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Population in the Solomon Islands compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Solomon Islands was 838,645 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Solomon Islands' population is 868,694 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 75.8 times bigger than the Solomon Islands'.
  • The Solomon Islands is ranked the 161st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.01% for the Solomon Islands vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, the Solomon Islands has had an average growth rate of +2.83% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Solomon Islands has increased from 492K people to 869K (76.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Solomon Islands vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Solomon Islands South Africa
2100 1,869,132 94,734,082
2099 1,865,051 94,523,360
2098 1,860,822 94,316,049
2097 1,856,197 94,125,043
2096 1,851,361 93,927,246
2095 1,846,006 93,719,451
2094 1,840,576 93,494,697
2093 1,834,659 93,267,274
2092 1,828,323 93,041,793
2091 1,821,781 92,793,249
2090 1,814,933 92,561,159
2089 1,807,885 92,322,396
2088 1,800,523 92,080,212
2087 1,792,919 91,833,409
2086 1,784,993 91,581,639
2085 1,776,798 91,352,906
2084 1,768,230 91,106,961
2083 1,759,388 90,845,161
2082 1,750,221 90,583,188
2081 1,740,741 90,313,417
2080 1,730,900 90,039,857
2079 1,720,938 89,770,116
2078 1,710,578 89,494,440
2077 1,699,838 89,217,520
2076 1,688,671 88,954,522
2075 1,677,384 88,681,719
2074 1,665,984 88,397,221
2073 1,654,063 88,118,589
2072 1,641,845 87,835,051
2071 1,629,270 87,509,098
2070 1,616,540 87,178,463
2069 1,603,485 86,870,660
2068 1,590,112 86,558,000
2067 1,576,525 86,237,764
2066 1,562,815 85,904,801
2065 1,548,873 85,573,984
2064 1,534,676 85,214,686
2063 1,520,167 84,845,370
2062 1,505,610 84,473,236
2061 1,490,754 84,103,016
2060 1,475,849 83,719,266
2059 1,460,639 83,325,330
2058 1,445,210 82,918,226
2057 1,429,794 82,508,742
2056 1,414,149 82,098,320
2055 1,398,271 81,669,191
2054 1,382,259 81,227,019
2053 1,366,025 80,789,939
2052 1,349,539 80,338,877
2051 1,332,975 79,858,310
2050 1,316,163 79,383,784
2049 1,299,210 78,897,472
2048 1,282,103 78,409,829
2047 1,264,854 77,894,547
2046 1,247,457 77,369,819
2045 1,229,853 76,852,544
2044 1,212,131 76,330,046
2043 1,194,206 75,800,788
2042 1,176,128 75,264,885
2041 1,158,032 74,721,871
2040 1,139,694 74,179,185
2039 1,120,879 73,636,894
2038 1,101,654 73,079,976
2037 1,082,017 72,506,991
2036 1,062,068 71,930,701
2035 1,041,799 71,337,219
2034 1,021,368 70,737,692
2033 1,000,876 70,128,299
2032 980,211 69,502,726
2031 959,672 68,865,544
2030 939,186 68,221,143
2029 918,810 67,549,189
2028 898,552 66,860,631
2027 878,392 66,166,759
2026 858,453 65,473,024
2025 838,645 64,747,319
2024 819,198 64,007,187
2023 800,005 63,212,384
2022 781,066 62,378,410
2021 762,591 61,502,603
2020 744,498 60,562,381
2019 728,147 59,587,885
2018 709,101 58,613,001
2017 685,672 57,635,162
2016 662,379 57,259,551
2015 639,415 56,723,537
2014 616,908 55,594,838
2013 594,945 54,678,791
2012 573,606 53,782,567
2011 552,945 52,995,205
2010 532,968 52,344,051
2009 518,141 51,728,516
2008 508,790 51,114,599
2007 500,156 50,528,584
2006 491,594 49,998,277
2005 483,080 49,490,033
2004 474,611 48,991,421
2003 466,154 48,500,348
2002 457,671 48,019,415
2001 449,125 47,566,800
2000 440,469 47,159,719
1999 430,500 46,730,335
1998 419,071 46,223,880
1997 407,474 45,666,838
1996 396,009 45,123,018
1995 384,733 44,541,554
1994 373,675 44,004,139
1993 362,839 43,297,156
1992 352,205 42,443,509
1991 341,738 41,687,898
1990 331,435 40,746,268
1989 321,282 39,628,575
1988 311,265 38,480,649
1987 301,414 37,326,190
1986 291,842 36,180,515
1985 282,455 35,042,093
1984 273,163 33,892,788
1983 264,068 32,739,304
1982 255,200 31,615,339
1981 246,555 30,541,044
1980 238,135 29,518,857
1979 229,953 28,634,162
1978 222,029 27,869,507
1977 214,418 27,118,952
1976 207,194 26,395,450
1975 200,744 25,690,940
1974 195,041 24,989,108
1973 189,774 24,294,263
1972 184,994 23,609,456
1971 180,637 22,942,143
1970 176,579 22,279,984
1969 172,476 21,614,676
1968 168,282 20,957,287
1967 164,245 20,314,066
1966 160,393 19,690,087
1965 156,686 19,089,380
1964 153,085 18,511,361
1963 149,589 17,954,564
1962 146,201 17,418,522
1961 142,912 16,908,035
1960 139,688 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/solomon-islands/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Solomon Islands increased by 170,785 people (a 34.7% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Solomon Islands gained 206,315 people (a 31.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

The Solomon Islands was ranked 165th most populous country in 2006 and is 161st 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 Solomon Islands' population will grow by 51.5% to 1,316,163 people with a rank change from 161st to 156th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

The Solomon Islands is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 1.87M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Solomon Islands South Africa
2100 0.22% 0.22%
2099 0.23% 0.22%
2098 0.25% 0.2%
2097 0.26% 0.21%
2096 0.29% 0.22%
2095 0.29% 0.24%
2094 0.32% 0.24%
2093 0.35% 0.24%
2092 0.36% 0.27%
2091 0.38% 0.25%
2090 0.39% 0.26%
2089 0.41% 0.26%
2088 0.42% 0.27%
2087 0.44% 0.27%
2086 0.46% 0.25%
2085 0.48% 0.27%
2084 0.5% 0.29%
2083 0.52% 0.29%
2082 0.54% 0.3%
2081 0.57% 0.3%
2080 0.58% 0.3%
2079 0.61% 0.31%
2078 0.63% 0.31%
2077 0.66% 0.3%
2076 0.67% 0.31%
2075 0.68% 0.32%
2074 0.72% 0.32%
2073 0.74% 0.32%
2072 0.77% 0.37%
2071 0.79% 0.38%
2070 0.81% 0.35%
2069 0.84% 0.36%
2068 0.86% 0.37%
2067 0.88% 0.39%
2066 0.9% 0.39%
2065 0.93% 0.42%
2064 0.95% 0.44%
2063 0.97% 0.44%
2062 1% 0.44%
2061 1.01% 0.46%
2060 1.04% 0.47%
2059 1.07% 0.49%
2058 1.08% 0.5%
2057 1.11% 0.5%
2056 1.14% 0.53%
2055 1.16% 0.54%
2054 1.19% 0.54%
2053 1.22% 0.56%
2052 1.24% 0.6%
2051 1.28% 0.6%
2050 1.3% 0.62%
2049 1.33% 0.62%
2048 1.36% 0.66%
2047 1.39% 0.68%
2046 1.43% 0.67%
2045 1.46% 0.68%
2044 1.5% 0.7%
2043 1.54% 0.71%
2042 1.56% 0.73%
2041 1.61% 0.73%
2040 1.68% 0.74%
2039 1.75% 0.76%
2038 1.81% 0.79%
2037 1.88% 0.8%
2036 1.95% 0.83%
2035 2% 0.85%
2034 2.05% 0.87%
2033 2.11% 0.9%
2032 2.14% 0.93%
2031 2.18% 0.94%
2030 2.22% 0.99%
2029 2.25% 1.03%
2028 2.3% 1.05%
2027 2.32% 1.06%
2026 2.36% 1.12%
2025 2.37% 1.16%
2024 2.4% 1.26%
2023 2.42% 1.34%
2022 2.42% 1.42%
2021 2.43% 1.55%
2020 2.25% 1.64%
2019 2.69% 1.66%
2018 3.42% 1.7%
2017 3.52% 0.66%
2016 3.59% 0.94%
2015 3.65% 2.03%
2014 3.69% 1.68%
2013 3.72% 1.67%
2012 3.74% 1.49%
2011 3.75% 1.24%
2010 2.86% 1.19%
2009 1.84% 1.2%
2008 1.73% 1.16%
2007 1.74% 1.06%
2006 1.76% 1.03%
2005 1.78% 1.02%
2004 1.81% 1.01%
2003 1.85% 1%
2002 1.9% 0.95%
2001 1.97% 0.86%
2000 2.32% 0.92%
1999 2.73% 1.1%
1998 2.85% 1.22%
1997 2.9% 1.21%
1996 2.93% 1.31%
1995 2.96% 1.22%
1994 2.99% 1.63%
1993 3.02% 2.01%
1992 3.06% 1.81%
1991 3.11% 2.31%
1990 3.16% 2.82%
1989 3.22% 2.98%
1988 3.27% 3.09%
1987 3.28% 3.17%
1986 3.32% 3.25%
1985 3.4% 3.39%
1984 3.44% 3.52%
1983 3.47% 3.56%
1982 3.51% 3.52%
1981 3.54% 3.46%
1980 3.56% 3.09%
1979 3.57% 2.74%
1978 3.55% 2.77%
1977 3.49% 2.74%
1976 3.21% 2.74%
1975 2.92% 2.81%
1974 2.78% 2.86%
1973 2.58% 2.9%
1972 2.41% 2.91%
1971 2.3% 2.97%
1970 2.38% 3.08%
1969 2.49% 3.14%
1968 2.46% 3.17%
1967 2.4% 3.17%
1966 2.37% 3.15%
1965 2.35% 3.12%
1964 2.34% 3.1%
1963 2.32% 3.08%
1962 2.3% 3.02%
1961 2.31% 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/solomon-islands/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Solomon Islands grew by 2.37%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Solomon Islands South Africa
Current population
868694
65829368
Population rank 161/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.79%
One net population change
27.1 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
24 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.1 hours
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +53 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +19,447 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.37% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 32/197 91/197
One migration net change every
5.39 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +1,631 +146,370
Net migration rank 59/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,469 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 192/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 184/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Solomon Islands
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Solomon Islands South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,631 - 146,370
2024 17,715 1,610 591,618 166,972
2023 17,436 1,636 602,793 228,222
2022 17,253 1,567 603,636 233,284
2021 16,626 1,499 456,411 458,246
2020 16,488 1,556 595,873 369,901
2019 16,649 -1,990 652,130 331,124
2018 16,790 6,653 648,319 318,260
2017 16,897 6,513 645,975 343,146
2016 17,027 6,146 641,365 -879,235
2015 16,909 5,853 668,771 641,150
2014 16,652 5,598 674,754 272,697
2013 16,038 5,631 652,427 232,230
2012 15,585 5,420 643,723 264,091
2011 15,095 5,219 601,708 65,166
2010 14,604 5,040 566,834 68,563
2009 14,381 -4,360 554,115 41,528
2008 14,225 -5,538 595,332 36,869
2007 13,963 -5,383 503,567 36,339
2006 13,799 -5,262 487,584 33,159
2005 13,568 -5,082 464,464 31,286
2004 13,444 -4,985 442,540 58,924
2003 13,344 -4,881 415,018 65,604
2002 13,195 -4,691 430,926 50,313
2001 13,061 -4,474 484,801 -60,793
2000 12,938 -4,219 526,963 -136,794
1999 12,809 -1,588 594,643 -126,011
1998 12,658 -1,019 627,027 -82,722
1997 12,478 -931 667,969 -98,181
1996 12,328 -947 710,868 -193,007
1995 12,124 -952 743,488 -98,403
1994 11,771 -828 698,609 -268,849
1993 11,396 -665 789,220 194,977
1992 11,029 -482 794,415 -71,342
1991 10,789 -410 827,296 -39,131
1990 10,561 -335 835,421 259,718
1989 10,354 -270 884,629 255,605
1988 10,142 -197 909,221 246,382
1987 9,943 -179 922,330 231,009
1986 9,656 -269 903,644 234,378
1985 9,534 -150 893,889 244,940
1984 9,299 -102 869,011 290,789
1983 9,011 -30 837,013 310,172
1982 8,720 40 807,550 293,195
1981 8,436 99 767,833 279,985
1980 8,156 151 738,415 258,127
1979 7,874 188 716,541 56,323
1978 7,598 174 694,341 62,121
1977 7,290 159 680,929 63,739
1976 7,058 -48 675,011 27,333
1975 6,635 -760 667,862 38,809
1974 6,612 -1,084 658,438 38,518
1973 6,343 -1,329 651,596 41,125
1972 6,074 -1,520 638,754 38,163
1971 5,814 -1,646 624,761 32,961
1970 5,575 -1,632 605,102 61,514
1969 5,444 -1,187 590,794 73,225
1968 5,285 -1,154 571,841 78,932
1967 5,151 -1,213 553,741 81,932
1966 5,028 -1,256 534,862 77,417
1965 4,885 -1,237 506,632 82,514
1964 4,747 -1,200 490,606 76,298
1963 4,571 -1,129 473,821 72,844
1962 4,408 -1,073 455,634 69,771
1961 4,257 -1,016 437,851 57,728
1960 4,119 -917 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/solomon-islands/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 84.5% of the population change in the Solomon Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 169,790 people) and 15.5% is from migration (a gain of 31,043 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, 2,469 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in the Solomon Islands, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Solomon Islands
City Population
Honiara 84.5K
Auki 6.81K
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 map with other countries

1x

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/solomon-islands/south-africa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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