The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 634,431 people in Suriname in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 646,767 in Suriname.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 101.6 times bigger than Suriname's.
- South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Suriname is the 165th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.008% for Suriname.
- For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.99% in Suriname.
- Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Suriname has grown from 525K to 647K (23.2% growth).
South Africa vs Suriname: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Suriname
|
|
| 2100 | 94,767,727 | 713,276 |
| 2099 | 94,556,931 | 715,694 |
| 2098 | 94,349,546 | 718,049 |
| 2097 | 94,158,472 | 720,475 |
| 2096 | 93,960,605 | 722,775 |
| 2095 | 93,752,736 | 725,199 |
| 2094 | 93,527,902 | 727,489 |
| 2093 | 93,300,398 | 729,920 |
| 2092 | 93,074,837 | 732,285 |
| 2091 | 92,826,204 | 734,586 |
| 2090 | 92,594,033 | 736,650 |
| 2089 | 92,355,184 | 738,862 |
| 2088 | 92,112,914 | 741,002 |
| 2087 | 91,866,024 | 742,833 |
| 2086 | 91,614,165 | 744,593 |
| 2085 | 91,385,350 | 746,302 |
| 2084 | 91,139,318 | 747,746 |
| 2083 | 90,877,425 | 749,138 |
| 2082 | 90,615,359 | 750,329 |
| 2081 | 90,345,492 | 751,501 |
| 2080 | 90,071,835 | 752,545 |
| 2079 | 89,801,998 | 753,284 |
| 2078 | 89,526,224 | 753,948 |
| 2077 | 89,249,206 | 754,556 |
| 2076 | 88,986,114 | 754,989 |
| 2075 | 88,713,215 | 755,527 |
| 2074 | 88,428,616 | 755,714 |
| 2073 | 88,149,885 | 756,015 |
| 2072 | 87,866,246 | 756,099 |
| 2071 | 87,540,177 | 756,098 |
| 2070 | 87,209,425 | 755,959 |
| 2069 | 86,901,512 | 755,874 |
| 2068 | 86,588,742 | 755,599 |
| 2067 | 86,268,392 | 755,148 |
| 2066 | 85,935,310 | 754,804 |
| 2065 | 85,604,376 | 754,111 |
| 2064 | 85,244,950 | 753,285 |
| 2063 | 84,875,503 | 752,745 |
| 2062 | 84,503,237 | 751,966 |
| 2061 | 84,132,885 | 751,282 |
| 2060 | 83,748,999 | 750,299 |
| 2059 | 83,354,923 | 749,394 |
| 2058 | 82,947,675 | 748,586 |
| 2057 | 82,538,045 | 747,157 |
| 2056 | 82,127,477 | 745,941 |
| 2055 | 81,698,196 | 744,408 |
| 2054 | 81,255,867 | 742,811 |
| 2053 | 80,818,632 | 741,338 |
| 2052 | 80,367,409 | 739,662 |
| 2051 | 79,886,672 | 737,998 |
| 2050 | 79,411,977 | 736,053 |
| 2049 | 78,925,493 | 734,230 |
| 2048 | 78,437,677 | 732,060 |
| 2047 | 77,922,211 | 729,598 |
| 2046 | 77,397,298 | 727,216 |
| 2045 | 76,879,838 | 724,444 |
| 2044 | 76,357,155 | 721,531 |
| 2043 | 75,827,709 | 718,571 |
| 2042 | 75,291,615 | 715,310 |
| 2041 | 74,748,408 | 711,980 |
| 2040 | 74,205,530 | 708,355 |
| 2039 | 73,663,047 | 704,772 |
| 2038 | 73,105,930 | 701,004 |
| 2037 | 72,532,742 | 697,340 |
| 2036 | 71,956,247 | 693,244 |
| 2035 | 71,362,555 | 688,991 |
| 2034 | 70,762,815 | 684,651 |
| 2033 | 70,153,205 | 680,266 |
| 2032 | 69,527,410 | 675,625 |
| 2031 | 68,890,002 | 670,920 |
| 2030 | 68,245,372 | 666,044 |
| 2029 | 67,573,179 | 661,163 |
| 2028 | 66,884,377 | 655,979 |
| 2027 | 66,190,258 | 650,686 |
| 2026 | 65,496,277 | 645,315 |
| 2025 | 64,770,314 | 639,827 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 634,431 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 628,886 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 623,164 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 617,896 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 612,317 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 605,768 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 599,513 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 593,713 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 587,757 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 581,627 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 575,373 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 569,020 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 562,633 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 556,269 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 549,923 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 543,568 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 537,245 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 531,016 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 524,997 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 519,313 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 513,923 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 506,414 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 496,551 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 486,560 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 476,643 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 466,916 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 457,406 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 448,067 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 438,830 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 429,606 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 422,375 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 419,352 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 417,589 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 415,013 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 412,493 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 408,409 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 402,227 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 396,911 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 392,330 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 386,972 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 382,193 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 378,746 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 376,555 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 375,459 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 375,377 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 377,602 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 381,502 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 385,067 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 388,289 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 391,170 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 393,676 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 395,772 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 397,413 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 391,932 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 379,442 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 366,906 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 354,616 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 342,679 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 331,135 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 320,000 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 309,041 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 297,034 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 283,912 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 272,791 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 263,918 |
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/suriname | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Suriname gained 62,760 people (a 12% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Suriname's population increased by 59,010 people (a 10% growth).
South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Suriname was ranked 164th in 2006 and ranked 165th 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 Suriname will increase by 13.8% to 736,053 people and will still be ranked 165th.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 756K people in 2072 for Suriname.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Suriname
|
|
| 2100 | 0.22% | -0.34% |
| 2099 | 0.22% | -0.33% |
| 2098 | 0.2% | -0.34% |
| 2097 | 0.21% | -0.32% |
| 2096 | 0.22% | -0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.24% | -0.31% |
| 2094 | 0.24% | -0.33% |
| 2093 | 0.24% | -0.32% |
| 2092 | 0.27% | -0.31% |
| 2091 | 0.25% | -0.28% |
| 2090 | 0.26% | -0.3% |
| 2089 | 0.26% | -0.29% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | -0.25% |
| 2087 | 0.27% | -0.24% |
| 2086 | 0.25% | -0.23% |
| 2085 | 0.27% | -0.19% |
| 2084 | 0.29% | -0.19% |
| 2083 | 0.29% | -0.16% |
| 2082 | 0.3% | -0.16% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | -0.14% |
| 2080 | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | -0.09% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | -0.08% |
| 2077 | 0.3% | -0.06% |
| 2076 | 0.31% | -0.07% |
| 2075 | 0.32% | -0.02% |
| 2074 | 0.32% | -0.04% |
| 2073 | 0.32% | -0.01% |
| 2072 | 0.37% | 0% |
| 2071 | 0.38% | 0.02% |
| 2070 | 0.35% | 0.01% |
| 2069 | 0.36% | 0.04% |
| 2068 | 0.37% | 0.06% |
| 2067 | 0.39% | 0.05% |
| 2066 | 0.39% | 0.09% |
| 2065 | 0.42% | 0.11% |
| 2064 | 0.44% | 0.07% |
| 2063 | 0.44% | 0.1% |
| 2062 | 0.44% | 0.09% |
| 2061 | 0.46% | 0.13% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.12% |
| 2059 | 0.49% | 0.11% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.19% |
| 2057 | 0.5% | 0.16% |
| 2056 | 0.53% | 0.21% |
| 2055 | 0.54% | 0.22% |
| 2054 | 0.54% | 0.2% |
| 2053 | 0.56% | 0.23% |
| 2052 | 0.6% | 0.23% |
| 2051 | 0.6% | 0.26% |
| 2050 | 0.62% | 0.25% |
| 2049 | 0.62% | 0.3% |
| 2048 | 0.66% | 0.34% |
| 2047 | 0.68% | 0.33% |
| 2046 | 0.67% | 0.38% |
| 2045 | 0.68% | 0.4% |
| 2044 | 0.7% | 0.41% |
| 2043 | 0.71% | 0.46% |
| 2042 | 0.73% | 0.47% |
| 2041 | 0.73% | 0.51% |
| 2040 | 0.74% | 0.51% |
| 2039 | 0.76% | 0.54% |
| 2038 | 0.79% | 0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.8% | 0.59% |
| 2036 | 0.83% | 0.62% |
| 2035 | 0.85% | 0.63% |
| 2034 | 0.87% | 0.64% |
| 2033 | 0.9% | 0.69% |
| 2032 | 0.93% | 0.7% |
| 2031 | 0.94% | 0.73% |
| 2030 | 0.99% | 0.74% |
| 2029 | 1.03% | 0.79% |
| 2028 | 1.05% | 0.81% |
| 2027 | 1.06% | 0.83% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 0.86% |
| 2025 | 1.19% | 0.85% |
| 2024 | 1.26% | 0.88% |
| 2023 | 1.34% | 0.92% |
| 2022 | 1.42% | 0.85% |
| 2021 | 1.55% | 0.91% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 1.08% |
| 2019 | 1.66% | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | 0.98% |
| 2017 | 0.66% | 1.01% |
| 2016 | 0.94% | 1.05% |
| 2015 | 2.03% | 1.09% |
| 2014 | 1.68% | 1.12% |
| 2013 | 1.67% | 1.14% |
| 2012 | 1.49% | 1.14% |
| 2011 | 1.24% | 1.15% |
| 2010 | 1.19% | 1.17% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | 1.18% |
| 2008 | 1.16% | 1.17% |
| 2007 | 1.06% | 1.15% |
| 2006 | 1.03% | 1.09% |
| 2005 | 1.02% | 1.05% |
| 2004 | 1.01% | 1.48% |
| 2003 | 1% | 1.99% |
| 2002 | 0.95% | 2.05% |
| 2001 | 0.86% | 2.08% |
| 2000 | 0.92% | 2.08% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | 2.08% |
| 1998 | 1.22% | 2.08% |
| 1997 | 1.21% | 2.1% |
| 1996 | 1.31% | 2.15% |
| 1995 | 1.22% | 1.71% |
| 1994 | 1.63% | 0.72% |
| 1993 | 2.01% | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 1.81% | 0.62% |
| 1991 | 2.31% | 0.61% |
| 1990 | 2.82% | 1% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 3.09% | 1.34% |
| 1987 | 3.17% | 1.17% |
| 1986 | 3.25% | 1.38% |
| 1985 | 3.39% | 1.25% |
| 1984 | 3.52% | 0.91% |
| 1983 | 3.56% | 0.58% |
| 1982 | 3.52% | 0.29% |
| 1981 | 3.46% | 0.02% |
| 1980 | 3.09% | -0.59% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | -1.02% |
| 1978 | 2.77% | -0.93% |
| 1977 | 2.74% | -0.83% |
| 1976 | 2.74% | -0.74% |
| 1975 | 2.81% | -0.64% |
| 1974 | 2.86% | -0.53% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | -0.41% |
| 1972 | 2.91% | 1.4% |
| 1971 | 2.97% | 3.29% |
| 1970 | 3.08% | 3.42% |
| 1969 | 3.14% | 3.47% |
| 1968 | 3.17% | 3.48% |
| 1967 | 3.17% | 3.49% |
| 1966 | 3.15% | 3.48% |
| 1965 | 3.12% | 3.55% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | 4.04% |
| 1963 | 3.08% | 4.62% |
| 1962 | 3.02% | 4.08% |
| 1961 | 2.85% | 3.36% |
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/suriname | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Suriname's population grew by 0.88%.
Live population counters
|
South Africa
|
Suriname
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
65683993
|
646767
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 165/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.79% | 0.008% |
| One net population change |
39.7 seconds
|
1.58 hours
|
| One birth every |
26.6 seconds
|
48.3 minutes
|
| One death every |
54 seconds
|
2.1 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2,178 | +15 |
| Annual growth/decline | +794,803 | +5,545 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.26% | +0.88% |
| Population growth rate rank | 85/197 | 108/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.6 minutes
|
9.08 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +146,370 | -967 |
| Net migration rank | 9/196 | 92/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,631,100 | 51,902 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 28/195 | 148/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.1% | 8.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 105/195 | 74/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Suriname
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 146,370 | - | -967 |
| 2024 | - | 166,972 | - | -1,166 |
| 2023 | 602,793 | 228,222 | 6,697 | -988 |
| 2022 | 603,636 | 233,284 | 6,719 | -988 |
| 2021 | 456,411 | 458,246 | 5,291 | -486 |
| 2020 | 595,873 | 369,901 | 6,640 | -296 |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 331,124 | 6,564 | 191 |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 318,260 | 6,613 | -851 |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 343,146 | 6,772 | -935 |
| 2016 | 641,365 | -879,235 | 6,979 | -906 |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 641,150 | 7,150 | -967 |
| 2014 | 674,754 | 272,697 | 7,284 | -959 |
| 2013 | 652,427 | 232,230 | 7,350 | -968 |
| 2012 | 643,723 | 264,091 | 7,405 | -1,011 |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 65,166 | 7,401 | -1,060 |
| 2010 | 566,834 | 68,563 | 7,489 | -1,138 |
| 2009 | 554,115 | 41,528 | 7,559 | -1,204 |
| 2008 | 595,332 | 36,869 | 7,552 | -1,255 |
| 2007 | 503,567 | 36,339 | 7,468 | -1,312 |
| 2006 | 487,584 | 33,159 | 7,278 | -1,403 |
| 2005 | 464,464 | 31,286 | 7,037 | -1,534 |
| 2004 | 442,540 | 58,924 | 6,948 | -1,676 |
| 2003 | 415,018 | 65,604 | 7,396 | 2,345 |
| 2002 | 430,926 | 50,313 | 7,916 | 2,076 |
| 2001 | 484,801 | -60,793 | 8,349 | 1,641 |
| 2000 | 526,963 | -136,794 | 8,323 | 1,516 |
| 1999 | 594,643 | -126,011 | 8,236 | 1,380 |
| 1998 | 627,027 | -82,722 | 8,173 | 1,241 |
| 1997 | 667,969 | -98,181 | 8,106 | 1,164 |
| 1996 | 710,868 | -193,007 | 8,031 | 1,165 |
| 1995 | 743,488 | -98,403 | 7,968 | 1,275 |
| 1994 | 698,609 | -268,849 | 7,929 | -2,713 |
| 1993 | 789,220 | 194,977 | 8,127 | -7,291 |
| 1992 | 794,415 | -71,342 | 8,355 | -5,662 |
| 1991 | 827,296 | -39,131 | 8,637 | -6,174 |
| 1990 | 835,421 | 259,718 | 9,047 | -6,471 |
| 1989 | 884,629 | 255,605 | 9,441 | -3,846 |
| 1988 | 909,221 | 246,382 | 9,347 | -2,573 |
| 1987 | 922,330 | 231,009 | 9,319 | -5,467 |
| 1986 | 903,644 | 234,378 | 9,222 | -3,920 |
| 1985 | 893,889 | 244,940 | 9,177 | -3,763 |
| 1984 | 869,011 | 290,789 | 9,031 | -4,894 |
| 1983 | 837,013 | 310,172 | 8,797 | -6,036 |
| 1982 | 807,550 | 293,195 | 8,197 | -6,566 |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 279,985 | 7,541 | -6,991 |
| 1980 | 738,415 | 258,127 | 7,002 | -7,390 |
| 1979 | 716,541 | 56,323 | 7,312 | -11,375 |
| 1978 | 694,341 | 62,121 | 7,650 | -11,389 |
| 1977 | 680,929 | 63,739 | 7,998 | -11,390 |
| 1976 | 675,011 | 27,333 | 8,327 | -11,381 |
| 1975 | 667,862 | 38,809 | 8,587 | -11,287 |
| 1974 | 658,438 | 38,518 | 8,751 | -11,061 |
| 1973 | 651,596 | 41,125 | 8,877 | -10,765 |
| 1972 | 638,754 | 38,163 | 8,893 | -10,285 |
| 1971 | 624,761 | 32,961 | 8,814 | 3,552 |
| 1970 | 605,102 | 61,514 | 8,823 | 3,791 |
| 1969 | 590,794 | 73,225 | 8,880 | 3,575 |
| 1968 | 571,841 | 78,932 | 8,980 | 3,147 |
| 1967 | 553,741 | 81,932 | 9,104 | 2,637 |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 77,417 | 9,243 | 2,103 |
| 1965 | 506,632 | 82,514 | 9,270 | 1,657 |
| 1964 | 490,606 | 76,298 | 9,174 | 1,820 |
| 1963 | 473,821 | 72,844 | 8,838 | 4,181 |
| 1962 | 455,634 | 69,771 | 8,529 | 4,703 |
| 1961 | 437,851 | 57,728 | 8,361 | 660 |
| 1960 | 421,263 | 18,891 | 8,170 | 544 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/suriname | 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 Suriname 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 66,709 people) and 9.72% is from migration (a loss of 7,185 people).
As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 51,902 people or 8.2% in Suriname.
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 |
|
Suriname
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Paramaribo | 224K |
| Nieuw Nickerie | 12.8K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Africa and Suriname
|
South Africa
|
Suriname
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 74 years |
| Average age | 31.1 years | 32.3 years |
| Median age | 29.5 years | 29.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 50:50 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | 2.25 births per woman |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 10.4 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/suriname | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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