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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.45 times bigger than Syria's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.12% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

South Africa vs Syria: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Syria
2100 94,767,727 44,620,090
2099 94,556,931 44,690,260
2098 94,349,546 44,750,249
2097 94,158,472 44,813,148
2096 93,960,605 44,867,740
2095 93,752,736 44,895,489
2094 93,527,902 44,945,231
2093 93,300,398 44,974,311
2092 93,074,837 45,003,795
2091 92,826,204 45,016,478
2090 92,594,033 45,048,083
2089 92,355,184 45,047,102
2088 92,112,914 45,041,864
2087 91,866,024 45,049,516
2086 91,614,165 45,068,928
2085 91,385,350 45,034,847
2084 91,139,318 44,999,929
2083 90,877,425 44,971,600
2082 90,615,359 44,910,859
2081 90,345,492 44,843,908
2080 90,071,835 44,744,718
2079 89,801,998 44,687,371
2078 89,526,224 44,649,760
2077 89,249,206 44,604,175
2076 88,986,114 44,520,132
2075 88,713,215 44,426,423
2074 88,428,616 44,328,795
2073 88,149,885 44,221,016
2072 87,866,246 44,084,262
2071 87,540,177 43,939,848
2070 87,209,425 43,795,999
2069 86,901,512 43,648,130
2068 86,588,742 43,465,442
2067 86,268,392 43,271,173
2066 85,935,310 43,060,752
2065 85,604,376 42,810,442
2064 85,244,950 42,559,554
2063 84,875,503 42,311,907
2062 84,503,237 42,062,193
2061 84,132,885 41,808,082
2060 83,748,999 41,522,274
2059 83,354,923 41,208,825
2058 82,947,675 40,925,728
2057 82,538,045 40,643,453
2056 82,127,477 40,332,578
2055 81,698,196 40,026,632
2054 81,255,867 39,691,425
2053 80,818,632 39,348,020
2052 80,367,409 39,045,268
2051 79,886,672 38,733,827
2050 79,411,977 38,410,423
2049 78,925,493 38,089,455
2048 78,437,677 37,784,449
2047 77,922,211 37,492,636
2046 77,397,298 37,181,526
2045 76,879,838 36,843,579
2044 76,357,155 36,526,509
2043 75,827,709 36,188,225
2042 75,291,615 35,825,419
2041 74,748,408 35,447,414
2040 74,205,530 35,042,107
2039 73,663,047 34,626,945
2038 73,105,930 34,183,740
2037 72,532,742 33,703,682
2036 71,956,247 33,223,843
2035 71,362,555 32,696,648
2034 70,762,815 32,148,814
2033 70,153,205 31,562,427
2032 69,527,410 30,967,322
2031 68,890,002 30,329,874
2030 68,245,372 29,672,629
2029 67,573,179 28,949,535
2028 66,884,377 28,217,748
2027 66,190,258 27,428,807
2026 65,496,277 26,607,148
2025 64,770,314 25,689,551
2024 64,007,187 24,672,760
2023 63,212,384 23,594,623
2022 62,378,410 22,462,173
2021 61,502,603 21,628,839
2020 60,562,381 21,049,429
2019 59,587,885 20,353,534
2018 58,613,001 19,577,845
2017 57,635,162 19,224,668
2016 57,259,551 19,193,834
2015 56,723,537 19,424,618
2014 55,594,838 20,273,659
2013 54,678,791 21,666,917
2012 53,782,567 22,759,763
2011 52,995,205 22,878,098
2010 52,344,051 22,482,421
2009 51,728,516 21,976,969
2008 51,114,599 21,636,564
2007 50,528,584 20,884,125
2006 49,998,277 19,637,022
2005 49,490,033 18,814,091
2004 48,991,421 18,336,875
2003 48,500,348 17,889,296
2002 48,019,415 17,468,332
2001 47,566,800 17,051,338
2000 47,159,719 16,637,888
1999 46,730,335 16,228,061
1998 46,223,880 15,820,413
1997 45,666,838 15,417,542
1996 45,123,018 15,018,104
1995 44,541,554 14,616,801
1994 44,004,139 14,208,583
1993 43,297,156 13,795,686
1992 42,443,509 13,385,571
1991 41,687,898 12,980,821
1990 40,746,268 12,579,208
1989 39,628,575 12,179,060
1988 38,480,649 11,782,264
1987 37,326,190 11,388,923
1986 36,180,515 11,002,844
1985 35,042,093 10,625,672
1984 33,892,788 10,258,398
1983 32,739,304 9,904,809
1982 31,615,339 9,572,511
1981 30,541,044 9,260,189
1980 29,518,857 8,957,663
1979 28,634,162 8,661,909
1978 27,869,507 8,372,759
1977 27,118,952 8,090,501
1976 26,395,450 7,817,320
1975 25,690,940 7,554,364
1974 24,989,108 7,302,160
1973 24,294,263 7,060,321
1972 23,609,456 6,826,024
1971 22,942,143 6,598,094
1970 22,279,984 6,380,609
1969 21,614,676 6,175,166
1968 20,957,287 5,978,742
1967 20,314,066 5,790,198
1966 19,690,087 5,609,047
1965 19,089,380 5,435,267
1964 18,511,361 5,269,087
1963 17,954,564 5,110,467
1962 17,418,522 4,959,340
1961 16,908,035 4,815,466
1960 16,440,172 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Syria
2100 0.22% -0.16%
2099 0.22% -0.13%
2098 0.2% -0.14%
2097 0.21% -0.12%
2096 0.22% -0.06%
2095 0.24% -0.11%
2094 0.24% -0.06%
2093 0.24% -0.07%
2092 0.27% -0.03%
2091 0.25% -0.07%
2090 0.26% 0.002%
2089 0.26% 0.01%
2088 0.27% -0.02%
2087 0.27% -0.04%
2086 0.25% 0.08%
2085 0.27% 0.08%
2084 0.29% 0.06%
2083 0.29% 0.14%
2082 0.3% 0.15%
2081 0.3% 0.22%
2080 0.3% 0.13%
2079 0.31% 0.08%
2078 0.31% 0.1%
2077 0.3% 0.19%
2076 0.31% 0.21%
2075 0.32% 0.22%
2074 0.32% 0.24%
2073 0.32% 0.31%
2072 0.37% 0.33%
2071 0.38% 0.33%
2070 0.35% 0.34%
2069 0.36% 0.42%
2068 0.37% 0.45%
2067 0.39% 0.49%
2066 0.39% 0.58%
2065 0.42% 0.59%
2064 0.44% 0.59%
2063 0.44% 0.59%
2062 0.44% 0.61%
2061 0.46% 0.69%
2060 0.47% 0.76%
2059 0.49% 0.69%
2058 0.5% 0.69%
2057 0.5% 0.77%
2056 0.53% 0.76%
2055 0.54% 0.84%
2054 0.54% 0.87%
2053 0.56% 0.78%
2052 0.6% 0.8%
2051 0.6% 0.84%
2050 0.62% 0.84%
2049 0.62% 0.81%
2048 0.66% 0.78%
2047 0.68% 0.84%
2046 0.67% 0.92%
2045 0.68% 0.87%
2044 0.7% 0.93%
2043 0.71% 1.01%
2042 0.73% 1.07%
2041 0.73% 1.16%
2040 0.74% 1.2%
2039 0.76% 1.3%
2038 0.79% 1.42%
2037 0.8% 1.44%
2036 0.83% 1.61%
2035 0.85% 1.7%
2034 0.87% 1.86%
2033 0.9% 1.92%
2032 0.93% 2.1%
2031 0.94% 2.21%
2030 0.99% 2.5%
2029 1.03% 2.59%
2028 1.05% 2.88%
2027 1.06% 3.09%
2026 1.12% 3.57%
2025 1.19% 4.12%
2024 1.26% 4.57%
2023 1.34% 5.04%
2022 1.42% 3.85%
2021 1.55% 2.75%
2020 1.64% 3.42%
2019 1.66% 3.96%
2018 1.7% 1.84%
2017 0.66% 0.16%
2016 0.94% -1.19%
2015 2.03% -4.19%
2014 1.68% -6.43%
2013 1.67% -4.8%
2012 1.49% -0.52%
2011 1.24% 1.76%
2010 1.19% 2.3%
2009 1.2% 1.57%
2008 1.16% 3.6%
2007 1.06% 6.35%
2006 1.03% 4.37%
2005 1.02% 2.6%
2004 1.01% 2.5%
2003 1% 2.41%
2002 0.95% 2.45%
2001 0.86% 2.48%
2000 0.92% 2.53%
1999 1.1% 2.58%
1998 1.22% 2.61%
1997 1.21% 2.66%
1996 1.31% 2.75%
1995 1.22% 2.87%
1994 1.63% 2.99%
1993 2.01% 3.06%
1992 1.81% 3.12%
1991 2.31% 3.19%
1990 2.82% 3.29%
1989 2.98% 3.37%
1988 3.09% 3.45%
1987 3.17% 3.51%
1986 3.25% 3.55%
1985 3.39% 3.58%
1984 3.52% 3.57%
1983 3.56% 3.47%
1982 3.52% 3.37%
1981 3.46% 3.38%
1980 3.09% 3.41%
1979 2.74% 3.45%
1978 2.77% 3.49%
1977 2.74% 3.49%
1976 2.74% 3.48%
1975 2.81% 3.45%
1974 2.86% 3.43%
1973 2.9% 3.43%
1972 2.91% 3.45%
1971 2.97% 3.41%
1970 3.08% 3.33%
1969 3.14% 3.29%
1968 3.17% 3.26%
1967 3.17% 3.23%
1966 3.15% 3.2%
1965 3.12% 3.15%
1964 3.1% 3.1%
1963 3.08% 3.05%
1962 3.02% 2.99%
1961 2.85% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

South Africa Syria
Current population
65683993
26829400
Population rank 24/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.32%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
26.6 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 6/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +421,693
Net migration rank 9/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 421,693
2024 - 166,972 - 546,494
2023 602,793 228,222 402,713 757,309
2022 603,636 233,284 369,750 735,142
2021 456,411 458,246 350,560 211,220
2020 595,873 369,901 327,992 269,050
2019 652,130 331,124 293,762 500,985
2018 648,319 318,260 242,530 514,102
2017 645,975 343,146 237,214 -287,501
2016 641,365 -879,235 236,007 -124,063
2015 668,771 641,150 253,977 -827,496
2014 674,754 272,697 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 652,427 232,230 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 643,723 264,091 475,520 -999,267
2011 601,708 65,166 543,950 -256,888
2010 566,834 68,563 558,666 -54,359
2009 554,115 41,528 559,314 -52,703
2008 595,332 36,869 576,593 -402,393
2007 503,567 36,339 529,162 801,514
2006 487,584 33,159 480,616 682,911
2005 464,464 31,286 468,960 13,382
2004 442,540 58,924 461,209 10,881
2003 415,018 65,604 457,000 -33,920
2002 430,926 50,313 453,967 -35,096
2001 484,801 -60,793 451,503 -36,383
2000 526,963 -136,794 446,211 -34,425
1999 594,643 -126,011 439,261 -31,394
1998 627,027 -82,722 433,447 -26,025
1997 667,969 -98,181 429,887 -31,571
1996 710,868 -193,007 430,765 -30,197
1995 743,488 -98,403 430,172 -28,122
1994 698,609 -268,849 426,996 -12,630
1993 789,220 194,977 420,244 -8,828
1992 794,415 -71,342 412,878 -4,063
1991 827,296 -39,131 410,830 -10,154
1990 835,421 259,718 409,177 -6,620
1989 884,629 255,605 406,111 -8,379
1988 909,221 246,382 404,285 -8,426
1987 922,330 231,009 399,159 -8,335
1986 903,644 234,378 390,821 -9,485
1985 893,889 244,940 379,231 -6,221
1984 869,011 290,789 366,768 -5,245
1983 837,013 310,172 355,375 -9,729
1982 807,550 293,195 319,664 -721
1981 767,833 279,985 330,237 -24,536
1980 738,415 258,127 332,464 -33,114
1979 716,541 56,323 324,943 -32,793
1978 694,341 62,121 316,724 -30,567
1977 680,929 63,739 306,630 -28,275
1976 675,011 27,333 294,267 -26,268
1975 667,862 38,809 282,299 -24,389
1974 658,438 38,518 270,735 -24,242
1973 651,596 41,125 254,687 -17,502
1972 638,754 38,163 249,027 -17,610
1971 624,761 32,961 239,610 -15,167
1970 605,102 61,514 230,117 -19,594
1969 590,794 73,225 219,114 -18,749
1968 571,841 78,932 209,454 -16,968
1967 553,741 81,932 199,223 -14,618
1966 534,862 77,417 191,122 -13,434
1965 506,632 82,514 182,560 -12,704
1964 490,606 76,298 174,549 -12,044
1963 473,821 72,844 166,555 -11,817
1962 455,634 69,771 159,155 -11,641
1961 437,851 57,728 151,485 -11,237
1960 421,263 18,891 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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