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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.79 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.24% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2100 74,230,118 94,767,727
2099 73,760,045 94,556,931
2098 73,287,526 94,349,546
2097 72,813,125 94,158,472
2096 72,336,039 93,960,605
2095 71,858,206 93,752,736
2094 71,379,928 93,527,902
2093 70,900,460 93,300,398
2092 70,420,464 93,074,837
2091 69,940,749 92,826,204
2090 69,462,214 92,594,033
2089 68,985,976 92,355,184
2088 68,510,277 92,112,914
2087 68,035,545 91,866,024
2086 67,562,521 91,614,165
2085 67,091,615 91,385,350
2084 66,621,667 91,139,318
2083 66,152,653 90,877,425
2082 65,684,321 90,615,359
2081 65,216,102 90,345,492
2080 64,749,128 90,071,835
2079 64,282,393 89,801,998
2078 63,815,918 89,526,224
2077 63,348,712 89,249,206
2076 62,880,120 88,986,114
2075 62,409,793 88,713,215
2074 61,937,628 88,428,616
2073 61,462,662 88,149,885
2072 60,984,202 87,866,246
2071 60,502,791 87,540,177
2070 60,018,216 87,209,425
2069 59,529,456 86,901,512
2068 59,036,086 86,588,742
2067 58,539,487 86,268,392
2066 58,039,687 85,935,310
2065 57,537,106 85,604,376
2064 57,032,172 85,244,950
2063 56,524,331 84,875,503
2062 56,014,549 84,503,237
2061 55,501,467 84,132,885
2060 54,986,901 83,748,999
2059 54,469,809 83,354,923
2058 53,950,469 82,947,675
2057 53,430,639 82,538,045
2056 52,909,061 82,127,477
2055 52,386,571 81,698,196
2054 51,862,312 81,255,867
2053 51,336,335 80,818,632
2052 50,809,100 80,367,409
2051 50,280,719 79,886,672
2050 49,751,739 79,411,977
2049 49,221,828 78,925,493
2048 48,690,143 78,437,677
2047 48,157,605 77,922,211
2046 47,623,246 77,397,298
2045 47,087,215 76,879,838
2044 46,550,306 76,357,155
2043 46,013,232 75,827,709
2042 45,475,200 75,291,615
2041 44,936,131 74,748,408
2040 44,396,093 74,205,530
2039 43,856,006 73,663,047
2038 43,314,707 73,105,930
2037 42,773,375 72,532,742
2036 42,231,639 71,956,247
2035 41,690,245 71,362,555
2034 41,150,029 70,762,815
2033 40,611,021 70,153,205
2032 40,073,144 69,527,410
2031 39,535,357 68,890,002
2030 38,998,581 68,245,372
2029 38,417,447 67,573,179
2028 37,810,902 66,884,377
2027 37,189,969 66,190,258
2026 36,566,201 65,496,277
2025 35,932,673 64,770,314
2024 35,300,280 64,007,187
2023 33,702,731 63,212,384
2022 32,175,224 62,378,410
2021 30,784,383 61,502,603
2020 31,552,510 60,562,381
2019 30,063,799 59,587,885
2018 30,196,281 58,613,001
2017 30,977,355 57,635,162
2016 30,954,198 57,259,551
2015 29,816,382 56,723,537
2014 28,309,273 55,594,838
2013 27,624,004 54,678,791
2012 26,168,861 53,782,567
2011 25,091,867 52,995,205
2010 23,978,487 52,344,051
2009 24,217,654 51,728,516
2008 23,287,877 51,114,599
2007 22,368,313 50,528,584
2006 21,459,144 49,998,277
2005 20,559,890 49,490,033
2004 19,669,480 48,991,421
2003 18,786,767 48,500,348
2002 17,910,910 48,019,415
2001 17,041,397 47,566,800
2000 16,177,722 47,159,719
1999 15,472,075 46,730,335
1998 14,922,185 46,223,880
1997 14,374,943 45,666,838
1996 13,831,009 45,123,018
1995 13,289,245 44,541,554
1994 12,750,040 44,004,139
1993 12,215,862 43,297,156
1992 11,686,676 42,443,509
1991 11,160,744 41,687,898
1990 10,640,691 40,746,268
1989 10,128,394 39,628,575
1988 9,629,165 38,480,649
1987 9,130,194 37,326,190
1986 8,628,639 36,180,515
1985 8,151,779 35,042,093
1984 7,697,307 33,892,788
1983 7,252,941 32,739,304
1982 6,824,486 31,615,339
1981 6,420,551 30,541,044
1980 6,047,997 29,518,857
1979 5,703,698 28,634,162
1978 5,381,902 27,869,507
1977 5,083,048 27,118,952
1976 4,807,933 26,395,450
1975 4,556,287 25,690,940
1974 4,323,632 24,989,108
1973 4,106,344 24,294,263
1972 3,905,722 23,609,456
1971 3,724,031 22,942,143
1970 3,562,470 22,279,984
1969 3,417,114 21,614,676
1968 3,282,711 20,957,287
1967 3,157,242 20,314,066
1966 3,039,887 19,690,087
1965 2,928,771 19,089,380
1964 2,821,968 18,511,361
1963 2,719,341 17,954,564
1962 2,620,910 17,418,522
1961 2,526,347 16,908,035
1960 2,435,403 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/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2100 0.64% 0.22%
2099 0.64% 0.22%
2098 0.65% 0.2%
2097 0.66% 0.21%
2096 0.66% 0.22%
2095 0.67% 0.24%
2094 0.68% 0.24%
2093 0.68% 0.24%
2092 0.69% 0.27%
2091 0.69% 0.25%
2090 0.69% 0.26%
2089 0.69% 0.26%
2088 0.7% 0.27%
2087 0.7% 0.27%
2086 0.7% 0.25%
2085 0.71% 0.27%
2084 0.71% 0.29%
2083 0.71% 0.29%
2082 0.72% 0.3%
2081 0.72% 0.3%
2080 0.73% 0.3%
2079 0.73% 0.31%
2078 0.74% 0.31%
2077 0.75% 0.3%
2076 0.75% 0.31%
2075 0.76% 0.32%
2074 0.77% 0.32%
2073 0.78% 0.32%
2072 0.8% 0.37%
2071 0.81% 0.38%
2070 0.82% 0.35%
2069 0.84% 0.36%
2068 0.85% 0.37%
2067 0.86% 0.39%
2066 0.87% 0.39%
2065 0.89% 0.42%
2064 0.9% 0.44%
2063 0.91% 0.44%
2062 0.92% 0.44%
2061 0.94% 0.46%
2060 0.95% 0.47%
2059 0.96% 0.49%
2058 0.97% 0.5%
2057 0.99% 0.5%
2056 1% 0.53%
2055 1.01% 0.54%
2054 1.02% 0.54%
2053 1.04% 0.56%
2052 1.05% 0.6%
2051 1.06% 0.6%
2050 1.08% 0.62%
2049 1.09% 0.62%
2048 1.11% 0.66%
2047 1.12% 0.68%
2046 1.14% 0.67%
2045 1.15% 0.68%
2044 1.17% 0.7%
2043 1.18% 0.71%
2042 1.2% 0.73%
2041 1.22% 0.73%
2040 1.23% 0.74%
2039 1.25% 0.76%
2038 1.27% 0.79%
2037 1.28% 0.8%
2036 1.3% 0.83%
2035 1.31% 0.85%
2034 1.33% 0.87%
2033 1.34% 0.9%
2032 1.36% 0.93%
2031 1.38% 0.94%
2030 1.51% 0.99%
2029 1.6% 1.03%
2028 1.67% 1.05%
2027 1.71% 1.06%
2026 1.76% 1.12%
2025 1.79% 1.19%
2024 4.74% 1.26%
2023 4.75% 1.34%
2022 4.52% 1.42%
2021 -2.43% 1.55%
2020 4.95% 1.64%
2019 -0.44% 1.66%
2018 -2.52% 1.7%
2017 0.07% 0.66%
2016 3.82% 0.94%
2015 5.32% 2.03%
2014 2.48% 1.68%
2013 5.56% 1.67%
2012 4.29% 1.49%
2011 4.64% 1.24%
2010 -0.99% 1.19%
2009 3.99% 1.2%
2008 4.11% 1.16%
2007 4.24% 1.06%
2006 4.37% 1.03%
2005 4.53% 1.02%
2004 4.7% 1.01%
2003 4.89% 1%
2002 5.1% 0.95%
2001 5.34% 0.86%
2000 4.56% 0.92%
1999 3.69% 1.1%
1998 3.81% 1.22%
1997 3.93% 1.21%
1996 4.08% 1.31%
1995 4.23% 1.22%
1994 4.37% 1.63%
1993 4.53% 2.01%
1992 4.71% 1.81%
1991 4.89% 2.31%
1990 5.06% 2.82%
1989 5.18% 2.98%
1988 5.47% 3.09%
1987 5.81% 3.17%
1986 5.85% 3.25%
1985 5.9% 3.39%
1984 6.13% 3.52%
1983 6.28% 3.56%
1982 6.29% 3.52%
1981 6.16% 3.46%
1980 6.04% 3.09%
1979 5.98% 2.74%
1978 5.88% 2.77%
1977 5.72% 2.74%
1976 5.52% 2.74%
1975 5.38% 2.81%
1974 5.29% 2.86%
1973 5.14% 2.9%
1972 4.88% 2.91%
1971 4.54% 2.97%
1970 4.25% 3.08%
1969 4.09% 3.14%
1968 3.97% 3.17%
1967 3.86% 3.17%
1966 3.79% 3.15%
1965 3.78% 3.12%
1964 3.77% 3.1%
1963 3.76% 3.08%
1962 3.74% 3.02%
1961 3.73% 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/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia South Africa
Current population
36734925
65683993
Population rank 44/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.79%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
57 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
6.66 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 85/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 +146,370
Net migration rank 13/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 146,370
2024 - 122,170 - 166,972
2023 474,366 325,691 602,793 228,222
2022 406,920 977,072 603,636 233,284
2021 409,032 -106,287 456,411 458,246
2020 447,036 -74,725 595,873 369,901
2019 474,407 191,582 652,130 331,124
2018 528,767 -988,751 648,319 318,260
2017 546,751 -920,812 645,975 343,146
2016 537,829 -26,997 641,365 -879,235
2015 511,023 465,292 668,771 641,150
2014 493,431 469,144 674,754 272,697
2013 475,299 485,794 652,427 232,230
2012 465,649 479,206 643,723 264,091
2011 443,675 491,253 601,708 65,166
2010 418,641 504,955 566,834 68,563
2009 438,557 496,229 554,115 41,528
2008 433,457 491,337 595,332 36,869
2007 425,199 489,136 503,567 36,339
2006 399,333 504,661 487,584 33,159
2005 375,938 518,565 464,464 31,286
2004 362,843 523,472 442,540 58,924
2003 364,520 514,606 415,018 65,604
2002 372,099 500,508 430,926 50,313
2001 382,153 484,252 484,801 -60,793
2000 392,407 468,515 526,963 -136,794
1999 390,112 160,263 594,643 -126,011
1998 389,499 159,898 627,027 -82,722
1997 385,033 160,066 667,969 -98,181
1996 382,248 160,532 710,868 -193,007
1995 380,231 160,512 743,488 -98,403
1994 377,351 160,306 698,609 -268,849
1993 372,621 158,074 789,220 194,977
1992 366,763 160,908 794,415 -71,342
1991 361,329 162,857 827,296 -39,131
1990 355,495 160,416 835,421 259,718
1989 349,399 159,273 884,629 255,605
1988 342,865 146,918 909,221 246,382
1987 333,088 175,075 922,330 231,009
1986 322,340 172,606 903,644 234,378
1985 310,558 148,208 893,889 244,940
1984 296,615 153,562 869,011 290,789
1983 280,616 157,930 837,013 310,172
1982 264,831 153,528 807,550 293,195
1981 249,156 140,355 767,833 279,985
1980 234,372 121,220 738,415 258,127
1979 220,186 112,826 716,541 56,323
1978 205,331 105,263 694,341 62,121
1977 191,103 96,015 680,929 63,739
1976 178,024 85,083 675,011 27,333
1975 166,223 73,960 667,862 38,809
1974 155,478 69,653 658,438 38,518
1973 145,450 63,995 651,596 41,125
1972 136,360 55,439 638,754 38,163
1971 127,600 43,989 624,761 32,961
1970 120,440 31,097 605,102 61,514
1969 113,859 25,312 590,794 73,225
1968 108,281 21,366 571,841 78,932
1967 103,343 17,947 553,741 81,932
1966 98,361 15,054 534,862 77,417
1965 93,820 15,000 506,632 82,514
1964 89,776 15,000 490,606 76,298
1963 85,480 15,000 473,821 72,844
1962 81,393 15,000 455,634 69,771
1961 77,743 15,000 437,851 57,728
1960 74,143 15,000 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
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/saudi-arabia/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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