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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Poland was 36,559,233 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Poland's population is 35,806,942 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.83 times bigger than Poland's.
  • Poland is ranked the 47th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.22% of the world: 0.43% for Poland vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Poland has had an average growth rate of -0.36% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Poland has decreased from 38.1M people to 35.8M (6.12% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Poland vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Poland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Poland South Africa
2100 18,350,017 94,767,727
2099 18,541,227 94,556,931
2098 18,733,999 94,349,546
2097 18,928,169 94,158,472
2096 19,125,003 93,960,605
2095 19,323,203 93,752,736
2094 19,525,085 93,527,902
2093 19,730,030 93,300,398
2092 19,938,529 93,074,837
2091 20,151,135 92,826,204
2090 20,368,308 92,594,033
2089 20,589,970 92,355,184
2088 20,817,398 92,112,914
2087 21,050,137 91,866,024
2086 21,288,179 91,614,165
2085 21,531,674 91,385,350
2084 21,780,998 91,139,318
2083 22,036,816 90,877,425
2082 22,298,479 90,615,359
2081 22,565,373 90,345,492
2080 22,836,875 90,071,835
2079 23,113,773 89,801,998
2078 23,393,434 89,526,224
2077 23,679,569 89,249,206
2076 23,968,050 88,986,114
2075 24,259,763 88,713,215
2074 24,554,480 88,428,616
2073 24,852,006 88,149,885
2072 25,149,886 87,866,246
2071 25,447,869 87,540,177
2070 25,745,140 87,209,425
2069 26,042,079 86,901,512
2068 26,337,963 86,588,742
2067 26,632,110 86,268,392
2066 26,923,643 85,935,310
2065 27,211,946 85,604,376
2064 27,497,263 85,244,950
2063 27,778,871 84,875,503
2062 28,055,433 84,503,237
2061 28,328,948 84,132,885
2060 28,597,687 83,748,999
2059 28,864,377 83,354,923
2058 29,125,961 82,947,675
2057 29,384,759 82,538,045
2056 29,641,101 82,127,477
2055 29,893,868 81,698,196
2054 30,142,942 81,255,867
2053 30,389,214 80,818,632
2052 30,630,763 80,367,409
2051 30,871,146 79,886,672
2050 31,107,894 79,411,977
2049 31,341,718 78,925,493
2048 31,572,273 78,437,677
2047 31,800,868 77,922,211
2046 32,026,873 77,397,298
2045 32,250,757 76,879,838
2044 32,471,522 76,357,155
2043 32,690,423 75,827,709
2042 32,906,811 75,291,615
2041 33,118,473 74,748,408
2040 33,328,426 74,205,530
2039 33,535,096 73,663,047
2038 33,738,091 73,105,930
2037 33,936,906 72,532,742
2036 34,133,190 71,956,247
2035 34,323,827 71,362,555
2034 34,511,159 70,762,815
2033 34,693,880 70,153,205
2032 34,872,593 69,527,410
2031 35,046,775 68,890,002
2030 35,213,577 68,245,372
2029 35,374,919 67,573,179
2028 35,527,083 66,884,377
2027 35,671,012 66,190,258
2026 35,806,942 65,496,277
2025 36,233,346 64,770,314
2024 36,559,233 64,007,187
2023 36,687,353 63,212,384
2022 36,821,749 62,378,410
2021 36,981,559 61,502,603
2020 37,515,748 60,562,381
2019 37,965,475 59,587,885
2018 37,974,750 58,613,001
2017 37,974,826 57,635,162
2016 37,970,087 57,259,551
2015 37,986,412 56,723,537
2014 38,011,735 55,594,838
2013 38,040,196 54,678,791
2012 38,063,164 53,782,567
2011 38,063,255 52,995,205
2010 38,042,794 52,344,051
2009 38,151,603 51,728,516
2008 38,125,759 51,114,599
2007 38,120,560 50,528,584
2006 38,141,267 49,998,277
2005 38,165,445 49,490,033
2004 38,182,222 48,991,421
2003 38,204,570 48,500,348
2002 38,230,364 48,019,415
2001 38,248,076 47,566,800
2000 38,258,629 47,159,719
1999 38,660,271 46,730,335
1998 38,663,481 46,223,880
1997 38,649,660 45,666,838
1996 38,624,370 45,123,018
1995 38,594,998 44,541,554
1994 38,542,652 44,004,139
1993 38,461,408 43,297,156
1992 38,363,667 42,443,509
1991 38,246,193 41,687,898
1990 38,110,782 40,746,268
1989 37,961,529 39,628,575
1988 37,824,487 38,480,649
1987 37,668,045 37,326,190
1986 37,456,119 36,180,515
1985 37,201,885 35,042,093
1984 36,904,134 33,892,788
1983 36,571,808 32,739,304
1982 36,230,481 31,615,339
1981 35,898,587 30,541,044
1980 35,574,150 29,518,857
1979 35,247,217 28,634,162
1978 34,965,600 27,869,507
1977 34,689,050 27,118,952
1976 34,356,300 26,395,450
1975 34,015,199 25,690,940
1974 33,678,899 24,989,108
1973 33,357,200 24,294,263
1972 33,055,650 23,609,456
1971 32,783,500 22,942,143
1970 32,664,300 22,279,984
1969 32,548,300 21,614,676
1968 32,294,655 20,957,287
1967 31,987,155 20,314,066
1966 31,681,000 19,690,087
1965 31,444,950 19,089,380
1964 31,139,450 18,511,361
1963 30,712,000 17,954,564
1962 30,308,500 17,418,522
1961 29,964,000 16,908,035
1960 29,637,450 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/poland/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Poland decreased by 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Poland lost 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Poland was ranked 32nd most populous country in 2006 and is 47th 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) Poland's population will shrink by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people with a rank change from 47th to 62nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.4M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Poland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Poland South Africa
2100 -1.03% 0.22%
2099 -1.03% 0.22%
2098 -1.03% 0.2%
2097 -1.03% 0.21%
2096 -1.03% 0.22%
2095 -1.03% 0.24%
2094 -1.04% 0.24%
2093 -1.05% 0.24%
2092 -1.06% 0.27%
2091 -1.07% 0.25%
2090 -1.08% 0.26%
2089 -1.09% 0.26%
2088 -1.11% 0.27%
2087 -1.12% 0.27%
2086 -1.13% 0.25%
2085 -1.14% 0.27%
2084 -1.16% 0.29%
2083 -1.17% 0.29%
2082 -1.18% 0.3%
2081 -1.19% 0.3%
2080 -1.2% 0.3%
2079 -1.2% 0.31%
2078 -1.21% 0.31%
2077 -1.2% 0.3%
2076 -1.2% 0.31%
2075 -1.2% 0.32%
2074 -1.2% 0.32%
2073 -1.18% 0.32%
2072 -1.17% 0.37%
2071 -1.15% 0.38%
2070 -1.14% 0.35%
2069 -1.12% 0.36%
2068 -1.1% 0.37%
2067 -1.08% 0.39%
2066 -1.06% 0.39%
2065 -1.04% 0.42%
2064 -1.01% 0.44%
2063 -0.99% 0.44%
2062 -0.97% 0.44%
2061 -0.94% 0.46%
2060 -0.92% 0.47%
2059 -0.9% 0.49%
2058 -0.88% 0.5%
2057 -0.86% 0.5%
2056 -0.85% 0.53%
2055 -0.83% 0.54%
2054 -0.81% 0.54%
2053 -0.79% 0.56%
2052 -0.78% 0.6%
2051 -0.76% 0.6%
2050 -0.75% 0.62%
2049 -0.73% 0.62%
2048 -0.72% 0.66%
2047 -0.71% 0.68%
2046 -0.69% 0.67%
2045 -0.68% 0.68%
2044 -0.67% 0.7%
2043 -0.66% 0.71%
2042 -0.64% 0.73%
2041 -0.63% 0.73%
2040 -0.62% 0.74%
2039 -0.6% 0.76%
2038 -0.59% 0.79%
2037 -0.58% 0.8%
2036 -0.56% 0.83%
2035 -0.54% 0.85%
2034 -0.53% 0.87%
2033 -0.51% 0.9%
2032 -0.5% 0.93%
2031 -0.47% 0.94%
2030 -0.46% 0.99%
2029 -0.43% 1.03%
2028 -0.4% 1.05%
2027 -0.38% 1.06%
2026 -1.18% 1.12%
2025 -0.89% 1.19%
2024 -0.35% 1.26%
2023 -0.36% 1.34%
2022 -0.43% 1.42%
2021 -1.42% 1.55%
2020 -1.18% 1.64%
2019 -0.02% 1.66%
2018 -0% 1.7%
2017 0.01% 0.66%
2016 -0.04% 0.94%
2015 -0.07% 2.03%
2014 -0.07% 1.68%
2013 -0.06% 1.67%
2012 -0% 1.49%
2011 0.05% 1.24%
2010 -0.29% 1.19%
2009 0.07% 1.2%
2008 0.01% 1.16%
2007 -0.05% 1.06%
2006 -0.06% 1.03%
2005 -0.04% 1.02%
2004 -0.06% 1.01%
2003 -0.07% 1%
2002 -0.05% 0.95%
2001 -0.03% 0.86%
2000 -1.04% 0.92%
1999 -0.008% 1.1%
1998 0.04% 1.22%
1997 0.07% 1.21%
1996 0.08% 1.31%
1995 0.14% 1.22%
1994 0.21% 1.63%
1993 0.25% 2.01%
1992 0.31% 1.81%
1991 0.36% 2.31%
1990 0.39% 2.82%
1989 0.36% 2.98%
1988 0.42% 3.09%
1987 0.57% 3.17%
1986 0.68% 3.25%
1985 0.81% 3.39%
1984 0.91% 3.52%
1983 0.94% 3.56%
1982 0.92% 3.52%
1981 0.91% 3.46%
1980 0.93% 3.09%
1979 0.81% 2.74%
1978 0.8% 2.77%
1977 0.97% 2.74%
1976 1% 2.74%
1975 1% 2.81%
1974 0.96% 2.86%
1973 0.91% 2.9%
1972 0.83% 2.91%
1971 0.36% 2.97%
1970 0.36% 3.08%
1969 0.79% 3.14%
1968 0.96% 3.17%
1967 0.97% 3.17%
1966 0.75% 3.15%
1965 0.98% 3.12%
1964 1.39% 3.1%
1963 1.33% 3.08%
1962 1.15% 3.02%
1961 1.1% 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/poland/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Poland declined by 0.35%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Poland South Africa
Current population
35806942
65683993
Population rank 47/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.79%
One net population change
4.1 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.94 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
1.29 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -351 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -128,120 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.35% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 181/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.59 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -330,820 +146,370
Net migration rank 191/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,739,901 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 41/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 97/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Poland
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Poland South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -330,820 - 146,370
2024 - -238,062 - 166,972
2023 -135,743 -7,824 602,793 228,222
2022 -143,605 967,744 603,636 233,284
2021 -184,907 2,251 456,411 458,246
2020 -120,050 3,920 595,873 369,901
2019 -34,169 7,696 652,130 331,124
2018 -26,582 -223 648,319 318,260
2017 0 -21,535 645,975 343,146
2016 -3,797 -5,675 641,365 -879,235
2015 -26,590 3,887 668,771 641,150
2014 0 5,525 674,754 272,697
2013 -19,020 12,402 652,427 232,230
2012 0 4,635 643,723 264,091
2011 11,419 45,951 601,708 65,166
2010 38,043 119,623 566,834 68,563
2009 30,521 -8,283 554,115 41,528
2008 34,313 -42,288 595,332 36,869
2007 11,436 -51,235 503,567 36,339
2006 3,814 -68,882 487,584 33,159
2005 -3,817 -41,942 464,464 31,286
2004 -7,637 -38,216 442,540 58,924
2003 -15,281 -19,039 415,018 65,604
2002 -3,823 -16,462 430,926 50,313
2001 3,825 -16,648 484,801 -60,793
2000 11,478 -15,921 526,963 -136,794
1999 0 -53,035 594,643 -126,011
1998 19,332 -39,509 627,027 -82,722
1997 34,785 -44,230 667,969 -98,181
1996 42,487 -45,349 710,868 -193,007
1995 46,314 -52,989 743,488 -98,403
1994 96,357 -41,845 698,609 -268,849
1993 103,846 -48,805 789,220 194,977
1992 118,928 -46,893 794,415 -71,342
1991 141,511 -55,342 827,296 -39,131
1990 160,066 -50,339 835,421 259,718
1989 182,215 -49,192 884,629 255,605
1988 215,599 -101,671 909,221 246,382
1987 226,008 -32,310 922,330 231,009
1986 258,448 -22,520 903,644 234,378
1985 297,615 -27,277 893,889 244,940
1984 332,137 -18,402 869,011 290,789
1983 373,032 -26,724 837,013 310,172
1982 369,551 -34,980 807,550 293,195
1981 351,806 -16,155 767,833 279,985
1980 348,627 -42,420 738,415 258,127
1979 366,571 -22,162 716,541 56,323
1978 339,166 -62,936 694,341 62,121
1977 353,828 -33,496 680,929 63,739
1976 367,612 -25,716 675,011 27,333
1975 350,356 -31,346 667,862 38,809
1974 346,893 -18,273 658,438 38,518
1973 320,229 -29,335 651,596 41,125
1972 314,028 -15,004 638,754 38,163
1971 278,660 -31,767 624,761 32,961
1970 280,913 -66,859 605,102 61,514
1969 270,151 -26,744 590,794 73,225
1968 280,963 -11,905 571,841 78,932
1967 275,089 -25,479 553,741 81,932
1966 297,801 -17,158 534,862 77,417
1965 314,450 -21,658 506,632 82,514
1964 326,965 -23,273 490,606 76,298
1963 359,330 -13,770 473,821 72,844
1962 360,671 -31,021 455,634 69,771
1961 398,521 -20,044 437,851 57,728
1960 444,562 -6,306 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 41.4% of the population change in Poland is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 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, 1,739,901 residents or 4.5% of the population were not native-born in Poland, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K
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/poland/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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