The latest officially reported population of Palestine was 5,289,152 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palestine's population is 5,500,288 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 11.9 times bigger than Palestine's.
- Palestine is ranked the 123rd 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 Palestine vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Palestine has had an average growth rate of +2.4% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Palestine has increased from 3.41M people to 5.5M (61.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).
Palestine vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palestine
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 11,139,010 | 94,767,727 |
| 2099 | 11,129,016 | 94,556,931 |
| 2098 | 11,115,634 | 94,349,546 |
| 2097 | 11,098,586 | 94,158,472 |
| 2096 | 11,082,327 | 93,960,605 |
| 2095 | 11,062,471 | 93,752,736 |
| 2094 | 11,043,660 | 93,527,902 |
| 2093 | 11,021,075 | 93,300,398 |
| 2092 | 10,997,198 | 93,074,837 |
| 2091 | 10,971,910 | 92,826,204 |
| 2090 | 10,945,522 | 92,594,033 |
| 2089 | 10,919,566 | 92,355,184 |
| 2088 | 10,888,804 | 92,112,914 |
| 2087 | 10,859,463 | 91,866,024 |
| 2086 | 10,826,475 | 91,614,165 |
| 2085 | 10,792,233 | 91,385,350 |
| 2084 | 10,754,076 | 91,139,318 |
| 2083 | 10,714,778 | 90,877,425 |
| 2082 | 10,670,980 | 90,615,359 |
| 2081 | 10,620,947 | 90,345,492 |
| 2080 | 10,570,849 | 90,071,835 |
| 2079 | 10,522,979 | 89,801,998 |
| 2078 | 10,470,607 | 89,526,224 |
| 2077 | 10,414,129 | 89,249,206 |
| 2076 | 10,353,616 | 88,986,114 |
| 2075 | 10,289,455 | 88,713,215 |
| 2074 | 10,226,287 | 88,428,616 |
| 2073 | 10,161,032 | 88,149,885 |
| 2072 | 10,092,947 | 87,866,246 |
| 2071 | 10,017,951 | 87,540,177 |
| 2070 | 9,943,046 | 87,209,425 |
| 2069 | 9,866,885 | 86,901,512 |
| 2068 | 9,791,535 | 86,588,742 |
| 2067 | 9,709,928 | 86,268,392 |
| 2066 | 9,631,509 | 85,935,310 |
| 2065 | 9,548,264 | 85,604,376 |
| 2064 | 9,463,483 | 85,244,950 |
| 2063 | 9,376,741 | 84,875,503 |
| 2062 | 9,291,255 | 84,503,237 |
| 2061 | 9,199,970 | 84,132,885 |
| 2060 | 9,107,804 | 83,748,999 |
| 2059 | 9,017,564 | 83,354,923 |
| 2058 | 8,928,703 | 82,947,675 |
| 2057 | 8,835,816 | 82,538,045 |
| 2056 | 8,741,740 | 82,127,477 |
| 2055 | 8,649,798 | 81,698,196 |
| 2054 | 8,556,281 | 81,255,867 |
| 2053 | 8,458,243 | 80,818,632 |
| 2052 | 8,357,325 | 80,367,409 |
| 2051 | 8,254,626 | 79,886,672 |
| 2050 | 8,148,985 | 79,411,977 |
| 2049 | 8,043,520 | 78,925,493 |
| 2048 | 7,937,607 | 78,437,677 |
| 2047 | 7,829,116 | 77,922,211 |
| 2046 | 7,718,770 | 77,397,298 |
| 2045 | 7,604,199 | 76,879,838 |
| 2044 | 7,488,707 | 76,357,155 |
| 2043 | 7,372,333 | 75,827,709 |
| 2042 | 7,254,143 | 75,291,615 |
| 2041 | 7,135,388 | 74,748,408 |
| 2040 | 7,016,744 | 74,205,530 |
| 2039 | 6,896,956 | 73,663,047 |
| 2038 | 6,781,970 | 73,105,930 |
| 2037 | 6,666,634 | 72,532,742 |
| 2036 | 6,552,620 | 71,956,247 |
| 2035 | 6,436,783 | 71,362,555 |
| 2034 | 6,323,647 | 70,762,815 |
| 2033 | 6,210,874 | 70,153,205 |
| 2032 | 6,102,090 | 69,527,410 |
| 2031 | 5,994,279 | 68,890,002 |
| 2030 | 5,888,039 | 68,245,372 |
| 2029 | 5,783,463 | 67,573,179 |
| 2028 | 5,680,155 | 66,884,377 |
| 2027 | 5,576,750 | 66,190,258 |
| 2026 | 5,471,938 | 65,496,277 |
| 2025 | 5,376,521 | 64,770,314 |
| 2024 | 5,289,152 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 5,165,775 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 5,043,612 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 4,922,749 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 4,803,269 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 4,685,306 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 4,569,087 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 4,454,805 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 4,367,088 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 4,270,092 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 4,173,398 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 4,076,708 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 3,979,998 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 3,882,986 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 3,786,161 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 3,689,099 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 3,591,977 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 3,494,496 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 3,406,334 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 3,320,396 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 3,236,626 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 3,154,969 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 3,075,373 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 2,997,784 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 2,922,153 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 2,848,431 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 2,776,568 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 2,706,518 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 2,587,997 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 2,474,666 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 2,366,298 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 2,262,676 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 2,163,591 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 2,068,845 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 1,978,248 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | - | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | - | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | - | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | - | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | - | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | - | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | - | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | - | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | - | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | - | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | - | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | - | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | - | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | - | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | - | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | - | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | - | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | - | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | - | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | - | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | - | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | - | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | - | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | - | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | - | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | - | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | - | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | - | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | - | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | - | 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/palestine/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palestine increased by 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palestine gained 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).
Palestine was ranked 127th most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd 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) Palestine's population will grow by 48.2% to 8,148,985 people with a rank change from 123rd to 112th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.1M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Palestine
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 0.09% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | 0.12% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | 0.15% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | 0.15% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | 0.18% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | 0.17% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | 0.2% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | 0.22% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | 0.23% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | 0.24% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | 0.24% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | 0.28% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | 0.3% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | 0.32% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | 0.35% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | 0.37% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 0.41% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | 0.47% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | 0.47% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | 0.45% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | 0.5% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.54% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | 0.58% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | 0.62% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | 0.64% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | 0.67% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | 0.75% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | 0.75% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | 0.77% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | 0.77% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | 0.84% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | 0.81% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | 0.87% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | 0.9% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | 0.93% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | 0.92% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | 0.99% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | 1.01% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | 1% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 1% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | 1.05% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 1.08% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | 1.06% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | 1.09% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | 1.16% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | 1.21% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 1.24% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 1.31% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 1.33% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 1.51% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 1.54% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 1.58% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 1.63% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 1.66% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 1.69% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 1.74% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 1.74% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 1.79% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 1.82% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 1.78% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 1.8% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 1.8% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 1.81% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 1.82% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 1.85% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 1.92% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 1.77% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 1.65% | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 2.39% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 2.42% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 2.46% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 2.49% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 2.52% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 2.54% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 2.57% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.01% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 2.27% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 2.32% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 2.37% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 2.43% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 2.56% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 2.63% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.79% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 2.59% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 2.59% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 2.59% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 2.59% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 2.59% | 1% |
| 2002 | 2.59% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 2.59% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 2.59% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 2.59% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 2.59% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 4.58% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 4.58% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 4.58% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 4.58% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 4.58% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 4.58% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 4.58% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | - | 2.82% |
| 1989 | - | 2.98% |
| 1988 | - | 3.09% |
| 1987 | - | 3.17% |
| 1986 | - | 3.25% |
| 1985 | - | 3.39% |
| 1984 | - | 3.52% |
| 1983 | - | 3.56% |
| 1982 | - | 3.52% |
| 1981 | - | 3.46% |
| 1980 | - | 3.09% |
| 1979 | - | 2.74% |
| 1978 | - | 2.77% |
| 1977 | - | 2.74% |
| 1976 | - | 2.74% |
| 1975 | - | 2.81% |
| 1974 | - | 2.86% |
| 1973 | - | 2.9% |
| 1972 | - | 2.91% |
| 1971 | - | 2.97% |
| 1970 | - | 3.08% |
| 1969 | - | 3.14% |
| 1968 | - | 3.17% |
| 1967 | - | 3.17% |
| 1966 | - | 3.15% |
| 1965 | - | 3.12% |
| 1964 | - | 3.1% |
| 1963 | - | 3.08% |
| 1962 | - | 3.02% |
| 1961 | - | 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/palestine/south-africa | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palestine grew by 2.39%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.
Live population counters
|
Palestine
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5500288
|
65683993
|
| Population rank | 123/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.07% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
4.26 minutes
|
39.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
3.76 minutes
|
26.6 seconds
|
| One death every |
14.1 minutes
|
54 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +338 | +2,178 |
| Annual growth/decline | +123,377 | +794,803 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.39% | +1.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 34/197 | 85/197 |
| One migration net change every |
22.8 minutes
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -23,156 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 154/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 272,481 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 103/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 5% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 92/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palestine
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -23,156 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | - | -23,145 | - | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 102,613 | -24,996 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 123,987 | -5,006 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 120,396 | -12,369 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 122,416 | -12,369 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 124,508 | -24,733 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 124,791 | -25,141 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 125,688 | -25,452 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 126,698 | -22,774 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 126,189 | -22,903 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 120,724 | -27,077 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 120,503 | -26,979 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 119,185 | -26,916 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 119,021 | -26,662 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 117,674 | -26,351 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 111,724 | -25,906 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 108,395 | -23,985 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 112,453 | -20,337 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 111,728 | -23,445 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 110,569 | -28,161 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 110,045 | -32,853 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 109,162 | -35,968 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 108,560 | -35,038 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 107,320 | -25,652 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 106,367 | -11,496 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 104,823 | -13,860 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 103,566 | -13,146 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 102,307 | 10,417 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 98,085 | 9,810 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 94,037 | 8,763 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 90,156 | 7,434 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 86,434 | 5,975 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 82,865 | 4,411 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 79,444 | 2,116 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 76,163 | -476 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | - | -3,026 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | - | -3,008 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | - | 50,702 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | - | -21,071 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | - | -31,640 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | - | 9,108 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | - | 684 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | - | -9,799 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | - | -13,892 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | - | -15,067 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | - | -16,058 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | - | -16,654 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | - | -16,444 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | - | -14,515 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | - | -11,596 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | - | -8,670 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | - | -6,736 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | - | -7,848 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | - | -17,235 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | - | -31,405 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | - | -45,586 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | - | -54,963 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | - | -55,265 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | - | -47,780 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | - | -36,419 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | - | -31,125 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | - | -21,220 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | - | -18,971 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | - | -18,224 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | - | -17,662 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palestine/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 85.7% of the population change in Palestine is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 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, 272,481 residents or 5% of the population were not native-born in Palestine, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palestine
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Gaza | 590K |
| Ashdod | 220K |
| Hebron | 215K |
| Nablus | 178K |
| Ramallah | 43.9K |
| Qalqilya | 41.7K |
| Bethlehem | 36K |
| Dura | 6K |
|
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 differences between Palestine and South Africa
|
Palestine
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 77.4 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 25 years | 31.1 years |
| Median age | 20.9 years | 29.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.6:50.4 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.31 births per woman | 2.22 births per woman |
| Population density | 2,352 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palestine/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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