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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 9.22 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.88% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Nicaragua vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua South Africa
2100 8,688,116 94,767,727
2099 8,724,538 94,556,931
2098 8,760,232 94,349,546
2097 8,794,755 94,158,472
2096 8,828,433 93,960,605
2095 8,861,157 93,752,736
2094 8,892,755 93,527,902
2093 8,924,287 93,300,398
2092 8,954,488 93,074,837
2091 8,984,026 92,826,204
2090 9,012,075 92,594,033
2089 9,039,709 92,355,184
2088 9,065,862 92,112,914
2087 9,090,942 91,866,024
2086 9,115,336 91,614,165
2085 9,138,363 91,385,350
2084 9,160,205 91,139,318
2083 9,180,483 90,877,425
2082 9,199,639 90,615,359
2081 9,217,574 90,345,492
2080 9,233,677 90,071,835
2079 9,247,995 89,801,998
2078 9,260,269 89,526,224
2077 9,271,296 89,249,206
2076 9,280,355 88,986,114
2075 9,287,263 88,713,215
2074 9,293,340 88,428,616
2073 9,297,217 88,149,885
2072 9,298,930 87,866,246
2071 9,298,548 87,540,177
2070 9,296,541 87,209,425
2069 9,292,245 86,901,512
2068 9,285,519 86,588,742
2067 9,277,073 86,268,392
2066 9,266,063 85,935,310
2065 9,253,359 85,604,376
2064 9,238,451 85,244,950
2063 9,221,261 84,875,503
2062 9,201,687 84,503,237
2061 9,180,231 84,132,885
2060 9,156,164 83,748,999
2059 9,129,485 83,354,923
2058 9,100,437 82,947,675
2057 9,069,770 82,538,045
2056 9,037,076 82,127,477
2055 9,002,004 81,698,196
2054 8,964,646 81,255,867
2053 8,925,248 80,818,632
2052 8,883,323 80,367,409
2051 8,838,651 79,886,672
2050 8,791,647 79,411,977
2049 8,743,003 78,925,493
2048 8,691,701 78,437,677
2047 8,638,293 77,922,211
2046 8,583,244 77,397,298
2045 8,525,953 76,879,838
2044 8,466,669 76,357,155
2043 8,405,733 75,827,709
2042 8,342,871 75,291,615
2041 8,278,159 74,748,408
2040 8,211,510 74,205,530
2039 8,143,346 73,663,047
2038 8,072,943 73,105,930
2037 8,000,701 72,532,742
2036 7,926,969 71,956,247
2035 7,851,540 71,362,555
2034 7,774,327 70,762,815
2033 7,695,506 70,153,205
2032 7,615,273 69,527,410
2031 7,533,169 68,890,002
2030 7,449,842 68,245,372
2029 7,364,850 67,573,179
2028 7,278,061 66,884,377
2027 7,189,755 66,190,258
2026 7,100,090 65,496,277
2025 7,008,896 64,770,314
2024 6,916,140 64,007,187
2023 6,823,613 63,212,384
2022 6,730,654 62,378,410
2021 6,644,741 61,502,603
2020 6,565,267 60,562,381
2019 6,483,657 59,587,885
2018 6,400,080 58,613,001
2017 6,316,231 57,635,162
2016 6,232,666 57,259,551
2015 6,149,417 56,723,537
2014 6,066,492 55,594,838
2013 5,983,845 54,678,791
2012 5,901,287 53,782,567
2011 5,819,051 52,995,205
2010 5,737,450 52,344,051
2009 5,656,601 51,728,516
2008 5,576,593 51,114,599
2007 5,497,243 50,528,584
2006 5,418,855 49,998,277
2005 5,342,105 49,490,033
2004 5,272,912 48,991,421
2003 5,210,963 48,500,348
2002 5,149,909 48,019,415
2001 5,087,825 47,566,800
2000 5,022,633 47,159,719
1999 4,954,018 46,730,335
1998 4,883,655 46,223,880
1997 4,809,573 45,666,838
1996 4,729,974 45,123,018
1995 4,642,931 44,541,554
1994 4,549,316 44,004,139
1993 4,453,732 43,297,156
1992 4,357,026 42,443,509
1991 4,259,637 41,687,898
1990 4,162,559 40,746,268
1989 4,066,476 39,628,575
1988 3,972,320 38,480,649
1987 3,882,164 37,326,190
1986 3,794,157 36,180,515
1985 3,706,479 35,042,093
1984 3,619,104 33,892,788
1983 3,530,282 32,739,304
1982 3,438,745 31,615,339
1981 3,345,674 30,541,044
1980 3,252,403 29,518,857
1979 3,164,525 28,634,162
1978 3,080,314 27,869,507
1977 2,992,534 27,118,952
1976 2,903,851 26,395,450
1975 2,816,943 25,690,940
1974 2,732,075 24,989,108
1973 2,649,278 24,294,263
1972 2,573,578 23,609,456
1971 2,499,825 22,942,143
1970 2,423,065 22,279,984
1969 2,348,398 21,614,676
1968 2,275,836 20,957,287
1967 2,205,567 20,314,066
1966 2,137,820 19,690,087
1965 2,072,681 19,089,380
1964 2,010,176 18,511,361
1963 1,950,159 17,954,564
1962 1,892,320 17,418,522
1961 1,836,451 16,908,035
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua South Africa
2100 -0.42% 0.22%
2099 -0.41% 0.22%
2098 -0.39% 0.2%
2097 -0.38% 0.21%
2096 -0.37% 0.22%
2095 -0.36% 0.24%
2094 -0.35% 0.24%
2093 -0.34% 0.24%
2092 -0.33% 0.27%
2091 -0.31% 0.25%
2090 -0.31% 0.26%
2089 -0.29% 0.26%
2088 -0.28% 0.27%
2087 -0.27% 0.27%
2086 -0.25% 0.25%
2085 -0.24% 0.27%
2084 -0.22% 0.29%
2083 -0.21% 0.29%
2082 -0.19% 0.3%
2081 -0.17% 0.3%
2080 -0.15% 0.3%
2079 -0.13% 0.31%
2078 -0.12% 0.31%
2077 -0.1% 0.3%
2076 -0.07% 0.31%
2075 -0.07% 0.32%
2074 -0.04% 0.32%
2073 -0.02% 0.32%
2072 0.004% 0.37%
2071 0.02% 0.38%
2070 0.05% 0.35%
2069 0.07% 0.36%
2068 0.09% 0.37%
2067 0.12% 0.39%
2066 0.14% 0.39%
2065 0.16% 0.42%
2064 0.19% 0.44%
2063 0.21% 0.44%
2062 0.23% 0.44%
2061 0.26% 0.46%
2060 0.29% 0.47%
2059 0.32% 0.49%
2058 0.34% 0.5%
2057 0.36% 0.5%
2056 0.39% 0.53%
2055 0.42% 0.54%
2054 0.44% 0.54%
2053 0.47% 0.56%
2052 0.51% 0.6%
2051 0.53% 0.6%
2050 0.56% 0.62%
2049 0.59% 0.62%
2048 0.62% 0.66%
2047 0.64% 0.68%
2046 0.67% 0.67%
2045 0.7% 0.68%
2044 0.72% 0.7%
2043 0.75% 0.71%
2042 0.78% 0.73%
2041 0.81% 0.73%
2040 0.84% 0.74%
2039 0.87% 0.76%
2038 0.9% 0.79%
2037 0.93% 0.8%
2036 0.96% 0.83%
2035 0.99% 0.85%
2034 1.02% 0.87%
2033 1.05% 0.9%
2032 1.09% 0.93%
2031 1.12% 0.94%
2030 1.15% 0.99%
2029 1.19% 1.03%
2028 1.23% 1.05%
2027 1.26% 1.06%
2026 1.3% 1.12%
2025 1.34% 1.19%
2024 1.36% 1.26%
2023 1.38% 1.34%
2022 1.29% 1.42%
2021 1.21% 1.55%
2020 1.26% 1.64%
2019 1.31% 1.66%
2018 1.33% 1.7%
2017 1.34% 0.66%
2016 1.35% 0.94%
2015 1.37% 2.03%
2014 1.38% 1.68%
2013 1.4% 1.67%
2012 1.41% 1.49%
2011 1.42% 1.24%
2010 1.43% 1.19%
2009 1.43% 1.2%
2008 1.44% 1.16%
2007 1.45% 1.06%
2006 1.44% 1.03%
2005 1.31% 1.02%
2004 1.19% 1.01%
2003 1.19% 1%
2002 1.22% 0.95%
2001 1.3% 0.86%
2000 1.39% 0.92%
1999 1.44% 1.1%
1998 1.54% 1.22%
1997 1.68% 1.21%
1996 1.87% 1.31%
1995 2.06% 1.22%
1994 2.15% 1.63%
1993 2.22% 2.01%
1992 2.29% 1.81%
1991 2.33% 2.31%
1990 2.36% 2.82%
1989 2.37% 2.98%
1988 2.32% 3.09%
1987 2.32% 3.17%
1986 2.37% 3.25%
1985 2.41% 3.39%
1984 2.52% 3.52%
1983 2.66% 3.56%
1982 2.78% 3.52%
1981 2.87% 3.46%
1980 2.78% 3.09%
1979 2.73% 2.74%
1978 2.93% 2.77%
1977 3.05% 2.74%
1976 3.09% 2.74%
1975 3.11% 2.81%
1974 3.13% 2.86%
1973 2.94% 2.9%
1972 2.95% 2.91%
1971 3.17% 2.97%
1970 3.18% 3.08%
1969 3.19% 3.14%
1968 3.19% 3.17%
1967 3.17% 3.17%
1966 3.14% 3.15%
1965 3.11% 3.12%
1964 3.08% 3.1%
1963 3.06% 3.08%
1962 3.04% 3.02%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua South Africa
Current population
7124343
65683993
Population rank 107/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.79%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
3.98 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
16.8 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +253 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 +146,370
Net migration rank 129/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 146,370
2024 - -8,189 - 166,972
2023 100,921 -7,996 602,793 228,222
2022 100,987 -7,996 603,636 233,284
2021 89,213 -10,383 456,411 458,246
2020 90,515 -10,383 595,873 369,901
2019 102,817 -19,730 652,130 331,124
2018 104,814 -20,742 648,319 318,260
2017 105,468 -21,849 645,975 343,146
2016 106,585 -23,076 641,365 -879,235
2015 107,344 -24,353 668,771 641,150
2014 108,420 -25,570 674,754 272,697
2013 109,032 -26,587 652,427 232,230
2012 110,065 -27,389 643,723 264,091
2011 110,026 -28,221 601,708 65,166
2010 110,475 -29,081 566,834 68,563
2009 110,213 -29,913 554,115 41,528
2008 110,395 -30,675 595,332 36,869
2007 110,341 -31,357 503,567 36,339
2006 110,073 -32,274 487,584 33,159
2005 108,984 -33,280 464,464 31,286
2004 106,904 -44,222 442,540 58,924
2003 106,142 -44,931 415,018 65,604
2002 105,805 -44,906 430,926 50,313
2001 107,109 -43,837 484,801 -60,793
2000 109,192 -42,087 526,963 -136,794
1999 110,217 -40,095 594,643 -126,011
1998 108,862 -38,260 627,027 -82,722
1997 114,415 -36,851 667,969 -98,181
1996 116,849 -35,208 710,868 -193,007
1995 118,325 -25,889 743,488 -98,403
1994 119,565 -24,773 698,609 -268,849
1993 120,469 -24,091 789,220 194,977
1992 121,204 -24,171 794,415 -71,342
1991 121,787 -24,028 827,296 -39,131
1990 120,677 -24,280 835,421 259,718
1989 120,128 -24,364 884,629 255,605
1988 117,299 -24,753 909,221 246,382
1987 112,885 -25,127 922,330 231,009
1986 113,054 -24,805 903,644 234,378
1985 110,949 -23,840 893,889 244,940
1984 110,133 -22,493 869,011 290,789
1983 110,618 -20,620 837,013 310,172
1982 112,468 -19,395 807,550 293,195
1981 110,421 -17,353 767,833 279,985
1980 108,604 -15,130 738,415 258,127
1979 96,429 -14,152 716,541 56,323
1978 98,419 -12,273 694,341 62,121
1977 100,498 -11,082 680,929 63,739
1976 98,100 -10,155 675,011 27,333
1975 95,230 -9,349 667,862 38,809
1974 92,505 -8,639 658,438 38,518
1973 89,662 -7,947 651,596 41,125
1972 76,906 -7,219 638,754 38,163
1971 84,139 -6,328 624,761 32,961
1970 81,127 -5,423 605,102 61,514
1969 78,237 -4,592 590,794 73,225
1968 75,458 -3,979 571,841 78,932
1967 72,722 -3,666 553,741 81,932
1966 69,883 -3,443 534,862 77,417
1965 67,056 -3,231 506,632 82,514
1964 64,227 -3,043 490,606 76,298
1963 61,738 -2,881 473,821 72,844
1962 59,547 -2,727 455,634 69,771
1961 57,499 -2,579 437,851 57,728
1960 55,664 -2,418 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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