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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Russia was 143,533,851 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Russia's population is 141,906,741 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 2.16 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • Russia is ranked the 9th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 2.5% of the world: 1.71% for Russia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Russia has had an average growth rate of -0.02% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Russia has decreased from 143M people to 142M (0.8% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Russia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Russia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Russia South Africa
2100 124,983,377 94,767,727
2099 125,086,144 94,556,931
2098 125,186,329 94,349,546
2097 125,264,415 94,158,472
2096 125,354,177 93,960,605
2095 125,422,006 93,752,736
2094 125,474,373 93,527,902
2093 125,529,632 93,300,398
2092 125,604,261 93,074,837
2091 125,652,742 92,826,204
2090 125,707,894 92,594,033
2089 125,760,026 92,355,184
2088 125,810,124 92,112,914
2087 125,858,116 91,866,024
2086 125,926,035 91,614,165
2085 126,001,913 91,385,350
2084 126,076,414 91,139,318
2083 126,151,046 90,877,425
2082 126,234,371 90,615,359
2081 126,317,768 90,345,492
2080 126,414,511 90,071,835
2079 126,534,688 89,801,998
2078 126,674,591 89,526,224
2077 126,830,956 89,249,206
2076 126,982,766 88,986,114
2075 127,165,304 88,713,215
2074 127,362,143 88,428,616
2073 127,576,856 88,149,885
2072 127,802,632 87,866,246
2071 128,080,998 87,540,177
2070 128,353,977 87,209,425
2069 128,642,208 86,901,512
2068 128,920,237 86,588,742
2067 129,203,483 86,268,392
2066 129,511,983 85,935,310
2065 129,842,007 85,604,376
2064 130,177,089 85,244,950
2063 130,522,107 84,875,503
2062 130,851,664 84,503,237
2061 131,200,160 84,132,885
2060 131,526,812 83,748,999
2059 131,884,461 83,354,923
2058 132,247,211 82,947,675
2057 132,584,941 82,538,045
2056 132,925,501 82,127,477
2055 133,271,436 81,698,196
2054 133,595,068 81,255,867
2053 133,914,243 80,818,632
2052 134,180,223 80,367,409
2051 134,443,510 79,886,672
2050 134,687,487 79,411,977
2049 134,909,323 78,925,493
2048 135,117,641 78,437,677
2047 135,311,492 77,922,211
2046 135,482,008 77,397,298
2045 135,664,379 76,879,838
2044 135,863,165 76,357,155
2043 136,085,277 75,827,709
2042 136,307,658 75,291,615
2041 136,557,818 74,748,408
2040 136,821,807 74,205,530
2039 137,122,219 73,663,047
2038 137,433,644 73,105,930
2037 137,770,811 72,532,742
2036 138,118,955 71,956,247
2035 138,478,809 71,362,555
2034 138,852,689 70,762,815
2033 139,237,595 70,153,205
2032 139,635,142 69,527,410
2031 140,058,187 68,890,002
2030 140,453,528 68,245,372
2029 140,840,370 67,573,179
2028 141,214,141 66,884,377
2027 141,580,416 66,190,258
2026 141,906,741 65,496,277
2025 142,772,403 64,770,314
2024 143,533,851 64,007,187
2023 143,826,130 63,212,384
2022 144,236,933 62,378,410
2021 144,746,762 61,502,603
2020 145,245,148 60,562,381
2019 145,453,291 59,587,885
2018 145,398,106 58,613,001
2017 145,293,260 57,635,162
2016 145,015,460 57,259,551
2015 144,640,716 56,723,537
2014 144,237,223 55,594,838
2013 143,805,638 54,678,791
2012 143,378,447 53,782,567
2011 143,018,195 52,995,205
2010 142,849,468 52,344,051
2009 142,785,348 51,728,516
2008 142,742,366 51,114,599
2007 142,805,114 50,528,584
2006 143,049,637 49,998,277
2005 143,518,814 49,490,033
2004 144,067,316 48,991,421
2003 144,648,618 48,500,348
2002 145,306,497 48,019,415
2001 145,976,482 47,566,800
2000 146,596,869 47,159,719
1999 147,214,776 46,730,335
1998 147,670,784 46,223,880
1997 147,915,361 45,666,838
1996 148,160,129 45,123,018
1995 148,375,787 44,541,554
1994 148,407,912 44,004,139
1993 148,458,777 43,297,156
1992 148,538,197 42,443,509
1991 148,394,216 41,687,898
1990 147,969,406 40,746,268
1989 147,721,000 39,628,575
1988 146,857,000 38,480,649
1987 145,908,000 37,326,190
1986 144,894,000 36,180,515
1985 143,858,000 35,042,093
1984 142,745,000 33,892,788
1983 141,668,000 32,739,304
1982 140,823,000 31,615,339
1981 139,941,000 30,541,044
1980 139,010,000 29,518,857
1979 138,027,000 28,634,162
1978 137,060,000 27,869,507
1977 136,100,000 27,118,952
1976 135,147,000 26,395,450
1975 134,200,000 25,690,940
1974 133,432,000 24,989,108
1973 132,669,000 24,294,263
1972 131,909,000 23,609,456
1971 131,155,000 22,942,143
1970 130,404,000 22,279,984
1969 129,664,000 21,614,676
1968 128,928,000 20,957,287
1967 128,196,000 20,314,066
1966 127,468,000 19,690,087
1965 126,745,000 19,089,380
1964 125,345,000 18,511,361
1963 123,960,000 17,954,564
1962 122,591,000 17,418,522
1961 121,236,000 16,908,035
1960 119,897,000 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/russia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Russia increased by 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Russia lost 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Russia was ranked 9th most populous country in 2006 and is still 9th 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) Russia's population will shrink by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people with a rank change from 9th to 14th. 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 Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 125M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Russia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Russia South Africa
2100 -0.08% 0.22%
2099 -0.08% 0.22%
2098 -0.06% 0.2%
2097 -0.07% 0.21%
2096 -0.05% 0.22%
2095 -0.04% 0.24%
2094 -0.04% 0.24%
2093 -0.06% 0.24%
2092 -0.04% 0.27%
2091 -0.04% 0.25%
2090 -0.04% 0.26%
2089 -0.04% 0.26%
2088 -0.04% 0.27%
2087 -0.05% 0.27%
2086 -0.06% 0.25%
2085 -0.06% 0.27%
2084 -0.06% 0.29%
2083 -0.07% 0.29%
2082 -0.07% 0.3%
2081 -0.08% 0.3%
2080 -0.09% 0.3%
2079 -0.11% 0.31%
2078 -0.12% 0.31%
2077 -0.12% 0.3%
2076 -0.14% 0.31%
2075 -0.15% 0.32%
2074 -0.17% 0.32%
2073 -0.18% 0.32%
2072 -0.22% 0.37%
2071 -0.21% 0.38%
2070 -0.22% 0.35%
2069 -0.22% 0.36%
2068 -0.22% 0.37%
2067 -0.24% 0.39%
2066 -0.25% 0.39%
2065 -0.26% 0.42%
2064 -0.26% 0.44%
2063 -0.25% 0.44%
2062 -0.27% 0.44%
2061 -0.25% 0.46%
2060 -0.27% 0.47%
2059 -0.27% 0.49%
2058 -0.25% 0.5%
2057 -0.26% 0.5%
2056 -0.26% 0.53%
2055 -0.24% 0.54%
2054 -0.24% 0.54%
2053 -0.2% 0.56%
2052 -0.2% 0.6%
2051 -0.18% 0.6%
2050 -0.16% 0.62%
2049 -0.15% 0.62%
2048 -0.14% 0.66%
2047 -0.13% 0.68%
2046 -0.13% 0.67%
2045 -0.15% 0.68%
2044 -0.16% 0.7%
2043 -0.16% 0.71%
2042 -0.18% 0.73%
2041 -0.19% 0.73%
2040 -0.22% 0.74%
2039 -0.23% 0.76%
2038 -0.24% 0.79%
2037 -0.25% 0.8%
2036 -0.26% 0.83%
2035 -0.27% 0.85%
2034 -0.28% 0.87%
2033 -0.28% 0.9%
2032 -0.3% 0.93%
2031 -0.28% 0.94%
2030 -0.27% 0.99%
2029 -0.26% 1.03%
2028 -0.26% 1.05%
2027 -0.23% 1.06%
2026 -0.61% 1.12%
2025 -0.53% 1.19%
2024 -0.2% 1.26%
2023 -0.28% 1.34%
2022 -0.35% 1.42%
2021 -0.34% 1.55%
2020 -0.14% 1.64%
2019 0.04% 1.66%
2018 0.07% 1.7%
2017 0.19% 0.66%
2016 0.26% 0.94%
2015 0.28% 2.03%
2014 0.3% 1.68%
2013 0.3% 1.67%
2012 0.25% 1.49%
2011 0.12% 1.24%
2010 0.04% 1.19%
2009 0.03% 1.2%
2008 -0.04% 1.16%
2007 -0.17% 1.06%
2006 -0.33% 1.03%
2005 -0.38% 1.02%
2004 -0.4% 1.01%
2003 -0.45% 1%
2002 -0.46% 0.95%
2001 -0.42% 0.86%
2000 -0.42% 0.92%
1999 -0.31% 1.1%
1998 -0.17% 1.22%
1997 -0.17% 1.21%
1996 -0.15% 1.31%
1995 -0.02% 1.22%
1994 -0.03% 1.63%
1993 -0.05% 2.01%
1992 0.1% 1.81%
1991 0.29% 2.31%
1990 0.17% 2.82%
1989 0.59% 2.98%
1988 0.65% 3.09%
1987 0.7% 3.17%
1986 0.72% 3.25%
1985 0.78% 3.39%
1984 0.76% 3.52%
1983 0.6% 3.56%
1982 0.63% 3.52%
1981 0.67% 3.46%
1980 0.71% 3.09%
1979 0.71% 2.74%
1978 0.71% 2.77%
1977 0.71% 2.74%
1976 0.71% 2.74%
1975 0.58% 2.81%
1974 0.58% 2.86%
1973 0.58% 2.9%
1972 0.57% 2.91%
1971 0.58% 2.97%
1970 0.57% 3.08%
1969 0.57% 3.14%
1968 0.57% 3.17%
1967 0.57% 3.17%
1966 0.57% 3.15%
1965 1.12% 3.12%
1964 1.12% 3.1%
1963 1.12% 3.08%
1962 1.12% 3.02%
1961 1.12% 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/russia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Russia declined by 0.2%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Russia South Africa
Current population
141906741
65683993
Population rank 9/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.71% 0.79%
One net population change
1.8 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
25.5 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
18.1 seconds
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -801 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -292,279 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.2% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 177/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.09 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -251,822 +146,370
Net migration rank 187/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 7,605,774 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 10/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 5.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 91/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Russia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Russia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -251,822 - 146,370
2024 - -178,042 - 166,972
2023 -503,392 27,807 602,793 228,222
2022 -576,948 765,629 603,636 233,284
2021 -1,027,702 314,112 456,411 458,246
2020 -697,177 334,094 595,873 369,901
2019 -319,997 336,494 652,130 331,124
2018 -232,637 339,972 648,319 318,260
2017 -130,764 396,619 645,975 343,146
2016 0 447,645 641,365 -879,235
2015 43,392 384,756 668,771 641,150
2014 28,848 264,698 674,754 272,697
2013 28,761 289,872 652,427 232,230
2012 0 285,977 643,723 264,091
2011 -128,716 309,377 601,708 65,166
2010 -242,844 307,555 566,834 68,563
2009 -257,014 350,206 554,115 41,528
2008 -356,856 360,840 595,332 36,869
2007 -471,257 365,717 503,567 36,339
2006 -686,638 308,370 487,584 33,159
2005 -846,761 263,541 464,464 31,286
2004 -792,370 261,519 442,540 58,924
2003 -896,822 256,804 415,018 65,604
2002 -944,492 1,358,944 430,926 50,313
2001 -963,445 259,614 484,801 -60,793
2000 -967,540 550,401 526,963 -136,794
1999 -927,453 375,468 594,643 -126,011
1998 -694,053 528,135 627,027 -82,722
1997 -769,159 541,387 667,969 -98,181
1996 -785,248 587,171 710,868 -193,007
1995 -845,742 723,875 743,488 -98,403
1994 -920,129 1,271,417 698,609 -268,849
1993 -757,140 507,229 789,220 194,977
1992 -222,808 -1,129,589 794,415 -71,342
1991 103,876 125,505 827,296 -39,131
1990 325,533 299,863 835,421 259,718
1989 576,112 89,400 884,629 255,605
1988 778,343 269,862 909,221 246,382
1987 977,583 275,611 922,330 231,009
1986 985,279 283,553 903,644 234,378
1985 762,447 280,614 893,889 244,940
1984 756,548 247,026 869,011 290,789
1983 906,676 200,159 837,013 310,172
1982 830,855 107,520 807,550 293,195
1981 713,700 36,686 767,833 279,985
1980 681,149 10,440 738,415 258,127
1979 690,135 -5,791 716,541 56,323
1978 812,766 108,882 694,341 62,121
1977 832,932 122,316 680,929 63,739
1976 852,237 113,851 675,011 27,333
1975 843,850 80,069 667,862 38,809
1974 883,186 -51,759 658,438 38,518
1973 846,561 -107,568 651,596 41,125
1972 872,050 -111,168 638,754 38,163
1971 854,999 -134,968 624,761 32,961
1970 785,554 -264,464 605,102 61,514
1969 753,088 -64,643 590,794 73,225
1968 787,621 -83,221 571,841 78,932
1967 854,554 -116,029 553,741 81,932
1966 989,279 -111,360 534,862 77,417
1965 1,059,335 -138,078 506,632 82,514
1964 1,233,520 -148,595 490,606 76,298
1963 1,436,077 -168,649 473,821 72,844
1962 1,573,701 -177,358 455,634 69,771
1961 1,810,538 -204,349 437,851 57,728
1960 1,962,834 -234,895 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.6% of the population change in Russia is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 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, 7,605,774 residents or 5.3% of the population were not native-born in Russia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M
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/russia/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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