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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Panama was 4,571,189 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Panama's population is 4,654,479 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 14.1 times bigger than Panama's.
  • Panama is ranked the 128th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.06% for Panama vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Panama has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Panama has increased from 3.38M people to 4.65M (37.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Panama vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Panama
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Panama South Africa
2100 5,946,537 94,734,082
2099 5,957,723 94,523,360
2098 5,968,478 94,316,049
2097 5,978,660 94,125,043
2096 5,988,413 93,927,246
2095 5,997,756 93,719,451
2094 6,006,449 93,494,697
2093 6,014,686 93,267,274
2092 6,022,273 93,041,793
2091 6,029,373 92,793,249
2090 6,035,905 92,561,159
2089 6,041,981 92,322,396
2088 6,047,292 92,080,212
2087 6,052,037 91,833,409
2086 6,056,131 91,581,639
2085 6,059,724 91,352,906
2084 6,062,518 91,106,961
2083 6,064,646 90,845,161
2082 6,065,953 90,583,188
2081 6,066,417 90,313,417
2080 6,066,099 90,039,857
2079 6,064,946 89,770,116
2078 6,062,910 89,494,440
2077 6,060,080 89,217,520
2076 6,056,429 88,954,522
2075 6,051,919 88,681,719
2074 6,046,406 88,397,221
2073 6,040,106 88,118,589
2072 6,032,854 87,835,051
2071 6,024,842 87,509,098
2070 6,016,080 87,178,463
2069 6,006,415 86,870,660
2068 5,995,906 86,558,000
2067 5,984,730 86,237,764
2066 5,972,654 85,904,801
2065 5,959,843 85,573,984
2064 5,946,126 85,214,686
2063 5,931,632 84,845,370
2062 5,916,180 84,473,236
2061 5,899,788 84,103,016
2060 5,882,473 83,719,266
2059 5,864,256 83,325,330
2058 5,844,863 82,918,226
2057 5,824,527 82,508,742
2056 5,803,204 82,098,320
2055 5,780,739 81,669,191
2054 5,757,183 81,227,019
2053 5,732,387 80,789,939
2052 5,706,417 80,338,877
2051 5,679,091 79,858,310
2050 5,650,483 79,383,784
2049 5,620,713 78,897,472
2048 5,589,579 78,409,829
2047 5,557,267 77,894,547
2046 5,523,734 77,369,819
2045 5,489,126 76,852,544
2044 5,453,277 76,330,046
2043 5,416,228 75,800,788
2042 5,378,090 75,264,885
2041 5,338,800 74,721,871
2040 5,298,428 74,179,185
2039 5,256,927 73,636,894
2038 5,214,237 73,079,976
2037 5,170,459 72,506,991
2036 5,125,785 71,930,701
2035 5,080,190 71,337,219
2034 5,033,697 70,737,692
2033 4,986,246 70,128,299
2032 4,937,655 69,502,726
2031 4,888,279 68,865,544
2030 4,837,999 68,221,143
2029 4,786,693 67,549,189
2028 4,734,263 66,860,631
2027 4,680,907 66,166,759
2026 4,626,568 65,473,024
2025 4,571,189 64,747,319
2024 4,515,577 64,007,187
2023 4,458,759 63,212,384
2022 4,400,773 62,378,410
2021 4,345,405 61,502,603
2020 4,293,261 60,562,381
2019 4,234,700 59,587,885
2018 4,167,860 58,613,001
2017 4,098,707 57,635,162
2016 4,029,086 57,259,551
2015 3,960,035 56,723,537
2014 3,892,101 55,594,838
2013 3,825,329 54,678,791
2012 3,759,256 53,782,567
2011 3,693,505 52,995,205
2010 3,628,535 52,344,051
2009 3,564,381 51,728,516
2008 3,500,648 51,114,599
2007 3,437,490 50,528,584
2006 3,375,024 49,998,277
2005 3,313,026 49,490,033
2004 3,251,155 48,991,421
2003 3,189,807 48,500,348
2002 3,129,344 48,019,415
2001 3,069,537 47,566,800
2000 3,010,369 47,159,719
1999 2,951,822 46,730,335
1998 2,893,914 46,223,880
1997 2,836,695 45,666,838
1996 2,780,227 45,123,018
1995 2,724,557 44,541,554
1994 2,669,546 44,004,139
1993 2,615,099 43,297,156
1992 2,561,336 42,443,509
1991 2,508,265 41,687,898
1990 2,455,583 40,746,268
1989 2,403,820 39,628,575
1988 2,352,848 38,480,649
1987 2,301,970 37,326,190
1986 2,251,325 36,180,515
1985 2,200,915 35,042,093
1984 2,150,782 33,892,788
1983 2,101,106 32,739,304
1982 2,052,271 31,615,339
1981 2,004,418 30,541,044
1980 1,957,534 29,518,857
1979 1,911,552 28,634,162
1978 1,866,311 27,869,507
1977 1,821,543 27,118,952
1976 1,776,935 26,395,450
1975 1,732,389 25,690,940
1974 1,687,926 24,989,108
1973 1,643,690 24,294,263
1972 1,599,723 23,609,456
1971 1,556,081 22,942,143
1970 1,513,070 22,279,984
1969 1,470,886 21,614,676
1968 1,429,447 20,957,287
1967 1,388,628 20,314,066
1966 1,348,388 19,690,087
1965 1,308,835 19,089,380
1964 1,270,065 18,511,361
1963 1,232,124 17,954,564
1962 1,195,301 17,418,522
1961 1,159,870 16,908,035
1960 1,126,005 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/panama/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Panama increased by 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Panama gained 625,393 people (a 15.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Panama was ranked 128th most populous country in 2006 and is still 128th 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) Panama's population will grow by 21.4% to 5,650,483 people with a rank change from 128th to 124th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Panama is projected to reach its peak in 2081 at 6.07M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Panama
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Panama South Africa
2100 -0.19% 0.22%
2099 -0.18% 0.22%
2098 -0.17% 0.2%
2097 -0.16% 0.21%
2096 -0.16% 0.22%
2095 -0.14% 0.24%
2094 -0.14% 0.24%
2093 -0.13% 0.24%
2092 -0.12% 0.27%
2091 -0.11% 0.25%
2090 -0.1% 0.26%
2089 -0.09% 0.26%
2088 -0.08% 0.27%
2087 -0.07% 0.27%
2086 -0.06% 0.25%
2085 -0.05% 0.27%
2084 -0.04% 0.29%
2083 -0.02% 0.29%
2082 -0.008% 0.3%
2081 0.005% 0.3%
2080 0.02% 0.3%
2079 0.03% 0.31%
2078 0.05% 0.31%
2077 0.06% 0.3%
2076 0.07% 0.31%
2075 0.09% 0.32%
2074 0.1% 0.32%
2073 0.12% 0.32%
2072 0.13% 0.37%
2071 0.15% 0.38%
2070 0.16% 0.35%
2069 0.18% 0.36%
2068 0.19% 0.37%
2067 0.2% 0.39%
2066 0.21% 0.39%
2065 0.23% 0.42%
2064 0.24% 0.44%
2063 0.26% 0.44%
2062 0.28% 0.44%
2061 0.29% 0.46%
2060 0.31% 0.47%
2059 0.33% 0.49%
2058 0.35% 0.5%
2057 0.37% 0.5%
2056 0.39% 0.53%
2055 0.41% 0.54%
2054 0.43% 0.54%
2053 0.46% 0.56%
2052 0.48% 0.6%
2051 0.51% 0.6%
2050 0.53% 0.62%
2049 0.56% 0.62%
2048 0.58% 0.66%
2047 0.61% 0.68%
2046 0.63% 0.67%
2045 0.66% 0.68%
2044 0.68% 0.7%
2043 0.71% 0.71%
2042 0.74% 0.73%
2041 0.76% 0.73%
2040 0.79% 0.74%
2039 0.82% 0.76%
2038 0.85% 0.79%
2037 0.87% 0.8%
2036 0.9% 0.83%
2035 0.92% 0.85%
2034 0.95% 0.87%
2033 0.98% 0.9%
2032 1.01% 0.93%
2031 1.04% 0.94%
2030 1.07% 0.99%
2029 1.11% 1.03%
2028 1.14% 1.05%
2027 1.17% 1.06%
2026 1.21% 1.12%
2025 1.23% 1.16%
2024 1.27% 1.26%
2023 1.32% 1.34%
2022 1.27% 1.42%
2021 1.21% 1.55%
2020 1.38% 1.64%
2019 1.6% 1.66%
2018 1.69% 1.7%
2017 1.73% 0.66%
2016 1.74% 0.94%
2015 1.75% 2.03%
2014 1.75% 1.68%
2013 1.76% 1.67%
2012 1.78% 1.49%
2011 1.79% 1.24%
2010 1.8% 1.19%
2009 1.82% 1.2%
2008 1.84% 1.16%
2007 1.85% 1.06%
2006 1.87% 1.03%
2005 1.9% 1.02%
2004 1.92% 1.01%
2003 1.93% 1%
2002 1.95% 0.95%
2001 1.97% 0.86%
2000 1.98% 0.92%
1999 2% 1.1%
1998 2.02% 1.22%
1997 2.03% 1.21%
1996 2.04% 1.31%
1995 2.06% 1.22%
1994 2.08% 1.63%
1993 2.1% 2.01%
1992 2.12% 1.81%
1991 2.15% 2.31%
1990 2.15% 2.82%
1989 2.17% 2.98%
1988 2.21% 3.09%
1987 2.25% 3.17%
1986 2.29% 3.25%
1985 2.33% 3.39%
1984 2.36% 3.52%
1983 2.38% 3.56%
1982 2.39% 3.52%
1981 2.4% 3.46%
1980 2.41% 3.09%
1979 2.42% 2.74%
1978 2.46% 2.77%
1977 2.51% 2.74%
1976 2.57% 2.74%
1975 2.63% 2.81%
1974 2.69% 2.86%
1973 2.75% 2.9%
1972 2.8% 2.91%
1971 2.84% 2.97%
1970 2.87% 3.08%
1969 2.9% 3.14%
1968 2.94% 3.17%
1967 2.98% 3.17%
1966 3.02% 3.15%
1965 3.05% 3.12%
1964 3.08% 3.1%
1963 3.08% 3.08%
1962 3.05% 3.02%
1961 3.01% 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/panama/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Panama grew by 1.23%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Panama South Africa
Current population
4654479
65829368
Population rank 128/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.79%
One net population change
9.48 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
7.34 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
23.7 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +152 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +55,612 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 82/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +6,151 +146,370
Net migration rank 49/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 477,749 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 81/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 63/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Panama
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Panama South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,151 - 146,370
2024 49,459 6,706 591,618 166,972
2023 50,197 7,262 602,793 228,222
2022 50,556 7,967 603,636 233,284
2021 46,747 5,473 456,411 458,246
2020 46,599 5,473 595,873 369,901
2019 54,420 10,623 652,130 331,124
2018 57,508 11,130 648,319 318,260
2017 58,607 11,059 645,975 343,146
2016 59,454 10,109 641,365 -879,235
2015 59,896 8,648 668,771 641,150
2014 60,227 7,105 674,754 272,697
2013 60,295 5,926 652,427 232,230
2012 60,471 5,447 643,723 264,091
2011 60,411 5,167 601,708 65,166
2010 59,418 4,953 566,834 68,563
2009 59,168 4,765 554,115 41,528
2008 58,961 4,568 595,332 36,869
2007 58,454 4,330 503,567 36,339
2006 58,067 4,087 487,584 33,159
2005 58,014 3,843 464,464 31,286
2004 58,281 3,596 442,540 58,924
2003 57,458 3,352 415,018 65,604
2002 57,011 3,099 430,926 50,313
2001 56,654 2,856 484,801 -60,793
2000 56,236 2,602 526,963 -136,794
1999 55,911 2,341 594,643 -126,011
1998 55,482 2,084 627,027 -82,722
1997 55,060 1,820 667,969 -98,181
1996 54,512 1,533 710,868 -193,007
1995 54,069 1,221 743,488 -98,403
1994 53,845 899 698,609 -268,849
1993 53,591 560 789,220 194,977
1992 53,186 182 794,415 -71,342
1991 53,079 -305 827,296 -39,131
1990 53,451 -854 835,421 259,718
1989 52,295 -1,368 884,629 255,605
1988 52,767 -1,750 909,221 246,382
1987 52,690 -1,953 922,330 231,009
1986 52,681 -2,136 903,644 234,378
1985 52,573 -2,297 893,889 244,940
1984 52,436 -2,435 869,011 290,789
1983 51,880 -2,518 837,013 310,172
1982 50,858 -2,554 807,550 293,195
1981 50,018 -2,620 767,833 279,985
1980 49,077 -2,701 738,415 258,127
1979 48,362 -2,772 716,541 56,323
1978 47,694 -2,811 694,341 62,121
1977 47,438 -2,792 680,929 63,739
1976 47,307 -2,727 675,011 27,333
1975 47,149 -2,635 667,862 38,809
1974 46,932 -2,531 658,438 38,518
1973 46,540 -2,464 651,596 41,125
1972 46,311 -2,448 638,754 38,163
1971 45,867 -2,454 624,761 32,961
1970 45,075 -2,476 605,102 61,514
1969 44,278 -2,510 590,794 73,225
1968 43,641 -2,528 571,841 78,932
1967 43,054 -2,528 553,741 81,932
1966 42,457 -2,500 534,862 77,417
1965 41,604 -2,454 506,632 82,514
1964 40,806 -2,418 490,606 76,298
1963 39,872 -2,380 473,821 72,844
1962 38,537 -2,377 455,634 69,771
1961 37,100 -2,394 437,851 57,728
1960 35,431 -2,409 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 86.3% of the population change in Panama is from natural causes (a gain of 533,443 people) and 13.7% is from migration (a gain of 84,450 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, 477,749 residents or 10.6% of the population were not native-born in Panama, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Panama
City Population
Panama 1.54M
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K
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/panama/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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