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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 1.09 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.65% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

South Africa vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Thailand
2100 94,734,082 45,708,431
2099 94,523,360 46,053,146
2098 94,316,049 46,403,189
2097 94,125,043 46,757,918
2096 93,927,246 47,118,652
2095 93,719,451 47,484,043
2094 93,494,697 47,853,561
2093 93,267,274 48,226,682
2092 93,041,793 48,605,235
2091 92,793,249 48,984,504
2090 92,561,159 49,368,049
2089 92,322,396 49,756,629
2088 92,080,212 50,142,276
2087 91,833,409 50,532,164
2086 91,581,639 50,925,294
2085 91,352,906 51,321,960
2084 91,106,961 51,724,454
2083 90,845,161 52,127,592
2082 90,583,188 52,533,368
2081 90,313,417 52,938,345
2080 90,039,857 53,347,733
2079 89,770,116 53,762,492
2078 89,494,440 54,177,529
2077 89,217,520 54,595,112
2076 88,954,522 55,015,291
2075 88,681,719 55,438,108
2074 88,397,221 55,867,914
2073 88,118,589 56,300,358
2072 87,835,051 56,735,274
2071 87,509,098 57,172,515
2070 87,178,463 57,616,731
2069 86,870,660 58,061,962
2068 86,558,000 58,512,248
2067 86,237,764 58,962,990
2066 85,904,801 59,413,893
2065 85,573,984 59,873,261
2064 85,214,686 60,331,851
2063 84,845,370 60,792,306
2062 84,473,236 61,257,068
2061 84,103,016 61,720,030
2060 83,719,266 62,187,380
2059 83,325,330 62,651,158
2058 82,918,226 63,113,332
2057 82,508,742 63,572,746
2056 82,098,320 64,027,520
2055 81,669,191 64,473,146
2054 81,227,019 64,912,210
2053 80,789,939 65,338,122
2052 80,338,877 65,758,061
2051 79,858,310 66,162,612
2050 79,383,784 66,552,915
2049 78,897,472 66,931,487
2048 78,409,829 67,291,479
2047 77,894,547 67,636,461
2046 77,369,819 67,967,131
2045 76,852,544 68,281,902
2044 76,330,046 68,579,656
2043 75,800,788 68,864,788
2042 75,264,885 69,133,982
2041 74,721,871 69,390,832
2040 74,179,185 69,626,857
2039 73,636,894 69,848,522
2038 73,079,976 70,056,903
2037 72,506,991 70,250,371
2036 71,930,701 70,429,677
2035 71,337,219 70,599,021
2034 70,737,692 70,751,094
2033 70,128,299 70,891,510
2032 69,502,726 71,019,665
2031 68,865,544 71,134,882
2030 68,221,143 71,241,584
2029 67,549,189 71,337,147
2028 66,860,631 71,423,119
2027 66,166,759 71,499,411
2026 65,473,024 71,565,981
2025 64,747,319 71,619,863
2024 64,007,187 71,668,011
2023 63,212,384 71,702,435
2022 62,378,410 71,735,329
2021 61,502,603 71,727,332
2020 60,562,381 71,641,484
2019 59,587,885 71,522,271
2018 58,613,001 71,376,079
2017 57,635,162 71,160,187
2016 57,259,551 70,859,841
2015 56,723,537 70,540,795
2014 55,594,838 70,216,367
2013 54,678,791 69,845,114
2012 53,782,567 69,436,098
2011 52,995,205 69,007,208
2010 52,344,051 68,579,447
2009 51,728,516 68,121,080
2008 51,114,599 67,619,830
2007 50,528,584 67,102,394
2006 49,998,277 66,567,687
2005 49,490,033 66,017,420
2004 48,991,421 65,452,047
2003 48,500,348 64,868,166
2002 48,019,415 64,266,437
2001 47,566,800 63,651,141
2000 47,159,719 63,007,815
1999 46,730,335 62,299,043
1998 46,223,880 61,522,630
1997 45,666,838 60,724,584
1996 45,123,018 59,920,064
1995 44,541,554 59,098,232
1994 44,004,139 58,260,854
1993 43,297,156 57,408,198
1992 42,443,509 56,528,834
1991 41,687,898 55,637,434
1990 40,746,268 54,738,329
1989 39,628,575 53,848,956
1988 38,480,649 52,969,595
1987 37,326,190 52,074,105
1986 36,180,515 51,177,834
1985 35,042,093 50,270,753
1984 33,892,788 49,351,708
1983 32,739,304 48,423,309
1982 31,615,339 47,494,577
1981 30,541,044 46,575,855
1980 29,518,857 45,650,022
1979 28,634,162 44,718,434
1978 27,869,507 43,788,976
1977 27,118,952 42,843,974
1976 26,395,450 41,896,504
1975 25,690,940 40,940,005
1974 24,989,108 39,952,891
1973 24,294,263 38,947,787
1972 23,609,456 37,933,929
1971 22,942,143 36,937,387
1970 22,279,984 35,954,408
1969 21,614,676 34,973,782
1968 20,957,287 34,002,560
1967 20,314,066 33,037,801
1966 19,690,087 32,086,071
1965 19,089,380 31,149,337
1964 18,511,361 30,232,141
1963 17,954,564 29,342,322
1962 17,418,522 28,481,040
1961 16,908,035 27,650,334
1960 16,440,172 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Thailand
2100 0.22% -0.75%
2099 0.22% -0.75%
2098 0.2% -0.76%
2097 0.21% -0.77%
2096 0.22% -0.77%
2095 0.24% -0.77%
2094 0.24% -0.77%
2093 0.24% -0.78%
2092 0.27% -0.77%
2091 0.25% -0.78%
2090 0.26% -0.78%
2089 0.26% -0.77%
2088 0.27% -0.77%
2087 0.27% -0.77%
2086 0.25% -0.77%
2085 0.27% -0.78%
2084 0.29% -0.77%
2083 0.29% -0.77%
2082 0.3% -0.76%
2081 0.3% -0.77%
2080 0.3% -0.77%
2079 0.31% -0.77%
2078 0.31% -0.76%
2077 0.3% -0.76%
2076 0.31% -0.76%
2075 0.32% -0.77%
2074 0.32% -0.77%
2073 0.32% -0.77%
2072 0.37% -0.76%
2071 0.38% -0.77%
2070 0.35% -0.77%
2069 0.36% -0.77%
2068 0.37% -0.76%
2067 0.39% -0.76%
2066 0.39% -0.77%
2065 0.42% -0.76%
2064 0.44% -0.76%
2063 0.44% -0.76%
2062 0.44% -0.75%
2061 0.46% -0.75%
2060 0.47% -0.74%
2059 0.49% -0.73%
2058 0.5% -0.72%
2057 0.5% -0.71%
2056 0.53% -0.69%
2055 0.54% -0.68%
2054 0.54% -0.65%
2053 0.56% -0.64%
2052 0.6% -0.61%
2051 0.6% -0.59%
2050 0.62% -0.57%
2049 0.62% -0.53%
2048 0.66% -0.51%
2047 0.68% -0.49%
2046 0.67% -0.46%
2045 0.68% -0.43%
2044 0.7% -0.41%
2043 0.71% -0.39%
2042 0.73% -0.37%
2041 0.73% -0.34%
2040 0.74% -0.32%
2039 0.76% -0.3%
2038 0.79% -0.28%
2037 0.8% -0.25%
2036 0.83% -0.24%
2035 0.85% -0.21%
2034 0.87% -0.2%
2033 0.9% -0.18%
2032 0.93% -0.16%
2031 0.94% -0.15%
2030 0.99% -0.13%
2029 1.03% -0.12%
2028 1.05% -0.11%
2027 1.06% -0.09%
2026 1.12% -0.08%
2025 1.16% -0.07%
2024 1.26% -0.05%
2023 1.34% -0.05%
2022 1.42% 0.01%
2021 1.55% 0.12%
2020 1.64% 0.17%
2019 1.66% 0.2%
2018 1.7% 0.3%
2017 0.66% 0.42%
2016 0.94% 0.45%
2015 2.03% 0.46%
2014 1.68% 0.53%
2013 1.67% 0.59%
2012 1.49% 0.62%
2011 1.24% 0.62%
2010 1.19% 0.67%
2009 1.2% 0.74%
2008 1.16% 0.77%
2007 1.06% 0.8%
2006 1.03% 0.83%
2005 1.02% 0.86%
2004 1.01% 0.9%
2003 1% 0.94%
2002 0.95% 0.97%
2001 0.86% 1.02%
2000 0.92% 1.14%
1999 1.1% 1.26%
1998 1.22% 1.31%
1997 1.21% 1.34%
1996 1.31% 1.39%
1995 1.22% 1.44%
1994 1.63% 1.49%
1993 2.01% 1.56%
1992 1.81% 1.6%
1991 2.31% 1.64%
1990 2.82% 1.65%
1989 2.98% 1.66%
1988 3.09% 1.72%
1987 3.17% 1.75%
1986 3.25% 1.8%
1985 3.39% 1.86%
1984 3.52% 1.92%
1983 3.56% 1.96%
1982 3.52% 1.97%
1981 3.46% 2.03%
1980 3.09% 2.08%
1979 2.74% 2.12%
1978 2.77% 2.21%
1977 2.74% 2.26%
1976 2.74% 2.34%
1975 2.81% 2.47%
1974 2.86% 2.58%
1973 2.9% 2.67%
1972 2.91% 2.7%
1971 2.97% 2.73%
1970 3.08% 2.8%
1969 3.14% 2.86%
1968 3.17% 2.92%
1967 3.17% 2.97%
1966 3.15% 3.01%
1965 3.12% 3.03%
1964 3.1% 3.03%
1963 3.08% 3.02%
1962 3.02% 3%
1961 2.85% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

South Africa Thailand
Current population
65829368
71565981
Population rank 24/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.86%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
10.9 minutes
One birth every
26.7 seconds
54.2 seconds
One death every
53.3 seconds
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,028 -132
Annual growth/decline +740,132 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 164/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +27,509
Net migration rank 9/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 27,509
2024 591,618 166,972 -65,720 23,321
2023 602,793 228,222 -46,105 19,648
2022 603,636 233,284 -61,046 21,683
2021 456,411 458,246 57,382 -2,093
2020 595,873 369,901 84,107 32,277
2019 652,130 331,124 116,867 5,221
2018 648,319 318,260 159,383 10,984
2017 645,975 343,146 194,695 66,805
2016 641,365 -879,235 226,255 112,978
2015 668,771 641,150 266,362 32,500
2014 674,754 272,697 294,628 55,358
2013 652,427 232,230 325,059 67,452
2012 643,723 264,091 351,485 74,033
2011 601,708 65,166 365,670 66,607
2010 566,834 68,563 370,466 52,791
2009 554,115 41,528 382,636 110,883
2008 595,332 36,869 401,730 107,333
2007 503,567 36,339 425,362 100,486
2006 487,584 33,159 441,211 102,362
2005 464,464 31,286 456,378 100,542
2004 442,540 58,924 466,542 107,199
2003 415,018 65,604 488,003 105,917
2002 430,926 50,313 504,299 105,215
2001 484,801 -60,793 524,230 96,817
2000 526,963 -136,794 543,884 121,640
1999 594,643 -126,011 578,073 173,924
1998 627,027 -82,722 617,318 183,471
1997 667,969 -98,181 644,834 150,411
1996 710,868 -193,007 661,397 152,397
1995 743,488 -98,403 682,703 147,226
1994 698,609 -268,849 712,589 132,271
1993 789,220 194,977 737,696 122,746
1992 794,415 -71,342 754,999 143,318
1991 827,296 -39,131 760,508 124,034
1990 835,421 259,718 760,808 152,916
1989 884,629 255,605 774,563 90,497
1988 909,221 246,382 765,252 128,469
1987 922,330 231,009 774,498 122,791
1986 903,644 234,378 783,430 111,820
1985 893,889 244,940 776,935 141,963
1984 869,011 290,789 779,856 139,345
1983 837,013 310,172 794,239 143,393
1982 807,550 293,195 817,951 101,885
1981 767,833 279,985 839,297 78,337
1980 738,415 258,127 845,575 88,478
1979 716,541 56,323 843,434 85,693
1978 694,341 62,121 847,799 82,011
1977 680,929 63,739 871,232 88,937
1976 675,011 27,333 894,072 40,656
1975 667,862 38,809 911,980 66,306
1974 658,438 38,518 923,151 72,801
1973 651,596 41,125 933,540 80,704
1972 638,754 38,163 940,420 73,082
1971 624,761 32,961 936,215 43,400
1970 605,102 61,514 937,116 49,221
1969 590,794 73,225 948,314 26,551
1968 571,841 78,932 953,806 13,718
1967 553,741 81,932 944,980 17,005
1966 534,862 77,417 929,469 12,016
1965 506,632 82,514 909,000 22,995
1964 490,606 76,298 885,137 17,249
1963 473,821 72,844 860,728 16,494
1962 455,634 69,771 828,741 16,605
1961 437,851 57,728 801,140 14,968
1960 421,263 18,891 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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