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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 4.39 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.97% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Rwanda vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda South Africa
2100 33,092,520 94,767,727
2099 32,987,847 94,556,931
2098 32,907,335 94,349,546
2097 32,832,706 94,158,472
2096 32,747,490 93,960,605
2095 32,615,044 93,752,736
2094 32,529,590 93,527,902
2093 32,396,544 93,300,398
2092 32,274,083 93,074,837
2091 32,171,077 92,826,204
2090 32,068,626 92,594,033
2089 31,872,593 92,355,184
2088 31,726,882 92,112,914
2087 31,533,364 91,866,024
2086 31,379,315 91,614,165
2085 31,235,000 91,385,350
2084 31,092,940 91,139,318
2083 30,917,707 90,877,425
2082 30,733,578 90,615,359
2081 30,557,819 90,345,492
2080 30,367,298 90,071,835
2079 30,176,627 89,801,998
2078 29,997,866 89,526,224
2077 29,800,561 89,249,206
2076 29,627,021 88,986,114
2075 29,423,503 88,713,215
2074 29,225,643 88,428,616
2073 29,007,777 88,149,885
2072 28,780,763 87,866,246
2071 28,560,382 87,540,177
2070 28,316,533 87,209,425
2069 28,103,541 86,901,512
2068 27,854,906 86,588,742
2067 27,591,747 86,268,392
2066 27,355,659 85,935,310
2065 27,084,704 85,604,376
2064 26,821,315 85,244,950
2063 26,543,184 84,875,503
2062 26,296,132 84,503,237
2061 25,985,356 84,132,885
2060 25,712,904 83,748,999
2059 25,437,446 83,354,923
2058 25,106,242 82,947,675
2057 24,837,928 82,538,045
2056 24,566,784 82,127,477
2055 24,266,669 81,698,196
2054 23,976,914 81,255,867
2053 23,690,426 80,818,632
2052 23,406,346 80,367,409
2051 23,099,207 79,886,672
2050 22,800,250 79,411,977
2049 22,484,698 78,925,493
2048 22,157,938 78,437,677
2047 21,834,786 77,922,211
2046 21,540,566 77,397,298
2045 21,215,262 76,879,838
2044 20,902,695 76,357,155
2043 20,535,605 75,827,709
2042 20,201,608 75,291,615
2041 19,832,577 74,748,408
2040 19,463,015 74,205,530
2039 19,096,860 73,663,047
2038 18,761,626 73,105,930
2037 18,421,864 72,532,742
2036 18,116,691 71,956,247
2035 17,753,910 71,362,555
2034 17,421,234 70,762,815
2033 17,089,349 70,153,205
2032 16,811,505 69,527,410
2031 16,485,559 68,890,002
2030 16,167,916 68,245,372
2029 15,858,862 67,573,179
2028 15,544,959 66,884,377
2027 15,207,733 66,190,258
2026 14,888,776 65,496,277
2025 14,560,205 64,770,314
2024 14,256,567 64,007,187
2023 13,954,471 63,212,384
2022 13,651,030 62,378,410
2021 13,355,260 61,502,603
2020 13,065,837 60,562,381
2019 12,776,103 59,587,885
2018 12,487,996 58,613,001
2017 12,202,060 57,635,162
2016 11,919,183 57,259,551
2015 11,640,022 56,723,537
2014 11,364,757 55,594,838
2013 11,093,340 54,678,791
2012 10,829,901 53,782,567
2011 10,573,733 52,995,205
2010 10,317,553 52,344,051
2009 10,060,432 51,728,516
2008 9,804,269 51,114,599
2007 9,549,933 50,528,584
2006 9,299,246 49,998,277
2005 9,054,528 49,490,033
2004 8,816,844 48,991,421
2003 8,586,875 48,500,348
2002 8,400,180 48,019,415
2001 8,287,094 47,566,800
2000 8,213,931 47,159,719
1999 8,147,912 46,730,335
1998 8,081,681 46,223,880
1997 7,755,238 45,666,838
1996 6,708,764 45,123,018
1995 5,674,118 44,541,554
1994 6,792,352 44,004,139
1993 7,981,132 43,297,156
1992 7,683,266 42,443,509
1991 7,526,966 41,687,898
1990 7,375,307 40,746,268
1989 7,184,706 39,628,575
1988 6,968,071 38,480,649
1987 6,749,493 37,326,190
1986 6,531,881 36,180,515
1985 6,317,228 35,042,093
1984 6,107,627 33,892,788
1983 5,905,311 32,739,304
1982 5,711,549 31,615,339
1981 5,527,230 30,541,044
1980 5,353,259 29,518,857
1979 5,189,541 28,634,162
1978 5,035,171 27,869,507
1977 4,888,240 27,118,952
1976 4,745,954 26,395,450
1975 4,607,728 25,690,940
1974 4,474,228 24,989,108
1973 4,345,047 24,294,263
1972 4,220,335 23,609,456
1971 4,100,044 22,942,143
1970 3,980,669 22,279,984
1969 3,861,271 21,614,676
1968 3,744,010 20,957,287
1967 3,629,577 20,314,066
1966 3,521,626 19,690,087
1965 3,423,210 19,089,380
1964 3,334,834 18,511,361
1963 3,258,890 17,954,564
1962 3,186,025 17,418,522
1961 3,106,779 16,908,035
1960 3,022,294 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/rwanda/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda South Africa
2100 0.32% 0.22%
2099 0.24% 0.22%
2098 0.23% 0.2%
2097 0.26% 0.21%
2096 0.41% 0.22%
2095 0.26% 0.24%
2094 0.41% 0.24%
2093 0.38% 0.24%
2092 0.32% 0.27%
2091 0.32% 0.25%
2090 0.62% 0.26%
2089 0.46% 0.26%
2088 0.61% 0.27%
2087 0.49% 0.27%
2086 0.46% 0.25%
2085 0.46% 0.27%
2084 0.57% 0.29%
2083 0.6% 0.29%
2082 0.58% 0.3%
2081 0.63% 0.3%
2080 0.63% 0.3%
2079 0.6% 0.31%
2078 0.66% 0.31%
2077 0.59% 0.3%
2076 0.69% 0.31%
2075 0.68% 0.32%
2074 0.75% 0.32%
2073 0.79% 0.32%
2072 0.77% 0.37%
2071 0.86% 0.38%
2070 0.76% 0.35%
2069 0.89% 0.36%
2068 0.95% 0.37%
2067 0.86% 0.39%
2066 1% 0.39%
2065 0.98% 0.42%
2064 1.05% 0.44%
2063 0.94% 0.44%
2062 1.2% 0.44%
2061 1.06% 0.46%
2060 1.08% 0.47%
2059 1.32% 0.49%
2058 1.08% 0.5%
2057 1.1% 0.5%
2056 1.24% 0.53%
2055 1.21% 0.54%
2054 1.21% 0.54%
2053 1.21% 0.56%
2052 1.33% 0.6%
2051 1.31% 0.6%
2050 1.4% 0.62%
2049 1.47% 0.62%
2048 1.48% 0.66%
2047 1.37% 0.68%
2046 1.53% 0.67%
2045 1.5% 0.68%
2044 1.79% 0.7%
2043 1.65% 0.71%
2042 1.86% 0.73%
2041 1.9% 0.73%
2040 1.92% 0.74%
2039 1.79% 0.76%
2038 1.84% 0.79%
2037 1.68% 0.8%
2036 2.04% 0.83%
2035 1.91% 0.85%
2034 1.94% 0.87%
2033 1.65% 0.9%
2032 1.98% 0.93%
2031 1.96% 0.94%
2030 1.95% 0.99%
2029 2.02% 1.03%
2028 2.22% 1.05%
2027 2.14% 1.06%
2026 2.26% 1.12%
2025 2.13% 1.19%
2024 2.16% 1.26%
2023 2.22% 1.34%
2022 2.21% 1.42%
2021 2.22% 1.55%
2020 2.27% 1.64%
2019 2.31% 1.66%
2018 2.34% 1.7%
2017 2.37% 0.66%
2016 2.4% 0.94%
2015 2.42% 2.03%
2014 2.45% 1.68%
2013 2.43% 1.67%
2012 2.42% 1.49%
2011 2.48% 1.24%
2010 2.56% 1.19%
2009 2.61% 1.2%
2008 2.66% 1.16%
2007 2.7% 1.06%
2006 2.7% 1.03%
2005 2.7% 1.02%
2004 2.68% 1.01%
2003 2.22% 1%
2002 1.36% 0.95%
2001 0.89% 0.86%
2000 0.81% 0.92%
1999 0.82% 1.1%
1998 4.21% 1.22%
1997 15.6% 1.21%
1996 18.2% 1.31%
1995 -16.5% 1.22%
1994 -14.9% 1.63%
1993 3.88% 2.01%
1992 2.08% 1.81%
1991 2.06% 2.31%
1990 2.65% 2.82%
1989 3.11% 2.98%
1988 3.24% 3.09%
1987 3.33% 3.17%
1986 3.4% 3.25%
1985 3.43% 3.39%
1984 3.43% 3.52%
1983 3.39% 3.56%
1982 3.33% 3.52%
1981 3.25% 3.46%
1980 3.15% 3.09%
1979 3.07% 2.74%
1978 3.01% 2.77%
1977 3% 2.74%
1976 3% 2.74%
1975 2.98% 2.81%
1974 2.97% 2.86%
1973 2.96% 2.9%
1972 2.93% 2.91%
1971 3% 2.97%
1970 3.09% 3.08%
1969 3.13% 3.14%
1968 3.15% 3.17%
1967 3.07% 3.17%
1966 2.87% 3.15%
1965 2.65% 3.12%
1964 2.33% 3.1%
1963 2.29% 3.08%
1962 2.55% 3.02%
1961 2.8% 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/rwanda/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Rwanda South Africa
Current population
14975051
65683993
Population rank 77/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.79%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.33 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
6.35 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +828 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 +146,370
Net migration rank 48/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 146,370
2024 - -15,582 - 166,972
2023 312,762 -9,001 602,793 228,222
2022 312,145 -9,001 603,636 233,284
2021 309,895 -21,492 456,411 458,246
2020 312,692 -22,251 595,873 369,901
2019 313,525 -24,492 652,130 331,124
2018 312,512 -25,323 648,319 318,260
2017 310,323 -25,634 645,975 343,146
2016 305,549 -24,474 641,365 -879,235
2015 299,114 -21,862 668,771 641,150
2014 292,779 -19,505 674,754 272,697
2013 286,331 -16,779 652,427 232,230
2012 282,584 -25,260 643,723 264,091
2011 282,922 -27,915 601,708 65,166
2010 286,848 -29,501 566,834 68,563
2009 287,034 -30,128 554,115 41,528
2008 287,334 -31,913 595,332 36,869
2007 285,791 -32,537 503,567 36,339
2006 282,149 -34,008 487,584 33,159
2005 275,121 -33,830 464,464 31,286
2004 265,273 -31,214 442,540 58,924
2003 251,243 -25,355 415,018 65,604
2002 239,036 -91,518 430,926 50,313
2001 230,845 -152,197 484,801 -60,793
2000 221,276 -153,588 526,963 -136,794
1999 210,518 -146,162 594,643 -126,011
1998 197,185 -129,089 627,027 -82,722
1997 174,687 410,106 667,969 -98,181
1996 140,455 1,367,700 710,868 -193,007
1995 121,137 439,995 743,488 -98,403
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 698,609 -268,849
1993 183,926 236,110 789,220 194,977
1992 188,025 -12,334 794,415 -71,342
1991 196,431 -59,519 827,296 -39,131
1990 207,895 -41,483 835,421 259,718
1989 217,632 -2,826 884,629 255,605
1988 223,759 -5,285 909,221 246,382
1987 225,744 -7,062 922,330 231,009
1986 225,526 -8,982 903,644 234,378
1985 223,794 -11,031 893,889 244,940
1984 219,337 -12,899 869,011 290,789
1983 212,750 -14,560 837,013 310,172
1982 205,147 -15,818 807,550 293,195
1981 195,769 -16,453 767,833 279,985
1980 184,988 -16,359 738,415 258,127
1979 174,477 -15,669 716,541 56,323
1978 163,779 -13,838 694,341 62,121
1977 155,011 -11,084 680,929 63,739
1976 147,665 -7,027 675,011 27,333
1975 140,596 -4,791 667,862 38,809
1974 135,743 -4,535 658,438 38,518
1973 131,021 -3,862 651,596 41,125
1972 126,403 -4,156 638,754 38,163
1971 122,567 -4,230 624,761 32,961
1970 119,273 1,149 605,102 61,514
1969 115,394 2,983 590,794 73,225
1968 111,422 4,728 571,841 78,932
1967 108,053 4,655 553,741 81,932
1966 105,128 -1,930 534,862 77,417
1965 103,422 -9,774 506,632 82,514
1964 102,562 -19,458 490,606 76,298
1963 94,296 -25,524 473,821 72,844
1962 102,548 -25,594 455,634 69,771
1961 102,051 -20,508 437,851 57,728
1960 100,627 -13,198 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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/rwanda/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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