177
2070 56,713,930 87,209,425
2069 56,887,406 86,901,512
2068 57,055,818 86,588,742
2067 57,217,287 86,268,392
2066 57,373,788 85,935,310
2065 57,525,666 85,604,376
2064 57,671,683 85,244,950
2063 57,808,968 84,875,503
2062 57,938,764 84,503,237
2061 58,067,183 84,132,885
2060 58,186,565 83,748,999
2059 58,295,246 83,354,923
2058 58,392,324 82,947,675
2057 58,481,859 82,538,045
2056 58,565,952 82,127,477
2055 58,636,423 81,698,196
2054 58,697,613 81,255,867
2053 58,745,390 80,818,632
2052 58,783,172 80,367,409
2051 58,809,843 79,886,672
2050 58,824,293 79,411,977
2049 58,829,688 78,925,493
2048 58,823,499 78,437,677
2047 58,805,696 77,922,211
2046 58,775,337 77,397,298
2045 58,728,250 76,879,838
2044 58,671,458 76,357,155
2043 58,601,589 75,827,709
2042 58,516,227 75,291,615
2041 58,417,678 74,748,408
2040 58,306,713 74,205,530
2039 58,181,537 73,663,047
2038 58,041,212 73,105,930
2037 57,888,662 72,532,742
2036 57,724,649 71,956,247
2035 57,544,156 71,362,555
2034 57,348,842 70,762,815
2033 57,137,545 70,153,205
2032 56,910,400 69,527,410
2031 56,667,160 68,890,002
2030 56,407,549 68,245,372
2029 56,133,620 67,573,179
2028 55,840,949 66,884,377
2027 55,531,050 66,190,258
2026 55,203,523 65,496,277
2025 54,860,498 64,770,314
2024 54,500,091 64,007,187
2023 54,133,798 63,212,384
2022 53,756,787 62,378,410
2021 53,387,102 61,502,603
2020 53,016,522 60,562,381
2019 52,640,713 59,587,885
2018 52,272,247 58,613,001
2017 51,894,938 57,635,162
2016 51,495,696 57,259,551
2015 51,089,056 56,723,537
2014 50,681,634 55,594,838
2013 50,262,658 54,678,791
2012 49,837,446 53,782,567
2011 49,419,820 52,995,205
2010 49,024,382 52,344,051
2009 48,660,459 51,728,516
2008 48,390,793 51,114,599
2007 48,125,043 50,528,584
2006 47,785,135 49,998,277
2005 47,438,365 49,490,033
2004 47,068,772 48,991,421
2003 46,667,192 48,500,348
2002 46,232,653 48,019,415
2001 45,771,139 47,566,800
2000 45,290,841 47,159,719
1999 44,787,724 46,730,335
1998 44,257,793 46,223,880
1997 43,708,798 45,666,838
1996 43,154,860 45,123,018
1995 42,605,338 44,541,554
1994 42,055,143 44,004,139
1993 41,502,429 43,297,156
1992 40,950,342 42,443,509
1991 40,394,154 41,687,898
1990 39,817,251 40,746,268
1989 39,214,618 39,628,575
1988 38,600,927 38,480,649
1987 37,971,594 37,326,190
1986 37,314,878 36,180,515
1985 36,622,827 35,042,093
1984 35,899,313 33,892,788
1983 35,162,715 32,739,304
1982 34,482,965 31,615,339
1981 33,858,783 30,541,044
1980 33,227,204 29,518,857
1979 32,596,550 28,634,162
1978 31,972,976 27,869,507
1977 31,355,966 27,118,952
1976 30,758,811 26,395,450
1975 30,176,565 25,690,940
1974 29,598,167 24,989,108
1973 29,026,388 24,294,263
1972 28,428,324 23,609,456
1971 27,807,219 22,942,143
1970 27,193,016 22,279,984
1969 26,585,112 21,614,676
1968 25,989,662 20,957,287
1967 25,406,429 20,314,066
1966 24,836,496 19,690,087
1965 24,279,431 19,089,380
1964 23,737,315 18,511,361
1963 23,213,408 17,954,564
1962 22,704,719 17,418,522
1961 22,210,581 16,908,035
1960 21,730,250 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/myanmar/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Myanmar increased by 3,710,561 people (a 7.77% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Myanmar gained 3,796,420 people (a 7.37% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Myanmar was ranked 26th most populous country in 2006 and is 27th 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) Myanmar's population will grow by 6.39% to 58,824,293 people with a rank change from 27th to 35th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Myanmar is projected to reach its peak in 2049 at 58.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Myanmar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Myanmar South Africa
2100 -0.5% 0.22%
2099 -0.49% 0.22%
2098 -0.49% 0.2%
2097 -0.49% 0.21%
2096 -0.49% 0.22%
2095 -0.49% 0.24%
2094 -0.48% 0.24%
2093 -0.47% 0.24%
2092 -0.47% 0.27%
2091 -0.47% 0.25%
2090 -0.45% 0.26%
2089 -0.45% 0.26%
2088 -0.45% 0.27%
2087 -0.44% 0.27%
2086 -0.43% 0.25%
2085 -0.42% 0.27%
2084 -0.41% 0.29%
2083 -0.41% 0.29%
2082 -0.4% 0.3%
2081 -0.4% 0.3%
2080 -0.39% 0.3%
2079 -0.39% 0.31%
2078 -0.37% 0.31%
2077 -0.37% 0.3%
2076 -0.36% 0.31%
2075 -0.36% 0.32%
2074 -0.35% 0.32%
2073 -0.34% 0.32%
2072 -0.33% 0.37%
2071 -0.32% 0.38%
2070 -0.3% 0.35%
2069 -0.3% 0.36%
2068 -0.28% 0.37%
2067 -0.27% 0.39%
2066 -0.26% 0.39%
2065 -0.25% 0.42%
2064 -0.24% 0.44%
2063 -0.22% 0.44%
2062 -0.22% 0.44%
2061 -0.21% 0.46%
2060 -0.19% 0.47%
2059 -0.17% 0.49%
2058 -0.15% 0.5%
2057 -0.14% 0.5%
2056 -0.12% 0.53%
2055 -0.1% 0.54%
2054 -0.08% 0.54%
2053 -0.06% 0.56%
2052 -0.05% 0.6%
2051 -0.02% 0.6%
2050 -0.009% 0.62%
2049 0.01% 0.62%
2048 0.03% 0.66%
2047 0.05% 0.68%
2046 0.08% 0.67%
2045 0.1% 0.68%
2044 0.12% 0.7%
2043 0.15% 0.71%
2042 0.17% 0.73%
2041 0.19% 0.73%
2040 0.22% 0.74%
2039 0.24% 0.76%
2038 0.26% 0.79%
2037 0.28% 0.8%
2036 0.31% 0.83%
2035 0.34% 0.85%
2034 0.37% 0.87%
2033 0.4% 0.9%
2032 0.43% 0.93%
2031 0.46% 0.94%
2030 0.49% 0.99%
2029 0.52% 1.03%
2028 0.56% 1.05%
2027 0.59% 1.06%
2026 0.63% 1.12%
2025 0.66% 1.19%
2024 0.68% 1.26%
2023 0.7% 1.34%
2022 0.69% 1.42%
2021 0.7% 1.55%
2020 0.71% 1.64%
2019 0.7% 1.66%
2018 0.73% 1.7%
2017 0.78% 0.66%
2016 0.8% 0.94%
2015 0.8% 2.03%
2014 0.83% 1.68%
2013 0.85% 1.67%
2012 0.85% 1.49%
2011 0.81% 1.24%
2010 0.75% 1.19%
2009 0.56% 1.2%
2008 0.55% 1.16%
2007 0.71% 1.06%
2006 0.73% 1.03%
2005 0.79% 1.02%
2004 0.86% 1.01%
2003 0.94% 1%
2002 1.01% 0.95%
2001 1.06% 0.86%
2000 1.12% 0.92%
1999 1.2% 1.1%
1998 1.26% 1.22%
1997 1.28% 1.21%
1996 1.29% 1.31%
1995 1.31% 1.22%
1994 1.33% 1.63%
1993 1.35% 2.01%
1992 1.38% 1.81%
1991 1.45% 2.31%
1990 1.54% 2.82%
1989 1.59% 2.98%
1988 1.66% 3.09%
1987 1.76% 3.17%
1986 1.89% 3.25%
1985 2.02% 3.39%
1984 2.09% 3.52%
1983 1.97% 3.56%
1982 1.84% 3.52%
1981 1.9% 3.46%
1980 1.93% 3.09%
1979 1.95% 2.74%
1978 1.97% 2.77%
1977 1.94% 2.74%
1976 1.93% 2.74%
1975 1.95% 2.81%
1974 1.97% 2.86%
1973 2.1% 2.9%
1972 2.23% 2.91%
1971 2.26% 2.97%
1970 2.29% 3.08%
1969 2.29% 3.14%
1968 2.3% 3.17%
1967 2.29% 3.17%
1966 2.29% 3.15%
1965 2.28% 3.12%
1964 2.26% 3.1%
1963 2.24% 3.08%
1962 2.22% 3.02%
1961 2.21% 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/myanmar/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Myanmar grew by 0.68%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Myanmar South Africa
Current population
55292116
65683993
Population rank 27/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.67% 0.79%
One net population change
1.43 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
34.9 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.06 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,004 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +366,293 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.68% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 85/197
One migration net change every
13.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -39,661 +146,370
Net migration rank 172/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 79,052 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 139/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 194/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Myanmar
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Myanmar South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -39,661 - 146,370
2024 - -37,979 - 166,972
2023 408,331 -34,989 602,793 228,222
2022 415,647 -34,988 603,636 233,284
2021 394,104 -35,370 456,411 458,246
2020 448,626 -66,213 595,873 369,901
2019 469,924 -100,783 652,130 331,124
2018 482,316 -114,598 648,319 318,260
2017 492,276 -105,415 645,975 343,146
2016 499,508 -87,907 641,365 -879,235
2015 495,769 -94,108 668,771 641,150
2014 488,114 -74,901 674,754 272,697
2013 487,648 -62,863 652,427 232,230
2012 487,210 -61,536 643,723 264,091
2011 492,271 -82,713 601,708 65,166
2010 497,745 -116,481 566,834 68,563
2009 505,144 -158,542 554,115 41,528
2008 373,287 -180,533 595,332 36,869
2007 523,745 -184,989 503,567 36,339
2006 527,165 -186,098 487,584 33,159
2005 537,429 -185,009 464,464 31,286
2004 556,494 -169,736 442,540 58,924
2003 582,173 -165,739 415,018 65,604
2002 602,873 -150,232 430,926 50,313
2001 601,524 -131,124 484,801 -60,793
2000 596,979 -106,772 526,963 -136,794
1999 597,916 -81,874 594,643 -126,011
1998 606,110 -62,281 627,027 -82,722
1997 613,103 -58,954 667,969 -98,181
1996 619,488 -65,766 710,868 -193,007
1995 620,376 -75,097 743,488 -98,403
1994 626,411 -71,359 698,609 -268,849
1993 633,576 -83,214 789,220 194,977
1992 634,484 -80,661 794,415 -71,342
1991 637,622 -79,059 827,296 -39,131
1990 636,081 -40,859 835,421 259,718
1989 636,610 -26,585 884,629 255,605
1988 630,392 -13,046 909,221 246,382
1987 652,960 -11,642 922,330 231,009
1986 679,467 -7,351 903,644 234,378
1985 705,905 6,074 893,889 244,940
1984 723,623 11,433 869,011 290,789
1983 719,710 18,427 837,013 310,172
1982 701,212 -79,856 807,550 293,195
1981 679,851 -52,839 767,833 279,985
1980 673,815 -37,679 738,415 258,127
1979 669,338 -44,174 716,541 56,323
1978 658,068 -36,055 694,341 62,121
1977 649,915 -37,879 680,929 63,739
1976 642,829 -60,561 675,011 27,333
1975 635,005 -52,763 667,862 38,809
1974 628,458 -53,875 658,438 38,518
1973 624,619 -55,659 651,596 41,125
1972 616,411 10,735 638,754 38,163
1971 608,784 6,306 624,761 32,961
1970 595,337 17,997 605,102 61,514
1969 584,979 17,491 590,794 73,225
1968 571,123 17,293 571,841 78,932
1967 559,577 18,470 553,741 81,932
1966 546,378 15,453 534,862 77,417
1965 533,443 18,847 506,632 82,514
1964 516,334 15,600 490,606 76,298
1963 501,548 14,350 473,821 72,844
1962 487,925 13,546 455,634 69,771
1961 474,818 11,972 437,851 57,728
1960 465,049 8,807 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 86% of the population change in Myanmar is from natural causes (a gain of 4,594,615 people) and 14% is from migration (a loss of 749,272 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, 79,052 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in Myanmar, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Myanmar
City Population
Yangon 6.87M
Mandalay 1.23M
Naypyidaw 1.16M
Hpa-an 422K
Mawlamyine 289K
Pathein 287K
Bago 284K
Taunggyi 265K
Myitkyina 243K
Myeik 222K
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/myanmar/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.