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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,092,816 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,185,686 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +2.68% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.19M (59.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Namibia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia South Africa
2100 5,954,393 94,734,082
2099 5,948,866 94,523,360
2098 5,943,388 94,316,049
2097 5,938,535 94,125,043
2096 5,934,414 93,927,246
2095 5,926,652 93,719,451
2094 5,918,510 93,494,697
2093 5,907,504 93,267,274
2092 5,895,303 93,041,793
2091 5,882,775 92,793,249
2090 5,868,232 92,561,159
2089 5,854,537 92,322,396
2088 5,839,032 92,080,212
2087 5,822,179 91,833,409
2086 5,802,978 91,581,639
2085 5,785,593 91,352,906
2084 5,767,408 91,106,961
2083 5,747,980 90,845,161
2082 5,727,031 90,583,188
2081 5,703,874 90,313,417
2080 5,679,256 90,039,857
2079 5,656,126 89,770,116
2078 5,630,757 89,494,440
2077 5,604,556 89,217,520
2076 5,577,307 88,954,522
2075 5,547,604 88,681,719
2074 5,518,540 88,397,221
2073 5,490,713 88,118,589
2072 5,461,300 87,835,051
2071 5,431,031 87,509,098
2070 5,400,411 87,178,463
2069 5,368,127 86,870,660
2068 5,333,582 86,558,000
2067 5,297,361 86,237,764
2066 5,259,869 85,904,801
2065 5,224,047 85,573,984
2064 5,187,047 85,214,686
2063 5,147,329 84,845,370
2062 5,106,535 84,473,236
2061 5,065,279 84,103,016
2060 5,020,417 83,719,266
2059 4,976,448 83,325,330
2058 4,930,850 82,918,226
2057 4,884,900 82,508,742
2056 4,837,482 82,098,320
2055 4,787,824 81,669,191
2054 4,738,949 81,227,019
2053 4,688,219 80,789,939
2052 4,636,907 80,338,877
2051 4,584,458 79,858,310
2050 4,530,641 79,383,784
2049 4,479,821 78,897,472
2048 4,427,513 78,409,829
2047 4,370,836 77,894,547
2046 4,315,325 77,369,819
2045 4,256,478 76,852,544
2044 4,199,686 76,330,046
2043 4,142,276 75,800,788
2042 4,086,133 75,264,885
2041 4,029,802 74,721,871
2040 3,974,477 74,179,185
2039 3,918,246 73,636,894
2038 3,859,577 73,079,976
2037 3,802,081 72,506,991
2036 3,744,707 71,930,701
2035 3,686,835 71,337,219
2034 3,629,445 70,737,692
2033 3,572,743 70,128,299
2032 3,514,091 69,502,726
2031 3,454,083 68,865,544
2030 3,393,821 68,221,143
2029 3,334,592 67,549,189
2028 3,275,360 66,860,631
2027 3,214,886 66,166,759
2026 3,154,846 65,473,024
2025 3,092,816 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 746,473 people (a 30.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 42.2% to 4,530,641 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.95M people compared to the peak of 94.7M 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 2.07% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Namibia grew by 2.07%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Namibia South Africa
Current population
3185686
65829368
Population rank 134/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
8.41 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
6.7 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
28.1 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +172 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +62,685 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.07% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 91/197
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 59,739 4,211 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 75.4% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 542,690 people) and 24.6% is from migration (a gain of 176,914 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, 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 486K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Omaruru 10.8K
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/namibia/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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