The latest officially reported population of the Seychelles was 122,730 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Seychelles' population is 125,859 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 523 times bigger than the Seychelles'.
- The Seychelles is ranked the 181st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.002% for the Seychelles vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, the Seychelles has had an average growth rate of +2.86% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of the Seychelles has increased from 84.6K people to 126K (48.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Seychelles vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Seychelles
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 108,316 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 108,713 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 109,113 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 109,509 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 109,911 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 110,328 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 110,748 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 111,160 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 111,587 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 112,022 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 112,451 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 112,921 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 113,380 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 113,883 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 114,389 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 114,924 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 115,463 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 116,022 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 116,603 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 117,187 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 117,797 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 118,410 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 119,038 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 119,668 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 120,284 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 120,912 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 121,530 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 122,150 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 122,757 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 123,363 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 123,969 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 124,538 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 125,115 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 125,674 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 126,238 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 126,795 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 127,327 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 127,850 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 128,332 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 128,796 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 129,230 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 129,639 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 130,022 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 130,398 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 130,736 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 131,054 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 131,355 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 131,600 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 131,835 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 132,062 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 132,262 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 132,461 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 132,617 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 132,751 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 132,859 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 132,915 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 132,967 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 132,982 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 132,971 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 132,948 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 132,864 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 132,781 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 132,687 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 132,553 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 132,396 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 132,197 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 131,973 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 131,721 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 131,432 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 131,086 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 130,727 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 129,822 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 128,486 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 126,796 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 124,871 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 122,730 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 121,354 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 119,773 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 119,878 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 99,258 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 98,462 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 97,625 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 96,762 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 95,843 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 94,677 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 93,419 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 91,359 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 89,949 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 88,303 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 87,441 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 89,770 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 87,298 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 86,956 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 85,033 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 84,600 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 82,858 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 82,475 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 82,781 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 83,723 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 81,202 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 81,131 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 80,410 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 78,846 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 77,319 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 76,417 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 75,304 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 74,205 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 72,253 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 70,763 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 70,439 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 69,507 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 69,167 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 68,755 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 68,499 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 65,652 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 65,244 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 64,717 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 64,335 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 64,413 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 64,035 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 63,261 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 62,686 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 62,150 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 61,786 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 60,504 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 59,292 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 57,937 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 56,892 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 56,029 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 54,695 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 53,600 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 52,365 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 51,134 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 49,911 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 48,699 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 47,500 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 46,322 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 45,176 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 44,042 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 42,889 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 41,700 | 16,440,172 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/seychelles/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Seychelles increased by 10,077 people (a 11.9% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Seychelles gained 31,182 people (a 32.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
The Seychelles was ranked 184th most populous country in 2006 and is 181st 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) the Seychelles' population will grow by 5.09% to 132,262 people and will still be ranked 181st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
The Seychelles is projected to reach its peak in 2043 at 133K people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Seychelles
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.37% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.37% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.36% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.37% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.38% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.38% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.37% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.38% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.39% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.38% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.42% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.4% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.44% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.44% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.47% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.47% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.48% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.5% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.5% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.52% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.52% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.53% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.53% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.51% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.52% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.51% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.51% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.5% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.49% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.49% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.46% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.46% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.45% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.45% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.44% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.42% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.41% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.38% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.36% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.34% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.32% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.29% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.29% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.26% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.24% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.23% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.19% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.18% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | -0.17% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | -0.15% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | -0.15% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | -0.12% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | -0.1% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | -0.08% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | -0.04% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.04% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | -0.01% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 0.008% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 0.02% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 0.06% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 0.06% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 0.07% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 0.1% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 0.12% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 0.15% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 0.17% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.19% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.22% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.26% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.27% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.7% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 1.04% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 1.33% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 1.54% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 1.75% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 1.13% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | 1.32% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | -0.09% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 0.81% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 0.86% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 0.89% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 0.96% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 1.23% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 1.35% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 2.25% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 1.57% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 1.86% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 0.99% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | -2.59% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 2.83% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 0.39% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.26% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 0.51% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 0.46% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | -0.37% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | -1.13% | 1% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 0.09% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 1.98% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.97% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 1.18% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 1.48% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 1.48% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 2.11% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 0.46% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 1.34% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 0.49% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 0.37% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 4.34% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 0.63% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 0.81% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 0.59% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | -0.12% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 0.59% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 1.22% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 0.92% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 0.86% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 0.59% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 2.12% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 2.04% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 2.34% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 1.84% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 1.54% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.44% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 2.04% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 2.36% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 2.41% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 2.45% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 2.49% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 2.52% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 2.54% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 2.57% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 2.69% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.85% | 2.85% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/seychelles/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Seychelles grew by 1.13%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Seychelles
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
125859
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 181/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
6.38 hours
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
6.57 hours
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
10.3 hours
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +4 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,376 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.13% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.52 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +1,590 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 60/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 13,261 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 175/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 10.2% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 65/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seychelles
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 1,590 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | 485 | 1,747 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 683 | 1,809 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 635 | 1,788 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 744 | 2,086 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 886 | 1,726 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 811 | 1,770 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 842 | 1,733 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 901 | 1,693 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 900 | 1,682 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 888 | 1,719 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 832 | 1,742 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 846 | 1,717 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 989 | 1,538 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 936 | 1,551 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 844 | 740 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 900 | 105 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 887 | 105 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 867 | 173 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 804 | 264 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 861 | 214 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 842 | 317 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 828 | 316 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 837 | 425 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 885 | 509 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 958 | 461 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 901 | 491 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 844 | 512 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 873 | -11 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 1,047 | -266 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 1,054 | -171 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 1,136 | -231 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 1,091 | -316 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 1,076 | -289 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 1,162 | -342 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 1,070 | -228 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 1,030 | -206 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 1,135 | -196 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 1,172 | -363 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 1,222 | -487 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 1,259 | -458 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 1,255 | -493 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 1,209 | -439 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 1,069 | -357 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 1,358 | -565 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 1,386 | -587 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 1,292 | -509 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 1,330 | -587 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 1,125 | 140 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 1,174 | 472 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 1,376 | 259 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 1,361 | 174 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 1,166 | 327 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 1,199 | 266 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 1,373 | 102 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 1,087 | 69 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 1,119 | 43 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 1,145 | 54 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 1,217 | -15 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 1,280 | -94 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 1,165 | -20 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 1,155 | -74 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 1,123 | -107 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 1,083 | -128 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 1,040 | -153 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 977 | -180 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/seychelles/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 30.5% of the population change in the Seychelles is from natural causes (a gain of 7,775 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 17,753 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).
As of 2024, 13,261 residents or 10.2% of the population were not native-born in the Seychelles, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Seychelles
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Victoria | 24.7K |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Pietermaritzburg | 619K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Seychelles and South Africa
|
Seychelles
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 73.3 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 35.6 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 35.3 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 55.1:44.9 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.85 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 703 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/seychelles/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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