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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.28 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.41% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

South Africa vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa South Korea
2100 94,734,082 22,001,649
2099 94,523,360 22,324,514
2098 94,316,049 22,657,541
2097 94,125,043 22,998,315
2096 93,927,246 23,348,632
2095 93,719,451 23,711,049
2094 93,494,697 24,081,510
2093 93,267,274 24,460,970
2092 93,041,793 24,848,715
2091 92,793,249 25,242,926
2090 92,561,159 25,642,926
2089 92,322,396 26,048,094
2088 92,080,212 26,457,020
2087 91,833,409 26,871,556
2086 91,581,639 27,288,450
2085 91,352,906 27,710,065
2084 91,106,961 28,133,600
2083 90,845,161 28,564,090
2082 90,583,188 28,998,646
2081 90,313,417 29,441,497
2080 90,039,857 29,887,135
2079 89,770,116 30,337,095
2078 89,494,440 30,793,984
2077 89,217,520 31,258,278
2076 88,954,522 31,728,826
2075 88,681,719 32,205,338
2074 88,397,221 32,689,892
2073 88,118,589 33,180,187
2072 87,835,051 33,679,874
2071 87,509,098 34,187,068
2070 87,178,463 34,702,204
2069 86,870,660 35,224,472
2068 86,558,000 35,745,164
2067 86,237,764 36,274,411
2066 85,904,801 36,808,495
2065 85,573,984 37,349,660
2064 85,214,686 37,897,742
2063 84,845,370 38,450,082
2062 84,473,236 39,009,227
2061 84,103,016 39,565,102
2060 83,719,266 40,130,032
2059 83,325,330 40,692,438
2058 82,918,226 41,256,780
2057 82,508,742 41,813,259
2056 82,098,320 42,356,530
2055 81,669,191 42,888,143
2054 81,227,019 43,405,840
2053 80,789,939 43,917,075
2052 80,338,877 44,419,192
2051 79,858,310 44,901,452
2050 79,383,784 45,362,931
2049 78,897,472 45,809,553
2048 78,409,829 46,235,718
2047 77,894,547 46,645,885
2046 77,369,819 47,033,200
2045 76,852,544 47,409,815
2044 76,330,046 47,773,842
2043 75,800,788 48,120,989
2042 75,264,885 48,455,085
2041 74,721,871 48,782,206
2040 74,179,185 49,091,438
2039 73,636,894 49,388,464
2038 73,079,976 49,669,835
2037 72,506,991 49,932,869
2036 71,930,701 50,175,947
2035 71,337,219 50,401,135
2034 70,737,692 50,607,994
2033 70,128,299 50,796,030
2032 69,502,726 50,961,878
2031 68,865,544 51,109,725
2030 68,221,143 51,242,628
2029 67,549,189 51,360,529
2028 66,860,631 51,461,403
2027 66,166,759 51,551,313
2026 65,473,024 51,624,449
2025 64,747,319 51,684,564
2024 64,007,187 51,751,065
2023 63,212,384 51,712,619
2022 62,378,410 51,672,569
2021 61,502,603 51,769,539
2020 60,562,381 51,836,239
2019 59,587,885 51,764,822
2018 58,613,001 51,585,058
2017 57,635,162 51,361,911
2016 57,259,551 51,217,803
2015 56,723,537 51,014,947
2014 55,594,838 50,746,659
2013 54,678,791 50,428,893
2012 53,782,567 50,199,853
2011 52,995,205 49,936,638
2010 52,344,051 49,554,112
2009 51,728,516 49,307,835
2008 51,114,599 49,054,708
2007 50,528,584 48,683,638
2006 49,998,277 48,438,292
2005 49,490,033 48,184,561
2004 48,991,421 48,082,519
2003 48,500,348 47,892,330
2002 48,019,415 47,644,736
2001 47,566,800 47,370,164
2000 47,159,719 47,008,111
1999 46,730,335 46,616,677
1998 46,223,880 46,286,503
1997 45,666,838 45,953,580
1996 45,123,018 45,524,681
1995 44,541,554 45,092,991
1994 44,004,139 44,641,540
1993 43,297,156 44,194,628
1992 42,443,509 43,747,962
1991 41,687,898 43,295,704
1990 40,746,268 42,869,283
1989 39,628,575 42,449,038
1988 38,480,649 42,031,247
1987 37,326,190 41,621,690
1986 36,180,515 41,213,674
1985 35,042,093 40,805,744
1984 33,892,788 40,405,956
1983 32,739,304 39,910,403
1982 31,615,339 39,326,352
1981 30,541,044 38,723,248
1980 29,518,857 38,123,775
1979 28,634,162 37,534,236
1978 27,869,507 36,969,185
1977 27,118,952 36,411,795
1976 26,395,450 35,848,523
1975 25,690,940 35,280,725
1974 24,989,108 34,692,266
1973 24,294,263 34,103,149
1972 23,609,456 33,505,406
1971 22,942,143 32,882,704
1970 22,279,984 32,240,827
1969 21,614,676 31,544,266
1968 20,957,287 30,838,302
1967 20,314,066 30,130,983
1966 19,690,087 29,435,571
1965 19,089,380 28,704,674
1964 18,511,361 27,984,155
1963 17,954,564 27,261,747
1962 17,418,522 26,513,030
1961 16,908,035 25,765,673
1960 16,440,172 25,012,374

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/south-africa/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Africa's population will grow by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa South Korea
2100 0.22% -1.45%
2099 0.22% -1.47%
2098 0.2% -1.48%
2097 0.21% -1.5%
2096 0.22% -1.53%
2095 0.24% -1.54%
2094 0.24% -1.55%
2093 0.24% -1.56%
2092 0.27% -1.56%
2091 0.25% -1.56%
2090 0.26% -1.56%
2089 0.26% -1.55%
2088 0.27% -1.54%
2087 0.27% -1.53%
2086 0.25% -1.52%
2085 0.27% -1.51%
2084 0.29% -1.51%
2083 0.29% -1.5%
2082 0.3% -1.5%
2081 0.3% -1.49%
2080 0.3% -1.48%
2079 0.31% -1.48%
2078 0.31% -1.49%
2077 0.3% -1.48%
2076 0.31% -1.48%
2075 0.32% -1.48%
2074 0.32% -1.48%
2073 0.32% -1.48%
2072 0.37% -1.48%
2071 0.38% -1.48%
2070 0.35% -1.48%
2069 0.36% -1.46%
2068 0.37% -1.46%
2067 0.39% -1.45%
2066 0.39% -1.45%
2065 0.42% -1.45%
2064 0.44% -1.44%
2063 0.44% -1.43%
2062 0.44% -1.4%
2061 0.46% -1.41%
2060 0.47% -1.38%
2059 0.49% -1.37%
2058 0.5% -1.33%
2057 0.5% -1.28%
2056 0.53% -1.24%
2055 0.54% -1.19%
2054 0.54% -1.16%
2053 0.56% -1.13%
2052 0.6% -1.07%
2051 0.6% -1.02%
2050 0.62% -0.97%
2049 0.62% -0.92%
2048 0.66% -0.88%
2047 0.68% -0.82%
2046 0.67% -0.79%
2045 0.68% -0.76%
2044 0.7% -0.72%
2043 0.71% -0.69%
2042 0.73% -0.67%
2041 0.73% -0.63%
2040 0.74% -0.6%
2039 0.76% -0.57%
2038 0.79% -0.53%
2037 0.8% -0.48%
2036 0.83% -0.45%
2035 0.85% -0.41%
2034 0.87% -0.37%
2033 0.9% -0.33%
2032 0.93% -0.29%
2031 0.94% -0.26%
2030 0.99% -0.23%
2029 1.03% -0.2%
2028 1.05% -0.17%
2027 1.06% -0.14%
2026 1.12% -0.12%
2025 1.16% -0.13%
2024 1.26% 0.07%
2023 1.34% 0.08%
2022 1.42% -0.19%
2021 1.55% -0.13%
2020 1.64% 0.14%
2019 1.66% 0.35%
2018 1.7% 0.43%
2017 0.66% 0.28%
2016 0.94% 0.4%
2015 2.03% 0.53%
2014 1.68% 0.63%
2013 1.67% 0.46%
2012 1.49% 0.53%
2011 1.24% 0.77%
2010 1.19% 0.5%
2009 1.2% 0.52%
2008 1.16% 0.76%
2007 1.06% 0.51%
2006 1.03% 0.53%
2005 1.02% 0.21%
2004 1.01% 0.4%
2003 1% 0.52%
2002 0.95% 0.58%
2001 0.86% 0.77%
2000 0.92% 0.84%
1999 1.1% 0.71%
1998 1.22% 0.72%
1997 1.21% 0.94%
1996 1.31% 0.96%
1995 1.22% 1.01%
1994 1.63% 1.01%
1993 2.01% 1.02%
1992 1.81% 1.04%
1991 2.31% 0.99%
1990 2.82% 0.99%
1989 2.98% 0.99%
1988 3.09% 0.98%
1987 3.17% 0.99%
1986 3.25% 1%
1985 3.39% 0.99%
1984 3.52% 1.24%
1983 3.56% 1.49%
1982 3.52% 1.56%
1981 3.46% 1.57%
1980 3.09% 1.57%
1979 2.74% 1.53%
1978 2.77% 1.53%
1977 2.74% 1.57%
1976 2.74% 1.61%
1975 2.81% 1.7%
1974 2.86% 1.73%
1973 2.9% 1.78%
1972 2.91% 1.89%
1971 2.97% 1.99%
1970 3.08% 2.21%
1969 3.14% 2.29%
1968 3.17% 2.35%
1967 3.17% 2.36%
1966 3.15% 2.55%
1965 3.12% 2.57%
1964 3.1% 2.65%
1963 3.08% 2.82%
1962 3.02% 2.9%
1961 2.85% 3.01%

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/south-africa/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

South Africa South Korea
Current population
65829368
51624449
Population rank 24/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.62%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
26.7 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
53.3 seconds
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 -182
Annual growth/decline +740,132 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 169/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +65,731
Net migration rank 9/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 65,731
2024 591,618 166,972 -119,027 75,963
2023 602,793 228,222 -124,111 87,800
2022 603,636 233,284 -124,014 87,800
2021 456,411 458,246 -56,947 -16,778
2020 595,873 369,901 -31,101 112,631
2019 652,130 331,124 10,353 128,622
2018 648,319 318,260 30,951 118,220
2017 645,975 343,146 71,907 104,029
2016 641,365 -879,235 122,923 91,568
2015 668,771 641,150 163,248 276,427
2014 674,754 272,697 167,464 308,037
2013 652,427 232,230 166,415 301,926
2012 643,723 264,091 215,859 281,866
2011 601,708 65,166 214,728 269,958
2010 566,834 68,563 213,083 52,042
2009 554,115 41,528 197,231 5,308
2008 595,332 36,869 215,841 -19,630
2007 503,567 36,339 248,286 -42,293
2006 487,584 33,159 203,441 -28,434
2005 464,464 31,286 187,920 -47,821
2004 442,540 58,924 225,988 -42,549
2003 415,018 65,604 244,251 -31,994
2002 430,926 50,313 247,752 -18,105
2001 484,801 -60,793 312,643 -28,006
2000 526,963 -136,794 390,167 -84,960
1999 594,643 -126,011 368,272 -107,448
1998 627,027 -82,722 393,436 -98,044
1997 667,969 -98,181 422,773 -109,130
1996 710,868 -193,007 446,142 -115,705
1995 743,488 -98,403 468,967 -208,491
1994 698,609 -268,849 473,200 -208,309
1993 789,220 194,977 477,302 -222,802
1992 794,415 -71,342 494,352 -265,849
1991 827,296 -39,131 467,594 -270,754
1990 835,421 259,718 411,546 79,294
1989 884,629 255,605 403,266 186,120
1988 909,221 246,382 399,297 192,534
1987 922,330 231,009 378,758 198,057
1986 903,644 234,378 395,651 189,782
1985 893,889 244,940 416,219 97,949
1984 869,011 290,789 436,384 101,394
1983 837,013 310,172 514,844 102,167
1982 807,550 293,195 605,626 48,638
1981 767,833 279,985 631,189 18,442
1980 738,415 258,127 583,294 -148,341
1979 716,541 56,323 623,068 -139,566
1978 694,341 62,121 499,084 -85,721
1977 680,929 63,739 578,947 -90,737
1976 675,011 27,333 530,558 -92,314
1975 667,862 38,809 603,300 -52,332
1974 658,438 38,518 673,030 27,005
1973 651,596 41,125 699,115 35,779
1972 638,754 38,163 740,469 25,382
1971 624,761 32,961 789,185 -6,326
1970 605,102 61,514 747,987 -27,999
1969 590,794 73,225 694,227 -21,175
1968 571,841 78,932 684,487 -16,868
1967 553,741 81,932 692,169 -16,484
1966 534,862 77,417 623,534 -16,688
1965 506,632 82,514 641,090 -146,386
1964 490,606 76,298 655,501 -102,284
1963 473,821 72,844 685,824 -80,226
1962 455,634 69,771 712,590 -94,606
1961 437,851 57,728 730,173 -93,179
1960 421,263 18,891 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.4% of the population change in South Africa is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-africa/south-korea | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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