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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 10,590,927 people in Tajikistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 11,038,274 in Tajikistan.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.95 times bigger than Tajikistan's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Tajikistan is the 88th.
  • The countries together account for 0.93% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.13% for Tajikistan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.33% in Tajikistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Tajikistan has grown from 7.06M to 11M (56.4% growth).

South Africa vs Tajikistan: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Tajikistan
2100 94,767,727 20,390,053
2099 94,556,931 20,381,074
2098 94,349,546 20,367,161
2097 94,158,472 20,348,897
2096 93,960,605 20,324,869
2095 93,752,736 20,297,885
2094 93,527,902 20,265,966
2093 93,300,398 20,234,160
2092 93,074,837 20,192,937
2091 92,826,204 20,148,873
2090 92,594,033 20,103,798
2089 92,355,184 20,056,079
2088 92,112,914 20,005,521
2087 91,866,024 19,950,317
2086 91,614,165 19,895,606
2085 91,385,350 19,836,988
2084 91,139,318 19,773,272
2083 90,877,425 19,706,082
2082 90,615,359 19,639,516
2081 90,345,492 19,572,596
2080 90,071,835 19,499,390
2079 89,801,998 19,425,502
2078 89,526,224 19,347,261
2077 89,249,206 19,265,447
2076 88,986,114 19,175,355
2075 88,713,215 19,083,859
2074 88,428,616 18,988,290
2073 88,149,885 18,889,470
2072 87,866,246 18,785,103
2071 87,540,177 18,674,697
2070 87,209,425 18,559,138
2069 86,901,512 18,437,873
2068 86,588,742 18,315,011
2067 86,268,392 18,187,508
2066 85,935,310 18,054,404
2065 85,604,376 17,921,674
2064 85,244,950 17,783,801
2063 84,875,503 17,641,066
2062 84,503,237 17,498,306
2061 84,132,885 17,356,130
2060 83,748,999 17,206,922
2059 83,354,923 17,056,085
2058 82,947,675 16,903,532
2057 82,538,045 16,749,284
2056 82,127,477 16,595,691
2055 81,698,196 16,441,650
2054 81,255,867 16,285,520
2053 80,818,632 16,130,235
2052 80,367,409 15,967,770
2051 79,886,672 15,805,253
2050 79,411,977 15,638,613
2049 78,925,493 15,468,883
2048 78,437,677 15,292,499
2047 77,922,211 15,112,083
2046 77,397,298 14,928,123
2045 76,879,838 14,739,540
2044 76,357,155 14,544,544
2043 75,827,709 14,349,357
2042 75,291,615 14,147,892
2041 74,748,408 13,945,694
2040 74,205,530 13,741,587
2039 73,663,047 13,536,704
2038 73,105,930 13,331,490
2037 72,532,742 13,125,051
2036 71,956,247 12,917,110
2035 71,362,555 12,714,184
2034 70,762,815 12,515,962
2033 70,153,205 12,321,294
2032 69,527,410 12,128,060
2031 68,890,002 11,938,351
2030 68,245,372 11,749,706
2029 67,573,179 11,559,235
2028 66,884,377 11,369,414
2027 66,190,258 11,178,605
2026 65,496,277 10,986,242
2025 64,770,314 10,791,246
2024 64,007,187 10,590,927
2023 63,212,384 10,389,799
2022 62,378,410 10,182,222
2021 61,502,603 9,966,908
2020 60,562,381 9,749,310
2019 59,587,885 9,529,966
2018 58,613,001 9,307,333
2017 57,635,162 9,085,946
2016 57,259,551 8,865,631
2015 56,723,537 8,643,840
2014 55,594,838 8,425,552
2013 54,678,791 8,216,724
2012 53,782,567 8,014,084
2011 52,995,205 7,824,785
2010 52,344,051 7,652,141
2009 51,728,516 7,490,230
2008 51,114,599 7,338,403
2007 50,528,584 7,194,477
2006 49,998,277 7,057,566
2005 49,490,033 6,924,720
2004 48,991,421 6,790,547
2003 48,500,348 6,658,575
2002 48,019,415 6,531,669
2001 47,566,800 6,407,377
2000 47,159,719 6,284,735
1999 46,730,335 6,208,370
1998 46,223,880 6,176,397
1997 45,666,838 6,139,829
1996 45,123,018 6,066,523
1995 44,541,554 5,948,584
1994 44,004,139 5,825,368
1993 43,297,156 5,724,993
1992 42,443,509 5,649,400
1991 41,687,898 5,541,205
1990 40,746,268 5,398,768
1989 39,628,575 5,267,249
1988 38,480,649 5,114,989
1987 37,326,190 4,939,059
1986 36,180,515 4,772,139
1985 35,042,093 4,619,003
1984 33,892,788 4,480,026
1983 32,739,304 4,350,874
1982 31,615,339 4,227,171
1981 30,541,044 4,109,022
1980 29,518,857 3,995,256
1979 28,634,162 3,882,691
1978 27,869,507 3,768,508
1977 27,118,952 3,653,265
1976 26,395,450 3,540,076
1975 25,690,940 3,430,425
1974 24,989,108 3,324,499
1973 24,294,263 3,222,290
1972 23,609,456 3,123,691
1971 22,942,143 3,028,837
1970 22,279,984 2,936,779
1969 21,614,676 2,845,273
1968 20,957,287 2,753,848
1967 20,314,066 2,664,130
1966 19,690,087 2,577,184
1965 19,089,380 2,492,998
1964 18,511,361 2,411,260
1963 17,954,564 2,331,736
1962 17,418,522 2,255,026
1961 16,908,035 2,181,805
1960 16,440,172 2,112,131

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/tajikistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Tajikistan gained 1,808,065 people (a 25.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Tajikistan's population increased by 2,172,643 people (a 24.5% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Tajikistan was ranked 98th in 2006 and ranked 88th 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 Tajikistan will increase by 41.7% to 15,638,613 people and rank change from 88th to 82nd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 20.4M people in 2100 for Tajikistan.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Tajikistan
2100 0.22% 0.04%
2099 0.22% 0.07%
2098 0.2% 0.09%
2097 0.21% 0.12%
2096 0.22% 0.13%
2095 0.24% 0.16%
2094 0.24% 0.16%
2093 0.24% 0.2%
2092 0.27% 0.22%
2091 0.25% 0.22%
2090 0.26% 0.24%
2089 0.26% 0.25%
2088 0.27% 0.28%
2087 0.27% 0.27%
2086 0.25% 0.3%
2085 0.27% 0.32%
2084 0.29% 0.34%
2083 0.29% 0.34%
2082 0.3% 0.34%
2081 0.3% 0.38%
2080 0.3% 0.38%
2079 0.31% 0.4%
2078 0.31% 0.42%
2077 0.3% 0.47%
2076 0.31% 0.48%
2075 0.32% 0.5%
2074 0.32% 0.52%
2073 0.32% 0.56%
2072 0.37% 0.59%
2071 0.38% 0.62%
2070 0.35% 0.66%
2069 0.36% 0.67%
2068 0.37% 0.7%
2067 0.39% 0.74%
2066 0.39% 0.74%
2065 0.42% 0.78%
2064 0.44% 0.81%
2063 0.44% 0.82%
2062 0.44% 0.82%
2061 0.46% 0.87%
2060 0.47% 0.88%
2059 0.49% 0.9%
2058 0.5% 0.92%
2057 0.5% 0.93%
2056 0.53% 0.94%
2055 0.54% 0.96%
2054 0.54% 0.96%
2053 0.56% 1.02%
2052 0.6% 1.03%
2051 0.6% 1.07%
2050 0.62% 1.1%
2049 0.62% 1.15%
2048 0.66% 1.19%
2047 0.68% 1.23%
2046 0.67% 1.28%
2045 0.68% 1.34%
2044 0.7% 1.36%
2043 0.71% 1.42%
2042 0.73% 1.45%
2041 0.73% 1.49%
2040 0.74% 1.51%
2039 0.76% 1.54%
2038 0.79% 1.57%
2037 0.8% 1.61%
2036 0.83% 1.6%
2035 0.85% 1.58%
2034 0.87% 1.58%
2033 0.9% 1.59%
2032 0.93% 1.59%
2031 0.94% 1.61%
2030 0.99% 1.65%
2029 1.03% 1.67%
2028 1.05% 1.71%
2027 1.06% 1.75%
2026 1.12% 1.81%
2025 1.19% 1.89%
2024 1.26% 1.94%
2023 1.34% 2.04%
2022 1.42% 2.16%
2021 1.55% 2.23%
2020 1.64% 2.3%
2019 1.66% 2.39%
2018 1.7% 2.44%
2017 0.66% 2.49%
2016 0.94% 2.57%
2015 2.03% 2.59%
2014 1.68% 2.54%
2013 1.67% 2.53%
2012 1.49% 2.42%
2011 1.24% 2.26%
2010 1.19% 2.16%
2009 1.2% 2.07%
2008 1.16% 2%
2007 1.06% 1.94%
2006 1.03% 1.92%
2005 1.02% 1.98%
2004 1.01% 1.98%
2003 1% 1.94%
2002 0.95% 1.94%
2001 0.86% 1.95%
2000 0.92% 1.23%
1999 1.1% 0.52%
1998 1.22% 0.6%
1997 1.21% 1.21%
1996 1.31% 1.98%
1995 1.22% 2.12%
1994 1.63% 1.75%
1993 2.01% 1.34%
1992 1.81% 1.95%
1991 2.31% 2.64%
1990 2.82% 2.5%
1989 2.98% 2.98%
1988 3.09% 3.56%
1987 3.17% 3.5%
1986 3.25% 3.32%
1985 3.39% 3.1%
1984 3.52% 2.97%
1983 3.56% 2.93%
1982 3.52% 2.88%
1981 3.46% 2.85%
1980 3.09% 2.9%
1979 2.74% 3.03%
1978 2.77% 3.15%
1977 2.74% 3.2%
1976 2.74% 3.2%
1975 2.81% 3.19%
1974 2.86% 3.17%
1973 2.9% 3.16%
1972 2.91% 3.13%
1971 2.97% 3.13%
1970 3.08% 3.22%
1969 3.14% 3.32%
1968 3.17% 3.37%
1967 3.17% 3.37%
1966 3.15% 3.38%
1965 3.12% 3.39%
1964 3.1% 3.41%
1963 3.08% 3.4%
1962 3.02% 3.36%
1961 2.85% 3.3%

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/tajikistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Tajikistan's population grew by 1.94%.

Live population counters

South Africa Tajikistan
Current population
65683993
11038274
Population rank 24/197 88/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.13%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
2.61 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
1.94 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +551
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +201,128
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +1.94%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 55/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
24.4 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -21,606
Net migration rank 9/196 152/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 276,777
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 101/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 124/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Tajikistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Tajikistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -21,606
2024 - 166,972 - -21,236
2023 602,793 228,222 223,828 -19,999
2022 603,636 233,284 228,336 -17,001
2021 456,411 458,246 222,850 -3,564
2020 595,873 369,901 219,467 -3,564
2019 652,130 331,124 231,817 -9,041
2018 648,319 318,260 228,597 -6,111
2017 645,975 343,146 224,396 -4,093
2016 641,365 -879,235 228,547 -8,210
2015 668,771 641,150 230,903 -7,660
2014 674,754 272,697 227,304 -13,962
2013 652,427 232,230 220,693 -16,362
2012 643,723 264,091 213,078 -12,132
2011 601,708 65,166 208,429 -30,783
2010 566,834 68,563 201,389 -33,733
2009 554,115 41,528 192,851 -36,677
2008 595,332 36,869 182,337 -34,855
2007 503,567 36,339 173,200 -32,831
2006 487,584 33,159 164,046 -30,591
2005 464,464 31,286 160,189 -27,954
2004 442,540 58,924 161,201 -25,082
2003 415,018 65,604 150,391 -22,562
2002 430,926 50,313 146,492 -20,526
2001 484,801 -60,793 142,276 -19,657
2000 526,963 -136,794 136,549 -13,871
1999 594,643 -126,011 147,622 -117,571
1998 627,027 -82,722 153,508 -119,621
1997 667,969 -98,181 149,825 -110,572
1996 710,868 -193,007 138,287 -30,922
1995 743,488 -98,403 168,934 -40,418
1994 698,609 -268,849 167,590 -49,668
1993 789,220 194,977 157,975 -75,147
1992 794,415 -71,342 163,652 -95,280
1991 827,296 -39,131 177,585 -29,553
1990 835,421 259,718 178,429 -41,596
1989 884,629 255,605 179,212 -53,020
1988 909,221 246,382 172,805 5,523
1987 922,330 231,009 163,611 9,923
1986 903,644 234,378 155,987 4,321
1985 893,889 244,940 145,720 247
1984 869,011 290,789 139,145 -7,152
1983 837,013 310,172 133,280 -6,972
1982 807,550 293,195 127,838 -6,730
1981 767,833 279,985 121,418 -6,221
1980 738,415 258,127 117,888 -5,557
1979 716,541 56,323 114,496 -1,703
1978 694,341 62,121 110,564 5,006
1977 680,929 63,739 106,920 7,999
1976 675,011 27,333 103,777 7,679
1975 667,862 38,809 100,604 7,237
1974 658,438 38,518 97,481 6,531
1973 651,596 41,125 94,523 5,876
1972 638,754 38,163 91,677 5,123
1971 624,761 32,961 88,618 4,293
1970 605,102 61,514 85,645 5,559
1969 590,794 73,225 82,931 8,886
1968 571,841 78,932 80,698 10,323
1967 553,741 81,932 78,733 9,670
1966 534,862 77,417 76,702 8,796
1965 506,632 82,514 75,139 7,744
1964 490,606 76,298 74,030 6,568
1963 473,821 72,844 73,065 5,379
1962 455,634 69,771 70,700 4,270
1961 437,851 57,728 68,182 3,291
1960 421,263 18,891 65,415 2,457

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/tajikistan | 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 Tajikistan 96% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,266,045 people) and 3.95% is from migration (a loss of 93,205 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 276,777 people or 2.6% in Tajikistan.

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
Tajikistan
City Population
Dushanbe 948K
Khujand 199K
Qurghonteppa 127K
Istaravshan 64.3K
Konibodom 54.4K
Tursunzoda 46.7K
Panjakent 33K
Buston 29.8K
Ghafurov 18.4K
Istiklol 14.2K

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/tajikistan | 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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