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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Pakistan was 251,269,164 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Pakistan's population is 260,356,147 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Pakistan's population is 3.96 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Pakistan is ranked the 5th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 3.93% of the world: 3.14% for Pakistan vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Pakistan has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Pakistan has increased from 180M people to 260M (44.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Pakistan vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Pakistan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Pakistan South Africa
2100 514,531,704 94,767,727
2099 513,655,674 94,556,931
2098 512,727,636 94,349,546
2097 511,735,790 94,158,472
2096 510,636,755 93,960,605
2095 509,437,875 93,752,736
2094 508,130,071 93,527,902
2093 506,765,644 93,300,398
2092 505,327,656 93,074,837
2091 503,824,444 92,826,204
2090 502,264,268 92,594,033
2089 500,660,501 92,355,184
2088 498,935,983 92,112,914
2087 497,190,466 91,866,024
2086 495,313,036 91,614,165
2085 493,366,305 91,385,350
2084 491,354,778 91,139,318
2083 489,225,193 90,877,425
2082 486,984,952 90,615,359
2081 484,673,501 90,345,492
2080 482,257,479 90,071,835
2079 479,813,404 89,801,998
2078 477,277,836 89,526,224
2077 474,593,860 89,249,206
2076 471,779,348 88,986,114
2075 468,855,468 88,713,215
2074 465,875,137 88,428,616
2073 462,811,079 88,149,885
2072 459,656,523 87,866,246
2071 456,423,506 87,540,177
2070 453,095,985 87,209,425
2069 449,655,599 86,901,512
2068 446,126,774 86,588,742
2067 442,540,629 86,268,392
2066 438,879,326 85,935,310
2065 435,169,856 85,604,376
2064 431,394,393 85,244,950
2063 427,575,887 84,875,503
2062 423,636,352 84,503,237
2061 419,672,017 84,132,885
2060 415,638,125 83,748,999
2059 411,576,344 83,354,923
2058 407,429,129 82,947,675
2057 403,233,874 82,538,045
2056 398,948,355 82,127,477
2055 394,645,693 81,698,196
2054 390,303,954 81,255,867
2053 385,922,748 80,818,632
2052 381,488,696 80,367,409
2051 377,018,239 79,886,672
2050 372,476,884 79,411,977
2049 367,909,407 78,925,493
2048 363,310,560 78,437,677
2047 358,659,474 77,922,211
2046 353,929,775 77,397,298
2045 349,156,085 76,879,838
2044 344,371,692 76,357,155
2043 339,561,029 75,827,709
2042 334,731,546 75,291,615
2041 329,875,686 74,748,408
2040 325,039,429 74,205,530
2039 320,137,108 73,663,047
2038 315,207,413 73,105,930
2037 310,312,684 72,532,742
2036 305,408,418 71,956,247
2035 300,541,523 71,362,555
2034 295,686,893 70,762,815
2033 290,851,174 70,153,205
2032 286,070,650 69,527,410
2031 281,351,929 68,890,002
2030 276,708,987 68,245,372
2029 272,189,955 67,573,179
2028 267,728,673 66,884,377
2027 263,390,059 66,190,258
2026 259,231,214 65,496,277
2025 255,166,301 64,770,314
2024 251,269,164 64,007,187
2023 247,504,495 63,212,384
2022 243,700,667 62,378,410
2021 239,477,801 61,502,603
2020 235,001,746 60,562,381
2019 230,800,899 59,587,885
2018 226,928,892 58,613,001
2017 223,273,967 57,635,162
2016 220,138,869 57,259,551
2015 217,290,883 56,723,537
2014 214,264,647 55,594,838
2013 211,073,978 54,678,791
2012 207,667,125 53,782,567
2011 203,746,065 52,995,205
2010 199,239,047 52,344,051
2009 194,376,534 51,728,516
2008 189,499,113 51,114,599
2007 184,493,231 50,528,584
2006 179,682,690 49,998,277
2005 175,453,212 49,490,033
2004 171,286,000 48,991,421
2003 167,110,248 48,500,348
2002 163,222,549 48,019,415
2001 159,270,907 47,566,800
2000 154,879,127 47,159,719
1999 150,565,377 46,730,335
1998 146,522,356 46,223,880
1997 142,531,804 45,666,838
1996 138,557,092 45,123,018
1995 134,582,253 44,541,554
1994 130,748,083 44,004,139
1993 127,020,117 43,297,156
1992 123,546,848 42,443,509
1991 120,060,406 41,687,898
1990 116,155,576 40,746,268
1989 112,336,629 39,628,575
1988 108,724,739 38,480,649
1987 105,130,717 37,326,190
1986 101,606,764 36,180,515
1985 98,229,285 35,042,093
1984 95,164,936 33,892,788
1983 92,227,711 32,739,304
1982 89,089,246 31,615,339
1981 85,802,049 30,541,044
1980 82,291,010 29,518,857
1979 78,997,039 28,634,162
1978 76,307,379 27,869,507
1977 73,901,827 27,118,952
1976 71,620,254 26,395,450
1975 69,461,175 25,690,940
1974 67,415,487 24,989,108
1973 65,461,912 24,294,263
1972 63,583,194 23,609,456
1971 61,847,899 22,942,143
1970 60,166,719 22,279,984
1969 58,460,939 21,614,676
1968 56,810,507 20,957,287
1967 55,214,768 20,314,066
1966 53,678,667 19,690,087
1965 52,209,010 19,089,380
1964 50,799,999 18,511,361
1963 49,447,776 17,954,564
1962 48,156,128 17,418,522
1961 46,921,277 16,908,035
1960 45,709,310 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/pakistan/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Pakistan increased by 40,456,179 people (a 22.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Pakistan gained 40,217,278 people (a 18.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Pakistan was ranked 6th most populous country in 2006 and is 5th 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) Pakistan's population will grow by 43.1% to 372,476,884 people with a rank change from 5th to 4th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Pakistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 515M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Pakistan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Pakistan South Africa
2100 0.17% 0.22%
2099 0.18% 0.22%
2098 0.19% 0.2%
2097 0.22% 0.21%
2096 0.24% 0.22%
2095 0.26% 0.24%
2094 0.27% 0.24%
2093 0.28% 0.24%
2092 0.3% 0.27%
2091 0.31% 0.25%
2090 0.32% 0.26%
2089 0.35% 0.26%
2088 0.35% 0.27%
2087 0.38% 0.27%
2086 0.39% 0.25%
2085 0.41% 0.27%
2084 0.44% 0.29%
2083 0.46% 0.29%
2082 0.48% 0.3%
2081 0.5% 0.3%
2080 0.51% 0.3%
2079 0.53% 0.31%
2078 0.57% 0.31%
2077 0.6% 0.3%
2076 0.62% 0.31%
2075 0.64% 0.32%
2074 0.66% 0.32%
2073 0.69% 0.32%
2072 0.71% 0.37%
2071 0.73% 0.38%
2070 0.77% 0.35%
2069 0.79% 0.36%
2068 0.81% 0.37%
2067 0.83% 0.39%
2066 0.85% 0.39%
2065 0.88% 0.42%
2064 0.89% 0.44%
2063 0.93% 0.44%
2062 0.94% 0.44%
2061 0.97% 0.46%
2060 0.99% 0.47%
2059 1.02% 0.49%
2058 1.04% 0.5%
2057 1.07% 0.5%
2056 1.09% 0.53%
2055 1.11% 0.54%
2054 1.14% 0.54%
2053 1.16% 0.56%
2052 1.19% 0.6%
2051 1.22% 0.6%
2050 1.24% 0.62%
2049 1.27% 0.62%
2048 1.3% 0.66%
2047 1.34% 0.68%
2046 1.37% 0.67%
2045 1.39% 0.68%
2044 1.42% 0.7%
2043 1.44% 0.71%
2042 1.47% 0.73%
2041 1.49% 0.73%
2040 1.53% 0.74%
2039 1.56% 0.76%
2038 1.58% 0.79%
2037 1.61% 0.8%
2036 1.62% 0.83%
2035 1.64% 0.85%
2034 1.66% 0.87%
2033 1.67% 0.9%
2032 1.68% 0.93%
2031 1.68% 0.94%
2030 1.66% 0.99%
2029 1.67% 1.03%
2028 1.65% 1.05%
2027 1.6% 1.06%
2026 1.59% 1.12%
2025 1.55% 1.19%
2024 1.52% 1.26%
2023 1.56% 1.34%
2022 1.76% 1.42%
2021 1.9% 1.55%
2020 1.82% 1.64%
2019 1.71% 1.66%
2018 1.64% 1.7%
2017 1.42% 0.66%
2016 1.31% 0.94%
2015 1.41% 2.03%
2014 1.51% 1.68%
2013 1.64% 1.67%
2012 1.92% 1.49%
2011 2.26% 1.24%
2010 2.5% 1.19%
2009 2.57% 1.2%
2008 2.71% 1.16%
2007 2.68% 1.06%
2006 2.41% 1.03%
2005 2.43% 1.02%
2004 2.5% 1.01%
2003 2.38% 1%
2002 2.48% 0.95%
2001 2.84% 0.86%
2000 2.87% 0.92%
1999 2.76% 1.1%
1998 2.8% 1.22%
1997 2.87% 1.21%
1996 2.95% 1.31%
1995 2.93% 1.22%
1994 2.93% 1.63%
1993 2.81% 2.01%
1992 2.9% 1.81%
1991 3.36% 2.31%
1990 3.4% 2.82%
1989 3.32% 2.98%
1988 3.42% 3.09%
1987 3.47% 3.17%
1986 3.44% 3.25%
1985 3.22% 3.39%
1984 3.18% 3.52%
1983 3.52% 3.56%
1982 3.83% 3.52%
1981 4.27% 3.46%
1980 4.17% 3.09%
1979 3.52% 2.74%
1978 3.26% 2.77%
1977 3.19% 2.74%
1976 3.11% 2.74%
1975 3.03% 2.81%
1974 2.98% 2.86%
1973 2.95% 2.9%
1972 2.81% 2.91%
1971 2.79% 2.97%
1970 2.92% 3.08%
1969 2.91% 3.14%
1968 2.89% 3.17%
1967 2.86% 3.17%
1966 2.81% 3.15%
1965 2.77% 3.12%
1964 2.73% 3.1%
1963 2.68% 3.08%
1962 2.63% 3.02%
1961 2.65% 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/pakistan/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Pakistan grew by 1.52%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Pakistan South Africa
Current population
260356147
65683993
Population rank 5/197 24/197
Percent of world population 3.14% 0.79%
One net population change
8.38 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
4.58 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
19.7 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +10,314 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +3,764,669 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.52% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 70/197 85/197
One migration net change every
25.6 seconds
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -1,235,336 +146,370
Net migration rank 196/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 4,175,958 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 16/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 141/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Pakistan
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Pakistan South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,235,336 - 146,370
2024 - -1,401,173 - 166,972
2023 5,281,745 -1,619,557 602,793 228,222
2022 5,268,077 -1,322,625 603,636 233,284
2021 5,065,913 -565,673 456,411 458,246
2020 5,011,177 -559,291 595,873 369,901
2019 5,127,011 -1,177,220 652,130 331,124
2018 5,103,858 -1,309,611 648,319 318,260
2017 5,090,200 -1,574,585 645,975 343,146
2016 5,044,922 -2,290,411 641,365 -879,235
2015 5,113,507 -2,172,162 668,771 641,150
2014 5,148,994 -2,037,920 674,754 272,697
2013 5,176,590 -1,906,319 652,427 232,230
2012 5,191,263 -1,647,989 643,723 264,091
2011 5,189,412 -890,633 601,708 65,166
2010 5,147,142 -431,902 566,834 68,563
2009 5,028,132 -18,298 554,115 41,528
2008 4,885,855 -140,746 595,332 36,869
2007 4,690,187 576,349 503,567 36,339
2006 4,538,426 -183,933 487,584 33,159
2005 4,294,393 -189,899 464,464 31,286
2004 4,294,654 -64,669 442,540 58,924
2003 4,340,688 -219,118 415,018 65,604
2002 4,307,607 -653,758 430,926 50,313
2001 4,304,297 -54,727 484,801 -60,793
2000 4,281,169 252,869 526,963 -136,794
1999 4,228,026 -134,510 594,643 -126,011
1998 4,104,824 -112,191 627,027 -82,722
1997 4,043,912 -55,539 667,969 -98,181
1996 4,021,758 -60,855 710,868 -193,007
1995 3,977,175 11,534 743,488 -98,403
1994 3,956,699 -277,100 698,609 -268,849
1993 3,915,776 -139,493 789,220 194,977
1992 3,888,637 -718,387 794,415 -71,342
1991 3,822,363 -19,668 827,296 -39,131
1990 3,731,730 275,242 835,421 259,718
1989 3,648,132 -17,164 884,629 255,605
1988 3,554,755 38,139 909,221 246,382
1987 3,448,813 146,364 922,330 231,009
1986 3,341,643 111,045 903,644 234,378
1985 3,233,315 68,860 893,889 244,940
1984 3,145,772 -319,242 869,011 290,789
1983 3,052,738 -4,753 837,013 310,172
1982 2,934,689 294,252 807,550 293,195
1981 2,790,454 555,032 767,833 279,985
1980 2,598,421 1,078,229 738,415 258,127
1979 2,461,311 450,003 716,541 56,323
1978 2,356,601 111,386 694,341 62,121
1977 2,257,849 85,250 680,929 63,739
1976 2,171,812 48,238 675,011 27,333
1975 2,099,811 -1,710 667,862 38,809
1974 2,028,061 -34,785 658,438 38,518
1973 1,971,909 -58,012 651,596 41,125
1972 1,912,774 -69,209 638,754 38,163
1971 1,695,374 -68,357 624,761 32,961
1970 1,793,570 -58,281 605,102 61,514
1969 1,733,601 -57,406 590,794 73,225
1968 1,683,296 -58,721 571,841 78,932
1967 1,626,737 -59,932 553,741 81,932
1966 1,566,343 -61,025 534,862 77,417
1965 1,496,050 -62,070 506,632 82,514
1964 1,447,394 -63,298 490,606 76,298
1963 1,384,934 -64,552 473,821 72,844
1962 1,328,675 -65,780 455,634 69,771
1961 1,273,772 -66,991 437,851 57,728
1960 1,217,147 0 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 77.8% of the population change in Pakistan is from natural causes (a gain of 51,255,404 people) and 22.2% is from migration (a loss of 14,629,055 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, 4,175,958 residents or 1.7% of the population were not native-born in Pakistan, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Pakistan
City Population
Karachi 14.9M
Lahore 11.1M
Faisalabad 3.2M
Rawalpindi 2.1M
Gujranwala 2.03M
Peshawar 1.97M
Multan 1.87M
Hyderabad 1.73M
Islamabad 1.01M
Quetta 1M
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/pakistan/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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