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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Norway was 5,572,279 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Norway's population is 5,671,119 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.6 times bigger than Norway's.
  • Norway is ranked the 119th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for Norway vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Norway has had an average growth rate of +0.85% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Norway has increased from 4.66M people to 5.67M (21.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Norway vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Norway
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Norway South Africa
2100 5,441,855 94,767,727
2099 5,454,583 94,556,931
2098 5,466,669 94,349,546
2097 5,478,174 94,158,472
2096 5,490,010 93,960,605
2095 5,502,418 93,752,736
2094 5,514,598 93,527,902
2093 5,527,174 93,300,398
2092 5,539,172 93,074,837
2091 5,551,172 92,826,204
2090 5,564,044 92,594,033
2089 5,576,715 92,355,184
2088 5,590,047 92,112,914
2087 5,604,159 91,866,024
2086 5,617,935 91,614,165
2085 5,631,413 91,385,350
2084 5,645,116 91,139,318
2083 5,658,044 90,877,425
2082 5,670,485 90,615,359
2081 5,682,427 90,345,492
2080 5,694,199 90,071,835
2079 5,705,317 89,801,998
2078 5,715,984 89,526,224
2077 5,726,145 89,249,206
2076 5,735,898 88,986,114
2075 5,745,619 88,713,215
2074 5,755,683 88,428,616
2073 5,765,642 88,149,885
2072 5,775,295 87,866,246
2071 5,784,119 87,540,177
2070 5,793,594 87,209,425
2069 5,802,341 86,901,512
2068 5,811,630 86,588,742
2067 5,821,550 86,268,392
2066 5,831,535 85,935,310
2065 5,841,333 85,604,376
2064 5,851,085 85,244,950
2063 5,860,548 84,875,503
2062 5,869,700 84,503,237
2061 5,877,754 84,132,885
2060 5,885,488 83,748,999
2059 5,892,036 83,354,923
2058 5,897,922 82,947,675
2057 5,904,330 82,538,045
2056 5,910,291 82,127,477
2055 5,915,286 81,698,196
2054 5,919,312 81,255,867
2053 5,922,325 80,818,632
2052 5,923,483 80,367,409
2051 5,923,938 79,886,672
2050 5,923,557 79,411,977
2049 5,922,138 78,925,493
2048 5,919,215 78,437,677
2047 5,916,146 77,922,211
2046 5,912,426 77,397,298
2045 5,907,334 76,879,838
2044 5,902,175 76,357,155
2043 5,896,614 75,827,709
2042 5,889,741 75,291,615
2041 5,881,692 74,748,408
2040 5,873,512 74,205,530
2039 5,864,063 73,663,047
2038 5,853,639 73,105,930
2037 5,842,734 72,532,742
2036 5,830,991 71,956,247
2035 5,818,882 71,362,555
2034 5,805,966 70,762,815
2033 5,792,030 70,153,205
2032 5,777,062 69,527,410
2031 5,760,828 68,890,002
2030 5,743,814 68,245,372
2029 5,725,891 67,573,179
2028 5,706,765 66,884,377
2027 5,686,336 66,190,258
2026 5,665,477 65,496,277
2025 5,626,258 64,770,314
2024 5,572,279 64,007,187
2023 5,519,601 63,212,384
2022 5,457,127 62,378,410
2021 5,408,320 61,502,603
2020 5,379,475 60,562,381
2019 5,347,896 59,587,885
2018 5,311,916 58,613,001
2017 5,276,968 57,635,162
2016 5,234,519 57,259,551
2015 5,188,607 56,723,537
2014 5,137,232 55,594,838
2013 5,079,623 54,678,791
2012 5,018,573 53,782,567
2011 4,953,088 52,995,205
2010 4,889,252 52,344,051
2009 4,828,726 51,728,516
2008 4,768,212 51,114,599
2007 4,709,153 50,528,584
2006 4,660,677 49,998,277
2005 4,623,291 49,490,033
2004 4,591,910 48,991,421
2003 4,564,855 48,500,348
2002 4,538,159 48,019,415
2001 4,513,751 47,566,800
2000 4,490,967 47,159,719
1999 4,461,913 46,730,335
1998 4,431,464 46,223,880
1997 4,405,157 45,666,838
1996 4,381,336 45,123,018
1995 4,359,184 44,541,554
1994 4,336,613 44,004,139
1993 4,311,991 43,297,156
1992 4,286,401 42,443,509
1991 4,261,732 41,687,898
1990 4,241,473 40,746,268
1989 4,226,901 39,628,575
1988 4,209,488 38,480,649
1987 4,186,905 37,326,190
1986 4,167,354 36,180,515
1985 4,152,516 35,042,093
1984 4,140,099 33,892,788
1983 4,128,432 32,739,304
1982 4,114,787 31,615,339
1981 4,099,702 30,541,044
1980 4,085,620 29,518,857
1979 4,072,517 28,634,162
1978 4,058,671 27,869,507
1977 4,043,205 27,118,952
1976 4,026,152 26,395,450
1975 4,007,313 25,690,940
1974 3,985,258 24,989,108
1973 3,960,612 24,294,263
1972 3,933,004 23,609,456
1971 3,903,039 22,942,143
1970 3,875,763 22,279,984
1969 3,847,707 21,614,676
1968 3,816,486 20,957,287
1967 3,784,539 20,314,066
1966 3,753,012 19,690,087
1965 3,723,168 19,089,380
1964 3,694,339 18,511,361
1963 3,666,537 17,954,564
1962 3,638,918 17,418,522
1961 3,609,800 16,908,035
1960 3,581,239 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/norway/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Norway increased by 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Norway gained 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Norway was ranked 116th most populous country in 2006 and is 119th 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) Norway's population will grow by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people with a rank change from 119th to 121st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.92M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Norway
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Norway South Africa
2100 -0.23% 0.22%
2099 -0.22% 0.22%
2098 -0.21% 0.2%
2097 -0.22% 0.21%
2096 -0.23% 0.22%
2095 -0.22% 0.24%
2094 -0.23% 0.24%
2093 -0.22% 0.24%
2092 -0.22% 0.27%
2091 -0.23% 0.25%
2090 -0.23% 0.26%
2089 -0.24% 0.26%
2088 -0.25% 0.27%
2087 -0.25% 0.27%
2086 -0.24% 0.25%
2085 -0.24% 0.27%
2084 -0.23% 0.29%
2083 -0.22% 0.29%
2082 -0.21% 0.3%
2081 -0.21% 0.3%
2080 -0.19% 0.3%
2079 -0.19% 0.31%
2078 -0.18% 0.31%
2077 -0.17% 0.3%
2076 -0.17% 0.31%
2075 -0.17% 0.32%
2074 -0.17% 0.32%
2073 -0.17% 0.32%
2072 -0.15% 0.37%
2071 -0.16% 0.38%
2070 -0.15% 0.35%
2069 -0.16% 0.36%
2068 -0.17% 0.37%
2067 -0.17% 0.39%
2066 -0.17% 0.39%
2065 -0.17% 0.42%
2064 -0.16% 0.44%
2063 -0.16% 0.44%
2062 -0.14% 0.44%
2061 -0.13% 0.46%
2060 -0.11% 0.47%
2059 -0.1% 0.49%
2058 -0.11% 0.5%
2057 -0.1% 0.5%
2056 -0.08% 0.53%
2055 -0.07% 0.54%
2054 -0.05% 0.54%
2053 -0.02% 0.56%
2052 -0.008% 0.6%
2051 0.006% 0.6%
2050 0.02% 0.62%
2049 0.05% 0.62%
2048 0.05% 0.66%
2047 0.06% 0.68%
2046 0.09% 0.67%
2045 0.09% 0.68%
2044 0.09% 0.7%
2043 0.12% 0.71%
2042 0.14% 0.73%
2041 0.14% 0.73%
2040 0.16% 0.74%
2039 0.18% 0.76%
2038 0.19% 0.79%
2037 0.2% 0.8%
2036 0.21% 0.83%
2035 0.22% 0.85%
2034 0.24% 0.87%
2033 0.26% 0.9%
2032 0.28% 0.93%
2031 0.3% 0.94%
2030 0.31% 0.99%
2029 0.34% 1.03%
2028 0.36% 1.05%
2027 0.37% 1.06%
2026 0.7% 1.12%
2025 0.97% 1.19%
2024 0.95% 1.26%
2023 1.14% 1.34%
2022 0.9% 1.42%
2021 0.54% 1.55%
2020 0.59% 1.64%
2019 0.68% 1.66%
2018 0.66% 1.7%
2017 0.81% 0.66%
2016 0.88% 0.94%
2015 1% 2.03%
2014 1.13% 1.68%
2013 1.22% 1.67%
2012 1.32% 1.49%
2011 1.31% 1.24%
2010 1.25% 1.19%
2009 1.27% 1.2%
2008 1.25% 1.16%
2007 1.04% 1.06%
2006 0.81% 1.03%
2005 0.68% 1.02%
2004 0.59% 1.01%
2003 0.59% 1%
2002 0.54% 0.95%
2001 0.51% 0.86%
2000 0.65% 0.92%
1999 0.69% 1.1%
1998 0.6% 1.22%
1997 0.54% 1.21%
1996 0.51% 1.31%
1995 0.52% 1.22%
1994 0.57% 1.63%
1993 0.6% 2.01%
1992 0.58% 1.81%
1991 0.48% 2.31%
1990 0.34% 2.82%
1989 0.41% 2.98%
1988 0.54% 3.09%
1987 0.47% 3.17%
1986 0.36% 3.25%
1985 0.3% 3.39%
1984 0.28% 3.52%
1983 0.33% 3.56%
1982 0.37% 3.52%
1981 0.34% 3.46%
1980 0.32% 3.09%
1979 0.34% 2.74%
1978 0.38% 2.77%
1977 0.42% 2.74%
1976 0.47% 2.74%
1975 0.55% 2.81%
1974 0.62% 2.86%
1973 0.7% 2.9%
1972 0.77% 2.91%
1971 0.7% 2.97%
1970 0.73% 3.08%
1969 0.82% 3.14%
1968 0.84% 3.17%
1967 0.84% 3.17%
1966 0.8% 3.15%
1965 0.78% 3.12%
1964 0.76% 3.1%
1963 0.76% 3.08%
1962 0.81% 3.02%
1961 0.8% 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/norway/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Norway grew by 0.95%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Norway South Africa
Current population
5671119
65683993
Population rank 119/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
9.98 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
12.1 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +144 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +52,678 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.95% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 105/197 85/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +29,798 +146,370
Net migration rank 29/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,012,404 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 60/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 18.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 33/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Norway
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Norway South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 29,798 - 146,370
2024 - 44,356 - 166,972
2023 8,280 53,806 602,793 228,222
2022 5,457 58,040 603,636 233,284
2021 14,062 19,804 456,411 458,246
2020 12,372 11,277 595,873 369,901
2019 13,904 25,707 652,130 331,124
2018 14,342 18,473 648,319 318,260
2017 15,831 21,657 645,975 343,146
2016 17,797 26,417 641,365 -879,235
2015 18,160 30,242 668,771 641,150
2014 18,494 38,522 674,754 272,697
2013 17,779 40,690 652,427 232,230
2012 18,066 47,883 643,723 264,091
2011 18,822 47,454 601,708 65,166
2010 20,046 42,865 566,834 68,563
2009 20,280 39,316 554,115 41,528
2008 19,073 44,002 595,332 36,869
2007 16,482 40,111 503,567 36,339
2006 17,244 24,054 487,584 33,159
2005 15,719 18,588 464,464 31,286
2004 15,612 13,412 442,540 58,924
2003 14,151 11,389 415,018 65,604
2002 10,892 17,279 430,926 50,313
2001 13,090 7,906 484,801 -60,793
2000 15,269 9,805 526,963 -136,794
1999 14,278 19,147 594,643 -126,011
1998 14,181 13,519 627,027 -82,722
1997 15,418 9,744 667,969 -98,181
1996 17,087 5,671 710,868 -193,007
1995 14,821 6,343 743,488 -98,403
1994 16,045 7,580 698,609 -268,849
1993 12,936 12,567 789,220 194,977
1992 15,431 10,218 794,415 -71,342
1991 16,194 7,949 827,296 -39,131
1990 14,845 1,818 835,421 259,718
1989 13,949 -1,730 884,629 255,605
1988 12,207 10,380 909,221 246,382
1987 9,212 13,907 922,330 231,009
1986 8,751 7,616 903,644 234,378
1985 6,644 6,725 893,889 244,940
1984 7,452 3,856 869,011 290,789
1983 7,844 4,120 837,013 310,172
1982 9,875 5,749 807,550 293,195
1981 9,020 6,010 767,833 279,985
1980 9,806 3,763 738,415 258,127
1979 10,181 2,839 716,541 56,323
1978 11,364 3,823 694,341 62,121
1977 11,321 4,845 680,929 63,739
1976 13,286 4,779 675,011 27,333
1975 16,430 3,312 667,862 38,809
1974 20,324 4,425 658,438 38,518
1973 21,387 3,414 651,596 41,125
1972 24,777 5,603 638,754 38,163
1971 26,541 3,031 624,761 32,961
1970 25,968 -1,034 605,102 61,514
1969 28,858 2,230 590,794 73,225
1968 29,387 1,761 571,841 78,932
1967 30,276 2,460 553,741 81,932
1966 31,150 -888 534,862 77,417
1965 31,275 -1,525 506,632 82,514
1964 30,293 -1,571 490,606 76,298
1963 26,766 1,061 473,821 72,844
1962 28,020 655 455,634 69,771
1961 29,239 1,437 437,851 57,728
1960 29,366 -1,427 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 31.3% of the population change in Norway is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 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, 1,012,404 residents or 18.2% of the population were not native-born in Norway, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K
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/norway/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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