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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 1.12 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 1.68% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

South Africa vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Tanzania
2100 94,734,082 265,471,550
2099 94,523,360 263,137,702
2098 94,316,049 260,784,676
2097 94,125,043 258,387,890
2096 93,927,246 255,972,277
2095 93,719,451 253,543,248
2094 93,494,697 251,095,452
2093 93,267,274 248,605,184
2092 93,041,793 246,083,651
2091 92,793,249 243,533,968
2090 92,561,159 240,979,094
2089 92,322,396 238,393,867
2088 92,080,212 235,775,056
2087 91,833,409 233,145,231
2086 91,581,639 230,474,072
2085 91,352,906 227,778,580
2084 91,106,961 225,090,075
2083 90,845,161 222,400,079
2082 90,583,188 219,697,321
2081 90,313,417 216,974,796
2080 90,039,857 214,235,505
2079 89,770,116 211,466,096
2078 89,494,440 208,688,171
2077 89,217,520 205,898,494
2076 88,954,522 203,086,766
2075 88,681,719 200,278,383
2074 88,397,221 197,449,196
2073 88,118,589 194,624,081
2072 87,835,051 191,805,820
2071 87,509,098 188,974,004
2070 87,178,463 186,134,634
2069 86,870,660 183,293,747
2068 86,558,000 180,458,385
2067 86,237,764 177,622,538
2066 85,904,801 174,786,430
2065 85,573,984 171,897,059
2064 85,214,686 169,048,435
2063 84,845,370 166,202,091
2062 84,473,236 163,354,473
2061 84,103,016 160,521,858
2060 83,719,266 157,707,240
2059 83,325,330 154,905,240
2058 82,918,226 152,106,040
2057 82,508,742 149,311,257
2056 82,098,320 146,505,507
2055 81,669,191 143,722,840
2054 81,227,019 140,970,467
2053 80,789,939 138,249,490
2052 80,338,877 135,540,803
2051 79,858,310 132,838,721
2050 79,383,784 130,145,345
2049 78,897,472 127,483,126
2048 78,409,829 124,809,212
2047 77,894,547 122,146,647
2046 77,369,819 119,511,124
2045 76,852,544 116,903,642
2044 76,330,046 114,318,843
2043 75,800,788 111,765,580
2042 75,264,885 109,231,423
2041 74,721,871 106,738,458
2040 74,179,185 104,262,479
2039 73,636,894 101,804,600
2038 73,079,976 99,370,760
2037 72,506,991 96,974,485
2036 71,930,701 94,592,848
2035 71,337,219 92,248,476
2034 70,737,692 89,920,872
2033 70,128,299 87,646,627
2032 69,502,726 85,401,853
2031 68,865,544 83,172,579
2030 68,221,143 80,989,443
2029 67,549,189 78,830,947
2028 66,860,631 76,723,335
2027 66,166,759 74,639,948
2026 65,473,024 72,582,361
2025 64,747,319 70,545,865
2024 64,007,187 68,560,157
2023 63,212,384 66,617,606
2022 62,378,410 64,711,821
2021 61,502,603 62,830,412
2020 60,562,381 60,972,798
2019 59,587,885 59,174,891
2018 58,613,001 57,437,145
2017 57,635,162 55,652,890
2016 57,259,551 53,824,013
2015 56,723,537 52,020,962
2014 55,594,838 50,351,512
2013 54,678,791 48,824,128
2012 53,782,567 47,374,260
2011 52,995,205 46,029,367
2010 52,344,051 44,758,488
2009 51,728,516 43,633,982
2008 51,114,599 42,570,728
2007 50,528,584 41,435,512
2006 49,998,277 40,294,902
2005 49,490,033 39,182,076
2004 48,991,421 38,109,668
2003 48,500,348 37,089,555
2002 48,019,415 36,121,304
2001 47,566,800 35,198,299
2000 47,159,719 34,260,139
1999 46,730,335 33,300,330
1998 46,223,880 32,420,458
1997 45,666,838 31,578,089
1996 45,123,018 30,945,762
1995 44,541,554 30,383,497
1994 44,004,139 29,442,356
1993 43,297,156 28,332,692
1992 42,443,509 27,457,588
1991 41,687,898 26,780,436
1990 40,746,268 26,110,207
1989 39,628,575 25,438,759
1988 38,480,649 24,769,686
1987 37,326,190 24,030,378
1986 36,180,515 23,258,959
1985 35,042,093 22,501,693
1984 33,892,788 21,779,066
1983 32,739,304 21,079,874
1982 31,615,339 20,398,571
1981 30,541,044 19,784,703
1980 29,518,857 19,189,769
1979 28,634,162 18,592,038
1978 27,869,507 17,976,566
1977 27,118,952 17,352,929
1976 26,395,450 16,736,211
1975 25,690,940 16,138,361
1974 24,989,108 15,561,630
1973 24,294,263 15,010,101
1972 23,609,456 14,479,308
1971 22,942,143 13,971,451
1970 22,279,984 13,492,677
1969 21,614,676 13,036,700
1968 20,957,287 12,602,076
1967 20,314,066 12,200,109
1966 19,690,087 11,827,459
1965 19,089,380 11,470,728
1964 18,511,361 11,127,826
1963 17,954,564 10,799,528
1962 17,418,522 10,487,756
1961 16,908,035 10,187,886
1960 16,440,172 9,901,419

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Africa's population will grow by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Tanzania
2100 0.22% 0.89%
2099 0.22% 0.9%
2098 0.2% 0.93%
2097 0.21% 0.94%
2096 0.22% 0.96%
2095 0.24% 0.97%
2094 0.24% 1%
2093 0.24% 1.02%
2092 0.27% 1.05%
2091 0.25% 1.06%
2090 0.26% 1.08%
2089 0.26% 1.11%
2088 0.27% 1.13%
2087 0.27% 1.16%
2086 0.25% 1.18%
2085 0.27% 1.19%
2084 0.29% 1.21%
2083 0.29% 1.23%
2082 0.3% 1.25%
2081 0.3% 1.28%
2080 0.3% 1.31%
2079 0.31% 1.33%
2078 0.31% 1.35%
2077 0.3% 1.38%
2076 0.31% 1.4%
2075 0.32% 1.43%
2074 0.32% 1.45%
2073 0.32% 1.47%
2072 0.37% 1.5%
2071 0.38% 1.53%
2070 0.35% 1.55%
2069 0.36% 1.57%
2068 0.37% 1.6%
2067 0.39% 1.62%
2066 0.39% 1.68%
2065 0.42% 1.69%
2064 0.44% 1.71%
2063 0.44% 1.74%
2062 0.44% 1.76%
2061 0.46% 1.78%
2060 0.47% 1.81%
2059 0.49% 1.84%
2058 0.5% 1.87%
2057 0.5% 1.92%
2056 0.53% 1.94%
2055 0.54% 1.95%
2054 0.54% 1.97%
2053 0.56% 2%
2052 0.6% 2.03%
2051 0.6% 2.07%
2050 0.62% 2.09%
2049 0.62% 2.14%
2048 0.66% 2.18%
2047 0.68% 2.21%
2046 0.67% 2.23%
2045 0.68% 2.26%
2044 0.7% 2.28%
2043 0.71% 2.32%
2042 0.73% 2.34%
2041 0.73% 2.37%
2040 0.74% 2.41%
2039 0.76% 2.45%
2038 0.79% 2.47%
2037 0.8% 2.52%
2036 0.83% 2.54%
2035 0.85% 2.59%
2034 0.87% 2.59%
2033 0.9% 2.63%
2032 0.93% 2.68%
2031 0.94% 2.7%
2030 0.99% 2.74%
2029 1.03% 2.75%
2028 1.05% 2.79%
2027 1.06% 2.83%
2026 1.12% 2.89%
2025 1.16% 2.9%
2024 1.26% 2.92%
2023 1.34% 2.95%
2022 1.42% 2.99%
2021 1.55% 3.05%
2020 1.64% 3.04%
2019 1.66% 3.03%
2018 1.7% 3.21%
2017 0.66% 3.4%
2016 0.94% 3.47%
2015 2.03% 3.32%
2014 1.68% 3.13%
2013 1.67% 3.06%
2012 1.49% 2.92%
2011 1.24% 2.84%
2010 1.19% 2.58%
2009 1.2% 2.5%
2008 1.16% 2.74%
2007 1.06% 2.83%
2006 1.03% 2.84%
2005 1.02% 2.81%
2004 1.01% 2.75%
2003 1% 2.68%
2002 0.95% 2.62%
2001 0.86% 2.74%
2000 0.92% 2.88%
1999 1.1% 2.71%
1998 1.22% 2.67%
1997 1.21% 2.04%
1996 1.31% 1.85%
1995 1.22% 3.2%
1994 1.63% 3.92%
1993 2.01% 3.19%
1992 1.81% 2.53%
1991 2.31% 2.57%
1990 2.82% 2.64%
1989 2.98% 2.7%
1988 3.09% 3.08%
1987 3.17% 3.32%
1986 3.25% 3.37%
1985 3.39% 3.32%
1984 3.52% 3.32%
1983 3.56% 3.34%
1982 3.52% 3.1%
1981 3.46% 3.1%
1980 3.09% 3.21%
1979 2.74% 3.42%
1978 2.77% 3.59%
1977 2.74% 3.68%
1976 2.74% 3.7%
1975 2.81% 3.71%
1974 2.86% 3.67%
1973 2.9% 3.67%
1972 2.91% 3.63%
1971 2.97% 3.55%
1970 3.08% 3.5%
1969 3.14% 3.45%
1968 3.17% 3.29%
1967 3.17% 3.15%
1966 3.15% 3.11%
1965 3.12% 3.08%
1964 3.1% 3.04%
1963 3.08% 2.97%
1962 3.02% 2.94%
1961 2.85% 2.89%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

South Africa Tanzania
Current population
65829368
73639263
Population rank 24/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.89%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
15.9 seconds
One birth every
26.7 seconds
13.2 seconds
One death every
53.3 seconds
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 +5,440
Annual growth/decline +740,132 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 16/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -12,730
Net migration rank 9/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -12,730
2024 591,618 166,972 1,993,730 -29,865
2023 602,793 228,222 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 603,636 233,284 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 456,411 458,246 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 595,873 369,901 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 652,130 331,124 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 648,319 318,260 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 645,975 343,146 1,726,909 119,142
2016 641,365 -879,235 1,659,502 152,194
2015 668,771 641,150 1,592,882 201,495
2014 674,754 272,697 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 652,427 232,230 1,509,008 1,241
2012 643,723 264,091 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 601,708 65,166 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 566,834 68,563 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 554,115 41,528 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 595,332 36,869 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 503,567 36,339 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 487,584 33,159 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 464,464 31,286 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 442,540 58,924 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 415,018 65,604 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 430,926 50,313 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 484,801 -60,793 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 526,963 -136,794 985,185 -9,701
1999 594,643 -126,011 948,659 -4,489
1998 627,027 -82,722 920,806 -105,184
1997 667,969 -98,181 882,544 -13,400
1996 710,868 -193,007 868,524 -473,007
1995 743,488 -98,403 838,980 -109,971
1994 698,609 -268,849 803,953 349,348
1993 789,220 194,977 778,044 288,004
1992 794,415 -71,342 767,961 -83,825
1991 827,296 -39,131 762,011 -91,851
1990 835,421 259,718 750,825 -80,529
1989 884,629 255,605 743,854 -71,268
1988 909,221 246,382 736,551 -71,012
1987 922,330 231,009 718,580 94,498
1986 903,644 234,378 705,677 24,101
1985 893,889 244,940 697,867 86,864
1984 869,011 290,789 687,435 -26,938
1983 837,013 310,172 679,720 58,161
1982 807,550 293,195 662,627 -37,883
1981 767,833 279,985 645,496 -42,485
1980 738,415 258,127 629,444 -42,588
1979 716,541 56,323 613,388 -4,792
1978 694,341 62,121 595,024 27,307
1977 680,929 63,739 574,938 49,997
1976 675,011 27,333 553,617 54,875
1975 667,862 38,809 533,906 53,290
1974 658,438 38,518 515,152 51,127
1973 651,596 41,125 488,429 48,363
1972 638,754 38,163 467,305 57,489
1971 624,761 32,961 449,014 41,900
1970 605,102 61,514 427,988 38,635
1969 590,794 73,225 408,322 37,006
1968 571,841 78,932 389,467 34,455
1967 553,741 81,932 374,763 5,265
1966 534,862 77,417 360,229 5,049
1965 506,632 82,514 343,456 4,742
1964 490,606 76,298 328,527 9,090
1963 473,821 72,844 314,644 4,333
1962 455,634 69,771 300,663 3,916
1961 437,851 57,728 286,839 8,338
1960 421,263 18,891 275,814 1,946

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.4% of the population change in South Africa is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people). In Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

Biggest cities by population

South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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