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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.25 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.94% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

South Africa vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa South Sudan
2100 94,767,727 24,086,901
2099 94,556,931 24,081,477
2098 94,349,546 24,063,461
2097 94,158,472 24,065,268
2096 93,960,605 24,054,483
2095 93,752,736 24,046,345
2094 93,527,902 24,047,776
2093 93,300,398 24,039,017
2092 93,074,837 24,019,054
2091 92,826,204 24,000,308
2090 92,594,033 23,978,496
2089 92,355,184 23,937,487
2088 92,112,914 23,892,166
2087 91,866,024 23,857,250
2086 91,614,165 23,803,312
2085 91,385,350 23,759,178
2084 91,139,318 23,687,109
2083 90,877,425 23,617,646
2082 90,615,359 23,541,119
2081 90,345,492 23,466,449
2080 90,071,835 23,391,758
2079 89,801,998 23,294,252
2078 89,526,224 23,197,067
2077 89,249,206 23,086,584
2076 88,986,114 22,987,331
2075 88,713,215 22,868,587
2074 88,428,616 22,726,189
2073 88,149,885 22,583,672
2072 87,866,246 22,438,943
2071 87,540,177 22,288,026
2070 87,209,425 22,151,650
2069 86,901,512 22,003,659
2068 86,588,742 21,829,800
2067 86,268,392 21,662,211
2066 85,935,310 21,496,881
2065 85,604,376 21,317,455
2064 85,244,950 21,142,002
2063 84,875,503 20,965,122
2062 84,503,237 20,785,055
2061 84,132,885 20,608,964
2060 83,748,999 20,430,857
2059 83,354,923 20,235,022
2058 82,947,675 20,048,974
2057 82,538,045 19,853,696
2056 82,127,477 19,659,362
2055 81,698,196 19,464,297
2054 81,255,867 19,257,481
2053 80,818,632 19,060,517
2052 80,367,409 18,840,461
2051 79,886,672 18,633,198
2050 79,411,977 18,434,212
2049 78,925,493 18,230,881
2048 78,437,677 18,021,026
2047 77,922,211 17,806,282
2046 77,397,298 17,579,173
2045 76,879,838 17,355,041
2044 76,357,155 17,121,972
2043 75,827,709 16,888,278
2042 75,291,615 16,645,354
2041 74,748,408 16,396,768
2040 74,205,530 16,142,816
2039 73,663,047 15,889,952
2038 73,105,930 15,628,043
2037 72,532,742 15,363,975
2036 71,956,247 15,091,275
2035 71,362,555 14,815,307
2034 70,762,815 14,543,511
2033 70,153,205 14,278,180
2032 69,527,410 14,007,134
2031 68,890,002 13,730,637
2030 68,245,372 13,465,615
2029 67,573,179 13,206,477
2028 66,884,377 12,947,082
2027 66,190,258 12,692,769
2026 65,496,277 12,439,296
2025 64,770,314 12,193,102
2024 64,007,187 11,943,408
2023 63,212,384 11,483,374
2022 62,378,410 11,021,177
2021 61,502,603 10,865,780
2020 60,562,381 10,698,467
2019 59,587,885 10,423,384
2018 58,613,001 10,122,977
2017 57,635,162 10,259,154
2016 57,259,551 10,830,102
2015 56,723,537 11,107,561
2014 55,594,838 11,235,073
2013 54,678,791 11,166,275
2012 53,782,567 10,756,240
2011 52,995,205 10,288,109
2010 52,344,051 9,745,953
2009 51,728,516 9,243,556
2008 51,114,599 8,817,647
2007 50,528,584 8,388,788
2006 49,998,277 7,976,526
2005 49,490,033 7,590,143
2004 48,991,421 7,233,041
2003 48,500,348 6,903,127
2002 48,019,415 6,596,806
2001 47,566,800 6,308,391
2000 47,159,719 6,032,267
1999 46,730,335 5,771,628
1998 46,223,880 5,620,068
1997 45,666,838 5,509,136
1996 45,123,018 5,356,925
1995 44,541,554 5,225,836
1994 44,004,139 5,071,184
1993 43,297,156 4,956,002
1992 42,443,509 4,909,749
1991 41,687,898 4,836,677
1990 40,746,268 4,737,633
1989 39,628,575 4,713,229
1988 38,480,649 4,848,029
1987 37,326,190 4,962,395
1986 36,180,515 4,921,240
1985 35,042,093 4,834,296
1984 33,892,788 4,750,627
1983 32,739,304 4,661,574
1982 31,615,339 4,557,686
1981 30,541,044 4,447,272
1980 29,518,857 4,339,030
1979 28,634,162 4,232,605
1978 27,869,507 4,127,657
1977 27,118,952 4,024,032
1976 26,395,450 3,921,910
1975 25,690,940 3,821,494
1974 24,989,108 3,723,259
1973 24,294,263 3,627,383
1972 23,609,456 3,542,497
1971 22,942,143 3,468,646
1970 22,279,984 3,409,614
1969 21,614,676 3,365,533
1968 20,957,287 3,321,528
1967 20,314,066 3,277,648
1966 19,690,087 3,236,423
1965 19,089,380 3,189,835
1964 18,511,361 3,129,918
1963 17,954,564 3,072,669
1962 17,418,522 3,024,308
1961 16,908,035 2,976,724
1960 16,440,172 2,931,559

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/south-africa/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Africa's population will grow by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa South Sudan
2100 0.22% 0.02%
2099 0.22% 0.07%
2098 0.2% -0.008%
2097 0.21% 0.04%
2096 0.22% 0.03%
2095 0.24% -0.006%
2094 0.24% 0.04%
2093 0.24% 0.08%
2092 0.27% 0.08%
2091 0.25% 0.09%
2090 0.26% 0.17%
2089 0.26% 0.19%
2088 0.27% 0.15%
2087 0.27% 0.23%
2086 0.25% 0.19%
2085 0.27% 0.3%
2084 0.29% 0.29%
2083 0.29% 0.33%
2082 0.3% 0.32%
2081 0.3% 0.32%
2080 0.3% 0.42%
2079 0.31% 0.42%
2078 0.31% 0.48%
2077 0.3% 0.43%
2076 0.31% 0.52%
2075 0.32% 0.63%
2074 0.32% 0.63%
2073 0.32% 0.64%
2072 0.37% 0.68%
2071 0.38% 0.62%
2070 0.35% 0.67%
2069 0.36% 0.8%
2068 0.37% 0.77%
2067 0.39% 0.77%
2066 0.39% 0.84%
2065 0.42% 0.83%
2064 0.44% 0.84%
2063 0.44% 0.87%
2062 0.44% 0.85%
2061 0.46% 0.87%
2060 0.47% 0.97%
2059 0.49% 0.93%
2058 0.5% 0.98%
2057 0.5% 0.99%
2056 0.53% 1%
2055 0.54% 1.07%
2054 0.54% 1.03%
2053 0.56% 1.17%
2052 0.6% 1.11%
2051 0.6% 1.08%
2050 0.62% 1.12%
2049 0.62% 1.16%
2048 0.66% 1.21%
2047 0.68% 1.29%
2046 0.67% 1.29%
2045 0.68% 1.36%
2044 0.7% 1.38%
2043 0.71% 1.46%
2042 0.73% 1.52%
2041 0.73% 1.57%
2040 0.74% 1.59%
2039 0.76% 1.68%
2038 0.79% 1.72%
2037 0.8% 1.81%
2036 0.83% 1.86%
2035 0.85% 1.87%
2034 0.87% 1.86%
2033 0.9% 1.94%
2032 0.93% 2.01%
2031 0.94% 1.97%
2030 0.99% 1.96%
2029 1.03% 2%
2028 1.05% 2%
2027 1.06% 2.04%
2026 1.12% 2.02%
2025 1.19% 2.09%
2024 1.26% 4.01%
2023 1.34% 4.19%
2022 1.42% 1.43%
2021 1.55% 1.56%
2020 1.64% 2.64%
2019 1.66% 2.97%
2018 1.7% -1.33%
2017 0.66% -5.27%
2016 0.94% -2.5%
2015 2.03% -1.13%
2014 1.68% 0.62%
2013 1.67% 3.81%
2012 1.49% 4.55%
2011 1.24% 5.56%
2010 1.19% 5.44%
2009 1.2% 4.83%
2008 1.16% 5.11%
2007 1.06% 5.17%
2006 1.03% 5.09%
2005 1.02% 4.94%
2004 1.01% 4.78%
2003 1% 4.64%
2002 0.95% 4.57%
2001 0.86% 4.58%
2000 0.92% 4.52%
1999 1.1% 2.7%
1998 1.22% 2.01%
1997 1.21% 2.84%
1996 1.31% 2.51%
1995 1.22% 3.05%
1994 1.63% 2.32%
1993 2.01% 0.94%
1992 1.81% 1.51%
1991 2.31% 2.09%
1990 2.82% 0.52%
1989 2.98% -2.78%
1988 3.09% -2.3%
1987 3.17% 0.84%
1986 3.25% 1.8%
1985 3.39% 1.76%
1984 3.52% 1.91%
1983 3.56% 2.28%
1982 3.52% 2.48%
1981 3.46% 2.49%
1980 3.09% 2.51%
1979 2.74% 2.54%
1978 2.77% 2.58%
1977 2.74% 2.6%
1976 2.74% 2.63%
1975 2.81% 2.64%
1974 2.86% 2.64%
1973 2.9% 2.4%
1972 2.91% 2.13%
1971 2.97% 1.73%
1970 3.08% 1.31%
1969 3.14% 1.32%
1968 3.17% 1.34%
1967 3.17% 1.27%
1966 3.15% 1.46%
1965 3.12% 1.91%
1964 3.1% 1.86%
1963 3.08% 1.6%
1962 3.02% 1.6%
1961 2.85% 1.54%

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/south-africa/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

South Africa South Sudan
Current population
65683993
12507858
Population rank 24/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.15%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 7/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +146,370 +6,145
Net migration rank 9/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 6,145
2024 - 166,972 - 15,374
2023 602,793 228,222 217,966 455,000
2022 603,636 233,284 211,166 40,259
2021 456,411 458,246 213,567 -154,359
2020 595,873 369,901 212,332 62,935
2019 652,130 331,124 209,708 65,198
2018 648,319 318,260 168,497 157,408
2017 645,975 343,146 72,193 -670,477
2016 641,365 -879,235 110,553 -654,225
2015 668,771 641,150 148,542 -159,822
2014 674,754 272,697 227,611 -471,523
2013 652,427 232,230 315,983 65,337
2012 643,723 264,091 312,974 125,771
2011 601,708 65,166 303,181 194,325
2010 566,834 68,563 287,409 299,402
2009 554,115 41,528 278,859 139,129
2008 595,332 36,869 268,268 165,557
2007 503,567 36,339 256,546 167,350
2006 487,584 33,159 246,706 153,926
2005 464,464 31,286 239,272 132,869
2004 442,540 58,924 231,877 110,182
2003 415,018 65,604 225,822 91,951
2002 430,926 50,313 212,014 82,847
2001 484,801 -60,793 204,108 77,856
2000 526,963 -136,794 196,055 74,227
1999 594,643 -126,011 180,721 70,271
1998 627,027 -82,722 -12,157 64,285
1997 667,969 -98,181 121,454 48,280
1996 710,868 -193,007 116,728 17,953
1995 743,488 -98,403 110,417 17,077
1994 698,609 -268,849 165,407 16,407
1993 789,220 194,977 32,779 15,772
1992 794,415 -71,342 28,874 15,077
1991 827,296 -39,131 87,873 14,327
1990 835,421 259,718 82,900 12,988
1989 884,629 255,605 83,735 -130,821
1988 909,221 246,382 -125,447 -97,065
1987 922,330 231,009 5,756 -11,976
1986 903,644 234,378 99,502 -10,973
1985 893,889 244,940 95,342 -9,986
1984 869,011 290,789 90,970 -8,984
1983 837,013 310,172 104,107 -7,986
1982 807,550 293,195 118,641 -6,983
1981 767,833 279,985 115,163 -5,994
1980 738,415 258,127 112,307 -4,997
1979 716,541 56,323 109,540 -3,997
1978 694,341 62,121 107,352 -2,998
1977 680,929 63,739 104,886 -1,997
1976 675,011 27,333 102,346 -995
1975 667,862 38,809 99,882 -395
1974 658,438 38,518 97,181 -192
1973 651,596 41,125 94,765 0
1972 638,754 38,163 74,803 193
1971 624,761 32,961 72,308 394
1970 605,102 61,514 44,776 587
1969 590,794 73,225 42,015 786
1968 571,841 78,932 44,213 995
1967 553,741 81,932 41,357 1,194
1966 534,862 77,417 38,523 1,386
1965 506,632 82,514 51,682 1,591
1964 490,606 76,298 64,786 1,785
1963 473,821 72,844 46,333 1,591
1962 455,634 69,771 47,406 1,386
1961 437,851 57,728 45,186 1,194
1960 421,263 18,891 42,945 995

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 72.8% of the population change in South Africa is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people). In South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

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
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-africa/south-sudan | 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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