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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Portugal was 10,694,681 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Portugal's population is 10,667,081 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.16 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Portugal is ranked the 92nd 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 +0.21% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Portugal has increased from 10.5M people to 10.7M (1.38% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Portugal vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Portugal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Portugal South Africa
2100 8,977,781 94,767,727
2099 8,983,042 94,556,931
2098 8,987,129 94,349,546
2097 8,992,549 94,158,472
2096 8,998,689 93,960,605
2095 9,006,394 93,752,736
2094 9,011,158 93,527,902
2093 9,016,023 93,300,398
2092 9,021,257 93,074,837
2091 9,025,345 92,826,204
2090 9,029,722 92,594,033
2089 9,034,399 92,355,184
2088 9,039,122 92,112,914
2087 9,045,400 91,866,024
2086 9,050,153 91,614,165
2085 9,055,552 91,385,350
2084 9,062,369 91,139,318
2083 9,068,714 90,877,425
2082 9,077,003 90,615,359
2081 9,087,394 90,345,492
2080 9,098,423 90,071,835
2079 9,111,057 89,801,998
2078 9,125,056 89,526,224
2077 9,140,039 89,249,206
2076 9,158,661 88,986,114
2075 9,178,289 88,713,215
2074 9,201,245 88,428,616
2073 9,225,478 88,149,885
2072 9,248,867 87,866,246
2071 9,275,782 87,540,177
2070 9,304,137 87,209,425
2069 9,334,425 86,901,512
2068 9,367,211 86,588,742
2067 9,399,389 86,268,392
2066 9,432,609 85,935,310
2065 9,466,860 85,604,376
2064 9,503,941 85,244,950
2063 9,540,829 84,875,503
2062 9,578,098 84,503,237
2061 9,614,549 84,132,885
2060 9,652,893 83,748,999
2059 9,691,151 83,354,923
2058 9,731,557 82,947,675
2057 9,769,285 82,538,045
2056 9,807,403 82,127,477
2055 9,847,280 81,698,196
2054 9,885,446 81,255,867
2053 9,924,814 80,818,632
2052 9,963,090 80,367,409
2051 9,999,372 79,886,672
2050 10,035,796 79,411,977
2049 10,072,922 78,925,493
2048 10,106,403 78,437,677
2047 10,140,325 77,922,211
2046 10,173,871 77,397,298
2045 10,206,046 76,879,838
2044 10,237,224 76,357,155
2043 10,268,090 75,827,709
2042 10,296,167 75,291,615
2041 10,322,968 74,748,408
2040 10,351,965 74,205,530
2039 10,379,824 73,663,047
2038 10,405,843 73,105,930
2037 10,430,143 72,532,742
2036 10,454,779 71,956,247
2035 10,478,501 71,362,555
2034 10,502,828 70,762,815
2033 10,525,638 70,153,205
2032 10,548,736 69,527,410
2031 10,569,489 68,890,002
2030 10,588,717 68,245,372
2029 10,609,556 67,573,179
2028 10,631,437 66,884,377
2027 10,649,916 66,190,258
2026 10,667,081 65,496,277
2025 10,683,692 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Portugal was ranked 78th most populous country in 2006 and is 92nd 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 10,035,796 people with a rank change from 92nd to 97th. 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 Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M 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 -0.1% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Portugal grew by 1.1%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Portugal South Africa
Current population
10667081
65683993
Population rank 92/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.79%
One net population change
4.51 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
6.13 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.44 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +319 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +116,507 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.1% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 85/197
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 - 20,648 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 51% of the population change in Portugal is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 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, 1,127,184 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
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/portugal/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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