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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Qatar was 2,857,822 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Qatar's population is 2,999,260 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 21.9 times bigger than Qatar's.
  • Qatar is ranked the 136th 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 +3.86% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Qatar has increased from 973K people to 3M (208.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Qatar vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Qatar
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Qatar South Africa
2100 6,864,512 94,767,727
2099 6,795,697 94,556,931
2098 6,726,889 94,349,546
2097 6,658,115 94,158,472
2096 6,589,399 93,960,605
2095 6,520,903 93,752,736
2094 6,452,670 93,527,902
2093 6,384,792 93,300,398
2092 6,317,235 93,074,837
2091 6,249,912 92,826,204
2090 6,182,993 92,594,033
2089 6,116,439 92,355,184
2088 6,050,282 92,112,914
2087 5,984,646 91,866,024
2086 5,919,506 91,614,165
2085 5,854,810 91,385,350
2084 5,790,733 91,139,318
2083 5,727,107 90,877,425
2082 5,663,726 90,615,359
2081 5,600,872 90,345,492
2080 5,538,952 90,071,835
2079 5,477,309 89,801,998
2078 5,416,092 89,526,224
2077 5,355,430 89,249,206
2076 5,295,298 88,986,114
2075 5,235,611 88,713,215
2074 5,176,349 88,428,616
2073 5,117,758 88,149,885
2072 5,059,696 87,866,246
2071 5,002,249 87,540,177
2070 4,945,273 87,209,425
2069 4,888,911 86,901,512
2068 4,833,090 86,588,742
2067 4,777,814 86,268,392
2066 4,723,056 85,935,310
2065 4,668,810 85,604,376
2064 4,614,957 85,244,950
2063 4,561,622 84,875,503
2062 4,509,442 84,503,237
2061 4,457,910 84,132,885
2060 4,406,963 83,748,999
2059 4,356,604 83,354,923
2058 4,306,842 82,947,675
2057 4,257,533 82,538,045
2056 4,208,980 82,127,477
2055 4,160,635 81,698,196
2054 4,113,078 81,255,867
2053 4,065,870 80,818,632
2052 4,019,393 80,367,409
2051 3,973,445 79,886,672
2050 3,927,949 79,411,977
2049 3,882,963 78,925,493
2048 3,838,380 78,437,677
2047 3,794,282 77,922,211
2046 3,750,671 77,397,298
2045 3,707,573 76,879,838
2044 3,665,008 76,357,155
2043 3,623,031 75,827,709
2042 3,581,673 75,291,615
2041 3,540,989 74,748,408
2040 3,500,991 74,205,530
2039 3,461,758 73,663,047
2038 3,423,310 73,105,930
2037 3,385,696 72,532,742
2036 3,348,948 71,956,247
2035 3,313,100 71,362,555
2034 3,278,067 70,762,815
2033 3,243,892 70,153,205
2032 3,210,644 69,527,410
2031 3,178,257 68,890,002
2030 3,146,733 68,245,372
2029 3,112,748 67,573,179
2028 3,075,676 66,884,377
2027 3,035,492 66,190,258
2026 2,985,826 65,496,277
2025 2,926,071 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 522,147 people (a 21.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Qatar was ranked 156th most populous country in 2006 and is 136th 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 31% to 3,927,949 people with a rank change from 136th to 134th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Qatar is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 6.86M people compared to the peak of 94.8M 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 2.39% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Qatar grew by 7.6%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Qatar South Africa
Current population
2999260
65683993
Population rank 136/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
2.6 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
20 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
3.55 hours
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +553 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +201,790 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +7.6% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 1/197 85/197
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 - 46,105 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 26.1% of the population change in Qatar is from natural causes (a gain of 232,009 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 655,712 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, 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
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/qatar/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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