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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 23,331,886 people in Taiwan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 23,229,461 in Taiwan.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.83 times bigger than Taiwan's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Taiwan is the 60th.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.28% for Taiwan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs -0.03% in Taiwan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Taiwan has grown from 22.8M to 23.2M (1.78% growth).

South Africa vs Taiwan: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Taiwan
2100 94,767,727 10,150,338
2099 94,556,931 10,273,881
2098 94,349,546 10,399,680
2097 94,158,472 10,527,804
2096 93,960,605 10,657,536
2095 93,752,736 10,789,978
2094 93,527,902 10,925,075
2093 93,300,398 11,062,491
2092 93,074,837 11,202,670
2091 92,826,204 11,346,131
2090 92,594,033 11,494,369
2089 92,355,184 11,644,743
2088 92,112,914 11,799,177
2087 91,866,024 11,956,109
2086 91,614,165 12,116,149
2085 91,385,350 12,281,248
2084 91,139,318 12,451,872
2083 90,877,425 12,625,681
2082 90,615,359 12,803,442
2081 90,345,492 12,986,931
2080 90,071,835 13,174,137
2079 89,801,998 13,366,920
2078 89,526,224 13,564,788
2077 89,249,206 13,765,770
2076 88,986,114 13,969,802
2075 88,713,215 14,178,904
2074 88,428,616 14,391,331
2073 88,149,885 14,606,033
2072 87,866,246 14,824,987
2071 87,540,177 15,045,310
2070 87,209,425 15,266,143
2069 86,901,512 15,488,280
2068 86,588,742 15,714,125
2067 86,268,392 15,940,945
2066 85,935,310 16,167,553
2065 85,604,376 16,396,032
2064 85,244,950 16,625,600
2063 84,875,503 16,854,355
2062 84,503,237 17,084,600
2061 84,132,885 17,314,450
2060 83,748,999 17,541,998
2059 83,354,923 17,767,014
2058 82,947,675 17,988,239
2057 82,538,045 18,208,151
2056 82,127,477 18,423,453
2055 81,698,196 18,639,554
2054 81,255,867 18,853,384
2053 80,818,632 19,063,428
2052 80,367,409 19,270,076
2051 79,886,672 19,474,323
2050 79,411,977 19,677,203
2049 78,925,493 19,878,438
2048 78,437,677 20,073,645
2047 77,922,211 20,267,326
2046 77,397,298 20,454,154
2045 76,879,838 20,640,565
2044 76,357,155 20,819,477
2043 75,827,709 20,995,111
2042 75,291,615 21,166,213
2041 74,748,408 21,331,710
2040 74,205,530 21,491,361
2039 73,663,047 21,645,911
2038 73,105,930 21,794,529
2037 72,532,742 21,939,617
2036 71,956,247 22,077,701
2035 71,362,555 22,211,115
2034 70,762,815 22,340,809
2033 70,153,205 22,463,465
2032 69,527,410 22,582,449
2031 68,890,002 22,698,460
2030 68,245,372 22,809,605
2029 67,573,179 22,916,803
2028 66,884,377 23,022,058
2027 66,190,258 23,127,410
2026 65,496,277 23,229,461
2025 64,770,314 23,331,886
2024 64,007,187 23,410,331
2023 63,212,384 23,342,541
2022 62,378,410 23,319,977
2021 61,502,603 23,468,275
2020 60,562,381 23,582,179
2019 59,587,885 23,596,027
2018 58,613,001 23,580,080
2017 57,635,162 23,555,522
2016 57,259,551 23,515,945
2015 56,723,537 23,462,914
2014 55,594,838 23,403,635
2013 54,678,791 23,344,670
2012 53,782,567 23,270,367
2011 52,995,205 23,193,518
2010 52,344,051 23,140,948
2009 51,728,516 23,078,402
2008 51,114,599 22,997,696
2007 50,528,584 22,917,444
2006 49,998,277 22,823,455
2005 49,490,033 22,729,753
2004 48,991,421 22,646,836
2003 48,500,348 22,562,663
2002 48,019,415 22,463,172
2001 47,566,800 22,341,120
2000 47,159,719 22,184,530
1999 46,730,335 22,010,489
1998 46,223,880 21,835,703
1997 45,666,838 21,634,124
1996 45,123,018 21,441,432
1995 44,541,554 21,267,653
1994 44,004,139 21,086,645
1993 43,297,156 20,899,019
1992 42,443,509 20,704,227
1991 41,687,898 20,503,568
1990 40,746,268 20,278,946
1989 39,628,575 20,055,492
1988 38,480,649 19,839,704
1987 37,326,190 19,617,046
1986 36,180,515 19,411,454
1985 35,042,093 19,191,510
1984 33,892,788 18,929,866
1983 32,739,304 18,653,146
1982 31,615,339 18,354,855
1981 30,541,044 18,029,982
1980 29,518,857 17,704,538
1979 28,634,162 17,372,779
1978 27,869,507 17,042,272
1977 27,118,952 16,730,895
1976 26,395,450 16,401,413
1975 25,690,940 16,075,128
1974 24,989,108 15,784,817
1973 24,294,263 15,505,121
1972 23,609,456 15,220,495
1971 22,942,143 14,913,564
1970 22,279,984 14,582,944
1969 21,614,676 14,068,984
1968 20,957,287 13,548,537
1967 20,314,066 13,210,344
1966 19,690,087 12,874,153
1965 19,089,380 12,511,863
1964 18,511,361 12,137,143
1963 17,954,564 11,762,101
1962 17,418,522 11,392,513
1961 16,908,035 11,030,385
1960 16,440,172 10,667,705

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Taiwan gained 692,490 people (a 3.03% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Taiwan's population decreased by 286,484 people (a 1.22% decline).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Taiwan was ranked 49th in 2006 and ranked 60th 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 Taiwan will decrease by 15.3% to 19,677,203 people and rank change from 60th to 76th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Taiwan's population already peaked in 2019 at 23.6M people and is projected to decrease to 10.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Taiwan
2100 0.22% -1.2%
2099 0.22% -1.21%
2098 0.2% -1.22%
2097 0.21% -1.22%
2096 0.22% -1.23%
2095 0.24% -1.24%
2094 0.24% -1.24%
2093 0.24% -1.25%
2092 0.27% -1.26%
2091 0.25% -1.29%
2090 0.26% -1.29%
2089 0.26% -1.31%
2088 0.27% -1.31%
2087 0.27% -1.32%
2086 0.25% -1.34%
2085 0.27% -1.37%
2084 0.29% -1.38%
2083 0.29% -1.39%
2082 0.3% -1.41%
2081 0.3% -1.42%
2080 0.3% -1.44%
2079 0.31% -1.46%
2078 0.31% -1.46%
2077 0.3% -1.46%
2076 0.31% -1.47%
2075 0.32% -1.48%
2074 0.32% -1.47%
2073 0.32% -1.48%
2072 0.37% -1.46%
2071 0.38% -1.45%
2070 0.35% -1.43%
2069 0.36% -1.44%
2068 0.37% -1.42%
2067 0.39% -1.4%
2066 0.39% -1.39%
2065 0.42% -1.38%
2064 0.44% -1.36%
2063 0.44% -1.35%
2062 0.44% -1.33%
2061 0.46% -1.3%
2060 0.47% -1.27%
2059 0.49% -1.23%
2058 0.5% -1.21%
2057 0.5% -1.17%
2056 0.53% -1.16%
2055 0.54% -1.13%
2054 0.54% -1.1%
2053 0.56% -1.07%
2052 0.6% -1.05%
2051 0.6% -1.03%
2050 0.62% -1.01%
2049 0.62% -0.97%
2048 0.66% -0.96%
2047 0.68% -0.91%
2046 0.67% -0.9%
2045 0.68% -0.86%
2044 0.7% -0.84%
2043 0.71% -0.81%
2042 0.73% -0.78%
2041 0.73% -0.74%
2040 0.74% -0.71%
2039 0.76% -0.68%
2038 0.79% -0.66%
2037 0.8% -0.63%
2036 0.83% -0.6%
2035 0.85% -0.58%
2034 0.87% -0.55%
2033 0.9% -0.53%
2032 0.93% -0.51%
2031 0.94% -0.49%
2030 0.99% -0.47%
2029 1.03% -0.46%
2028 1.05% -0.46%
2027 1.06% -0.44%
2026 1.12% -0.44%
2025 1.19% -0.34%
2024 1.26% 0.29%
2023 1.34% 0.1%
2022 1.42% -0.63%
2021 1.55% -0.48%
2020 1.64% -0.06%
2019 1.66% 0.07%
2018 1.7% 0.1%
2017 0.66% 0.17%
2016 0.94% 0.23%
2015 2.03% 0.25%
2014 1.68% 0.25%
2013 1.67% 0.32%
2012 1.49% 0.33%
2011 1.24% 0.23%
2010 1.19% 0.27%
2009 1.2% 0.35%
2008 1.16% 0.35%
2007 1.06% 0.41%
2006 1.03% 0.41%
2005 1.02% 0.37%
2004 1.01% 0.37%
2003 1% 0.44%
2002 0.95% 0.55%
2001 0.86% 0.71%
2000 0.92% 0.79%
1999 1.1% 0.8%
1998 1.22% 0.93%
1997 1.21% 0.9%
1996 1.31% 0.82%
1995 1.22% 0.86%
1994 1.63% 0.9%
1993 2.01% 0.94%
1992 1.81% 0.98%
1991 2.31% 1.11%
1990 2.82% 1.11%
1989 2.98% 1.09%
1988 3.09% 1.14%
1987 3.17% 1.06%
1986 3.25% 1.15%
1985 3.39% 1.38%
1984 3.52% 1.48%
1983 3.56% 1.63%
1982 3.52% 1.8%
1981 3.46% 1.84%
1980 3.09% 1.91%
1979 2.74% 1.94%
1978 2.77% 1.86%
1977 2.74% 2.01%
1976 2.74% 2.03%
1975 2.81% 1.84%
1974 2.86% 1.8%
1973 2.9% 1.87%
1972 2.91% 2.06%
1971 2.97% 2.27%
1970 3.08% 3.65%
1969 3.14% 3.84%
1968 3.17% 2.56%
1967 3.17% 2.61%
1966 3.15% 2.9%
1965 3.12% 3.09%
1964 3.1% 3.19%
1963 3.08% 3.24%
1962 3.02% 3.28%
1961 2.85% 3.4%
1960 - 3.69%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Taiwan's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

South Africa Taiwan
Current population
65683993
23229461
Population rank 24/197 60/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.28%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
6.72 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
3.9 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
2.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 -215
Annual growth/decline +794,803 -78,445
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 180/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +47,029
Net migration rank 9/196 23/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Taiwan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Taiwan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -
2024 - 166,972 -67,188 47,029
2023 602,793 228,222 -69,794 225,599
2022 603,636 233,284 -68,327 -42,430
2021 456,411 458,246 -30,039 -156,010
2020 595,873 369,901 -7,782 -33,978
2019 652,130 331,124 1,416 12,718
2018 648,319 318,260 8,725 8,888
2017 645,975 343,146 22,613 8,809
2016 641,365 -879,235 35,980 11,707
2015 668,771 641,150 49,741 8,581
2014 674,754 272,697 - -
2013 652,427 232,230 - -
2012 643,723 264,091 - -
2011 601,708 65,166 43,836 19,077
2010 566,834 68,563 - -
2009 554,115 41,528 - -
2008 595,332 36,869 - -
2007 503,567 36,339 - -
2006 487,584 33,159 - -
2005 464,464 31,286 - -
2004 442,540 58,924 - -
2003 415,018 65,604 - -
2002 430,926 50,313 - -
2001 484,801 -60,793 132,707 -3,811
2000 526,963 -136,794 - -
1999 594,643 -126,011 - -
1998 627,027 -82,722 - -
1997 667,969 -98,181 - -
1996 710,868 -193,007 - -
1995 743,488 -98,403 - -
1994 698,609 -268,849 - -
1993 789,220 194,977 - -
1992 794,415 -71,342 - -
1991 827,296 -39,131 215,698 -12,128
1990 835,421 259,718 - -
1989 884,629 255,605 - -
1988 909,221 246,382 - -
1987 922,330 231,009 - -
1986 903,644 234,378 - -
1985 893,889 244,940 - -
1984 869,011 290,789 - -
1983 837,013 310,172 - -
1982 807,550 293,195 - -
1981 767,833 279,985 326,883 4,508
1980 738,415 258,127 - -
1979 716,541 56,323 - -
1978 694,341 62,121 - -
1977 680,929 63,739 - -
1976 675,011 27,333 - -
1975 667,862 38,809 - -
1974 658,438 38,518 - -
1973 651,596 41,125 - -
1972 638,754 38,163 - -
1971 624,761 32,961 - -
1970 605,102 61,514 - -
1969 590,794 73,225 - -
1968 571,841 78,932 - -
1967 553,741 81,932 - -
1966 534,862 77,417 346,958 18,774
1965 506,632 82,514 - -
1964 490,606 76,298 - -
1963 473,821 72,844 - -
1962 455,634 69,771 - -
1961 437,851 57,728 - -
1960 421,263 18,891 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/taiwan | 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 Taiwan 56.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 57,467 people) and 43.3% is from migration (a gain of 43,884 people).

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
Taiwan
City Population
New Taipei 4.05M
Taichung 2.87M
Kaohsiung 2.72M
Taipei 2.44M
Taoyuan 2.35M
Tainan 1.85M
Hsinchu 455K
Keelung 360K
Chiayi 261K
Changhua 221K

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); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/taiwan | 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. National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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