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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,651,054 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,596,762 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.22 times bigger than Nepal's.
  • Nepal is ranked the 52nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.15% of the world: 0.36% for Nepal vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Nepal has had an average growth rate of +0.66% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Nepal vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal South Africa
2100 31,902,377 94,767,727
2099 32,090,762 94,556,931
2098 32,277,789 94,349,546
2097 32,464,318 94,158,472
2096 32,647,891 93,960,605
2095 32,828,594 93,752,736
2094 33,009,460 93,527,902
2093 33,186,290 93,300,398
2092 33,361,327 93,074,837
2091 33,532,505 92,826,204
2090 33,699,660 92,594,033
2089 33,863,636 92,355,184
2088 34,022,597 92,112,914
2087 34,175,457 91,866,024
2086 34,322,945 91,614,165
2085 34,468,441 91,385,350
2084 34,605,513 91,139,318
2083 34,735,114 90,877,425
2082 34,856,938 90,615,359
2081 34,972,075 90,345,492
2080 35,080,783 90,071,835
2079 35,183,584 89,801,998
2078 35,277,254 89,526,224
2077 35,362,658 89,249,206
2076 35,440,746 88,986,114
2075 35,510,291 88,713,215
2074 35,573,094 88,428,616
2073 35,627,375 88,149,885
2072 35,670,886 87,866,246
2071 35,709,979 87,540,177
2070 35,739,580 87,209,425
2069 35,759,193 86,901,512
2068 35,770,405 86,588,742
2067 35,774,081 86,268,392
2066 35,770,220 85,935,310
2065 35,758,824 85,604,376
2064 35,737,661 85,244,950
2063 35,709,945 84,875,503
2062 35,669,839 84,503,237
2061 35,623,365 84,132,885
2060 35,567,728 83,748,999
2059 35,503,043 83,354,923
2058 35,427,419 82,947,675
2057 35,345,633 82,538,045
2056 35,253,644 82,127,477
2055 35,155,433 81,698,196
2054 35,050,330 81,255,867
2053 34,936,594 80,818,632
2052 34,816,009 80,367,409
2051 34,684,328 79,886,672
2050 34,546,267 79,411,977
2049 34,400,898 78,925,493
2048 34,250,249 78,437,677
2047 34,091,495 77,922,211
2046 33,921,975 77,397,298
2045 33,747,892 76,879,838
2044 33,566,784 76,357,155
2043 33,380,395 75,827,709
2042 33,186,321 75,291,615
2041 32,987,097 74,748,408
2040 32,781,189 74,205,530
2039 32,569,731 73,663,047
2038 32,349,742 73,105,930
2037 32,125,036 72,532,742
2036 31,892,962 71,956,247
2035 31,653,976 71,362,555
2034 31,407,460 70,762,815
2033 31,152,292 70,153,205
2032 30,890,627 69,527,410
2031 30,623,706 68,890,002
2030 30,349,201 68,245,372
2029 30,068,368 67,573,179
2028 29,780,585 66,884,377
2027 29,627,864 66,190,258
2026 29,585,230 65,496,277
2025 29,605,298 64,770,314
2024 29,651,054 64,007,187
2023 29,694,614 63,212,384
2022 29,715,436 62,378,410
2021 29,475,010 61,502,603
2020 28,966,574 60,562,381
2019 28,414,064 59,587,885
2018 28,079,689 58,613,001
2017 28,011,258 57,635,162
2016 27,955,462 57,259,551
2015 27,823,629 56,723,537
2014 27,672,370 55,594,838
2013 27,589,996 54,678,791
2012 27,534,915 53,782,567
2011 27,464,494 52,995,205
2010 27,341,952 52,344,051
2009 27,173,035 51,728,516
2008 26,990,037 51,114,599
2007 26,788,492 50,528,584
2006 26,565,425 49,998,277
2005 26,309,458 49,490,033
2004 26,016,656 48,991,421
2003 25,688,758 48,500,348
2002 25,328,981 48,019,415
2001 24,946,748 47,566,800
2000 24,546,509 47,159,719
1999 24,125,199 46,730,335
1998 23,680,357 46,223,880
1997 23,219,463 45,666,838
1996 22,741,862 45,123,018
1995 22,245,439 44,541,554
1994 21,717,479 44,004,139
1993 21,180,159 43,297,156
1992 20,609,707 42,443,509
1991 20,036,500 41,687,898
1990 19,524,573 40,746,268
1989 19,057,807 39,628,575
1988 18,638,661 38,480,649
1987 18,250,505 37,326,190
1986 17,868,124 36,180,515
1985 17,477,692 35,042,093
1984 17,085,242 33,892,788
1983 16,689,119 32,739,304
1982 16,297,987 31,615,339
1981 15,922,423 30,541,044
1980 15,553,105 29,518,857
1979 15,190,590 28,634,162
1978 14,839,695 27,869,507
1977 14,499,175 27,118,952
1976 14,177,649 26,395,450
1975 13,870,695 25,690,940
1974 13,568,435 24,989,108
1973 13,275,239 24,294,263
1972 12,989,099 23,609,456
1971 12,710,061 22,942,143
1970 12,436,190 22,279,984
1969 12,167,036 21,614,676
1968 11,906,266 20,957,287
1967 11,652,716 20,314,066
1966 11,408,710 19,690,087
1965 11,173,411 19,089,380
1964 10,946,392 18,511,361
1963 10,729,818 17,954,564
1962 10,521,116 17,418,522
1961 10,318,396 16,908,035
1960 10,123,658 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/nepal/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nepal increased by 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nepal gained 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Nepal was ranked 43rd most populous country in 2006 and is 52nd 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) Nepal's population will grow by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Nepal is projected to reach its peak in 2067 at 35.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nepal South Africa
2100 -0.59% 0.22%
2099 -0.58% 0.22%
2098 -0.57% 0.2%
2097 -0.56% 0.21%
2096 -0.55% 0.22%
2095 -0.55% 0.24%
2094 -0.53% 0.24%
2093 -0.52% 0.24%
2092 -0.51% 0.27%
2091 -0.5% 0.25%
2090 -0.48% 0.26%
2089 -0.47% 0.26%
2088 -0.45% 0.27%
2087 -0.43% 0.27%
2086 -0.42% 0.25%
2085 -0.4% 0.27%
2084 -0.37% 0.29%
2083 -0.35% 0.29%
2082 -0.33% 0.3%
2081 -0.31% 0.3%
2080 -0.29% 0.3%
2079 -0.27% 0.31%
2078 -0.24% 0.31%
2077 -0.22% 0.3%
2076 -0.2% 0.31%
2075 -0.18% 0.32%
2074 -0.15% 0.32%
2073 -0.12% 0.32%
2072 -0.11% 0.37%
2071 -0.08% 0.38%
2070 -0.05% 0.35%
2069 -0.03% 0.36%
2068 -0.01% 0.37%
2067 0.01% 0.39%
2066 0.03% 0.39%
2065 0.06% 0.42%
2064 0.08% 0.44%
2063 0.11% 0.44%
2062 0.13% 0.44%
2061 0.16% 0.46%
2060 0.18% 0.47%
2059 0.21% 0.49%
2058 0.23% 0.5%
2057 0.26% 0.5%
2056 0.28% 0.53%
2055 0.3% 0.54%
2054 0.33% 0.54%
2053 0.35% 0.56%
2052 0.38% 0.6%
2051 0.4% 0.6%
2050 0.42% 0.62%
2049 0.44% 0.62%
2048 0.47% 0.66%
2047 0.5% 0.68%
2046 0.52% 0.67%
2045 0.54% 0.68%
2044 0.56% 0.7%
2043 0.58% 0.71%
2042 0.6% 0.73%
2041 0.63% 0.73%
2040 0.65% 0.74%
2039 0.68% 0.76%
2038 0.7% 0.79%
2037 0.73% 0.8%
2036 0.75% 0.83%
2035 0.78% 0.85%
2034 0.82% 0.87%
2033 0.85% 0.9%
2032 0.87% 0.93%
2031 0.9% 0.94%
2030 0.93% 0.99%
2029 0.97% 1.03%
2028 0.52% 1.05%
2027 0.14% 1.06%
2026 -0.07% 1.12%
2025 -0.15% 1.19%
2024 -0.15% 1.26%
2023 -0.07% 1.34%
2022 0.82% 1.42%
2021 1.76% 1.55%
2020 1.94% 1.64%
2019 1.19% 1.66%
2018 0.24% 1.7%
2017 0.2% 0.66%
2016 0.47% 0.94%
2015 0.55% 2.03%
2014 0.3% 1.68%
2013 0.2% 1.67%
2012 0.26% 1.49%
2011 0.45% 1.24%
2010 0.62% 1.19%
2009 0.68% 1.2%
2008 0.75% 1.16%
2007 0.84% 1.06%
2006 0.97% 1.03%
2005 1.13% 1.02%
2004 1.28% 1.01%
2003 1.42% 1%
2002 1.53% 0.95%
2001 1.63% 0.86%
2000 1.75% 0.92%
1999 1.88% 1.1%
1998 1.98% 1.22%
1997 2.1% 1.21%
1996 2.23% 1.31%
1995 2.43% 1.22%
1994 2.54% 1.63%
1993 2.77% 2.01%
1992 2.86% 1.81%
1991 2.62% 2.31%
1990 2.45% 2.82%
1989 2.25% 2.98%
1988 2.13% 3.09%
1987 2.14% 3.17%
1986 2.23% 3.25%
1985 2.3% 3.39%
1984 2.37% 3.52%
1983 2.4% 3.56%
1982 2.36% 3.52%
1981 2.37% 3.46%
1980 2.39% 3.09%
1979 2.36% 2.74%
1978 2.35% 2.77%
1977 2.27% 2.74%
1976 2.21% 2.74%
1975 2.23% 2.81%
1974 2.21% 2.86%
1973 2.2% 2.9%
1972 2.2% 2.91%
1971 2.2% 2.97%
1970 2.21% 3.08%
1969 2.19% 3.14%
1968 2.18% 3.17%
1967 2.14% 3.17%
1966 2.11% 3.15%
1965 2.07% 3.12%
1964 2.02% 3.1%
1963 1.98% 3.08%
1962 1.96% 3.02%
1961 1.92% 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/nepal/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nepal declined by 0.15%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Nepal South Africa
Current population
29596762
65683993
Population rank 52/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.79%
One net population change
12.1 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
54.9 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.55 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -119 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -43,560 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.15% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.45 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -364,699 +146,370
Net migration rank 193/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 470,719 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 82/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 142/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nepal
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nepal South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -364,699 - 146,370
2024 - -401,282 - 166,972
2023 368,450 -409,782 602,793 228,222
2022 379,021 -379,321 603,636 233,284
2021 351,165 130,001 456,411 458,246
2020 373,553 162,139 595,873 369,901
2019 387,113 182,203 652,130 331,124
2018 394,576 -295,151 648,319 318,260
2017 406,219 -368,787 645,975 343,146
2016 415,921 -341,748 641,365 -879,235
2015 410,565 -221,062 668,771 641,150
2014 423,166 -310,156 674,754 272,697
2013 424,804 -373,064 652,427 232,230
2012 430,151 -371,707 643,723 264,091
2011 429,957 -347,552 601,708 65,166
2010 432,631 -269,963 566,834 68,563
2009 441,290 -266,144 554,115 41,528
2008 452,353 -261,540 595,332 36,869
2007 464,780 -252,526 503,567 36,339
2006 475,335 -241,455 487,584 33,159
2005 489,093 -211,024 464,464 31,286
2004 504,853 -197,336 442,540 58,924
2003 516,575 -168,314 415,018 65,604
2002 525,045 -153,730 430,926 50,313
2001 542,118 -148,973 484,801 -60,793
2000 554,506 -147,193 526,963 -136,794
1999 557,847 -122,551 594,643 -126,011
1998 562,787 -108,400 627,027 -82,722
1997 565,882 -98,454 667,969 -98,181
1996 580,099 -92,307 710,868 -193,007
1995 591,283 -86,232 743,488 -98,403
1994 578,293 -27,415 698,609 -268,849
1993 561,549 -37,782 789,220 194,977
1992 533,029 84,113 794,415 -71,342
1991 512,233 17,056 827,296 -39,131
1990 495,202 -640 835,421 259,718
1989 478,771 -39,808 884,629 255,605
1988 463,581 -64,246 909,221 246,382
1987 449,400 -72,437 922,330 231,009
1986 434,802 -47,017 903,644 234,378
1985 423,240 -30,154 893,889 244,940
1984 411,122 -19,300 869,011 290,789
1983 399,103 1,304 837,013 310,172
1982 385,741 -3,898 807,550 293,195
1981 374,145 -4,855 767,833 279,985
1980 364,254 5,084 738,415 258,127
1979 355,597 88 716,541 56,323
1978 345,765 346 694,341 62,121
1977 332,843 2,108 680,929 63,739
1976 323,222 -15,119 675,011 27,333
1975 312,479 -6,686 667,862 38,809
1974 303,078 -4,361 658,438 38,518
1973 288,750 -1,076 651,596 41,125
1972 286,708 -2,107 638,754 38,163
1971 280,752 -7,284 624,761 32,961
1970 272,439 1,847 605,102 61,514
1969 264,560 -527 590,794 73,225
1968 258,259 -746 571,841 78,932
1967 249,240 347 553,741 81,932
1966 241,716 -3,306 534,862 77,417
1965 233,726 -1,551 506,632 82,514
1964 227,948 -6,087 490,606 76,298
1963 219,586 -8,303 473,821 72,844
1962 215,368 -9,249 455,634 69,771
1961 209,917 -10,601 437,851 57,728
1960 203,374 -13,223 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 67.9% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 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, 470,719 residents or 1.6% of the population were not native-born in Nepal, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K
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/nepal/south-africa | CC BY

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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)

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