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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Serbia was 6,586,476 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Serbia's population is 6,494,521 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 10.1 times bigger than Serbia's.
  • Serbia is ranked the 110th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.08% for Serbia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Serbia has had an average growth rate of -0.76% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Serbia has decreased from 7.41M people to 6.49M (12.4% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Serbia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Serbia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Serbia South Africa
2100 3,621,418 94,767,727
2099 3,649,584 94,556,931
2098 3,677,789 94,349,546
2097 3,706,279 94,158,472
2096 3,734,933 93,960,605
2095 3,763,769 93,752,736
2094 3,792,851 93,527,902
2093 3,822,147 93,300,398
2092 3,851,865 93,074,837
2091 3,881,833 92,826,204
2090 3,911,964 92,594,033
2089 3,942,571 92,355,184
2088 3,973,274 92,112,914
2087 4,004,485 91,866,024
2086 4,036,066 91,614,165
2085 4,068,021 91,385,350
2084 4,100,403 91,139,318
2083 4,133,391 90,877,425
2082 4,166,924 90,615,359
2081 4,200,811 90,345,492
2080 4,235,306 90,071,835
2079 4,270,442 89,801,998
2078 4,306,246 89,526,224
2077 4,342,382 89,249,206
2076 4,378,754 88,986,114
2075 4,415,505 88,713,215
2074 4,452,888 88,428,616
2073 4,490,589 88,149,885
2072 4,528,672 87,866,246
2071 4,567,167 87,540,177
2070 4,606,212 87,209,425
2069 4,645,524 86,901,512
2068 4,685,090 86,588,742
2067 4,724,796 86,268,392
2066 4,764,445 85,935,310
2065 4,804,405 85,604,376
2064 4,844,434 85,244,950
2063 4,884,574 84,875,503
2062 4,924,899 84,503,237
2061 4,964,985 84,132,885
2060 5,005,138 83,748,999
2059 5,045,125 83,354,923
2058 5,085,292 82,947,675
2057 5,125,901 82,538,045
2056 5,166,530 82,127,477
2055 5,207,137 81,698,196
2054 5,247,793 81,255,867
2053 5,288,369 80,818,632
2052 5,329,487 80,367,409
2051 5,371,281 79,886,672
2050 5,413,067 79,411,977
2049 5,455,402 78,925,493
2048 5,498,031 78,437,677
2047 5,541,158 77,922,211
2046 5,584,824 77,397,298
2045 5,629,108 76,879,838
2044 5,673,908 76,357,155
2043 5,719,287 75,827,709
2042 5,765,400 75,291,615
2041 5,811,936 74,748,408
2040 5,858,464 74,205,530
2039 5,905,404 73,663,047
2038 5,952,107 73,105,930
2037 5,998,763 72,532,742
2036 6,045,097 71,956,247
2035 6,091,385 71,362,555
2034 6,137,447 70,762,815
2033 6,183,536 70,153,205
2032 6,229,136 69,527,410
2031 6,274,395 68,890,002
2030 6,319,422 68,245,372
2029 6,363,799 67,573,179
2028 6,407,914 66,884,377
2027 6,451,609 66,190,258
2026 6,494,521 65,496,277
2025 6,543,364 64,770,314
2024 6,586,476 64,007,187
2023 6,623,183 63,212,384
2022 6,664,449 62,378,410
2021 6,834,326 61,502,603
2020 6,899,126 60,562,381
2019 6,945,235 59,587,885
2018 6,982,604 58,613,001
2017 7,020,858 57,635,162
2016 7,058,322 57,259,551
2015 7,095,383 56,723,537
2014 7,131,787 55,594,838
2013 7,166,553 54,678,791
2012 7,201,497 53,782,567
2011 7,236,519 52,995,205
2010 7,291,436 52,344,051
2009 7,320,807 51,728,516
2008 7,350,222 51,114,599
2007 7,381,579 50,528,584
2006 7,411,569 49,998,277
2005 7,440,769 49,490,033
2004 7,463,157 48,991,421
2003 7,480,591 48,500,348
2002 7,500,031 48,019,415
2001 7,503,433 47,566,800
2000 7,516,346 47,159,719
1999 7,540,401 46,730,335
1998 7,567,745 46,223,880
1997 7,598,538 45,666,838
1996 7,622,185 45,123,018
1995 7,628,264 44,541,554
1994 7,622,711 44,004,139
1993 7,614,328 43,297,156
1992 7,604,063 42,443,509
1991 7,595,636 41,687,898
1990 7,897,937 40,746,268
1989 7,893,787 39,628,575
1988 7,884,218 38,480,649
1987 7,868,027 37,326,190
1986 7,853,824 36,180,515
1985 7,835,902 35,042,093
1984 7,813,549 33,892,788
1983 7,788,100 32,739,304
1982 7,763,335 31,615,339
1981 7,736,787 30,541,044
1980 7,709,544 29,518,857
1979 7,541,997 28,634,162
1978 7,504,017 27,869,507
1977 7,462,783 27,118,952
1976 7,418,973 26,395,450
1975 7,368,717 25,690,940
1974 7,326,043 24,989,108
1973 7,283,902 24,294,263
1972 7,252,012 23,609,456
1971 7,211,716 22,942,143
1970 7,164,993 22,279,984
1969 7,123,249 21,614,676
1968 7,007,586 20,957,287
1967 6,966,522 20,314,066
1966 6,927,969 19,690,087
1965 6,876,624 19,089,380
1964 6,832,855 18,511,361
1963 6,787,950 17,954,564
1962 6,740,264 17,418,522
1961 6,689,077 16,908,035
1960 6,638,992 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/serbia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Serbia decreased by 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Serbia lost 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Serbia was ranked 97th most populous country in 2006 and is 110th 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) Serbia's population will shrink by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people with a rank change from 110th to 125th. 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 Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Serbia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Serbia South Africa
2100 -0.77% 0.22%
2099 -0.77% 0.22%
2098 -0.77% 0.2%
2097 -0.77% 0.21%
2096 -0.77% 0.22%
2095 -0.77% 0.24%
2094 -0.77% 0.24%
2093 -0.77% 0.24%
2092 -0.77% 0.27%
2091 -0.77% 0.25%
2090 -0.78% 0.26%
2089 -0.77% 0.26%
2088 -0.78% 0.27%
2087 -0.78% 0.27%
2086 -0.79% 0.25%
2085 -0.79% 0.27%
2084 -0.8% 0.29%
2083 -0.8% 0.29%
2082 -0.81% 0.3%
2081 -0.81% 0.3%
2080 -0.82% 0.3%
2079 -0.83% 0.31%
2078 -0.83% 0.31%
2077 -0.83% 0.3%
2076 -0.83% 0.31%
2075 -0.84% 0.32%
2074 -0.84% 0.32%
2073 -0.84% 0.32%
2072 -0.84% 0.37%
2071 -0.85% 0.38%
2070 -0.85% 0.35%
2069 -0.84% 0.36%
2068 -0.84% 0.37%
2067 -0.83% 0.39%
2066 -0.83% 0.39%
2065 -0.83% 0.42%
2064 -0.82% 0.44%
2063 -0.82% 0.44%
2062 -0.81% 0.44%
2061 -0.8% 0.46%
2060 -0.79% 0.47%
2059 -0.79% 0.49%
2058 -0.79% 0.5%
2057 -0.79% 0.5%
2056 -0.78% 0.53%
2055 -0.77% 0.54%
2054 -0.77% 0.54%
2053 -0.77% 0.56%
2052 -0.78% 0.6%
2051 -0.77% 0.6%
2050 -0.78% 0.62%
2049 -0.78% 0.62%
2048 -0.78% 0.66%
2047 -0.78% 0.68%
2046 -0.79% 0.67%
2045 -0.79% 0.68%
2044 -0.79% 0.7%
2043 -0.8% 0.71%
2042 -0.8% 0.73%
2041 -0.79% 0.73%
2040 -0.79% 0.74%
2039 -0.78% 0.76%
2038 -0.78% 0.79%
2037 -0.77% 0.8%
2036 -0.76% 0.83%
2035 -0.75% 0.85%
2034 -0.75% 0.87%
2033 -0.73% 0.9%
2032 -0.72% 0.93%
2031 -0.71% 0.94%
2030 -0.7% 0.99%
2029 -0.69% 1.03%
2028 -0.68% 1.05%
2027 -0.66% 1.06%
2026 -0.75% 1.12%
2025 -0.65% 1.19%
2024 -0.55% 1.26%
2023 -0.62% 1.34%
2022 -2.49% 1.42%
2021 -0.94% 1.55%
2020 -0.66% 1.64%
2019 -0.54% 1.66%
2018 -0.54% 1.7%
2017 -0.53% 0.66%
2016 -0.52% 0.94%
2015 -0.51% 2.03%
2014 -0.49% 1.68%
2013 -0.49% 1.67%
2012 -0.48% 1.49%
2011 -0.75% 1.24%
2010 -0.4% 1.19%
2009 -0.4% 1.2%
2008 -0.42% 1.16%
2007 -0.4% 1.06%
2006 -0.39% 1.03%
2005 -0.3% 1.02%
2004 -0.23% 1.01%
2003 -0.26% 1%
2002 -0.05% 0.95%
2001 -0.17% 0.86%
2000 -0.32% 0.92%
1999 -0.36% 1.1%
1998 -0.41% 1.22%
1997 -0.31% 1.21%
1996 -0.08% 1.31%
1995 0.07% 1.22%
1994 0.11% 1.63%
1993 0.13% 2.01%
1992 0.11% 1.81%
1991 -3.83% 2.31%
1990 0.05% 2.82%
1989 0.12% 2.98%
1988 0.21% 3.09%
1987 0.18% 3.17%
1986 0.23% 3.25%
1985 0.29% 3.39%
1984 0.33% 3.52%
1983 0.32% 3.56%
1982 0.34% 3.52%
1981 0.35% 3.46%
1980 2.22% 3.09%
1979 0.51% 2.74%
1978 0.55% 2.77%
1977 0.59% 2.74%
1976 0.68% 2.74%
1975 0.58% 2.81%
1974 0.58% 2.86%
1973 0.44% 2.9%
1972 0.56% 2.91%
1971 0.65% 2.97%
1970 0.59% 3.08%
1969 1.65% 3.14%
1968 0.59% 3.17%
1967 0.56% 3.17%
1966 0.75% 3.15%
1965 0.64% 3.12%
1964 0.66% 3.1%
1963 0.71% 3.08%
1962 0.77% 3.02%
1961 0.75% 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/serbia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Serbia declined by 0.55%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Serbia South Africa
Current population
6494521
65683993
Population rank 110/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
14.3 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
8.63 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.4 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -101 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -36,707 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 189/197 85/197
One migration net change every
40.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -13,086 +146,370
Net migration rank 140/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 712,550 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 70/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 64/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Serbia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Serbia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -13,086 - 146,370
2024 - -8,132 - 166,972
2023 -36,427 4,348 602,793 228,222
2022 -46,651 40,118 603,636 233,284
2021 -74,494 -8,974 456,411 458,246
2020 -55,193 -10,220 595,873 369,901
2019 -36,810 -18,891 652,130 331,124
2018 -37,707 -18,883 648,319 318,260
2017 -39,317 -18,651 645,975 343,146
2016 -35,998 -18,322 641,365 -879,235
2015 -37,605 -18,789 668,771 641,150
2014 -34,946 -18,846 674,754 272,697
2013 -34,399 -17,866 652,427 232,230
2012 -35,288 -18,513 643,723 264,091
2011 -36,906 611 601,708 65,166
2010 -34,999 3,632 566,834 68,563
2009 -33,676 6,043 554,115 41,528
2008 -33,590 7,070 595,332 36,869
2007 -34,693 7,045 503,567 36,339
2006 -31,870 8,018 487,584 33,159
2005 -34,227 7,945 464,464 31,286
2004 -26,121 7,300 442,540 58,924
2003 -24,686 6,854 415,018 65,604
2002 -24,750 1,562 430,926 50,313
2001 -20,259 -12,007 484,801 -60,793
2000 -30,065 -14,368 526,963 -136,794
1999 -29,408 -4,073 594,643 -126,011
1998 -23,006 -5,665 627,027 -82,722
1997 -18,389 -5,817 667,969 -98,181
1996 -16,007 -5,598 710,868 -193,007
1995 -7,628 -6,019 743,488 -98,403
1994 -7,157 -5,934 698,609 -268,849
1993 -5,703 -5,972 789,220 194,977
1992 -3,779 -4,415 794,415 -71,342
1991 2,210 -8,483 827,296 -39,131
1990 7,416 -16,260 835,421 259,718
1989 11,872 -16,360 884,629 255,605
1988 13,852 -15,715 909,221 246,382
1987 16,711 -16,686 922,330 231,009
1986 19,407 -17,990 903,644 234,378
1985 22,090 -17,646 893,889 244,940
1984 23,815 -15,567 869,011 290,789
1983 27,515 -15,301 837,013 310,172
1982 30,603 -13,550 807,550 293,195
1981 34,304 -8,531 767,833 279,985
1980 36,273 287 738,415 258,127
1979 39,022 -960 716,541 56,323
1978 43,636 -1,481 694,341 62,121
1977 48,105 -1,953 680,929 63,739
1976 51,399 -2,744 675,011 27,333
1975 52,502 -3,490 667,862 38,809
1974 51,583 -3,525 658,438 38,518
1973 49,596 -2,396 651,596 41,125
1972 48,248 -348 638,754 38,163
1971 47,424 1,655 624,761 32,961
1970 48,343 1,861 605,102 61,514
1969 50,304 4,112 590,794 73,225
1968 51,653 5,430 571,841 78,932
1967 53,120 6,114 553,741 81,932
1966 53,338 7,037 534,862 77,417
1965 53,383 7,957 506,632 82,514
1964 54,185 8,045 490,606 76,298
1963 55,580 8,276 473,821 72,844
1962 59,307 6,064 455,634 69,771
1961 61,065 6,422 437,851 57,728
1960 63,642 4,377 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 83.3% of the population change in Serbia is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 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, 712,550 residents or 10.6% of the population were not native-born in Serbia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K
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/serbia/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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