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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Niger was 27,032,412 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Niger's population is 29,080,898 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.26 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 +3.5% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Niger has increased from 14.3M people to 29.1M (103.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Niger vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Niger
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Niger South Africa
2100 92,149,803 94,767,727
2099 91,788,730 94,556,931
2098 91,409,848 94,349,546
2097 91,009,119 94,158,472
2096 90,589,670 93,960,605
2095 90,150,766 93,752,736
2094 89,694,201 93,527,902
2093 89,215,318 93,300,398
2092 88,716,114 93,074,837
2091 88,197,952 92,826,204
2090 87,660,657 92,594,033
2089 87,103,777 92,355,184
2088 86,525,686 92,112,914
2087 85,929,075 91,866,024
2086 85,313,560 91,614,165
2085 84,675,788 91,385,350
2084 84,017,371 91,139,318
2083 83,337,884 90,877,425
2082 82,638,198 90,615,359
2081 81,922,470 90,345,492
2080 81,186,181 90,071,835
2079 80,435,226 89,801,998
2078 79,665,207 89,526,224
2077 78,877,754 89,249,206
2076 78,071,174 88,986,114
2075 77,248,629 88,713,215
2074 76,412,785 88,428,616
2073 75,560,272 88,149,885
2072 74,691,713 87,866,246
2071 73,808,594 87,540,177
2070 72,912,178 87,209,425
2069 71,999,238 86,901,512
2068 71,073,720 86,588,742
2067 70,133,854 86,268,392
2066 69,181,625 85,935,310
2065 68,221,595 85,604,376
2064 67,248,034 85,244,950
2063 66,264,418 84,875,503
2062 65,270,595 84,503,237
2061 64,267,053 84,132,885
2060 63,257,169 83,748,999
2059 62,239,490 83,354,923
2058 61,213,177 82,947,675
2057 60,180,993 82,538,045
2056 59,145,841 82,127,477
2055 58,103,375 81,698,196
2054 57,056,756 81,255,867
2053 56,007,297 80,818,632
2052 54,958,567 80,367,409
2051 53,907,164 79,886,672
2050 52,858,275 79,411,977
2049 51,810,418 78,925,493
2048 50,763,456 78,437,677
2047 49,719,695 77,922,211
2046 48,677,799 77,397,298
2045 47,638,048 76,879,838
2044 46,602,104 76,357,155
2043 45,572,618 75,827,709
2042 44,546,381 75,291,615
2041 43,525,533 74,748,408
2040 42,508,212 74,205,530
2039 41,495,840 73,663,047
2038 40,485,407 73,105,930
2037 39,476,789 72,532,742
2036 38,472,178 71,956,247
2035 37,470,776 71,362,555
2034 36,477,557 70,762,815
2033 35,487,806 70,153,205
2032 34,508,717 69,527,410
2031 33,538,029 68,890,002
2030 32,574,145 68,245,372
2029 31,620,865 67,573,179
2028 30,680,257 66,884,377
2027 29,750,695 66,190,258
2026 28,832,547 65,496,277
2025 27,926,917 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 8,395,145 people (a 40.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 81.8% to 52,858,275 people with a rank change from 53rd to 38th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 3.31% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Niger grew by 3.34%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Niger South Africa
Current population
29080898
65683993
Population rank 53/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.35% 0.79%
One net population change
36.1 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
28.8 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.27 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,391 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +872,545 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +3.34% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 85/197
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 - -4,041 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 100% of the population change in Niger is from natural causes (a gain of 7,728,287 people) and 0.03% is from migration (a gain of 2,520 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, 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
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/niger/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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