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Population in North Macedonia compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,820,909 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,811,466 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 36.3 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.17% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

North Macedonia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia South Africa
2100 869,530 94,734,082
2099 880,467 94,523,360
2098 891,427 94,316,049
2097 902,461 94,125,043
2096 913,488 93,927,246
2095 924,371 93,719,451
2094 935,479 93,494,697
2093 946,865 93,267,274
2092 958,251 93,041,793
2091 969,723 92,793,249
2090 981,115 92,561,159
2089 992,687 92,322,396
2088 1,004,280 92,080,212
2087 1,015,922 91,833,409
2086 1,027,915 91,581,639
2085 1,039,832 91,352,906
2084 1,052,077 91,106,961
2083 1,064,269 90,845,161
2082 1,076,684 90,583,188
2081 1,089,137 90,313,417
2080 1,101,478 90,039,857
2079 1,114,004 89,770,116
2078 1,126,827 89,494,440
2077 1,139,917 89,217,520
2076 1,153,296 88,954,522
2075 1,166,630 88,681,719
2074 1,180,262 88,397,221
2073 1,193,984 88,118,589
2072 1,207,689 87,835,051
2071 1,221,407 87,509,098
2070 1,235,738 87,178,463
2069 1,250,212 86,870,660
2068 1,264,718 86,558,000
2067 1,279,182 86,237,764
2066 1,293,374 85,904,801
2065 1,307,896 85,573,984
2064 1,322,184 85,214,686
2063 1,336,875 84,845,370
2062 1,351,652 84,473,236
2061 1,366,457 84,103,016
2060 1,381,009 83,719,266
2059 1,395,166 83,325,330
2058 1,409,270 82,918,226
2057 1,423,516 82,508,742
2056 1,437,970 82,098,320
2055 1,452,276 81,669,191
2054 1,466,673 81,227,019
2053 1,480,857 80,789,939
2052 1,494,452 80,338,877
2051 1,508,115 79,858,310
2050 1,521,258 79,383,784
2049 1,534,276 78,897,472
2048 1,547,097 78,409,829
2047 1,559,831 77,894,547
2046 1,572,937 77,369,819
2045 1,585,940 76,852,544
2044 1,598,742 76,330,046
2043 1,611,835 75,800,788
2042 1,624,885 75,264,885
2041 1,637,687 74,721,871
2040 1,650,468 74,179,185
2039 1,663,094 73,636,894
2038 1,675,445 73,079,976
2037 1,687,986 72,506,991
2036 1,700,377 71,930,701
2035 1,712,512 71,337,219
2034 1,724,440 70,737,692
2033 1,736,005 70,128,299
2032 1,747,606 69,502,726
2031 1,759,081 68,865,544
2030 1,770,549 68,221,143
2029 1,781,235 67,549,189
2028 1,791,502 66,860,631
2027 1,801,426 66,166,759
2026 1,811,466 65,473,024
2025 1,820,909 64,747,319
2024 1,824,359 64,007,187
2023 1,827,816 63,212,384
2022 1,831,712 62,378,410
2021 1,837,114 61,502,603
2020 1,856,124 60,562,381
2019 1,876,262 59,587,885
2018 1,889,051 58,613,001
2017 1,898,657 57,635,162
2016 1,906,313 57,259,551
2015 1,912,430 56,723,537
2014 1,917,557 55,594,838
2013 1,922,716 54,678,791
2012 1,929,821 53,782,567
2011 1,937,398 52,995,205
2010 1,946,298 52,344,051
2009 1,958,782 51,728,516
2008 1,971,493 51,114,599
2007 1,982,933 50,528,584
2006 1,994,287 49,998,277
2005 2,005,330 49,490,033
2004 2,016,186 48,991,421
2003 2,022,725 48,500,348
2002 2,020,157 48,019,415
2001 2,034,882 47,566,800
2000 2,026,350 47,159,719
1999 2,017,142 46,730,335
1998 2,007,523 46,223,880
1997 1,996,869 45,666,838
1996 2,012,553 45,123,018
1995 1,998,534 44,541,554
1994 1,992,666 44,004,139
1993 2,006,854 43,297,156
1992 2,032,523 42,443,509
1991 2,055,994 41,687,898
1990 2,063,689 40,746,268
1989 2,055,649 39,628,575
1988 2,045,737 38,480,649
1987 2,035,157 37,326,190
1986 2,024,732 36,180,515
1985 2,014,331 35,042,093
1984 2,003,399 33,892,788
1983 1,991,901 32,739,304
1982 1,978,956 31,615,339
1981 1,959,065 30,541,044
1980 1,933,038 29,518,857
1979 1,906,523 28,634,162
1978 1,879,847 27,869,507
1977 1,853,138 27,118,952
1976 1,825,830 26,395,450
1975 1,797,972 25,690,940
1974 1,770,545 24,989,108
1973 1,743,816 24,294,263
1972 1,717,395 23,609,456
1971 1,691,216 22,942,143
1970 1,664,208 22,279,984
1969 1,636,345 21,614,676
1968 1,608,930 20,957,287
1967 1,582,492 20,314,066
1966 1,557,349 19,690,087
1965 1,533,466 19,089,380
1964 1,510,900 18,511,361
1963 1,488,737 17,954,564
1962 1,471,745 17,418,522
1961 1,455,171 16,908,035
1960 1,435,059 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/north-macedonia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 94,847 people (a 4.98% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th 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) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,521,258 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 870K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia South Africa
2100 -1.24% 0.22%
2099 -1.23% 0.22%
2098 -1.22% 0.2%
2097 -1.21% 0.21%
2096 -1.18% 0.22%
2095 -1.19% 0.24%
2094 -1.2% 0.24%
2093 -1.19% 0.24%
2092 -1.18% 0.27%
2091 -1.16% 0.25%
2090 -1.17% 0.26%
2089 -1.15% 0.26%
2088 -1.15% 0.27%
2087 -1.17% 0.27%
2086 -1.15% 0.25%
2085 -1.16% 0.27%
2084 -1.15% 0.29%
2083 -1.15% 0.29%
2082 -1.14% 0.3%
2081 -1.12% 0.3%
2080 -1.12% 0.3%
2079 -1.14% 0.31%
2078 -1.15% 0.31%
2077 -1.16% 0.3%
2076 -1.14% 0.31%
2075 -1.15% 0.32%
2074 -1.15% 0.32%
2073 -1.13% 0.32%
2072 -1.12% 0.37%
2071 -1.16% 0.38%
2070 -1.16% 0.35%
2069 -1.15% 0.36%
2068 -1.13% 0.37%
2067 -1.1% 0.39%
2066 -1.11% 0.39%
2065 -1.08% 0.42%
2064 -1.1% 0.44%
2063 -1.09% 0.44%
2062 -1.08% 0.44%
2061 -1.05% 0.46%
2060 -1.01% 0.47%
2059 -1% 0.49%
2058 -1% 0.5%
2057 -1.01% 0.5%
2056 -0.99% 0.53%
2055 -0.98% 0.54%
2054 -0.96% 0.54%
2053 -0.91% 0.56%
2052 -0.91% 0.6%
2051 -0.86% 0.6%
2050 -0.85% 0.62%
2049 -0.83% 0.62%
2048 -0.82% 0.66%
2047 -0.83% 0.68%
2046 -0.82% 0.67%
2045 -0.8% 0.68%
2044 -0.81% 0.7%
2043 -0.8% 0.71%
2042 -0.78% 0.73%
2041 -0.77% 0.73%
2040 -0.76% 0.74%
2039 -0.74% 0.76%
2038 -0.74% 0.79%
2037 -0.73% 0.8%
2036 -0.71% 0.83%
2035 -0.69% 0.85%
2034 -0.67% 0.87%
2033 -0.66% 0.9%
2032 -0.65% 0.93%
2031 -0.65% 0.94%
2030 -0.6% 0.99%
2029 -0.57% 1.03%
2028 -0.55% 1.05%
2027 -0.55% 1.06%
2026 -0.52% 1.12%
2025 -0.19% 1.16%
2024 -0.19% 1.26%
2023 -0.21% 1.34%
2022 -0.29% 1.42%
2021 -1.02% 1.55%
2020 -1.07% 1.64%
2019 -0.68% 1.66%
2018 -0.51% 1.7%
2017 -0.4% 0.66%
2016 -0.32% 0.94%
2015 -0.27% 2.03%
2014 -0.27% 1.68%
2013 -0.37% 1.67%
2012 -0.39% 1.49%
2011 -0.46% 1.24%
2010 -0.64% 1.19%
2009 -0.64% 1.2%
2008 -0.58% 1.16%
2007 -0.57% 1.06%
2006 -0.55% 1.03%
2005 -0.54% 1.02%
2004 -0.32% 1.01%
2003 0.13% 1%
2002 -0.72% 0.95%
2001 0.42% 0.86%
2000 0.46% 0.92%
1999 0.48% 1.1%
1998 0.53% 1.22%
1997 -0.78% 1.21%
1996 0.7% 1.31%
1995 0.29% 1.22%
1994 -0.71% 1.63%
1993 -1.26% 2.01%
1992 -1.14% 1.81%
1991 -0.37% 2.31%
1990 0.39% 2.82%
1989 0.48% 2.98%
1988 0.52% 3.09%
1987 0.51% 3.17%
1986 0.52% 3.25%
1985 0.55% 3.39%
1984 0.58% 3.52%
1983 0.65% 3.56%
1982 1.02% 3.52%
1981 1.35% 3.46%
1980 1.39% 3.09%
1979 1.42% 2.74%
1978 1.44% 2.77%
1977 1.5% 2.74%
1976 1.55% 2.74%
1975 1.55% 2.81%
1974 1.53% 2.86%
1973 1.54% 2.9%
1972 1.55% 2.91%
1971 1.62% 2.97%
1970 1.7% 3.08%
1969 1.7% 3.14%
1968 1.67% 3.17%
1967 1.61% 3.17%
1966 1.56% 3.15%
1965 1.49% 3.12%
1964 1.49% 3.1%
1963 1.15% 3.08%
1962 1.14% 3.02%
1961 1.4% 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/north-macedonia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia South Africa
Current population
1811466
65829368
Population rank 150/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.79%
One net population change
2.55 hours
42.7 seconds
One birth every
32.7 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
26 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -9 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -3,450 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,645 +146,370
Net migration rank 119/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - 146,370
2024 -4,196 -5,728 591,618 166,972
2023 -3,290 -5,597 602,793 228,222
2022 -4,397 -5,296 603,636 233,284
2021 -9,737 -5,483 456,411 458,246
2020 -5,939 -23,458 595,873 369,901
2019 -375 -24,204 652,130 331,124
2018 1,512 -24,878 648,319 318,260
2017 1,329 -24,227 645,975 343,146
2016 2,374 -24,144 641,365 -879,235
2015 2,294 -23,010 668,771 641,150
2014 3,644 -22,132 674,754 272,697
2013 3,653 -20,297 652,427 232,230
2012 3,087 -19,083 643,723 264,091
2011 3,100 -17,871 601,708 65,166
2010 4,866 -16,668 566,834 68,563
2009 4,309 -15,455 554,115 41,528
2008 3,746 -17,645 595,332 36,869
2007 2,974 -15,705 503,567 36,339
2006 3,988 -9,632 487,584 33,159
2005 4,011 -2,244 464,464 31,286
2004 5,444 -2,640 442,540 58,924
2003 8,900 -2,880 415,018 65,604
2002 9,697 -2,858 430,926 50,313
2001 10,174 -922 484,801 -60,793
2000 12,159 -2,824 526,963 -136,794
1999 10,489 -1,261 594,643 -126,011
1998 12,446 -589 627,027 -82,722
1997 12,979 -477 667,969 -98,181
1996 14,806 -397 710,868 -193,007
1995 17,239 -3,603 743,488 -98,403
1994 19,103 -21,006 698,609 -268,849
1993 20,797 -47,273 789,220 194,977
1992 21,659 -46,509 794,415 -71,342
1991 23,387 -45,484 827,296 -39,131
1990 22,868 -16,174 835,421 259,718
1989 22,912 -13,528 884,629 255,605
1988 24,064 -13,621 909,221 246,382
1987 24,359 -13,635 922,330 231,009
1986 23,720 -13,589 903,644 234,378
1985 24,167 -13,492 893,889 244,940
1984 24,436 -13,251 869,011 290,789
1983 24,690 -12,884 837,013 310,172
1982 25,810 -11,716 807,550 293,195
1981 25,689 0 767,833 279,985
1980 26,547 -189 738,415 258,127
1979 27,096 -426 716,541 56,323
1978 27,150 -462 694,341 62,121
1977 27,410 -683 680,929 63,739
1976 28,799 -911 675,011 27,333
1975 28,983 -1,147 667,862 38,809
1974 28,400 -1,376 658,438 38,518
1973 28,032 -1,600 651,596 41,125
1972 28,236 -1,834 638,754 38,163
1971 28,010 -2,064 624,761 32,961
1970 28,022 60 605,102 61,514
1969 27,464 181 590,794 73,225
1968 28,378 -1,201 571,841 78,932
1967 28,401 -2,696 553,741 81,932
1966 28,766 -4,176 534,862 77,417
1965 28,564 -5,385 506,632 82,514
1964 27,889 -5,938 490,606 76,298
1963 28,124 -5,759 473,821 72,844
1962 25,317 -13,702 455,634 69,771
1961 27,846 -6,309 437,851 57,728
1960 28,816 -10,126 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 11% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 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, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
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/north-macedonia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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