Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 20.7 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Namibia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia South Africa
2100 5,958,153 94,767,727
2099 5,952,623 94,556,931
2098 5,947,142 94,349,546
2097 5,942,285 94,158,472
2096 5,938,162 93,960,605
2095 5,930,395 93,752,736
2094 5,922,248 93,527,902
2093 5,911,235 93,300,398
2092 5,899,026 93,074,837
2091 5,886,490 92,826,204
2090 5,871,938 92,594,033
2089 5,858,234 92,355,184
2088 5,842,720 92,112,914
2087 5,825,856 91,866,024
2086 5,806,643 91,614,165
2085 5,789,246 91,385,350
2084 5,771,050 91,139,318
2083 5,751,610 90,877,425
2082 5,730,648 90,615,359
2081 5,707,476 90,345,492
2080 5,682,842 90,071,835
2079 5,659,698 89,801,998
2078 5,634,313 89,526,224
2077 5,608,096 89,249,206
2076 5,580,829 88,986,114
2075 5,551,107 88,713,215
2074 5,522,025 88,428,616
2073 5,494,180 88,149,885
2072 5,464,749 87,866,246
2071 5,434,461 87,540,177
2070 5,403,822 87,209,425
2069 5,371,517 86,901,512
2068 5,336,950 86,588,742
2067 5,300,707 86,268,392
2066 5,263,191 85,935,310
2065 5,227,346 85,604,376
2064 5,190,323 85,244,950
2063 5,150,579 84,875,503
2062 5,109,760 84,503,237
2061 5,068,478 84,132,885
2060 5,023,587 83,748,999
2059 4,979,591 83,354,923
2058 4,933,964 82,947,675
2057 4,887,985 82,538,045
2056 4,840,537 82,127,477
2055 4,790,848 81,698,196
2054 4,741,942 81,255,867
2053 4,691,180 80,818,632
2052 4,639,835 80,367,409
2051 4,587,353 79,886,672
2050 4,533,502 79,411,977
2049 4,482,650 78,925,493
2048 4,430,309 78,437,677
2047 4,373,597 77,922,211
2046 4,318,050 77,397,298
2045 4,259,166 76,879,838
2044 4,202,338 76,357,155
2043 4,144,892 75,827,709
2042 4,088,713 75,291,615
2041 4,032,347 74,748,408
2040 3,976,987 74,205,530
2039 3,920,720 73,663,047
2038 3,862,015 73,105,930
2037 3,804,482 72,532,742
2036 3,747,072 71,956,247
2035 3,689,163 71,362,555
2034 3,631,737 70,762,815
2033 3,575,000 70,153,205
2032 3,516,310 69,527,410
2031 3,456,265 68,890,002
2030 3,395,964 68,245,372
2029 3,336,698 67,573,179
2028 3,277,428 66,884,377
2027 3,216,917 66,190,258
2026 3,156,839 65,496,277
2025 3,094,769 64,770,314
2024 3,030,131 64,007,187
2023 2,963,095 63,212,384
2022 2,889,662 62,378,410
2021 2,810,548 61,502,603
2020 2,728,762 60,562,381
2019 2,650,494 59,587,885
2018 2,577,327 58,613,001
2017 2,506,853 57,635,162
2016 2,439,213 57,259,551
2015 2,374,300 56,723,537
2014 2,312,139 55,594,838
2013 2,252,508 54,678,791
2012 2,194,654 53,782,567
2011 2,146,325 52,995,205
2010 2,109,811 52,344,051
2009 2,077,394 51,728,516
2008 2,047,056 51,114,599
2007 2,018,600 50,528,584
2006 1,991,888 49,998,277
2005 1,966,582 49,490,033
2004 1,942,082 48,991,421
2003 1,917,464 48,500,348
2002 1,889,970 48,019,415
2001 1,857,048 47,566,800
2000 1,818,647 47,159,719
1999 1,776,368 46,730,335
1998 1,732,745 46,223,880
1997 1,689,264 45,666,838
1996 1,646,103 45,123,018
1995 1,602,170 44,541,554
1994 1,556,304 44,004,139
1993 1,508,697 43,297,156
1992 1,461,322 42,443,509
1991 1,415,684 41,687,898
1990 1,369,303 40,746,268
1989 1,288,947 39,628,575
1988 1,209,696 38,480,649
1987 1,167,889 37,326,190
1986 1,131,081 36,180,515
1985 1,096,890 35,042,093
1984 1,065,989 33,892,788
1983 1,037,511 32,739,304
1982 1,010,308 31,615,339
1981 992,500 30,541,044
1980 981,434 29,518,857
1979 962,825 28,634,162
1978 947,269 27,869,507
1977 931,104 27,118,952
1976 906,566 26,395,450
1975 881,032 25,690,940
1974 854,320 24,989,108
1973 828,928 24,294,263
1972 804,399 23,609,456
1971 780,584 22,942,143
1970 757,868 22,279,984
1969 736,120 21,614,676
1968 715,542 20,957,287
1967 696,045 20,314,066
1966 677,655 19,690,087
1965 660,558 19,089,380
1964 644,530 18,511,361
1963 629,589 17,954,564
1962 615,759 17,418,522
1961 603,067 16,908,035
1960 591,465 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/namibia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th 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) Namibia's population will grow by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia South Africa
2100 0.09% 0.22%
2099 0.09% 0.22%
2098 0.08% 0.2%
2097 0.07% 0.21%
2096 0.13% 0.22%
2095 0.14% 0.24%
2094 0.19% 0.24%
2093 0.21% 0.24%
2092 0.21% 0.27%
2091 0.25% 0.25%
2090 0.23% 0.26%
2089 0.27% 0.26%
2088 0.29% 0.27%
2087 0.33% 0.27%
2086 0.3% 0.25%
2085 0.32% 0.27%
2084 0.34% 0.29%
2083 0.37% 0.29%
2082 0.41% 0.3%
2081 0.43% 0.3%
2080 0.41% 0.3%
2079 0.45% 0.31%
2078 0.47% 0.31%
2077 0.49% 0.3%
2076 0.54% 0.31%
2075 0.53% 0.32%
2074 0.51% 0.32%
2073 0.54% 0.32%
2072 0.56% 0.37%
2071 0.57% 0.38%
2070 0.6% 0.35%
2069 0.65% 0.36%
2068 0.68% 0.37%
2067 0.71% 0.39%
2066 0.69% 0.39%
2065 0.71% 0.42%
2064 0.77% 0.44%
2063 0.8% 0.44%
2062 0.81% 0.44%
2061 0.89% 0.46%
2060 0.88% 0.47%
2059 0.92% 0.49%
2058 0.94% 0.5%
2057 0.98% 0.5%
2056 1.04% 0.53%
2055 1.03% 0.54%
2054 1.08% 0.54%
2053 1.11% 0.56%
2052 1.14% 0.6%
2051 1.19% 0.6%
2050 1.13% 0.62%
2049 1.18% 0.62%
2048 1.3% 0.66%
2047 1.29% 0.68%
2046 1.38% 0.67%
2045 1.35% 0.68%
2044 1.39% 0.7%
2043 1.37% 0.71%
2042 1.4% 0.73%
2041 1.39% 0.73%
2040 1.44% 0.74%
2039 1.52% 0.76%
2038 1.51% 0.79%
2037 1.53% 0.8%
2036 1.57% 0.83%
2035 1.58% 0.85%
2034 1.59% 0.87%
2033 1.67% 0.9%
2032 1.74% 0.93%
2031 1.78% 0.94%
2030 1.78% 0.99%
2029 1.81% 1.03%
2028 1.88% 1.05%
2027 1.9% 1.06%
2026 2.01% 1.12%
2025 2.13% 1.19%
2024 2.26% 1.26%
2023 2.54% 1.34%
2022 2.81% 1.42%
2021 3% 1.55%
2020 2.95% 1.64%
2019 2.84% 1.66%
2018 2.81% 1.7%
2017 2.77% 0.66%
2016 2.73% 0.94%
2015 2.69% 2.03%
2014 2.65% 1.68%
2013 2.64% 1.67%
2012 2.25% 1.49%
2011 1.73% 1.24%
2010 1.56% 1.19%
2009 1.48% 1.2%
2008 1.41% 1.16%
2007 1.34% 1.06%
2006 1.29% 1.03%
2005 1.26% 1.02%
2004 1.28% 1.01%
2003 1.45% 1%
2002 1.77% 0.95%
2001 2.11% 0.86%
2000 2.38% 0.92%
1999 2.52% 1.1%
1998 2.57% 1.22%
1997 2.62% 1.21%
1996 2.74% 1.31%
1995 2.95% 1.22%
1994 3.16% 1.63%
1993 3.24% 2.01%
1992 3.22% 1.81%
1991 3.39% 2.31%
1990 6.23% 2.82%
1989 6.55% 2.98%
1988 3.58% 3.09%
1987 3.25% 3.17%
1986 3.12% 3.25%
1985 2.9% 3.39%
1984 2.74% 3.52%
1983 2.69% 3.56%
1982 1.79% 3.52%
1981 1.13% 3.46%
1980 1.93% 3.09%
1979 1.64% 2.74%
1978 1.74% 2.77%
1977 2.71% 2.74%
1976 2.9% 2.74%
1975 3.13% 2.81%
1974 3.06% 2.86%
1973 3.05% 2.9%
1972 3.05% 2.91%
1971 3% 2.97%
1970 2.95% 3.08%
1969 2.88% 3.14%
1968 2.8% 3.17%
1967 2.71% 3.17%
1966 2.59% 3.15%
1965 2.49% 3.12%
1964 2.37% 3.1%
1963 2.25% 3.08%
1962 2.1% 3.02%
1961 1.96% 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/namibia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Namibia South Africa
Current population
3173089
65683993
Population rank 134/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
6.85 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
28.8 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +184 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,866 +146,370
Net migration rank 57/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - 146,370
2024 - 4,211 - 166,972
2023 58,435 11,675 602,793 228,222
2022 54,534 22,212 603,636 233,284
2021 50,160 31,327 456,411 458,246
2020 55,034 27,056 595,873 369,901
2019 54,769 19,676 652,130 331,124
2018 53,970 17,920 648,319 318,260
2017 52,975 16,080 645,975 343,146
2016 52,228 14,002 641,365 -879,235
2015 50,846 12,755 668,771 641,150
2014 49,581 11,134 674,754 272,697
2013 47,801 10,748 652,427 232,230
2012 46,204 10,957 643,723 264,091
2011 43,557 -4,067 601,708 65,166
2010 42,046 -8,518 566,834 68,563
2009 39,942 -8,626 554,115 41,528
2008 38,147 -8,775 595,332 36,869
2007 36,430 -8,905 503,567 36,339
2006 34,690 -8,792 487,584 33,159
2005 32,909 -8,195 464,464 31,286
2004 31,478 -7,192 442,540 58,924
2003 31,115 -6,153 415,018 65,604
2002 31,947 -1,913 430,926 50,313
2001 32,942 2,869 484,801 -60,793
2000 35,280 5,709 526,963 -136,794
1999 37,233 6,333 594,643 -126,011
1998 37,500 6,180 627,027 -82,722
1997 37,256 6,023 667,969 -98,181
1996 37,177 5,866 710,868 -193,007
1995 39,119 5,712 743,488 -98,403
1994 41,316 5,578 698,609 -268,849
1993 42,861 5,464 789,220 194,977
1992 43,945 2,487 794,415 -71,342
1991 44,523 309 827,296 -39,131
1990 43,956 3,969 835,421 259,718
1989 37,715 75,072 884,629 255,605
1988 34,798 10,916 909,221 246,382
1987 33,340 4,559 922,330 231,009
1986 31,764 3,953 903,644 234,378
1985 30,575 2,090 893,889 244,940
1984 29,395 -267 869,011 290,789
1983 28,307 -481 837,013 310,172
1982 27,474 -889 807,550 293,195
1981 27,938 -18,901 767,833 279,985
1980 28,142 -15,041 738,415 258,127
1979 28,930 -4,818 716,541 56,323
1978 29,821 -22,827 694,341 62,121
1977 29,241 -3,907 680,929 63,739
1976 28,785 -5,048 675,011 27,333
1975 27,882 -553 667,862 38,809
1974 26,844 -744 658,438 38,518
1973 25,754 -1,066 651,596 41,125
1972 24,606 -236 638,754 38,163
1971 23,467 -208 624,761 32,961
1970 22,414 -244 605,102 61,514
1969 21,387 -57 590,794 73,225
1968 20,470 -636 571,841 78,932
1967 19,498 -339 553,741 81,932
1966 18,635 -1,023 534,862 77,417
1965 17,902 -1,327 506,632 82,514
1964 17,134 -1,660 490,606 76,298
1963 16,430 -2,016 473,821 72,844
1962 15,656 -2,403 455,634 69,771
1961 14,936 -2,807 437,851 57,728
1960 14,307 -3,227 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 74.3% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 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, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K
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/namibia/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.