Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,618,118 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,619,950 people compared to 65,829,368 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 +0.62% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Nepal vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal South Africa
2100 31,916,191 94,734,082
2099 32,104,658 94,523,360
2098 32,291,766 94,316,049
2097 32,478,376 94,125,043
2096 32,662,029 93,927,246
2095 32,842,809 93,719,451
2094 33,023,754 93,494,697
2093 33,200,660 93,267,274
2092 33,375,774 93,041,793
2091 33,547,026 92,793,249
2090 33,714,253 92,561,159
2089 33,878,299 92,322,396
2088 34,037,329 92,080,212
2087 34,190,255 91,833,409
2086 34,337,807 91,581,639
2085 34,483,366 91,352,906
2084 34,620,498 91,106,961
2083 34,750,155 90,845,161
2082 34,872,031 90,583,188
2081 34,987,218 90,313,417
2080 35,095,973 90,039,857
2079 35,198,820 89,770,116
2078 35,292,530 89,494,440
2077 35,377,971 89,217,520
2076 35,456,092 88,954,522
2075 35,525,668 88,681,719
2074 35,588,497 88,397,221
2073 35,642,802 88,118,589
2072 35,686,332 87,835,051
2071 35,725,442 87,509,098
2070 35,755,056 87,178,463
2069 35,774,677 86,870,660
2068 35,785,895 86,558,000
2067 35,789,572 86,237,764
2066 35,785,710 85,904,801
2065 35,774,308 85,573,984
2064 35,753,136 85,214,686
2063 35,725,408 84,845,370
2062 35,685,285 84,473,236
2061 35,638,790 84,103,016
2060 35,583,129 83,719,266
2059 35,518,416 83,325,330
2058 35,442,760 82,918,226
2057 35,360,939 82,508,742
2056 35,268,910 82,098,320
2055 35,170,656 81,669,191
2054 35,065,508 81,227,019
2053 34,951,722 80,789,939
2052 34,831,085 80,338,877
2051 34,699,347 79,858,310
2050 34,561,226 79,383,784
2049 34,415,794 78,897,472
2048 34,265,080 78,409,829
2047 34,106,257 77,894,547
2046 33,936,663 77,369,819
2045 33,762,505 76,852,544
2044 33,581,319 76,330,046
2043 33,394,849 75,800,788
2042 33,200,691 75,264,885
2041 33,001,382 74,721,871
2040 32,795,384 74,179,185
2039 32,583,834 73,636,894
2038 32,363,750 73,079,976
2037 32,138,947 72,506,991
2036 31,906,773 71,930,701
2035 31,667,683 71,337,219
2034 31,421,060 70,737,692
2033 31,165,782 70,128,299
2032 30,904,004 69,502,726
2031 30,636,967 68,865,544
2030 30,362,343 68,221,143
2029 30,081,388 67,549,189
2028 29,793,481 66,860,631
2027 29,640,694 66,166,759
2026 29,598,041 65,473,024
2025 29,618,118 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,664,488 people (a 5.95% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 34,561,226 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 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 94.7M 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 -0.11% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nepal declined by 0.11%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Nepal South Africa
Current population
29619950
65829368
Population rank 52/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.79%
One net population change
16 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
56.1 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.54 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -90 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -32,936 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.11% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 167/197 91/197
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 355,516 -401,282 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.4% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,842,099 people) and 33.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,942,790 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, 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
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/nepal/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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.