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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Qatar was 2,972,215 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Qatar's population is 3,058,826 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 21.5 times bigger than Qatar's.
  • Qatar is ranked the 137th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.04% for Qatar vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Qatar has had an average growth rate of +3.11% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Qatar has increased from 973K people to 3.06M (214.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Qatar vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Qatar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Qatar South Africa
2100 6,972,765 94,734,082
2099 6,902,865 94,523,360
2098 6,832,972 94,316,049
2097 6,763,112 94,125,043
2096 6,693,313 93,927,246
2095 6,623,737 93,719,451
2094 6,554,428 93,494,697
2093 6,485,480 93,267,274
2092 6,416,857 93,041,793
2091 6,348,472 92,793,249
2090 6,280,498 92,561,159
2089 6,212,895 92,322,396
2088 6,145,694 92,080,212
2087 6,079,024 91,833,409
2086 6,012,856 91,581,639
2085 5,947,139 91,352,906
2084 5,882,052 91,106,961
2083 5,817,423 90,845,161
2082 5,753,042 90,583,188
2081 5,689,198 90,313,417
2080 5,626,301 90,039,857
2079 5,563,686 89,770,116
2078 5,501,503 89,494,440
2077 5,439,884 89,217,520
2076 5,378,805 88,954,522
2075 5,318,176 88,681,719
2074 5,257,980 88,397,221
2073 5,198,464 88,118,589
2072 5,139,487 87,835,051
2071 5,081,134 87,509,098
2070 5,023,260 87,178,463
2069 4,966,009 86,870,660
2068 4,909,308 86,558,000
2067 4,853,160 86,237,764
2066 4,797,538 85,904,801
2065 4,742,437 85,573,984
2064 4,687,734 85,214,686
2063 4,633,558 84,845,370
2062 4,580,556 84,473,236
2061 4,528,210 84,103,016
2060 4,476,460 83,719,266
2059 4,425,307 83,325,330
2058 4,374,761 82,918,226
2057 4,324,674 82,508,742
2056 4,275,356 82,098,320
2055 4,226,248 81,669,191
2054 4,177,940 81,227,019
2053 4,129,988 80,789,939
2052 4,082,778 80,338,877
2051 4,036,106 79,858,310
2050 3,989,893 79,383,784
2049 3,944,197 78,897,472
2048 3,898,911 78,409,829
2047 3,854,117 77,894,547
2046 3,809,818 77,369,819
2045 3,766,041 76,852,544
2044 3,722,804 76,330,046
2043 3,680,166 75,800,788
2042 3,638,155 75,264,885
2041 3,596,830 74,721,871
2040 3,556,201 74,179,185
2039 3,516,349 73,636,894
2038 3,477,295 73,079,976
2037 3,439,088 72,506,991
2036 3,401,760 71,930,701
2035 3,365,348 71,337,219
2034 3,329,762 70,737,692
2033 3,295,048 70,128,299
2032 3,261,276 69,502,726
2031 3,228,377 68,865,544
2030 3,196,357 68,221,143
2029 3,161,836 67,549,189
2028 3,124,179 66,860,631
2027 3,083,362 66,166,759
2026 3,032,913 65,473,024
2025 2,972,215 64,747,319
2024 2,857,822 64,007,187
2023 2,656,032 63,212,384
2022 2,657,333 62,378,410
2021 2,504,910 61,502,603
2020 2,794,148 60,562,381
2019 2,638,657 59,587,885
2018 2,580,734 58,613,001
2017 2,545,820 57,635,162
2016 2,477,113 57,259,551
2015 2,344,557 56,723,537
2014 2,151,745 55,594,838
2013 1,916,426 54,678,791
2012 1,722,438 53,782,567
2011 1,624,761 52,995,205
2010 1,616,832 52,344,051
2009 1,608,903 51,728,516
2008 1,426,938 51,114,599
2007 1,208,595 50,528,584
2006 972,831 49,998,277
2005 825,408 49,490,033
2004 773,332 48,991,421
2003 744,682 48,500,348
2002 711,205 48,019,415
2001 677,925 47,566,800
2000 644,989 47,159,719
1999 612,500 46,730,335
1998 580,540 46,223,880
1997 550,500 45,666,838
1996 529,019 45,123,018
1995 514,325 44,541,554
1994 499,459 44,004,139
1993 484,545 43,297,156
1992 469,657 42,443,509
1991 454,853 41,687,898
1990 440,175 40,746,268
1989 425,646 39,628,575
1988 411,264 38,480,649
1987 397,005 37,326,190
1986 382,422 36,180,515
1985 365,940 35,042,093
1984 347,878 33,892,788
1983 329,709 32,739,304
1982 311,537 31,615,339
1981 293,553 30,541,044
1980 275,913 29,518,857
1979 258,670 28,634,162
1978 241,808 27,869,507
1977 225,285 27,118,952
1976 209,052 26,395,450
1975 193,087 25,690,940
1974 177,362 24,989,108
1973 161,841 24,294,263
1972 146,506 23,609,456
1971 131,346 22,942,143
1970 116,350 22,279,984
1969 103,025 21,614,676
1968 91,749 20,957,287
1967 81,439 20,314,066
1966 72,192 19,690,087
1965 64,065 19,089,380
1964 56,867 18,511,361
1963 50,380 17,954,564
1962 44,630 17,418,522
1961 39,680 16,908,035
1960 36,010 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/qatar/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Qatar increased by 1,504,282 people (a 154.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Qatar gained 581,713 people (a 23.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Qatar was ranked 156th most populous country in 2006 and is 137th 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) Qatar's population will grow by 30.4% to 3,989,893 people with a rank change from 137th to 134th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Qatar is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 6.97M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Qatar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Qatar South Africa
2100 1.01% 0.22%
2099 1.02% 0.22%
2098 1.03% 0.2%
2097 1.04% 0.21%
2096 1.05% 0.22%
2095 1.06% 0.24%
2094 1.06% 0.24%
2093 1.07% 0.24%
2092 1.08% 0.27%
2091 1.08% 0.25%
2090 1.09% 0.26%
2089 1.09% 0.26%
2088 1.1% 0.27%
2087 1.1% 0.27%
2086 1.11% 0.25%
2085 1.11% 0.27%
2084 1.11% 0.29%
2083 1.12% 0.29%
2082 1.12% 0.3%
2081 1.12% 0.3%
2080 1.13% 0.3%
2079 1.13% 0.31%
2078 1.13% 0.31%
2077 1.14% 0.3%
2076 1.14% 0.31%
2075 1.14% 0.32%
2074 1.14% 0.32%
2073 1.15% 0.32%
2072 1.15% 0.37%
2071 1.15% 0.38%
2070 1.15% 0.35%
2069 1.15% 0.36%
2068 1.16% 0.37%
2067 1.16% 0.39%
2066 1.16% 0.39%
2065 1.17% 0.42%
2064 1.17% 0.44%
2063 1.16% 0.44%
2062 1.16% 0.44%
2061 1.16% 0.46%
2060 1.16% 0.47%
2059 1.16% 0.49%
2058 1.16% 0.5%
2057 1.15% 0.5%
2056 1.16% 0.53%
2055 1.16% 0.54%
2054 1.16% 0.54%
2053 1.16% 0.56%
2052 1.16% 0.6%
2051 1.16% 0.6%
2050 1.16% 0.62%
2049 1.16% 0.62%
2048 1.16% 0.66%
2047 1.16% 0.68%
2046 1.16% 0.67%
2045 1.16% 0.68%
2044 1.16% 0.7%
2043 1.15% 0.71%
2042 1.15% 0.73%
2041 1.14% 0.73%
2040 1.13% 0.74%
2039 1.12% 0.76%
2038 1.11% 0.79%
2037 1.1% 0.8%
2036 1.08% 0.83%
2035 1.07% 0.85%
2034 1.05% 0.87%
2033 1.04% 0.9%
2032 1.02% 0.93%
2031 1% 0.94%
2030 1.09% 0.99%
2029 1.21% 1.03%
2028 1.32% 1.05%
2027 1.66% 1.06%
2026 2.04% 1.12%
2025 4% 1.16%
2024 7.6% 1.26%
2023 -0.05% 1.34%
2022 6.08% 1.42%
2021 -10.4% 1.55%
2020 5.89% 1.64%
2019 2.24% 1.66%
2018 1.37% 1.7%
2017 2.77% 0.66%
2016 5.65% 0.94%
2015 8.96% 2.03%
2014 12.3% 1.68%
2013 11.3% 1.67%
2012 6.01% 1.49%
2011 0.49% 1.24%
2010 0.49% 1.19%
2009 12.8% 1.2%
2008 18.1% 1.16%
2007 24.2% 1.06%
2006 17.9% 1.03%
2005 6.73% 1.02%
2004 3.85% 1.01%
2003 4.71% 1%
2002 4.91% 0.95%
2001 5.11% 0.86%
2000 5.3% 0.92%
1999 5.51% 1.1%
1998 5.46% 1.22%
1997 4.06% 1.21%
1996 2.86% 1.31%
1995 2.98% 1.22%
1994 3.08% 1.63%
1993 3.17% 2.01%
1992 3.25% 1.81%
1991 3.33% 2.31%
1990 3.41% 2.82%
1989 3.5% 2.98%
1988 3.59% 3.09%
1987 3.81% 3.17%
1986 4.5% 3.25%
1985 5.19% 3.39%
1984 5.51% 3.52%
1983 5.83% 3.56%
1982 6.13% 3.52%
1981 6.39% 3.46%
1980 6.67% 3.09%
1979 6.97% 2.74%
1978 7.33% 2.77%
1977 7.77% 2.74%
1976 8.27% 2.74%
1975 8.87% 2.81%
1974 9.59% 2.86%
1973 10.5% 2.9%
1972 11.5% 2.91%
1971 12.9% 2.97%
1970 12.9% 3.08%
1969 12.3% 3.14%
1968 12.7% 3.17%
1967 12.8% 3.17%
1966 12.7% 3.15%
1965 12.7% 3.12%
1964 12.9% 3.1%
1963 12.9% 3.08%
1962 12.5% 3.02%
1961 10.2% 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/qatar/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Qatar grew by 4%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Qatar South Africa
Current population
3058826
65829368
Population rank 137/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
4.61 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
19.3 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.92 hours
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +313 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +114,393 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +4% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 91/197
One migration net change every
14.5 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +36,288 +146,370
Net migration rank 26/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,337,000 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 31/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 76.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 1/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Qatar
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Qatar South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 36,288 - 146,370
2024 24,214 46,105 591,618 166,972
2023 23,845 39,995 602,793 228,222
2022 24,360 80,004 603,636 233,284
2021 21,297 24,501 456,411 458,246
2020 25,128 -50,433 595,873 369,901
2019 24,112 10,557 652,130 331,124
2018 23,340 12,465 648,319 318,260
2017 23,244 46,719 645,975 343,146
2016 22,416 119,725 641,365 -879,235
2015 22,568 177,467 668,771 641,150
2014 21,699 194,712 674,754 272,697
2013 19,669 133,520 652,427 232,230
2012 17,681 77,091 643,723 264,091
2011 16,543 77,228 601,708 65,166
2010 16,225 90,620 566,834 68,563
2009 15,595 123,217 554,115 41,528
2008 14,062 165,572 595,332 36,869
2007 11,351 245,703 503,567 36,339
2006 10,225 204,236 487,584 33,159
2005 11,392 68,993 464,464 31,286
2004 11,242 12,531 442,540 58,924
2003 11,291 22,234 415,018 65,604
2002 11,062 22,356 430,926 50,313
2001 10,683 22,456 484,801 -60,793
2000 9,974 22,769 526,963 -136,794
1999 9,431 22,815 594,643 -126,011
1998 9,055 22,618 627,027 -82,722
1997 8,846 19,547 667,969 -98,181
1996 9,049 5,517 710,868 -193,007
1995 9,186 5,634 743,488 -98,403
1994 9,257 5,660 698,609 -268,849
1993 9,250 5,670 789,220 194,977
1992 9,189 5,670 794,415 -71,342
1991 9,182 5,562 827,296 -39,131
1990 9,388 5,216 835,421 259,718
1989 9,407 5,045 884,629 255,605
1988 9,198 5,118 909,221 246,382
1987 8,806 5,405 922,330 231,009
1986 8,439 6,512 903,644 234,378
1985 8,212 9,797 893,889 244,940
1984 7,997 10,113 869,011 290,789
1983 7,765 10,462 837,013 310,172
1982 7,489 10,634 807,550 293,195
1981 7,202 10,644 767,833 279,985
1980 6,894 10,540 738,415 258,127
1979 6,579 10,466 716,541 56,323
1978 6,246 10,434 694,341 62,121
1977 5,925 10,445 680,929 63,739
1976 5,598 10,494 675,011 27,333
1975 5,289 10,549 667,862 38,809
1974 5,015 10,603 658,438 38,518
1973 4,780 10,641 651,596 41,125
1972 4,581 10,663 638,754 38,163
1971 4,433 10,644 624,761 32,961
1970 4,346 10,579 605,102 61,514
1969 3,941 7,790 590,794 73,225
1968 3,547 7,266 571,841 78,932
1967 3,167 6,637 553,741 81,932
1966 2,811 5,880 534,862 77,417
1965 2,472 5,083 506,632 82,514
1964 2,150 4,686 490,606 76,298
1963 1,854 4,283 473,821 72,844
1962 1,589 3,773 455,634 69,771
1961 1,357 3,186 437,851 57,728
1960 1,220 1,586 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 31.6% of the population change in Qatar is from natural causes (a gain of 234,524 people) and 68.4% is from migration (a gain of 507,105 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, 2,337,000 residents or 76.7% of the population were not native-born in Qatar, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Qatar
City Population
Doha 1.19M
Al Khor 31.5K
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/qatar/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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