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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 50,448,963 people in Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 53,335,233 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.23 times bigger than Sudan's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 1.44% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.64% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.67% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 53.3M (66.7% growth).

South Africa vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Sudan
2100 94,767,727 137,695,876
2099 94,556,931 137,114,644
2098 94,349,546 136,500,499
2097 94,158,472 135,860,701
2096 93,960,605 135,222,218
2095 93,752,736 134,553,615
2094 93,527,902 133,902,112
2093 93,300,398 133,186,791
2092 93,074,837 132,427,642
2091 92,826,204 131,674,049
2090 92,594,033 130,893,042
2089 92,355,184 130,075,970
2088 92,112,914 129,234,968
2087 91,866,024 128,358,981
2086 91,614,165 127,463,823
2085 91,385,350 126,555,673
2084 91,139,318 125,612,419
2083 90,877,425 124,663,868
2082 90,615,359 123,716,124
2081 90,345,492 122,772,016
2080 90,071,835 121,805,246
2079 89,801,998 120,822,781
2078 89,526,224 119,802,944
2077 89,249,206 118,776,597
2076 88,986,114 117,748,457
2075 88,713,215 116,688,549
2074 88,428,616 115,601,159
2073 88,149,885 114,499,847
2072 87,866,246 113,374,089
2071 87,540,177 112,235,978
2070 87,209,425 111,102,687
2069 86,901,512 109,945,533
2068 86,588,742 108,791,037
2067 86,268,392 107,581,192
2066 85,935,310 106,357,353
2065 85,604,376 105,145,307
2064 85,244,950 103,903,801
2063 84,875,503 102,642,643
2062 84,503,237 101,354,095
2061 84,132,885 100,067,335
2060 83,748,999 98,765,585
2059 83,354,923 97,461,067
2058 82,947,675 96,135,716
2057 82,538,045 94,800,344
2056 82,127,477 93,458,640
2055 81,698,196 92,089,717
2054 81,255,867 90,711,253
2053 80,818,632 89,342,122
2052 80,367,409 87,962,125
2051 79,886,672 86,581,277
2050 79,411,977 85,194,794
2049 78,925,493 83,803,171
2048 78,437,677 82,442,635
2047 77,922,211 81,085,689
2046 77,397,298 79,725,126
2045 76,879,838 78,359,927
2044 76,357,155 77,006,049
2043 75,827,709 75,652,858
2042 75,291,615 74,312,465
2041 74,748,408 72,968,877
2040 74,205,530 71,640,015
2039 73,663,047 70,319,906
2038 73,105,930 69,001,239
2037 72,532,742 67,665,904
2036 71,956,247 66,337,650
2035 71,362,555 65,001,359
2034 70,762,815 63,664,516
2033 70,153,205 62,329,849
2032 69,527,410 61,007,985
2031 68,890,002 59,695,860
2030 68,245,372 58,384,521
2029 67,573,179 57,082,767
2028 66,884,377 55,800,806
2027 66,190,258 54,523,219
2026 65,496,277 52,894,744
2025 64,770,314 51,256,148
2024 64,007,187 50,448,963
2023 63,212,384 50,042,791
2022 62,378,410 49,383,346
2021 61,502,603 48,066,924
2020 60,562,381 46,789,231
2019 59,587,885 45,548,175
2018 58,613,001 44,230,596
2017 57,635,162 42,714,306
2016 57,259,551 41,259,892
2015 56,723,537 40,024,431
2014 55,594,838 38,823,318
2013 54,678,791 37,785,849
2012 53,782,567 36,923,178
2011 52,995,205 36,140,806
2010 52,344,051 35,414,399
2009 51,728,516 34,569,113
2008 51,114,599 33,623,980
2007 50,528,584 32,764,135
2006 49,998,277 31,992,435
2005 49,490,033 31,262,444
2004 48,991,421 30,556,637
2003 48,500,348 29,896,035
2002 48,019,415 29,228,727
2001 47,566,800 28,516,770
2000 47,159,719 27,816,745
1999 46,730,335 27,130,613
1998 46,223,880 26,458,999
1997 45,666,838 25,799,821
1996 45,123,018 25,231,528
1995 44,541,554 24,672,143
1994 44,004,139 24,043,948
1993 43,297,156 23,445,592
1992 42,443,509 22,927,355
1991 41,687,898 22,470,676
1990 40,746,268 22,021,481
1989 39,628,575 21,578,022
1988 38,480,649 21,138,431
1987 37,326,190 20,704,904
1986 36,180,515 20,288,238
1985 35,042,093 19,905,872
1984 33,892,788 19,546,528
1983 32,739,304 19,109,770
1982 31,615,339 18,486,645
1981 30,541,044 17,780,572
1980 29,518,857 17,058,905
1979 28,634,162 16,355,352
1978 27,869,507 15,695,003
1977 27,118,952 15,086,614
1976 26,395,450 14,569,716
1975 25,690,940 14,064,798
1974 24,989,108 13,580,723
1973 24,294,263 13,049,315
1972 23,609,456 12,527,856
1971 22,942,143 12,105,539
1970 22,279,984 11,695,771
1969 21,614,676 11,298,936
1968 20,957,287 10,917,999
1967 20,314,066 10,550,597
1966 19,690,087 10,197,578
1965 19,089,380 9,858,030
1964 18,511,361 9,531,109
1963 17,954,564 9,218,077
1962 17,418,522 8,919,028
1961 16,908,035 8,634,941
1960 16,440,172 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,075,341 people (a 29.3% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th 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 Sudan will increase by 59.7% to 85,194,794 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 138M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Sudan
2100 0.22% 0.42%
2099 0.22% 0.45%
2098 0.2% 0.47%
2097 0.21% 0.47%
2096 0.22% 0.5%
2095 0.24% 0.49%
2094 0.24% 0.54%
2093 0.24% 0.57%
2092 0.27% 0.57%
2091 0.25% 0.6%
2090 0.26% 0.63%
2089 0.26% 0.65%
2088 0.27% 0.68%
2087 0.27% 0.7%
2086 0.25% 0.72%
2085 0.27% 0.75%
2084 0.29% 0.76%
2083 0.29% 0.77%
2082 0.3% 0.77%
2081 0.3% 0.79%
2080 0.3% 0.81%
2079 0.31% 0.85%
2078 0.31% 0.86%
2077 0.3% 0.87%
2076 0.31% 0.91%
2075 0.32% 0.94%
2074 0.32% 0.96%
2073 0.32% 0.99%
2072 0.37% 1.01%
2071 0.38% 1.02%
2070 0.35% 1.05%
2069 0.36% 1.06%
2068 0.37% 1.12%
2067 0.39% 1.15%
2066 0.39% 1.15%
2065 0.42% 1.19%
2064 0.44% 1.23%
2063 0.44% 1.27%
2062 0.44% 1.29%
2061 0.46% 1.32%
2060 0.47% 1.34%
2059 0.49% 1.38%
2058 0.5% 1.41%
2057 0.5% 1.44%
2056 0.53% 1.49%
2055 0.54% 1.52%
2054 0.54% 1.53%
2053 0.56% 1.57%
2052 0.6% 1.59%
2051 0.6% 1.63%
2050 0.62% 1.66%
2049 0.62% 1.65%
2048 0.66% 1.67%
2047 0.68% 1.71%
2046 0.67% 1.74%
2045 0.68% 1.76%
2044 0.7% 1.79%
2043 0.71% 1.8%
2042 0.73% 1.84%
2041 0.73% 1.85%
2040 0.74% 1.88%
2039 0.76% 1.91%
2038 0.79% 1.97%
2037 0.8% 2%
2036 0.83% 2.06%
2035 0.85% 2.1%
2034 0.87% 2.14%
2033 0.9% 2.17%
2032 0.93% 2.2%
2031 0.94% 2.25%
2030 0.99% 2.28%
2029 1.03% 2.3%
2028 1.05% 2.34%
2027 1.06% 3.08%
2026 1.12% 3.2%
2025 1.19% 1.6%
2024 1.26% 0.81%
2023 1.34% 1.34%
2022 1.42% 2.74%
2021 1.55% 2.73%
2020 1.64% 2.72%
2019 1.66% 2.98%
2018 1.7% 3.55%
2017 0.66% 3.53%
2016 0.94% 3.09%
2015 2.03% 3.09%
2014 1.68% 2.75%
2013 1.67% 2.34%
2012 1.49% 2.16%
2011 1.24% 2.05%
2010 1.19% 2.45%
2009 1.2% 2.81%
2008 1.16% 2.62%
2007 1.06% 2.41%
2006 1.03% 2.34%
2005 1.02% 2.31%
2004 1.01% 2.21%
2003 1% 2.28%
2002 0.95% 2.5%
2001 0.86% 2.52%
2000 0.92% 2.53%
1999 1.1% 2.54%
1998 1.22% 2.55%
1997 1.21% 2.25%
1996 1.31% 2.27%
1995 1.22% 2.61%
1994 1.63% 2.55%
1993 2.01% 2.26%
1992 1.81% 2.03%
1991 2.31% 2.04%
1990 2.82% 2.06%
1989 2.98% 2.08%
1988 3.09% 2.09%
1987 3.17% 2.05%
1986 3.25% 1.92%
1985 3.39% 1.84%
1984 3.52% 2.29%
1983 3.56% 3.37%
1982 3.52% 3.97%
1981 3.46% 4.23%
1980 3.09% 4.3%
1979 2.74% 4.21%
1978 2.77% 4.03%
1977 2.74% 3.55%
1976 2.74% 3.59%
1975 2.81% 3.56%
1974 2.86% 4.07%
1973 2.9% 4.16%
1972 2.91% 3.49%
1971 2.97% 3.5%
1970 3.08% 3.51%
1969 3.14% 3.49%
1968 3.17% 3.48%
1967 3.17% 3.46%
1966 3.15% 3.44%
1965 3.12% 3.43%
1964 3.1% 3.4%
1963 3.08% 3.35%
1962 3.02% 3.29%
1961 2.85% 3.23%

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/sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Sudan's population grew by 0.81%.

Live population counters

South Africa Sudan
Current population
65683993
53335233
Population rank 24/197 29/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.64%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
1.29 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
18.7 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +1,113
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +406,172
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +0.81%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 116/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +291,469
Net migration rank 9/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 291,469
2024 - 166,972 - -544,257
2023 602,793 228,222 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 603,636 233,284 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 456,411 458,246 1,293,817 31,664
2020 595,873 369,901 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 652,130 331,124 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 648,319 318,260 1,257,387 125,499
2017 645,975 343,146 1,208,046 441,623
2016 641,365 -879,235 1,174,422 84,728
2015 668,771 641,150 1,145,259 66,476
2014 674,754 272,697 1,097,962 92,504
2013 652,427 232,230 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 643,723 264,091 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 601,708 65,166 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 566,834 68,563 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 554,115 41,528 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 595,332 36,869 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 503,567 36,339 992,819 -201,769
2006 487,584 33,159 963,740 -211,387
2005 464,464 31,286 907,017 -199,378
2004 442,540 58,924 889,382 -185,392
2003 415,018 65,604 898,226 -281,001
2002 430,926 50,313 897,965 -180,603
2001 484,801 -60,793 880,284 -173,745
2000 526,963 -136,794 858,536 -165,030
1999 594,643 -126,011 835,840 -157,090
1998 627,027 -82,722 814,752 -150,271
1997 667,969 -98,181 802,245 -148,368
1996 710,868 -193,007 792,926 -310,221
1995 743,488 -98,403 780,700 -144,670
1994 698,609 -268,849 764,645 -144,324
1993 789,220 194,977 743,249 -166,861
1992 794,415 -71,342 731,177 -271,093
1991 827,296 -39,131 714,612 -261,341
1990 835,421 259,718 699,953 -254,825
1989 884,629 255,605 683,743 -241,979
1988 909,221 246,382 672,604 -235,213
1987 922,330 231,009 658,416 -228,756
1986 903,644 234,378 649,649 -245,968
1985 893,889 244,940 583,382 -222,315
1984 869,011 290,789 577,405 -219,755
1983 837,013 310,172 570,198 -54,325
1982 807,550 293,195 606,362 124,007
1981 767,833 279,985 585,087 96,697
1980 738,415 258,127 552,930 208,602
1979 716,541 56,323 524,942 120,613
1978 694,341 62,121 497,987 177,153
1977 680,929 63,739 483,089 58,540
1976 675,011 27,333 470,019 22,147
1975 667,862 38,809 454,813 62,843
1974 658,438 38,518 444,456 6,023
1973 651,596 41,125 439,201 173,143
1972 638,754 38,163 428,340 2,238
1971 624,761 32,961 417,641 -3,577
1970 605,102 61,514 401,013 4,479
1969 590,794 73,225 385,712 2,476
1968 571,841 78,932 370,917 2,776
1967 553,741 81,932 356,599 4,508
1966 534,862 77,417 342,118 2,813
1965 506,632 82,514 327,799 6,367
1964 490,606 76,298 315,166 4,505
1963 473,821 72,844 302,132 4,263
1962 455,634 69,771 287,317 4,387
1961 437,851 57,728 272,562 3,904
1960 421,263 18,891 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/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 Sudan 95.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,459,977 people) and 4.88% is from migration (a loss of 639,596 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in 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
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Khartoum North 936K
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K

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/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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