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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 7.21 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

South Africa vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Switzerland
2100 94,767,727 9,234,296
2099 94,556,931 9,226,472
2098 94,349,546 9,220,109
2097 94,158,472 9,212,728
2096 93,960,605 9,208,997
2095 93,752,736 9,203,477
2094 93,527,902 9,199,095
2093 93,300,398 9,196,672
2092 93,074,837 9,194,082
2091 92,826,204 9,191,145
2090 92,594,033 9,189,122
2089 92,355,184 9,188,754
2088 92,112,914 9,190,102
2087 91,866,024 9,189,763
2086 91,614,165 9,191,494
2085 91,385,350 9,195,728
2084 91,139,318 9,199,983
2083 90,877,425 9,204,908
2082 90,615,359 9,210,695
2081 90,345,492 9,217,065
2080 90,071,835 9,223,475
2079 89,801,998 9,230,920
2078 89,526,224 9,237,649
2077 89,249,206 9,245,300
2076 88,986,114 9,250,248
2075 88,713,215 9,255,753
2074 88,428,616 9,266,455
2073 88,149,885 9,275,439
2072 87,866,246 9,283,185
2071 87,540,177 9,292,913
2070 87,209,425 9,303,843
2069 86,901,512 9,311,935
2068 86,588,742 9,320,335
2067 86,268,392 9,327,741
2066 85,935,310 9,339,455
2065 85,604,376 9,351,481
2064 85,244,950 9,362,413
2063 84,875,503 9,372,441
2062 84,503,237 9,383,258
2061 84,132,885 9,395,036
2060 83,748,999 9,403,920
2059 83,354,923 9,414,241
2058 82,947,675 9,422,560
2057 82,538,045 9,428,212
2056 82,127,477 9,435,441
2055 81,698,196 9,443,890
2054 81,255,867 9,451,268
2053 80,818,632 9,456,389
2052 80,367,409 9,456,418
2051 79,886,672 9,456,395
2050 79,411,977 9,454,544
2049 78,925,493 9,451,083
2048 78,437,677 9,444,091
2047 77,922,211 9,437,061
2046 77,397,298 9,430,954
2045 76,879,838 9,425,155
2044 76,357,155 9,418,152
2043 75,827,709 9,410,763
2042 75,291,615 9,400,808
2041 74,748,408 9,393,857
2040 74,205,530 9,382,662
2039 73,663,047 9,373,984
2038 73,105,930 9,365,030
2037 72,532,742 9,354,254
2036 71,956,247 9,342,450
2035 71,362,555 9,328,907
2034 70,762,815 9,312,054
2033 70,153,205 9,294,881
2032 69,527,410 9,276,221
2031 68,890,002 9,253,034
2030 68,245,372 9,228,188
2029 67,573,179 9,201,743
2028 66,884,377 9,170,620
2027 66,190,258 9,135,740
2026 65,496,277 9,097,532
2025 64,770,314 9,053,983
2024 64,007,187 9,005,582
2023 63,212,384 8,888,822
2022 62,378,410 8,777,088
2021 61,502,603 8,704,546
2020 60,562,381 8,638,167
2019 59,587,885 8,575,280
2018 58,613,001 8,514,329
2017 57,635,162 8,451,840
2016 57,259,551 8,373,338
2015 56,723,537 8,282,396
2014 55,594,838 8,188,649
2013 54,678,791 8,089,346
2012 53,782,567 7,996,861
2011 52,995,205 7,912,398
2010 52,344,051 7,824,909
2009 51,728,516 7,743,831
2008 51,114,599 7,647,675
2007 50,528,584 7,551,117
2006 49,998,277 7,483,934
2005 49,490,033 7,437,115
2004 48,991,421 7,389,625
2003 48,500,348 7,339,001
2002 48,019,415 7,284,753
2001 47,566,800 7,229,854
2000 47,159,719 7,184,250
1999 46,730,335 7,143,991
1998 46,223,880 7,110,001
1997 45,666,838 7,088,906
1996 45,123,018 7,071,850
1995 44,541,554 7,040,687
1994 44,004,139 6,993,795
1993 43,297,156 6,938,265
1992 42,443,509 6,875,364
1991 41,687,898 6,799,978
1990 40,746,268 6,715,519
1989 39,628,575 6,646,912
1988 38,480,649 6,593,386
1987 37,326,190 6,545,106
1986 36,180,515 6,504,124
1985 35,042,093 6,470,365
1984 33,892,788 6,441,865
1983 32,739,304 6,418,773
1982 31,615,339 6,391,309
1981 30,541,044 6,354,074
1980 29,518,857 6,319,408
1979 28,634,162 6,294,365
1978 27,869,507 6,281,738
1977 27,118,952 6,281,174
1976 26,395,450 6,302,504
1975 25,690,940 6,338,632
1974 24,989,108 6,341,405
1973 24,294,263 6,307,347
1972 23,609,456 6,260,956
1971 22,942,143 6,213,399
1970 22,279,984 6,180,877
1969 21,614,676 6,136,387
1968 20,957,287 6,067,714
1967 20,314,066 5,991,785
1966 19,690,087 5,918,002
1965 19,089,380 5,856,472
1964 18,511,361 5,789,228
1963 17,954,564 5,694,247
1962 17,418,522 5,573,815
1961 16,908,035 5,434,294
1960 16,440,172 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Switzerland
2100 0.22% 0.08%
2099 0.22% 0.07%
2098 0.2% 0.08%
2097 0.21% 0.04%
2096 0.22% 0.06%
2095 0.24% 0.05%
2094 0.24% 0.03%
2093 0.24% 0.03%
2092 0.27% 0.03%
2091 0.25% 0.02%
2090 0.26% 0.004%
2089 0.26% -0.01%
2088 0.27% 0.004%
2087 0.27% -0.02%
2086 0.25% -0.05%
2085 0.27% -0.05%
2084 0.29% -0.05%
2083 0.29% -0.06%
2082 0.3% -0.07%
2081 0.3% -0.07%
2080 0.3% -0.08%
2079 0.31% -0.07%
2078 0.31% -0.08%
2077 0.3% -0.05%
2076 0.31% -0.06%
2075 0.32% -0.12%
2074 0.32% -0.1%
2073 0.32% -0.08%
2072 0.37% -0.1%
2071 0.38% -0.12%
2070 0.35% -0.09%
2069 0.36% -0.09%
2068 0.37% -0.08%
2067 0.39% -0.13%
2066 0.39% -0.13%
2065 0.42% -0.12%
2064 0.44% -0.11%
2063 0.44% -0.12%
2062 0.44% -0.13%
2061 0.46% -0.09%
2060 0.47% -0.11%
2059 0.49% -0.09%
2058 0.5% -0.06%
2057 0.5% -0.08%
2056 0.53% -0.09%
2055 0.54% -0.08%
2054 0.54% -0.05%
2053 0.56% -0%
2052 0.6% 0%
2051 0.6% 0.02%
2050 0.62% 0.04%
2049 0.62% 0.07%
2048 0.66% 0.07%
2047 0.68% 0.06%
2046 0.67% 0.06%
2045 0.68% 0.07%
2044 0.7% 0.08%
2043 0.71% 0.11%
2042 0.73% 0.07%
2041 0.73% 0.12%
2040 0.74% 0.09%
2039 0.76% 0.1%
2038 0.79% 0.12%
2037 0.8% 0.13%
2036 0.83% 0.15%
2035 0.85% 0.18%
2034 0.87% 0.18%
2033 0.9% 0.2%
2032 0.93% 0.25%
2031 0.94% 0.27%
2030 0.99% 0.29%
2029 1.03% 0.34%
2028 1.05% 0.38%
2027 1.06% 0.42%
2026 1.12% 0.48%
2025 1.19% 0.54%
2024 1.26% 1.31%
2023 1.34% 1.27%
2022 1.42% 0.83%
2021 1.55% 0.77%
2020 1.64% 0.73%
2019 1.66% 0.72%
2018 1.7% 0.74%
2017 0.66% 0.94%
2016 0.94% 1.1%
2015 2.03% 1.14%
2014 1.68% 1.23%
2013 1.67% 1.16%
2012 1.49% 1.07%
2011 1.24% 1.12%
2010 1.19% 1.05%
2009 1.2% 1.26%
2008 1.16% 1.28%
2007 1.06% 0.9%
2006 1.03% 0.63%
2005 1.02% 0.64%
2004 1.01% 0.69%
2003 1% 0.74%
2002 0.95% 0.76%
2001 0.86% 0.63%
2000 0.92% 0.56%
1999 1.1% 0.48%
1998 1.22% 0.3%
1997 1.21% 0.24%
1996 1.31% 0.44%
1995 1.22% 0.67%
1994 1.63% 0.8%
1993 2.01% 0.91%
1992 1.81% 1.11%
1991 2.31% 1.26%
1990 2.82% 1.03%
1989 2.98% 0.81%
1988 3.09% 0.74%
1987 3.17% 0.63%
1986 3.25% 0.52%
1985 3.39% 0.44%
1984 3.52% 0.36%
1983 3.56% 0.43%
1982 3.52% 0.59%
1981 3.46% 0.55%
1980 3.09% 0.4%
1979 2.74% 0.2%
1978 2.77% 0.009%
1977 2.74% -0.34%
1976 2.74% -0.57%
1975 2.81% -0.04%
1974 2.86% 0.54%
1973 2.9% 0.74%
1972 2.91% 0.77%
1971 2.97% 0.53%
1970 3.08% 0.73%
1969 3.14% 1.13%
1968 3.17% 1.27%
1967 3.17% 1.25%
1966 3.15% 1.05%
1965 3.12% 1.16%
1964 3.1% 1.67%
1963 3.08% 2.16%
1962 3.02% 2.57%
1961 2.85% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

South Africa Switzerland
Current population
65683993
9107866
Population rank 24/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.11%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +320
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 81/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +37,253
Net migration rank 9/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 37,253
2024 - 166,972 - 40,099
2023 602,793 228,222 8,000 45,098
2022 603,636 233,284 7,899 96,424
2021 456,411 458,246 18,279 50,665
2020 595,873 369,901 9,502 55,523
2019 652,130 331,124 18,008 44,517
2018 648,319 318,260 20,434 41,253
2017 645,975 343,146 20,284 45,658
2016 641,365 -879,235 22,608 71,009
2015 668,771 641,150 19,050 71,876
2014 674,754 272,697 21,290 78,122
2013 652,427 232,230 17,797 83,823
2012 643,723 264,091 18,393 67,840
2011 601,708 65,166 18,990 67,194
2010 566,834 68,563 17,997 76,388
2009 554,115 41,528 15,487 69,324
2008 595,332 36,869 15,295 94,430
2007 503,567 36,339 13,592 72,475
2006 487,584 33,159 12,723 37,308
2005 464,464 31,286 11,899 33,203
2004 442,540 58,924 13,302 39,484
2003 415,018 65,604 8,807 42,567
2002 430,926 50,313 10,199 49,650
2001 484,801 -60,793 10,845 35,420
2000 526,963 -136,794 15,806 24,463
1999 594,643 -126,011 16,431 25,599
1998 627,027 -82,722 16,353 11,325
1997 667,969 -98,181 17,722 -1,939
1996 710,868 -193,007 19,801 -131
1995 743,488 -98,403 19,010 25,343
1994 698,609 -268,849 20,982 30,274
1993 789,220 194,977 21,509 40,267
1992 794,415 -71,342 24,064 42,014
1991 827,296 -39,131 23,800 69,738
1990 835,421 259,718 20,146 58,428
1989 884,629 255,605 19,941 34,432
1988 909,221 246,382 21,099 34,602
1987 922,330 231,009 15,708 27,081
1986 903,644 234,378 16,261 23,242
1985 893,889 244,940 14,882 14,402
1984 869,011 290,789 16,105 12,532
1983 837,013 310,172 12,837 5,663
1982 807,550 293,195 15,339 21,929
1981 767,833 279,985 13,979 24,229
1980 738,415 258,127 14,535 17,841
1979 716,541 56,323 14,477 4,262
1978 694,341 62,121 13,820 -6,552
1977 680,929 63,739 16,959 -22,516
1976 675,011 27,333 17,017 -54,255
1975 667,862 38,809 22,820 -58,187
1974 658,438 38,518 27,902 2,008
1973 651,596 41,125 30,906 8,158
1972 638,754 38,163 35,061 19,991
1971 624,761 32,961 38,523 2,636
1970 605,102 61,514 42,648 -18,326
1969 590,794 73,225 44,182 20,754
1968 571,841 78,932 47,328 25,828
1967 553,741 81,932 52,128 27,697
1966 534,862 77,417 53,854 14,979
1965 506,632 82,514 56,222 -1,351
1964 490,606 76,298 59,050 21,455
1963 473,821 72,844 52,956 58,415
1962 455,634 69,771 49,050 82,798
1961 437,851 57,728 48,365 101,278
1960 421,263 18,891 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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