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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Niger was 27,917,831 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Niger's population is 29,294,628 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.25 times bigger than Niger's.
  • Niger is ranked the 53rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.14% of the world: 0.35% for Niger vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Niger has had an average growth rate of +3.45% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Niger has increased from 14.3M people to 29.3M (105.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Niger vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Niger
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Niger South Africa
2100 92,119,820 94,734,082
2099 91,758,864 94,523,360
2098 91,380,105 94,316,049
2097 90,979,507 94,125,043
2096 90,560,194 93,927,246
2095 90,121,433 93,719,451
2094 89,665,016 93,494,697
2093 89,186,290 93,267,274
2092 88,687,247 93,041,793
2091 88,169,255 92,793,249
2090 87,632,134 92,561,159
2089 87,075,435 92,322,396
2088 86,497,532 92,080,212
2087 85,901,116 91,833,409
2086 85,285,801 91,581,639
2085 84,648,237 91,352,906
2084 83,990,034 91,106,961
2083 83,310,768 90,845,161
2082 82,611,309 90,583,188
2081 81,895,814 90,313,417
2080 81,159,765 90,039,857
2079 80,409,054 89,770,116
2078 79,639,286 89,494,440
2077 78,852,089 89,217,520
2076 78,045,772 88,954,522
2075 77,223,494 88,681,719
2074 76,387,922 88,397,221
2073 75,535,687 88,118,589
2072 74,667,410 87,835,051
2071 73,784,579 87,509,098
2070 72,888,455 87,178,463
2069 71,975,811 86,870,660
2068 71,050,594 86,558,000
2067 70,111,034 86,237,764
2066 69,159,115 85,904,801
2065 68,199,397 85,573,984
2064 67,226,153 85,214,686
2063 66,242,857 84,845,370
2062 65,249,357 84,473,236
2061 64,246,142 84,103,016
2060 63,236,587 83,719,266
2059 62,219,239 83,325,330
2058 61,193,260 82,918,226
2057 60,161,411 82,508,742
2056 59,126,596 82,098,320
2055 58,084,470 81,669,191
2054 57,038,192 81,227,019
2053 55,989,073 80,789,939
2052 54,940,685 80,338,877
2051 53,889,624 79,858,310
2050 52,841,076 79,383,784
2049 51,793,560 78,897,472
2048 50,746,939 78,409,829
2047 49,703,518 77,894,547
2046 48,661,960 77,369,819
2045 47,622,548 76,852,544
2044 46,586,941 76,330,046
2043 45,557,790 75,800,788
2042 44,531,886 75,264,885
2041 43,511,370 74,721,871
2040 42,494,381 74,179,185
2039 41,482,338 73,636,894
2038 40,472,234 73,079,976
2037 39,463,944 72,506,991
2036 38,459,660 71,930,701
2035 37,458,584 71,337,219
2034 36,465,688 70,737,692
2033 35,476,260 70,128,299
2032 34,497,489 69,502,726
2031 33,527,117 68,865,544
2030 32,563,547 68,221,143
2029 31,610,576 67,549,189
2028 30,670,274 66,860,631
2027 29,741,014 66,166,759
2026 28,823,166 65,473,024
2025 27,917,831 64,747,319
2024 27,032,412 64,007,187
2023 26,159,867 63,212,384
2022 25,311,973 62,378,410
2021 24,502,140 61,502,603
2020 23,717,613 60,562,381
2019 22,947,757 59,587,885
2018 22,188,069 58,613,001
2017 21,435,446 57,635,162
2016 20,685,753 57,259,551
2015 19,939,498 56,723,537
2014 19,215,909 55,594,838
2013 18,519,898 54,678,791
2012 17,836,769 53,782,567
2011 17,176,283 52,995,205
2010 16,548,835 52,344,051
2009 15,943,675 51,728,516
2008 15,361,915 51,114,599
2007 14,803,610 50,528,584
2006 14,268,581 49,998,277
2005 13,756,192 49,490,033
2004 13,265,836 48,991,421
2003 12,796,984 48,500,348
2002 12,349,144 48,019,415
2001 11,920,647 47,566,800
2000 11,509,630 47,159,719
1999 11,117,411 46,730,335
1998 10,741,413 46,223,880
1997 10,383,969 45,666,838
1996 10,044,852 45,123,018
1995 9,714,529 44,541,554
1994 9,398,258 44,004,139
1993 9,100,789 43,297,156
1992 8,817,633 42,443,509
1991 8,546,900 41,687,898
1990 8,286,059 40,746,268
1989 8,034,780 39,628,575
1988 7,793,748 38,480,649
1987 7,561,150 37,326,190
1986 7,335,811 36,180,515
1985 7,118,457 35,042,093
1984 6,909,971 33,892,788
1983 6,708,644 32,739,304
1982 6,512,732 31,615,339
1981 6,322,006 30,541,044
1980 6,135,971 29,518,857
1979 5,955,556 28,634,162
1978 5,782,932 27,869,507
1977 5,619,716 27,118,952
1976 5,464,962 26,395,450
1975 5,317,019 25,690,940
1974 5,174,953 24,989,108
1973 5,037,865 24,294,263
1972 4,904,845 23,609,456
1971 4,776,225 22,942,143
1970 4,650,275 22,279,984
1969 4,525,725 21,614,676
1968 4,403,637 20,957,287
1967 4,283,590 20,314,066
1966 4,165,544 19,690,087
1965 4,049,695 19,089,380
1964 3,935,814 18,511,361
1963 3,823,873 17,954,564
1962 3,714,520 17,418,522
1961 3,608,162 16,908,035
1960 3,505,050 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/niger/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Niger increased by 6,417,172 people (a 45% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Niger gained 8,608,875 people (a 41.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Niger was ranked 64th most populous country in 2006 and is 53rd 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) Niger's population will grow by 80.4% to 52,841,076 people with a rank change from 53rd to 38th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Niger is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 92.1M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Niger
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Niger South Africa
2100 0.39% 0.22%
2099 0.41% 0.22%
2098 0.44% 0.2%
2097 0.46% 0.21%
2096 0.49% 0.22%
2095 0.51% 0.24%
2094 0.54% 0.24%
2093 0.56% 0.24%
2092 0.59% 0.27%
2091 0.61% 0.25%
2090 0.64% 0.26%
2089 0.67% 0.26%
2088 0.69% 0.27%
2087 0.72% 0.27%
2086 0.75% 0.25%
2085 0.78% 0.27%
2084 0.82% 0.29%
2083 0.85% 0.29%
2082 0.87% 0.3%
2081 0.91% 0.3%
2080 0.93% 0.3%
2079 0.97% 0.31%
2078 1% 0.31%
2077 1.03% 0.3%
2076 1.06% 0.31%
2075 1.09% 0.32%
2074 1.13% 0.32%
2073 1.16% 0.32%
2072 1.2% 0.37%
2071 1.23% 0.38%
2070 1.27% 0.35%
2069 1.3% 0.36%
2068 1.34% 0.37%
2067 1.38% 0.39%
2066 1.41% 0.39%
2065 1.45% 0.42%
2064 1.48% 0.44%
2063 1.52% 0.44%
2062 1.56% 0.44%
2061 1.6% 0.46%
2060 1.64% 0.47%
2059 1.68% 0.49%
2058 1.72% 0.5%
2057 1.75% 0.5%
2056 1.79% 0.53%
2055 1.83% 0.54%
2054 1.87% 0.54%
2053 1.91% 0.56%
2052 1.95% 0.6%
2051 1.98% 0.6%
2050 2.02% 0.62%
2049 2.06% 0.62%
2048 2.1% 0.66%
2047 2.14% 0.68%
2046 2.18% 0.67%
2045 2.22% 0.68%
2044 2.26% 0.7%
2043 2.3% 0.71%
2042 2.35% 0.73%
2041 2.39% 0.73%
2040 2.44% 0.74%
2039 2.5% 0.76%
2038 2.55% 0.79%
2037 2.61% 0.8%
2036 2.67% 0.83%
2035 2.72% 0.85%
2034 2.79% 0.87%
2033 2.84% 0.9%
2032 2.89% 0.93%
2031 2.96% 0.94%
2030 3.01% 0.99%
2029 3.07% 1.03%
2028 3.12% 1.05%
2027 3.18% 1.06%
2026 3.24% 1.12%
2025 3.28% 1.16%
2024 3.34% 1.26%
2023 3.35% 1.34%
2022 3.31% 1.42%
2021 3.31% 1.55%
2020 3.35% 1.64%
2019 3.42% 1.66%
2018 3.51% 1.7%
2017 3.62% 0.66%
2016 3.74% 0.94%
2015 3.77% 2.03%
2014 3.76% 1.68%
2013 3.83% 1.67%
2012 3.85% 1.49%
2011 3.79% 1.24%
2010 3.8% 1.19%
2009 3.79% 1.2%
2008 3.77% 1.16%
2007 3.75% 1.06%
2006 3.72% 1.03%
2005 3.7% 1.02%
2004 3.66% 1.01%
2003 3.63% 1%
2002 3.59% 0.95%
2001 3.57% 0.86%
2000 3.53% 0.92%
1999 3.5% 1.1%
1998 3.44% 1.22%
1997 3.38% 1.21%
1996 3.4% 1.31%
1995 3.37% 1.22%
1994 3.27% 1.63%
1993 3.21% 2.01%
1992 3.17% 1.81%
1991 3.15% 2.31%
1990 3.13% 2.82%
1989 3.09% 2.98%
1988 3.08% 3.09%
1987 3.07% 3.17%
1986 3.05% 3.25%
1985 3.02% 3.39%
1984 3% 3.52%
1983 3.01% 3.56%
1982 3.02% 3.52%
1981 3.03% 3.46%
1980 3.03% 3.09%
1979 2.99% 2.74%
1978 2.9% 2.77%
1977 2.83% 2.74%
1976 2.78% 2.74%
1975 2.75% 2.81%
1974 2.72% 2.86%
1973 2.71% 2.9%
1972 2.69% 2.91%
1971 2.71% 2.97%
1970 2.75% 3.08%
1969 2.77% 3.14%
1968 2.8% 3.17%
1967 2.83% 3.17%
1966 2.86% 3.15%
1965 2.89% 3.12%
1964 2.93% 3.1%
1963 2.94% 3.08%
1962 2.95% 3.02%
1961 2.94% 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/niger/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Niger grew by 3.28%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Niger South Africa
Current population
29294628
65829368
Population rank 53/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.35% 0.79%
One net population change
35.7 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
28.2 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.23 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,426 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +885,419 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +3.28% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.14 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -7,704 +146,370
Net migration rank 126/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 449,236 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 85/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 140/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Niger
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Niger South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,704 - 146,370
2024 883,987 -4,041 591,618 166,972
2023 864,139 995 602,793 228,222
2022 829,651 995 603,636 233,284
2021 793,428 -4,405 456,411 458,246
2020 784,437 -4,402 595,873 369,901
2019 775,474 -15,778 652,130 331,124
2018 763,536 -3,830 648,319 318,260
2017 752,384 -6,830 645,975 343,146
2016 738,999 14,833 641,365 -879,235
2015 721,630 17,051 668,771 641,150
2014 704,609 3,891 674,754 272,697
2013 686,070 -2,543 652,427 232,230
2012 664,009 18,714 643,723 264,091
2011 645,175 -6,941 601,708 65,166
2010 624,685 -8,033 566,834 68,563
2009 602,671 -9,014 554,115 41,528
2008 579,727 -9,847 595,332 36,869
2007 556,808 -10,069 503,567 36,339
2006 533,374 -10,054 487,584 33,159
2005 511,167 -9,700 464,464 31,286
2004 488,328 -9,070 442,540 58,924
2003 467,295 -8,841 415,018 65,604
2002 446,767 -9,550 430,926 50,313
2001 428,417 -8,654 484,801 -60,793
2000 410,779 -8,522 526,963 -136,794
1999 394,212 -12,037 594,643 -126,011
1998 377,120 -7,298 627,027 -82,722
1997 358,745 -13,680 667,969 -98,181
1996 341,223 -8,057 710,868 -193,007
1995 323,630 3,843 743,488 -98,403
1994 306,026 -959 698,609 -268,849
1993 292,135 -2,269 789,220 194,977
1992 278,690 -2,258 794,415 -71,342
1991 266,527 -1,500 827,296 -39,131
1990 256,594 73 835,421 259,718
1989 245,278 613 884,629 255,605
1988 237,296 -1,139 909,221 246,382
1987 231,371 -2,338 922,330 231,009
1986 224,365 -2,728 903,644 234,378
1985 219,206 -6,126 893,889 244,940
1984 213,111 -9,208 869,011 290,789
1983 207,962 -9,209 837,013 310,172
1982 202,012 -8,935 807,550 293,195
1981 195,938 -7,559 767,833 279,985
1980 189,251 -5,564 738,415 258,127
1979 180,632 -3,495 716,541 56,323
1978 171,614 -3,494 694,341 62,121
1977 161,792 -3,476 680,929 63,739
1976 154,489 -3,308 675,011 27,333
1975 147,962 -3,254 667,862 38,809
1974 142,606 -3,179 658,438 38,518
1973 137,695 -2,942 651,596 41,125
1972 133,813 -2,525 638,754 38,163
1971 128,223 -2,277 624,761 32,961
1970 128,184 -2,225 605,102 61,514
1969 125,389 -2,245 590,794 73,225
1968 123,301 -2,277 571,841 78,932
1967 121,358 -2,289 553,741 81,932
1966 119,314 -2,289 534,862 77,417
1965 116,963 -2,289 506,632 82,514
1964 115,386 -2,289 490,606 76,298
1963 113,072 -2,289 473,821 72,844
1962 110,280 -2,369 455,634 69,771
1961 107,693 -2,893 437,851 57,728
1960 105,081 -3,641 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.9% of the population change in Niger is from natural causes (a gain of 7,907,665 people) and 0.07% is from migration (a loss of 5,412 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, 449,236 residents or 1.7% of the population were not native-born in Niger, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Niger
City Population
Niamey 1.5M
Maradi 267K
Zinder 236K
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/niger/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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