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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Portugal was 10,804,871 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Portugal's population is 10,788,071 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.1 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Portugal is ranked the 91st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.13% for Portugal vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Portugal has had an average growth rate of +0.35% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Portugal has increased from 10.5M people to 10.8M (2.53% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Portugal vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Portugal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Portugal South Africa
2100 9,079,610 94,734,082
2099 9,084,930 94,523,360
2098 9,089,064 94,316,049
2097 9,094,546 94,125,043
2096 9,100,755 93,927,246
2095 9,108,548 93,719,451
2094 9,113,366 93,494,697
2093 9,118,286 93,267,274
2092 9,123,579 93,041,793
2091 9,127,714 92,793,249
2090 9,132,140 92,561,159
2089 9,136,870 92,322,396
2088 9,141,647 92,080,212
2087 9,147,996 91,833,409
2086 9,152,804 91,581,639
2085 9,158,263 91,352,906
2084 9,165,158 91,106,961
2083 9,171,574 90,845,161
2082 9,179,958 90,583,188
2081 9,190,466 90,313,417
2080 9,201,621 90,039,857
2079 9,214,398 89,770,116
2078 9,228,555 89,494,440
2077 9,243,708 89,217,520
2076 9,262,542 88,954,522
2075 9,282,392 88,681,719
2074 9,305,608 88,397,221
2073 9,330,117 88,118,589
2072 9,353,771 87,835,051
2071 9,380,991 87,509,098
2070 9,409,668 87,178,463
2069 9,440,299 86,870,660
2068 9,473,457 86,558,000
2067 9,506,001 86,237,764
2066 9,539,597 85,904,801
2065 9,574,237 85,573,984
2064 9,611,738 85,214,686
2063 9,649,045 84,845,370
2062 9,686,737 84,473,236
2061 9,723,601 84,103,016
2060 9,762,379 83,719,266
2059 9,801,072 83,325,330
2058 9,841,936 82,918,226
2057 9,880,092 82,508,742
2056 9,918,643 82,098,320
2055 9,958,971 81,669,191
2054 9,997,570 81,227,019
2053 10,037,385 80,789,939
2052 10,076,095 80,338,877
2051 10,112,788 79,858,310
2050 10,149,626 79,383,784
2049 10,187,172 78,897,472
2048 10,221,034 78,409,829
2047 10,255,340 77,894,547
2046 10,289,266 77,369,819
2045 10,321,807 76,852,544
2044 10,353,338 76,330,046
2043 10,384,554 75,800,788
2042 10,412,950 75,264,885
2041 10,440,054 74,721,871
2040 10,469,380 74,179,185
2039 10,497,556 73,636,894
2038 10,523,869 73,079,976
2037 10,548,445 72,506,991
2036 10,573,361 71,930,701
2035 10,597,352 71,337,219
2034 10,621,955 70,737,692
2033 10,645,024 70,128,299
2032 10,668,384 69,502,726
2031 10,689,372 68,865,544
2030 10,708,819 68,221,143
2029 10,729,893 67,549,189
2028 10,752,023 66,860,631
2027 10,770,712 66,166,759
2026 10,788,071 65,473,024
2025 10,804,871 64,747,319
2024 10,694,681 64,007,187
2023 10,578,174 63,212,384
2022 10,434,332 62,378,410
2021 10,361,831 61,502,603
2020 10,297,081 60,562,381
2019 10,286,263 59,587,885
2018 10,283,822 58,613,001
2017 10,300,300 57,635,162
2016 10,325,452 57,259,551
2015 10,358,076 56,723,537
2014 10,401,062 55,594,838
2013 10,457,295 54,678,791
2012 10,514,844 53,782,567
2011 10,557,560 52,995,205
2010 10,573,100 52,344,051
2009 10,568,247 51,728,516
2008 10,558,177 51,114,599
2007 10,542,964 50,528,584
2006 10,522,288 49,998,277
2005 10,503,330 49,490,033
2004 10,483,861 48,991,421
2003 10,458,821 48,500,348
2002 10,419,631 48,019,415
2001 10,362,722 47,566,800
2000 10,289,898 47,159,719
1999 10,217,828 46,730,335
1998 10,160,196 46,223,880
1997 10,108,977 45,666,838
1996 10,063,945 45,123,018
1995 10,026,176 44,541,554
1994 9,991,525 44,004,139
1993 9,964,675 43,297,156
1992 9,952,494 42,443,509
1991 9,960,235 41,687,898
1990 9,983,218 40,746,268
1989 10,005,000 39,628,575
1988 10,019,610 38,480,649
1987 10,030,031 37,326,190
1986 10,032,734 36,180,515
1985 10,023,613 35,042,093
1984 9,996,232 33,892,788
1983 9,957,865 32,739,304
1982 9,911,771 31,615,339
1981 9,851,362 30,541,044
1980 9,766,312 29,518,857
1979 9,661,265 28,634,162
1978 9,558,250 27,869,507
1977 9,455,675 27,118,952
1976 9,355,810 26,395,450
1975 9,093,470 25,690,940
1974 8,754,365 24,989,108
1973 8,633,100 24,294,263
1972 8,630,430 23,609,456
1971 8,643,756 22,942,143
1970 8,680,431 22,279,984
1969 8,757,705 21,614,676
1968 8,836,650 20,957,287
1967 8,874,520 20,314,066
1966 8,930,990 19,690,087
1965 8,998,595 19,089,380
1964 9,035,365 18,511,361
1963 9,030,355 17,954,564
1962 8,993,985 17,418,522
1961 8,929,316 16,908,035
1960 8,857,716 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/portugal/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Portugal decreased by 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Portugal gained 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Portugal was ranked 78th most populous country in 2006 and is 91st 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) Portugal's population will shrink by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people with a rank change from 91st to 97th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Portugal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Portugal South Africa
2100 -0.06% 0.22%
2099 -0.05% 0.22%
2098 -0.06% 0.2%
2097 -0.07% 0.21%
2096 -0.09% 0.22%
2095 -0.05% 0.24%
2094 -0.05% 0.24%
2093 -0.06% 0.24%
2092 -0.05% 0.27%
2091 -0.05% 0.25%
2090 -0.05% 0.26%
2089 -0.05% 0.26%
2088 -0.07% 0.27%
2087 -0.05% 0.27%
2086 -0.06% 0.25%
2085 -0.08% 0.27%
2084 -0.07% 0.29%
2083 -0.09% 0.29%
2082 -0.11% 0.3%
2081 -0.12% 0.3%
2080 -0.14% 0.3%
2079 -0.15% 0.31%
2078 -0.16% 0.31%
2077 -0.2% 0.3%
2076 -0.21% 0.31%
2075 -0.25% 0.32%
2074 -0.26% 0.32%
2073 -0.25% 0.32%
2072 -0.29% 0.37%
2071 -0.3% 0.38%
2070 -0.32% 0.35%
2069 -0.35% 0.36%
2068 -0.34% 0.37%
2067 -0.35% 0.39%
2066 -0.36% 0.39%
2065 -0.39% 0.42%
2064 -0.39% 0.44%
2063 -0.39% 0.44%
2062 -0.38% 0.44%
2061 -0.4% 0.46%
2060 -0.39% 0.47%
2059 -0.42% 0.49%
2058 -0.39% 0.5%
2057 -0.39% 0.5%
2056 -0.4% 0.53%
2055 -0.39% 0.54%
2054 -0.4% 0.54%
2053 -0.38% 0.56%
2052 -0.36% 0.6%
2051 -0.36% 0.6%
2050 -0.37% 0.62%
2049 -0.33% 0.62%
2048 -0.33% 0.66%
2047 -0.33% 0.68%
2046 -0.32% 0.67%
2045 -0.3% 0.68%
2044 -0.3% 0.7%
2043 -0.27% 0.71%
2042 -0.26% 0.73%
2041 -0.28% 0.73%
2040 -0.27% 0.74%
2039 -0.25% 0.76%
2038 -0.23% 0.79%
2037 -0.24% 0.8%
2036 -0.23% 0.83%
2035 -0.23% 0.85%
2034 -0.22% 0.87%
2033 -0.22% 0.9%
2032 -0.2% 0.93%
2031 -0.18% 0.94%
2030 -0.2% 0.99%
2029 -0.21% 1.03%
2028 -0.17% 1.05%
2027 -0.16% 1.06%
2026 -0.16% 1.12%
2025 1.03% 1.16%
2024 1.1% 1.26%
2023 1.38% 1.34%
2022 0.7% 1.42%
2021 0.63% 1.55%
2020 0.11% 1.64%
2019 0.02% 1.66%
2018 -0.16% 1.7%
2017 -0.24% 0.66%
2016 -0.31% 0.94%
2015 -0.41% 2.03%
2014 -0.54% 1.68%
2013 -0.55% 1.67%
2012 -0.4% 1.49%
2011 -0.15% 1.24%
2010 0.05% 1.19%
2009 0.1% 1.2%
2008 0.14% 1.16%
2007 0.2% 1.06%
2006 0.18% 1.03%
2005 0.19% 1.02%
2004 0.24% 1.01%
2003 0.38% 1%
2002 0.55% 0.95%
2001 0.71% 0.86%
2000 0.71% 0.92%
1999 0.57% 1.1%
1998 0.51% 1.22%
1997 0.45% 1.21%
1996 0.38% 1.31%
1995 0.35% 1.22%
1994 0.27% 1.63%
1993 0.12% 2.01%
1992 -0.08% 1.81%
1991 -0.23% 2.31%
1990 -0.22% 2.82%
1989 -0.15% 2.98%
1988 -0.1% 3.09%
1987 -0.03% 3.17%
1986 0.09% 3.25%
1985 0.27% 3.39%
1984 0.39% 3.52%
1983 0.47% 3.56%
1982 0.61% 3.52%
1981 0.87% 3.46%
1980 1.09% 3.09%
1979 1.08% 2.74%
1978 1.08% 2.77%
1977 1.07% 2.74%
1976 2.88% 2.74%
1975 3.87% 2.81%
1974 1.4% 2.86%
1973 0.03% 2.9%
1972 -0.15% 2.91%
1971 -0.42% 2.97%
1970 -0.88% 3.08%
1969 -0.89% 3.14%
1968 -0.43% 3.17%
1967 -0.63% 3.17%
1966 -0.75% 3.15%
1965 -0.41% 3.12%
1964 0.06% 3.1%
1963 0.4% 3.08%
1962 0.72% 3.02%
1961 0.81% 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/portugal/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Portugal grew by 1.03%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Portugal South Africa
Current population
10788071
65829368
Population rank 91/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.79%
One net population change
4.78 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
6.22 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
4.43 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +302 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +110,190 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 91/197
One migration net change every
32 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +16,472 +146,370
Net migration rank 38/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,127,184 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 56/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 61/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Portugal
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Portugal South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,472 - 146,370
2024 -34,223 20,648 591,618 166,972
2023 -32,792 29,102 602,793 228,222
2022 -40,694 68,696 603,636 233,284
2021 -45,592 69,606 456,411 458,246
2020 -39,129 54,076 595,873 369,901
2019 -24,687 63,031 652,130 331,124
2018 -25,709 22,495 648,319 318,260
2017 -23,691 13,979 645,975 343,146
2016 -23,749 -775 641,365 -879,235
2015 -23,823 -3,209 668,771 641,150
2014 -22,882 -26,447 674,754 272,697
2013 -24,052 -36,342 652,427 232,230
2012 -17,875 -37,083 643,723 264,091
2011 -5,279 -31,513 601,708 65,166
2010 -4,230 -5,627 566,834 68,563
2009 -5,284 14,532 554,115 41,528
2008 0 9,478 595,332 36,869
2007 -1,055 21,064 503,567 36,339
2006 3,156 16,754 487,584 33,159
2005 2,101 15,537 464,464 31,286
2004 7,339 13,928 442,540 58,924
2003 4,184 24,740 415,018 65,604
2002 8,335 42,169 430,926 50,313
2001 8,290 55,565 484,801 -60,793
2000 15,435 60,586 526,963 -136,794
1999 8,175 49,572 594,643 -126,011
1998 7,112 40,931 627,027 -82,722
1997 8,087 36,922 667,969 -98,181
1996 4,026 32,640 710,868 -193,007
1995 4,011 26,971 743,488 -98,403
1994 9,991 20,761 698,609 -268,849
1993 7,972 8,561 789,220 194,977
1992 13,933 -11,847 794,415 -71,342
1991 12,948 -37,914 827,296 -39,131
1990 13,976 -34,855 835,421 259,718
1989 22,011 -30,615 884,629 255,605
1988 24,047 -26,595 909,221 246,382
1987 28,084 -23,142 922,330 231,009
1986 31,102 -20,000 903,644 234,378
1985 33,077 -19,183 893,889 244,940
1984 45,983 -16,658 869,011 290,789
1983 47,798 -16,568 837,013 310,172
1982 58,479 -15,006 807,550 293,195
1981 56,152 -7,938 767,833 279,985
1980 63,481 29,881 738,415 258,127
1979 67,628 32,434 716,541 56,323
1978 70,731 34,345 694,341 62,121
1977 84,156 37,779 680,929 63,739
1976 85,138 40,490 675,011 27,333
1975 81,841 42,262 667,862 38,809
1974 74,412 41,254 658,438 38,518
1973 76,835 39,748 651,596 41,125
1972 83,715 39,058 638,754 38,163
1971 82,980 48,944 624,761 32,961
1970 87,672 -191,862 605,102 61,514
1969 89,329 -161,114 590,794 73,225
1968 100,737 -145,200 571,841 78,932
1967 106,495 -136,232 553,741 81,932
1966 107,171 -129,233 534,862 77,417
1965 115,182 -123,855 506,632 82,514
1964 120,170 -118,763 490,606 76,298
1963 113,783 -116,874 473,821 72,844
1962 123,217 -113,947 455,634 69,771
1961 117,867 -112,768 437,851 57,728
1960 118,693 -95,886 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.2% of the population change in Portugal is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 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, 1,127,184 residents or 10.8% of the population were not native-born in Portugal, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K
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/portugal/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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