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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Singapore was 6,036,860 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Singapore's population is 6,125,852 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 10.7 times bigger than Singapore's.
  • Singapore is ranked the 113th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.07% for Singapore vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Singapore has had an average growth rate of +1.04% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Singapore has increased from 4.4M people to 6.13M (39.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Singapore vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Singapore
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Singapore South Africa
2100 4,344,248 94,767,727
2099 4,387,645 94,556,931
2098 4,435,189 94,349,546
2097 4,483,484 94,158,472
2096 4,533,994 93,960,605
2095 4,585,243 93,752,736
2094 4,639,568 93,527,902
2093 4,692,749 93,300,398
2092 4,745,364 93,074,837
2091 4,802,089 92,826,204
2090 4,859,572 92,594,033
2089 4,919,853 92,355,184
2088 4,977,701 92,112,914
2087 5,036,662 91,866,024
2086 5,096,772 91,614,165
2085 5,155,480 91,385,350
2084 5,212,381 91,139,318
2083 5,269,612 90,877,425
2082 5,327,281 90,615,359
2081 5,383,608 90,345,492
2080 5,438,023 90,071,835
2079 5,491,695 89,801,998
2078 5,541,781 89,526,224
2077 5,589,429 89,249,206
2076 5,632,686 88,986,114
2075 5,679,862 88,713,215
2074 5,725,351 88,428,616
2073 5,764,008 88,149,885
2072 5,799,655 87,866,246
2071 5,833,262 87,540,177
2070 5,864,115 87,209,425
2069 5,896,709 86,901,512
2068 5,927,631 86,588,742
2067 5,955,955 86,268,392
2066 5,988,826 85,935,310
2065 6,020,244 85,604,376
2064 6,046,805 85,244,950
2063 6,069,231 84,875,503
2062 6,093,782 84,503,237
2061 6,116,847 84,132,885
2060 6,142,295 83,748,999
2059 6,163,191 83,354,923
2058 6,185,611 82,947,675
2057 6,203,303 82,538,045
2056 6,221,491 82,127,477
2055 6,240,206 81,698,196
2054 6,261,488 81,255,867
2053 6,277,678 80,818,632
2052 6,290,046 80,367,409
2051 6,307,270 79,886,672
2050 6,325,698 79,411,977
2049 6,342,616 78,925,493
2048 6,355,818 78,437,677
2047 6,373,684 77,922,211
2046 6,387,901 77,397,298
2045 6,399,811 76,879,838
2044 6,412,802 76,357,155
2043 6,420,804 75,827,709
2042 6,427,555 75,291,615
2041 6,433,153 74,748,408
2040 6,434,727 74,205,530
2039 6,431,367 73,663,047
2038 6,422,540 73,105,930
2037 6,410,923 72,532,742
2036 6,398,937 71,956,247
2035 6,382,637 71,362,555
2034 6,360,610 70,762,815
2033 6,333,556 70,153,205
2032 6,306,749 69,527,410
2031 6,277,847 68,890,002
2030 6,250,608 68,245,372
2029 6,221,161 67,573,179
2028 6,186,754 66,884,377
2027 6,150,947 66,190,258
2026 6,116,548 65,496,277
2025 6,078,250 64,770,314
2024 6,036,860 64,007,187
2023 5,917,648 63,212,384
2022 5,637,022 62,378,410
2021 5,453,566 61,502,603
2020 5,685,807 60,562,381
2019 5,703,569 59,587,885
2018 5,638,676 58,613,001
2017 5,612,253 57,635,162
2016 5,607,283 57,259,551
2015 5,535,002 56,723,537
2014 5,469,724 55,594,838
2013 5,399,162 54,678,791
2012 5,312,437 53,782,567
2011 5,183,688 52,995,205
2010 5,076,732 52,344,051
2009 4,987,573 51,728,516
2008 4,839,396 51,114,599
2007 4,588,599 50,528,584
2006 4,401,365 49,998,277
2005 4,265,762 49,490,033
2004 4,166,664 48,991,421
2003 4,114,826 48,500,348
2002 4,175,950 48,019,415
2001 4,138,012 47,566,800
2000 4,027,887 47,159,719
1999 3,958,723 46,730,335
1998 3,927,213 46,223,880
1997 3,796,038 45,666,838
1996 3,670,704 45,123,018
1995 3,524,506 44,541,554
1994 3,419,048 44,004,139
1993 3,313,471 43,297,156
1992 3,230,698 42,443,509
1991 3,135,083 41,687,898
1990 3,047,132 40,746,268
1989 2,930,901 39,628,575
1988 2,846,108 38,480,649
1987 2,774,789 37,326,190
1986 2,733,373 36,180,515
1985 2,735,957 35,042,093
1984 2,732,221 33,892,788
1983 2,681,061 32,739,304
1982 2,646,466 31,615,339
1981 2,532,835 30,541,044
1980 2,413,945 29,518,857
1979 2,383,500 28,634,162
1978 2,353,600 27,869,507
1977 2,325,300 27,118,952
1976 2,293,300 26,395,450
1975 2,262,600 25,690,940
1974 2,229,800 24,989,108
1973 2,193,000 24,294,263
1972 2,152,400 23,609,456
1971 2,112,900 22,942,143
1970 2,074,507 22,279,984
1969 2,042,500 21,614,676
1968 2,012,000 20,957,287
1967 1,977,600 20,314,066
1966 1,934,400 19,690,087
1965 1,886,900 19,089,380
1964 1,841,600 18,511,361
1963 1,795,000 17,954,564
1962 1,750,200 17,418,522
1961 1,702,400 16,908,035
1960 1,646,400 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/singapore/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Singapore increased by 1,205,918 people (a 27.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Singapore gained 518,569 people (a 9.25% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Singapore was ranked 117th most populous country in 2006 and is 113th 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) Singapore's population will grow by 3.26% to 6,325,698 people with a rank change from 113th to 118th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Singapore is projected to reach its peak in 2040 at 6.43M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Singapore
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Singapore South Africa
2100 -0.99% 0.22%
2099 -1.07% 0.22%
2098 -1.08% 0.2%
2097 -1.11% 0.21%
2096 -1.12% 0.22%
2095 -1.17% 0.24%
2094 -1.13% 0.24%
2093 -1.11% 0.24%
2092 -1.18% 0.27%
2091 -1.18% 0.25%
2090 -1.23% 0.26%
2089 -1.16% 0.26%
2088 -1.17% 0.27%
2087 -1.18% 0.27%
2086 -1.14% 0.25%
2085 -1.09% 0.27%
2084 -1.09% 0.29%
2083 -1.08% 0.29%
2082 -1.05% 0.3%
2081 -1% 0.3%
2080 -0.98% 0.3%
2079 -0.9% 0.31%
2078 -0.85% 0.31%
2077 -0.77% 0.3%
2076 -0.83% 0.31%
2075 -0.79% 0.32%
2074 -0.67% 0.32%
2073 -0.61% 0.32%
2072 -0.58% 0.37%
2071 -0.53% 0.38%
2070 -0.55% 0.35%
2069 -0.52% 0.36%
2068 -0.48% 0.37%
2067 -0.55% 0.39%
2066 -0.52% 0.39%
2065 -0.44% 0.42%
2064 -0.37% 0.44%
2063 -0.4% 0.44%
2062 -0.38% 0.44%
2061 -0.41% 0.46%
2060 -0.34% 0.47%
2059 -0.36% 0.49%
2058 -0.29% 0.5%
2057 -0.29% 0.5%
2056 -0.3% 0.53%
2055 -0.34% 0.54%
2054 -0.26% 0.54%
2053 -0.2% 0.56%
2052 -0.27% 0.6%
2051 -0.29% 0.6%
2050 -0.27% 0.62%
2049 -0.21% 0.62%
2048 -0.28% 0.66%
2047 -0.22% 0.68%
2046 -0.19% 0.67%
2045 -0.2% 0.68%
2044 -0.12% 0.7%
2043 -0.11% 0.71%
2042 -0.09% 0.73%
2041 -0.02% 0.73%
2040 0.05% 0.74%
2039 0.14% 0.76%
2038 0.18% 0.79%
2037 0.19% 0.8%
2036 0.26% 0.83%
2035 0.35% 0.85%
2034 0.43% 0.87%
2033 0.43% 0.9%
2032 0.46% 0.93%
2031 0.44% 0.94%
2030 0.47% 0.99%
2029 0.56% 1.03%
2028 0.58% 1.05%
2027 0.56% 1.06%
2026 0.63% 1.12%
2025 0.69% 1.19%
2024 2.01% 1.26%
2023 4.98% 1.34%
2022 3.36% 1.42%
2021 -4.08% 1.55%
2020 -0.31% 1.64%
2019 1.15% 1.66%
2018 0.47% 1.7%
2017 0.09% 0.66%
2016 1.31% 0.94%
2015 1.19% 2.03%
2014 1.31% 1.68%
2013 1.63% 1.67%
2012 2.48% 1.49%
2011 2.11% 1.24%
2010 1.79% 1.19%
2009 3.06% 1.2%
2008 5.47% 1.16%
2007 4.25% 1.06%
2006 3.18% 1.03%
2005 2.38% 1.02%
2004 1.26% 1.01%
2003 -1.46% 1%
2002 0.92% 0.95%
2001 2.73% 0.86%
2000 1.75% 0.92%
1999 0.8% 1.1%
1998 3.46% 1.22%
1997 3.41% 1.21%
1996 4.15% 1.31%
1995 3.08% 1.22%
1994 3.19% 1.63%
1993 2.56% 2.01%
1992 3.05% 1.81%
1991 2.89% 2.31%
1990 3.97% 2.82%
1989 2.98% 2.98%
1988 2.57% 3.09%
1987 1.52% 3.17%
1986 -0.09% 3.25%
1985 0.14% 3.39%
1984 1.91% 3.52%
1983 1.31% 3.56%
1982 4.49% 3.52%
1981 4.93% 3.46%
1980 1.28% 3.09%
1979 1.27% 2.74%
1978 1.22% 2.77%
1977 1.4% 2.74%
1976 1.36% 2.74%
1975 1.47% 2.81%
1974 1.68% 2.86%
1973 1.89% 2.9%
1972 1.87% 2.91%
1971 1.85% 2.97%
1970 1.57% 3.08%
1969 1.52% 3.14%
1968 1.74% 3.17%
1967 2.23% 3.17%
1966 2.52% 3.15%
1965 2.46% 3.12%
1964 2.6% 3.1%
1963 2.56% 3.08%
1962 2.81% 3.02%
1961 3.4% 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/singapore/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Singapore grew by 2.01%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Singapore South Africa
Current population
6125852
65683993
Population rank 113/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
4.41 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
12 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
14.3 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +327 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +119,212 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 50/197 85/197
One migration net change every
31.2 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +16,892 +146,370
Net migration rank 36/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,841,665 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 26/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 48.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 9/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Singapore
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Singapore South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,892 - 146,370
2024 - 20,011 - 166,972
2023 7,101 26,996 602,793 228,222
2022 9,019 214,842 603,636 233,284
2021 15,270 -44,030 456,411 458,246
2020 18,763 -145,556 595,873 369,901
2019 21,674 870 652,130 331,124
2018 21,427 21,820 648,319 318,260
2017 21,888 -8,880 645,975 343,146
2016 25,794 13,737 641,365 -879,235
2015 27,121 41,852 668,771 641,150
2014 27,896 40,154 674,754 272,697
2013 25,376 52,176 652,427 232,230
2012 29,750 78,501 643,723 264,091
2011 25,919 89,856 601,708 65,166
2010 24,876 72,571 566,834 68,563
2009 27,930 95,841 554,115 41,528
2008 28,068 176,182 595,332 36,869
2007 26,614 192,292 503,567 36,339
2006 25,968 135,625 487,584 33,159
2005 24,741 92,023 464,464 31,286
2004 24,583 50,487 442,540 58,924
2003 24,689 -30,012 415,018 65,604
2002 29,231 -40,023 430,926 50,313
2001 31,035 45,027 484,801 -60,793
2000 37,057 55,218 526,963 -136,794
1999 32,857 19,681 594,643 -126,011
1998 33,381 51,905 627,027 -82,722
1997 37,960 95,241 667,969 -98,181
1996 38,542 102,018 710,868 -193,007
1995 38,065 91,947 743,488 -98,403
1994 39,319 71,170 698,609 -268,849
1993 40,425 58,820 789,220 194,977
1992 39,091 54,359 794,415 -71,342
1991 39,188 57,821 827,296 -39,131
1990 41,136 66,950 835,421 259,718
1989 36,929 68,031 884,629 255,605
1988 42,407 40,976 909,221 246,382
1987 33,020 25,411 922,330 231,009
1986 27,880 -7,858 903,644 234,378
1985 32,010 -31,036 893,889 244,940
1984 31,967 -4,396 869,011 290,789
1983 30,296 11,699 837,013 310,172
1982 33,346 41,568 807,550 293,195
1981 32,167 85,869 767,833 279,985
1980 30,657 42,433 738,415 258,127
1979 28,363 -2,384 716,541 56,323
1978 27,537 436 694,341 62,121
1977 26,508 2,757 680,929 63,739
1976 31,189 949 675,011 27,333
1975 28,509 4,104 667,862 38,809
1974 31,664 2,748 658,438 38,518
1973 36,404 -495 651,596 41,125
1972 38,098 -1,631 638,754 38,163
1971 35,708 573 624,761 32,961
1970 35,059 4,024 605,102 61,514
1969 34,314 6,763 590,794 73,225
1968 36,216 6,792 571,841 78,932
1967 40,145 6,006 553,741 81,932
1966 44,298 3,507 534,862 77,417
1965 45,474 4,199 506,632 82,514
1964 47,697 3,043 490,606 76,298
1963 49,542 2,668 473,821 72,844
1962 48,830 3,714 455,634 69,771
1961 49,880 3,490 437,851 57,728
1960 51,533 2,008 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 54.8% of the population change in Singapore is from natural causes (a gain of 195,953 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a gain of 161,805 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, 2,841,665 residents or 48.7% of the population were not native-born in Singapore, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Singapore
City Population
Singapore 5.87M
Bukit Merah 152K
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/singapore/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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