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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.33 times bigger than Spain's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.39% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

South Africa vs Spain: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Spain
2100 94,734,082 34,221,514
2099 94,523,360 34,400,373
2098 94,316,049 34,577,450
2097 94,125,043 34,751,199
2096 93,927,246 34,917,831
2095 93,719,451 35,087,012
2094 93,494,697 35,251,362
2093 93,267,274 35,415,082
2092 93,041,793 35,577,396
2091 92,793,249 35,741,351
2090 92,561,159 35,912,083
2089 92,322,396 36,086,009
2088 92,080,212 36,257,546
2087 91,833,409 36,424,826
2086 91,581,639 36,594,101
2085 91,352,906 36,771,456
2084 91,106,961 36,951,760
2083 90,845,161 37,138,777
2082 90,583,188 37,327,720
2081 90,313,417 37,527,142
2080 90,039,857 37,732,838
2079 89,770,116 37,949,144
2078 89,494,440 38,171,047
2077 89,217,520 38,405,329
2076 88,954,522 38,654,221
2075 88,681,719 38,913,733
2074 88,397,221 39,188,284
2073 88,118,589 39,469,767
2072 87,835,051 39,765,059
2071 87,509,098 40,062,070
2070 87,178,463 40,372,388
2069 86,870,660 40,682,818
2068 86,558,000 41,005,148
2067 86,237,764 41,326,772
2066 85,904,801 41,654,672
2065 85,573,984 41,983,104
2064 85,214,686 42,321,736
2063 84,845,370 42,655,212
2062 84,473,236 42,993,328
2061 84,103,016 43,328,037
2060 83,719,266 43,648,753
2059 83,325,330 43,967,376
2058 82,918,226 44,273,756
2057 82,508,742 44,579,723
2056 82,098,320 44,885,952
2055 81,669,191 45,164,935
2054 81,227,019 45,434,986
2053 80,789,939 45,702,038
2052 80,338,877 45,951,973
2051 79,858,310 46,179,119
2050 79,383,784 46,397,620
2049 78,897,472 46,616,167
2048 78,409,829 46,812,693
2047 77,894,547 47,002,591
2046 77,369,819 47,182,235
2045 76,852,544 47,354,908
2044 76,330,046 47,514,076
2043 75,800,788 47,657,627
2042 75,264,885 47,801,904
2041 74,721,871 47,936,819
2040 74,179,185 48,066,825
2039 73,636,894 48,190,225
2038 73,079,976 48,304,880
2037 72,506,991 48,418,168
2036 71,930,701 48,528,778
2035 71,337,219 48,633,960
2034 70,737,692 48,730,594
2033 70,128,299 48,823,356
2032 69,502,726 48,914,944
2031 68,865,544 49,008,735
2030 68,221,143 49,094,273
2029 67,549,189 49,163,780
2028 66,860,631 49,223,677
2027 66,166,759 49,274,441
2026 65,473,024 49,323,658
2025 64,747,319 49,355,143
2024 64,007,187 48,848,840
2023 63,212,384 48,352,528
2022 62,378,410 47,786,102
2021 61,502,603 47,443,821
2020 60,562,381 47,359,424
2019 59,587,885 47,118,501
2018 58,613,001 46,782,011
2017 57,635,162 46,571,232
2016 57,259,551 46,458,139
2015 56,723,537 46,422,303
2014 55,594,838 46,460,733
2013 54,678,791 46,604,197
2012 53,782,567 46,773,055
2011 52,995,205 46,742,697
2010 52,344,051 46,576,897
2009 51,728,516 46,362,946
2008 51,114,599 45,954,106
2007 50,528,584 45,226,803
2006 49,998,277 44,397,319
2005 49,490,033 43,653,155
2004 48,991,421 42,921,895
2003 48,500,348 42,187,645
2002 48,019,415 41,431,558
2001 47,566,800 40,850,412
2000 47,159,719 40,567,864
1999 46,730,335 40,386,875
1998 46,223,880 40,223,509
1997 45,666,838 40,057,389
1996 45,123,018 39,889,852
1995 44,541,554 39,724,050
1994 44,004,139 39,549,108
1993 43,297,156 39,361,262
1992 42,443,509 39,157,685
1991 41,687,898 38,966,376
1990 40,746,268 38,867,322
1989 39,628,575 38,827,764
1988 38,480,649 38,766,939
1987 37,326,190 38,684,815
1986 36,180,515 38,584,624
1985 35,042,093 38,469,512
1984 33,892,788 38,330,364
1983 32,739,304 38,171,525
1982 31,615,339 37,986,012
1981 30,541,044 37,758,631
1980 29,518,857 37,491,165
1979 28,634,162 37,191,330
1978 27,869,507 36,864,898
1977 27,118,952 36,511,638
1976 26,395,450 36,137,812
1975 25,690,940 35,757,900
1974 24,989,108 35,373,335
1973 24,294,263 34,988,947
1972 23,609,456 34,604,469
1971 22,942,143 34,224,490
1970 22,279,984 33,814,531
1969 21,614,676 33,441,054
1968 20,957,287 33,113,134
1967 20,314,066 32,682,947
1966 19,690,087 32,283,194
1965 19,089,380 31,954,292
1964 18,511,361 31,609,195
1963 17,954,564 31,296,651
1962 17,418,522 31,023,366
1961 16,908,035 30,739,250
1960 16,440,172 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Spain
2100 0.22% -0.52%
2099 0.22% -0.51%
2098 0.2% -0.5%
2097 0.21% -0.48%
2096 0.22% -0.48%
2095 0.24% -0.47%
2094 0.24% -0.46%
2093 0.24% -0.46%
2092 0.27% -0.46%
2091 0.25% -0.48%
2090 0.26% -0.48%
2089 0.26% -0.47%
2088 0.27% -0.46%
2087 0.27% -0.46%
2086 0.25% -0.48%
2085 0.27% -0.49%
2084 0.29% -0.5%
2083 0.29% -0.51%
2082 0.3% -0.53%
2081 0.3% -0.55%
2080 0.3% -0.57%
2079 0.31% -0.58%
2078 0.31% -0.61%
2077 0.3% -0.64%
2076 0.31% -0.67%
2075 0.32% -0.7%
2074 0.32% -0.71%
2073 0.32% -0.74%
2072 0.37% -0.74%
2071 0.38% -0.77%
2070 0.35% -0.76%
2069 0.36% -0.79%
2068 0.37% -0.78%
2067 0.39% -0.79%
2066 0.39% -0.78%
2065 0.42% -0.8%
2064 0.44% -0.78%
2063 0.44% -0.79%
2062 0.44% -0.77%
2061 0.46% -0.73%
2060 0.47% -0.72%
2059 0.49% -0.69%
2058 0.5% -0.69%
2057 0.5% -0.68%
2056 0.53% -0.62%
2055 0.54% -0.59%
2054 0.54% -0.58%
2053 0.56% -0.54%
2052 0.6% -0.49%
2051 0.6% -0.47%
2050 0.62% -0.47%
2049 0.62% -0.42%
2048 0.66% -0.4%
2047 0.68% -0.38%
2046 0.67% -0.36%
2045 0.68% -0.33%
2044 0.7% -0.3%
2043 0.71% -0.3%
2042 0.73% -0.28%
2041 0.73% -0.27%
2040 0.74% -0.26%
2039 0.76% -0.24%
2038 0.79% -0.23%
2037 0.8% -0.23%
2036 0.83% -0.22%
2035 0.85% -0.2%
2034 0.87% -0.19%
2033 0.9% -0.19%
2032 0.93% -0.19%
2031 0.94% -0.17%
2030 0.99% -0.14%
2029 1.03% -0.12%
2028 1.05% -0.1%
2027 1.06% -0.1%
2026 1.12% -0.06%
2025 1.16% 1.04%
2024 1.26% 1.03%
2023 1.34% 1.19%
2022 1.42% 0.72%
2021 1.55% 0.18%
2020 1.64% 0.51%
2019 1.66% 0.72%
2018 1.7% 0.45%
2017 0.66% 0.24%
2016 0.94% 0.08%
2015 2.03% -0.08%
2014 1.68% -0.31%
2013 1.67% -0.36%
2012 1.49% 0.06%
2011 1.24% 0.36%
2010 1.19% 0.46%
2009 1.2% 0.89%
2008 1.16% 1.61%
2007 1.06% 1.87%
2006 1.03% 1.7%
2005 1.02% 1.7%
2004 1.01% 1.74%
2003 1% 1.82%
2002 0.95% 1.42%
2001 0.86% 0.7%
2000 0.92% 0.45%
1999 1.1% 0.41%
1998 1.22% 0.41%
1997 1.21% 0.42%
1996 1.31% 0.42%
1995 1.22% 0.44%
1994 1.63% 0.48%
1993 2.01% 0.52%
1992 1.81% 0.49%
1991 2.31% 0.25%
1990 2.82% 0.1%
1989 2.98% 0.16%
1988 3.09% 0.21%
1987 3.17% 0.26%
1986 3.25% 0.3%
1985 3.39% 0.36%
1984 3.52% 0.42%
1983 3.56% 0.49%
1982 3.52% 0.6%
1981 3.46% 0.71%
1980 3.09% 0.81%
1979 2.74% 0.89%
1978 2.77% 0.97%
1977 2.74% 1.03%
1976 2.74% 1.06%
1975 2.81% 1.09%
1974 2.86% 1.1%
1973 2.9% 1.11%
1972 2.91% 1.11%
1971 2.97% 1.21%
1970 3.08% 1.12%
1969 3.14% 0.99%
1968 3.17% 1.32%
1967 3.17% 1.24%
1966 3.15% 1.03%
1965 3.12% 1.09%
1964 3.1% 1%
1963 3.08% 0.88%
1962 3.02% 0.92%
1961 2.85% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

South Africa Spain
Current population
65829368
49323658
Population rank 24/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.59%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
1.04 minutes
One birth every
26.7 seconds
1.66 minutes
One death every
53.3 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +740,132 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 98/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +96,630
Net migration rank 9/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 96,630
2024 591,618 166,972 -117,237 111,674
2023 602,793 228,222 -116,046 119,099
2022 603,636 233,284 -133,801 299,779
2021 456,411 458,246 -113,865 144,385
2020 595,873 369,901 -151,551 236,854
2019 652,130 331,124 -56,542 464,783
2018 648,319 318,260 -56,139 337,467
2017 645,975 343,146 -32,600 201,135
2016 641,365 -879,235 0 106,474
2015 668,771 641,150 -4,642 -1,979
2014 674,754 272,697 32,522 -97,870
2013 652,427 232,230 37,284 -250,741
2012 643,723 264,091 51,450 -153,486
2011 601,708 65,166 84,137 60,761
2010 566,834 68,563 102,469 69,406
2009 554,115 41,528 106,635 129,557
2008 595,332 36,869 133,267 434,135
2007 503,567 36,339 108,545 772,317
2006 487,584 33,159 110,994 659,720
2005 464,464 31,286 78,576 629,803
2004 442,540 58,924 85,844 661,158
2003 415,018 65,604 54,844 658,428
2002 430,926 50,313 53,861 737,880
2001 484,801 -60,793 44,936 181,307
2000 526,963 -136,794 36,512 176,269
1999 594,643 -126,011 8,077 178,559
1998 627,027 -82,722 4,022 182,926
1997 667,969 -98,181 20,028 165,345
1996 710,868 -193,007 11,967 162,704
1995 743,488 -98,403 15,889 162,434
1994 698,609 -268,849 31,639 160,407
1993 789,220 194,977 47,234 160,907
1992 794,415 -71,342 62,652 177,544
1991 827,296 -39,131 58,450 122,841
1990 835,421 259,718 66,075 -30,684
1989 884,629 255,605 81,538 -25,892
1988 909,221 246,382 100,794 -17,663
1987 922,330 231,009 116,054 -12,681
1986 903,644 234,378 131,188 -13,540
1985 893,889 244,940 146,184 -589
1984 869,011 290,789 172,487 2,754
1983 837,013 310,172 183,223 1,241
1982 807,550 293,195 231,714 -7,384
1981 767,833 279,985 237,879 2,563
1980 738,415 258,127 281,184 20,166
1979 716,541 56,323 312,407 -5,929
1978 694,341 62,121 339,157 -2,504
1977 680,929 63,739 361,465 -1,332
1976 675,011 27,333 375,834 2,804
1975 667,862 38,809 371,882 -218
1974 658,438 38,518 396,182 105,838
1973 651,596 41,125 374,381 8,624
1972 638,754 38,163 391,030 7,935
1971 624,761 32,961 369,625 7,363
1970 605,102 61,514 378,723 -60,580
1969 590,794 73,225 367,851 -49,956
1968 571,841 78,932 387,423 -46,088
1967 553,741 81,932 402,001 -42,344
1966 534,862 77,417 397,084 -41,467
1965 506,632 82,514 405,819 -42,476
1964 490,606 76,298 429,885 -41,461
1963 473,821 72,844 394,338 -44,446
1962 455,634 69,771 384,690 -45,211
1961 437,851 57,728 396,537 -46,517
1960 421,263 18,891 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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