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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.2 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.04% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.61% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Somalia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia South Africa
2100 68,384,185 94,767,727
2099 68,040,371 94,556,931
2098 67,702,230 94,349,546
2097 67,362,336 94,158,472
2096 66,972,933 93,960,605
2095 66,585,659 93,752,736
2094 66,179,819 93,527,902
2093 65,760,590 93,300,398
2092 65,324,261 93,074,837
2091 64,852,843 92,826,204
2090 64,362,727 92,594,033
2089 63,922,797 92,355,184
2088 63,464,036 92,112,914
2087 62,987,028 91,866,024
2086 62,447,029 91,614,165
2085 61,873,597 91,385,350
2084 61,318,916 91,139,318
2083 60,761,800 90,877,425
2082 60,187,980 90,615,359
2081 59,676,722 90,345,492
2080 59,100,915 90,071,835
2079 58,477,428 89,801,998
2078 57,852,528 89,526,224
2077 57,211,821 89,249,206
2076 56,602,463 88,986,114
2075 56,005,600 88,713,215
2074 55,330,165 88,428,616
2073 54,651,918 88,149,885
2072 53,978,548 87,866,246
2071 53,284,016 87,540,177
2070 52,573,210 87,209,425
2069 51,878,214 86,901,512
2068 51,197,653 86,588,742
2067 50,493,028 86,268,392
2066 49,779,172 85,935,310
2065 49,024,665 85,604,376
2064 48,265,876 85,244,950
2063 47,522,361 84,875,503
2062 46,785,920 84,503,237
2061 46,037,526 84,132,885
2060 45,220,507 83,748,999
2059 44,397,936 83,354,923
2058 43,659,021 82,947,675
2057 42,897,422 82,538,045
2056 42,121,542 82,127,477
2055 41,318,179 81,698,196
2054 40,513,141 81,255,867
2053 39,744,995 80,818,632
2052 38,992,177 80,367,409
2051 38,228,872 79,886,672
2050 37,471,735 79,411,977
2049 36,739,905 78,925,493
2048 35,984,999 78,437,677
2047 35,218,863 77,922,211
2046 34,462,403 77,397,298
2045 33,717,596 76,879,838
2044 32,977,674 76,357,155
2043 32,247,710 75,827,709
2042 31,537,272 75,291,615
2041 30,794,853 74,748,408
2040 30,032,324 74,205,530
2039 29,312,883 73,663,047
2038 28,583,386 73,105,930
2037 27,838,646 72,532,742
2036 27,114,453 71,956,247
2035 26,385,421 71,362,555
2034 25,687,629 70,762,815
2033 25,018,509 70,153,205
2032 24,338,597 69,527,410
2031 23,657,353 68,890,002
2030 22,965,742 68,245,372
2029 22,299,610 67,573,179
2028 21,651,582 66,884,377
2027 20,991,860 66,190,258
2026 20,322,668 65,496,277
2025 19,666,990 64,770,314
2024 19,009,151 64,007,187
2023 18,358,615 63,212,384
2022 17,801,897 62,378,410
2021 17,271,431 61,502,603
2020 16,651,191 60,562,381
2019 16,030,971 59,587,885
2018 15,452,487 58,613,001
2017 14,916,629 57,635,162
2016 14,348,740 57,259,551
2015 13,806,963 56,723,537
2014 13,339,491 55,594,838
2013 12,869,594 54,678,791
2012 12,461,160 53,782,567
2011 12,348,830 52,995,205
2010 12,261,756 52,344,051
2009 11,961,201 51,728,516
2008 11,663,084 51,114,599
2007 11,322,582 50,528,584
2006 10,975,502 49,998,277
2005 10,644,228 49,490,033
2004 10,280,998 48,991,421
2003 9,909,157 48,500,348
2002 9,550,063 48,019,415
2001 9,198,493 47,566,800
2000 8,838,713 47,159,719
1999 8,492,059 46,730,335
1998 8,155,417 46,223,880
1997 7,824,525 45,666,838
1996 7,554,474 45,123,018
1995 7,285,007 44,541,554
1994 7,026,797 44,004,139
1993 6,681,399 43,297,156
1992 6,495,107 42,443,509
1991 6,813,760 41,687,898
1990 7,082,811 40,746,268
1989 7,114,817 39,628,575
1988 7,235,360 38,480,649
1987 7,228,302 37,326,190
1986 6,974,788 36,180,515
1985 6,693,289 35,042,093
1984 6,428,389 33,892,788
1983 6,198,430 32,739,304
1982 6,003,840 31,615,339
1981 5,982,849 30,541,044
1980 5,936,154 29,518,857
1979 5,449,117 28,634,162
1978 4,814,892 27,869,507
1977 4,484,050 27,118,952
1976 4,365,812 26,395,450
1975 4,257,535 25,690,940
1974 4,151,842 24,989,108
1973 4,045,592 24,294,263
1972 3,939,436 23,609,456
1971 3,837,691 22,942,143
1970 3,738,448 22,279,984
1969 3,641,015 21,614,676
1968 3,546,590 20,957,287
1967 3,454,537 20,314,066
1966 3,365,106 19,690,087
1965 3,277,874 19,089,380
1964 3,192,796 18,511,361
1963 3,110,361 17,954,564
1962 3,030,091 17,418,522
1961 2,952,054 16,908,035
1960 2,876,331 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/somalia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th 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) Somalia's population will grow by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia South Africa
2100 0.51% 0.22%
2099 0.5% 0.22%
2098 0.5% 0.2%
2097 0.58% 0.21%
2096 0.58% 0.22%
2095 0.61% 0.24%
2094 0.64% 0.24%
2093 0.67% 0.24%
2092 0.73% 0.27%
2091 0.76% 0.25%
2090 0.69% 0.26%
2089 0.72% 0.26%
2088 0.76% 0.27%
2087 0.86% 0.27%
2086 0.93% 0.25%
2085 0.9% 0.27%
2084 0.92% 0.29%
2083 0.95% 0.29%
2082 0.86% 0.3%
2081 0.97% 0.3%
2080 1.07% 0.3%
2079 1.08% 0.31%
2078 1.12% 0.31%
2077 1.08% 0.3%
2076 1.07% 0.31%
2075 1.22% 0.32%
2074 1.24% 0.32%
2073 1.25% 0.32%
2072 1.3% 0.37%
2071 1.35% 0.38%
2070 1.34% 0.35%
2069 1.33% 0.36%
2068 1.4% 0.37%
2067 1.43% 0.39%
2066 1.54% 0.39%
2065 1.57% 0.42%
2064 1.56% 0.44%
2063 1.57% 0.44%
2062 1.63% 0.44%
2061 1.81% 0.46%
2060 1.85% 0.47%
2059 1.69% 0.49%
2058 1.78% 0.5%
2057 1.84% 0.5%
2056 1.94% 0.53%
2055 1.99% 0.54%
2054 1.93% 0.54%
2053 1.93% 0.56%
2052 2% 0.6%
2051 2.02% 0.6%
2050 1.99% 0.62%
2049 2.1% 0.62%
2048 2.18% 0.66%
2047 2.2% 0.68%
2046 2.21% 0.67%
2045 2.24% 0.68%
2044 2.26% 0.7%
2043 2.25% 0.71%
2042 2.41% 0.73%
2041 2.54% 0.73%
2040 2.45% 0.74%
2039 2.55% 0.76%
2038 2.68% 0.79%
2037 2.67% 0.8%
2036 2.76% 0.83%
2035 2.72% 0.85%
2034 2.67% 0.87%
2033 2.79% 0.9%
2032 2.88% 0.93%
2031 3.01% 0.94%
2030 2.99% 0.99%
2029 2.99% 1.03%
2028 3.14% 1.05%
2027 3.29% 1.06%
2026 3.33% 1.12%
2025 3.46% 1.19%
2024 3.54% 1.26%
2023 3.13% 1.34%
2022 3.07% 1.42%
2021 3.72% 1.55%
2020 3.87% 1.64%
2019 3.74% 1.66%
2018 3.59% 1.7%
2017 3.96% 0.66%
2016 3.92% 0.94%
2015 3.5% 2.03%
2014 3.65% 1.68%
2013 3.28% 1.67%
2012 0.91% 1.49%
2011 0.71% 1.24%
2010 2.51% 1.19%
2009 2.56% 1.2%
2008 3.01% 1.16%
2007 3.16% 1.06%
2006 3.11% 1.03%
2005 3.53% 1.02%
2004 3.75% 1.01%
2003 3.76% 1%
2002 3.82% 0.95%
2001 4.07% 0.86%
2000 4.08% 0.92%
1999 4.13% 1.1%
1998 4.23% 1.22%
1997 3.57% 1.21%
1996 3.7% 1.31%
1995 3.67% 1.22%
1994 5.17% 1.63%
1993 2.87% 2.01%
1992 -4.68% 1.81%
1991 -3.8% 2.31%
1990 -0.45% 2.82%
1989 -1.67% 2.98%
1988 0.1% 3.09%
1987 3.63% 3.17%
1986 4.21% 3.25%
1985 4.12% 3.39%
1984 3.71% 3.52%
1983 3.24% 3.56%
1982 0.35% 3.52%
1981 0.79% 3.46%
1980 8.94% 3.09%
1979 13.2% 2.74%
1978 7.38% 2.77%
1977 2.71% 2.74%
1976 2.54% 2.74%
1975 2.55% 2.81%
1974 2.63% 2.86%
1973 2.69% 2.9%
1972 2.65% 2.91%
1971 2.65% 2.97%
1970 2.68% 3.08%
1969 2.66% 3.14%
1968 2.66% 3.17%
1967 2.66% 3.17%
1966 2.66% 3.15%
1965 2.66% 3.12%
1964 2.65% 3.1%
1963 2.65% 3.08%
1962 2.64% 3.02%
1961 2.63% 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/somalia/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Somalia South Africa
Current population
20503678
65683993
Population rank 66/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.79%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
40 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.91 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,782 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +650,536 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 85/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +12,077 +146,370
Net migration rank 40/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - 146,370
2024 - 26,859 - 166,972
2023 608,203 46,217 602,793 228,222
2022 551,450 -92,434 603,636 233,284
2021 566,399 35,506 456,411 458,246
2020 561,311 77,259 595,873 369,901
2019 548,756 53,124 652,130 331,124
2018 514,244 40,844 648,319 318,260
2017 478,556 38,067 645,975 343,146
2016 495,132 124,017 641,365 -879,235
2015 481,573 -17,178 668,771 641,150
2014 464,481 6,065 674,754 272,697
2013 448,518 20,723 652,427 232,230
2012 399,468 -51,833 643,723 264,091
2011 203,213 -326,192 601,708 65,166
2010 385,571 -88,448 566,834 68,563
2009 405,784 -101,795 554,115 41,528
2008 394,258 -102,035 595,332 36,869
2007 380,303 8,476 503,567 36,339
2006 372,597 -67,200 487,584 33,159
2005 363,117 -5,955 464,464 31,286
2004 351,959 17,353 442,540 58,924
2003 341,192 33,174 415,018 65,604
2002 331,215 12,603 430,926 50,313
2001 319,059 40,274 484,801 -60,793
2000 306,651 53,580 526,963 -136,794
1999 295,523 37,548 594,643 -126,011
1998 284,779 55,426 627,027 -82,722
1997 271,894 49,692 667,969 -98,181
1996 264,807 -46,291 710,868 -193,007
1995 254,509 65,888 743,488 -98,403
1994 246,950 -50,921 698,609 -268,849
1993 232,960 261,815 789,220 194,977
1992 57,495 -179,675 794,415 -71,342
1991 53,052 -568,166 827,296 -39,131
1990 225,162 -248,155 835,421 259,718
1989 225,255 -266,281 884,629 255,605
1988 215,599 -415,660 909,221 246,382
1987 231,580 -17,391 922,330 231,009
1986 218,416 74,424 903,644 234,378
1985 207,960 62,183 893,889 244,940
1984 199,017 60,630 869,011 290,789
1983 190,775 9,505 837,013 310,172
1982 182,793 6,115 807,550 293,195
1981 185,211 -332,129 767,833 279,985
1980 174,790 65,519 738,415 258,127
1979 151,016 582,746 716,541 56,323
1978 132,689 402,005 694,341 62,121
1977 124,818 2,170 680,929 63,739
1976 113,319 -3,831 675,011 27,333
1975 108,998 -1,934 667,862 38,809
1974 104,813 -495 658,438 38,518
1973 108,038 143 651,596 41,125
1972 104,493 -351 638,754 38,163
1971 101,196 -1,850 624,761 32,961
1970 98,025 1,104 605,102 61,514
1969 95,045 690 590,794 73,225
1968 92,208 906 571,841 78,932
1967 89,497 1,498 553,741 81,932
1966 86,930 941 534,862 77,417
1965 84,448 2,142 506,632 82,514
1964 82,042 1,518 490,606 76,298
1963 79,859 1,449 473,821 72,844
1962 77,737 1,496 455,634 69,771
1961 75,513 1,336 437,851 57,728
1960 73,850 750 421,263 18,891

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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/somalia/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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