The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 12,025 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,139 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 5,423 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Nauru is ranked the 195th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.0001% for Nauru vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Nauru has had an average growth rate of +1.03% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (21% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Nauru vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Nauru
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 20,708 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 20,677 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 20,636 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 20,596 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 20,561 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 20,526 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 20,479 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 20,423 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 20,377 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 20,332 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 20,276 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 20,210 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 20,143 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 20,087 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 20,019 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 19,950 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 19,872 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 19,787 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 19,700 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 19,603 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 19,517 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 19,411 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 19,304 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 19,198 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 19,089 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 18,978 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 18,866 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 18,750 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 18,630 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 18,527 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 18,388 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 18,281 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 18,160 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 18,017 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 17,896 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 17,769 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 17,641 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 17,516 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 17,394 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 17,260 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 17,129 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 17,006 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 16,874 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 16,745 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 16,605 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 16,465 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 16,328 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 16,186 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 16,042 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 15,881 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 15,731 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 15,565 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 15,405 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 15,234 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 15,058 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 14,888 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 14,712 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 14,539 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 14,357 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 14,174 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 13,990 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 13,821 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 13,666 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 13,507 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 13,358 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 13,190 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 13,035 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 12,888 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 12,753 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 12,619 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 12,499 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 12,381 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 12,286 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 12,177 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 12,100 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 12,025 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 11,947 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 11,875 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 11,801 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 11,709 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 11,587 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 11,477 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 11,324 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 11,150 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 10,954 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 10,742 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 10,517 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 10,267 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 10,098 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 10,016 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 10,009 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 10,020 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 10,034 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 10,049 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 10,060 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 10,059 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 10,082 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 10,130 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 10,168 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 10,187 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 10,198 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 10,197 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 10,183 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 10,165 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 10,137 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 10,102 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 10,021 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 9,850 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 9,390 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 9,165 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 8,946 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 8,742 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 8,551 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 8,377 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 8,216 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 8,040 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 7,839 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 7,468 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 7,298 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 7,163 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 7,064 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 6,987 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 6,923 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 6,866 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 6,812 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 6,762 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 6,581 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 6,328 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 6,135 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 6,043 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 5,832 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 5,515 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 5,226 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 4,979 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 4,774 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 4,607 | 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/nauru/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nauru increased by 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nauru gained 989 people (a 8.87% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
Nauru was ranked 196th most populous country in 2006 and is 195th 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) Nauru's population will grow by 29.6% to 15,731 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 0.15% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | 0.2% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | 0.19% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | 0.17% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | 0.17% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | 0.23% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | 0.27% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | 0.23% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | 0.22% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | 0.28% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | 0.33% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | 0.33% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | 0.28% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | 0.34% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | 0.35% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | 0.39% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | 0.43% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 0.44% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | 0.44% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | 0.54% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | 0.56% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.55% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | 0.57% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | 0.59% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.6% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | 0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | 0.65% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | 0.56% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | 0.75% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | 0.59% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | 0.66% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | 0.8% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | 0.68% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | 0.71% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | 0.73% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | 0.71% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | 0.7% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | 0.78% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | 0.76% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 0.78% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 0.85% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | 0.85% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | 0.84% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | 0.9% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 1.01% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 0.96% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 1.06% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 1.04% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 1.12% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 1.17% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 1.14% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 1.2% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 1.19% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 1.27% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 1.29% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 1.32% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 1.22% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 1.14% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 1.17% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 1.12% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 1.27% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 1.14% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 1.06% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 1.06% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.96% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.96% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.77% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.9% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.64% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 0.63% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 0.65% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | 0.61% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 0.63% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 0.79% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 0.57% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 0.48% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 0.96% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 1.35% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 1.56% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 1.79% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 1.97% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 2.14% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 2.43% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 1.67% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 0.55% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 0.27% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 0.07% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | -0.11% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | -0.14% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | -0.15% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | -0.11% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 0.01% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | -0.23% | 1% |
| 2002 | -0.47% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | -0.37% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | -0.19% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | -0.11% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.01% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 0.14% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 0.18% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 0.28% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 0.35% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 0.81% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 1.74% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 2.37% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 2.47% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 2.45% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 2.45% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 2.33% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 2.23% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 2.08% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 1.96% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 2.19% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 2.56% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 2.48% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 2.42% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 2.33% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 1.88% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 0.92% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 0.83% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 0.79% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 0.74% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 0.77% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 1.96% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 4% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 1.52% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 3.62% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 5.75% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 5.53% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 4.96% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 4.29% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 3.62% | 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/nauru/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Nauru grew by 0.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Nauru
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
12139
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 195/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0001% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
4.69 days
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.25 days
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
4.06 days
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | +78 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.65% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 119/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3 days
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -122 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 82/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,548 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 191/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 21.3% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 29/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -122 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | 203 | -121 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 213 | -148 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 226 | -144 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 236 | -137 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 246 | -214 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 255 | -171 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 265 | -131 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 279 | -115 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 289 | -105 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 291 | -86 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 290 | -69 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 291 | -53 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 292 | -38 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 291 | -206 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 281 | -246 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 261 | -249 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 240 | -243 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 222 | -235 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 209 | -224 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 204 | -217 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 202 | -210 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 201 | -199 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 200 | -247 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 203 | -252 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 207 | -236 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 212 | -227 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 214 | -217 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 218 | -209 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 221 | -204 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 225 | -201 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 229 | -196 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 235 | -194 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 237 | -121 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 225 | 0 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 214 | 20 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 204 | 24 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 195 | 29 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 186 | 27 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 178 | 21 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 171 | 8 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 166 | -2 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 163 | -5 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 162 | 30 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 157 | 44 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 145 | 44 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 130 | 48 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 111 | 40 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 89 | 32 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 79 | 0 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 70 | 0 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 63 | 0 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 57 | 0 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 53 | 0 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 50 | 0 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 49 | 0 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 71 | 132 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 116 | 180 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 117 | -28 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 123 | -32 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 113 | 218 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 100 | 203 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 88 | 181 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 75 | 158 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 70 | 120 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 72 | 76 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/nauru/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 64.6% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,503 people) and 35.4% is from migration (a loss of 1,372 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, 2,548 residents or 21.3% of the population were not native-born in Nauru, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Yaren | 747 |
|
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 differences between Nauru and South Africa
|
Nauru
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 25.5 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 21.3 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.29 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,567 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/nauru/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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.