The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 104,175 people in Tonga in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 103,309 in Tonga.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 636 times bigger than Tonga's.
- South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.001% for Tonga.
- For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
- Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.77% decline).
South Africa vs Tonga: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Tonga
|
|
| 2100 | 94,767,727 | 117,647 |
| 2099 | 94,556,931 | 117,615 |
| 2098 | 94,349,546 | 117,560 |
| 2097 | 94,158,472 | 117,522 |
| 2096 | 93,960,605 | 117,491 |
| 2095 | 93,752,736 | 117,414 |
| 2094 | 93,527,902 | 117,321 |
| 2093 | 93,300,398 | 117,237 |
| 2092 | 93,074,837 | 117,127 |
| 2091 | 92,826,204 | 117,013 |
| 2090 | 92,594,033 | 116,869 |
| 2089 | 92,355,184 | 116,712 |
| 2088 | 92,112,914 | 116,511 |
| 2087 | 91,866,024 | 116,307 |
| 2086 | 91,614,165 | 116,118 |
| 2085 | 91,385,350 | 115,902 |
| 2084 | 91,139,318 | 115,658 |
| 2083 | 90,877,425 | 115,366 |
| 2082 | 90,615,359 | 115,071 |
| 2081 | 90,345,492 | 114,782 |
| 2080 | 90,071,835 | 114,453 |
| 2079 | 89,801,998 | 114,103 |
| 2078 | 89,526,224 | 113,740 |
| 2077 | 89,249,206 | 113,378 |
| 2076 | 88,986,114 | 112,974 |
| 2075 | 88,713,215 | 112,594 |
| 2074 | 88,428,616 | 112,208 |
| 2073 | 88,149,885 | 111,819 |
| 2072 | 87,866,246 | 111,405 |
| 2071 | 87,540,177 | 110,992 |
| 2070 | 87,209,425 | 110,605 |
| 2069 | 86,901,512 | 110,238 |
| 2068 | 86,588,742 | 109,853 |
| 2067 | 86,268,392 | 109,474 |
| 2066 | 85,935,310 | 109,090 |
| 2065 | 85,604,376 | 108,765 |
| 2064 | 85,244,950 | 108,405 |
| 2063 | 84,875,503 | 108,061 |
| 2062 | 84,503,237 | 107,738 |
| 2061 | 84,132,885 | 107,424 |
| 2060 | 83,748,999 | 107,145 |
| 2059 | 83,354,923 | 106,869 |
| 2058 | 82,947,675 | 106,617 |
| 2057 | 82,538,045 | 106,372 |
| 2056 | 82,127,477 | 106,158 |
| 2055 | 81,698,196 | 105,942 |
| 2054 | 81,255,867 | 105,725 |
| 2053 | 80,818,632 | 105,513 |
| 2052 | 80,367,409 | 105,313 |
| 2051 | 79,886,672 | 105,106 |
| 2050 | 79,411,977 | 104,871 |
| 2049 | 78,925,493 | 104,663 |
| 2048 | 78,437,677 | 104,414 |
| 2047 | 77,922,211 | 104,180 |
| 2046 | 77,397,298 | 103,879 |
| 2045 | 76,879,838 | 103,575 |
| 2044 | 76,357,155 | 103,241 |
| 2043 | 75,827,709 | 102,961 |
| 2042 | 75,291,615 | 102,718 |
| 2041 | 74,748,408 | 102,474 |
| 2040 | 74,205,530 | 102,254 |
| 2039 | 73,663,047 | 102,088 |
| 2038 | 73,105,930 | 101,861 |
| 2037 | 72,532,742 | 101,733 |
| 2036 | 71,956,247 | 101,653 |
| 2035 | 71,362,555 | 101,607 |
| 2034 | 70,762,815 | 101,598 |
| 2033 | 70,153,205 | 101,618 |
| 2032 | 69,527,410 | 101,659 |
| 2031 | 68,890,002 | 101,790 |
| 2030 | 68,245,372 | 101,954 |
| 2029 | 67,573,179 | 102,207 |
| 2028 | 66,884,377 | 102,521 |
| 2027 | 66,190,258 | 102,868 |
| 2026 | 65,496,277 | 103,309 |
| 2025 | 64,770,314 | 103,768 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 104,175 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 104,597 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 105,042 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 105,490 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 105,704 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 105,669 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 105,567 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 105,356 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 105,524 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 106,095 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 106,609 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 107,078 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 107,460 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 107,570 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 107,400 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 107,203 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 107,020 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 106,726 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 106,253 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 105,671 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 105,071 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 104,464 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 103,874 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 103,288 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 102,677 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 102,046 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 101,388 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 100,674 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 100,275 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 100,225 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 100,166 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 100,103 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 100,022 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 99,895 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 99,700 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 99,403 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 98,969 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 98,376 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 98,010 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 97,984 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 97,990 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 97,998 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 97,980 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 97,909 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 97,769 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 97,544 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 97,204 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 96,725 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 95,325 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 93,017 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 90,683 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 88,805 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 87,356 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 85,896 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 84,401 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 82,885 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 81,353 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 79,814 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 78,002 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 75,924 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 73,879 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 71,885 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 69,940 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 68,037 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 66,170 |
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/tonga | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,215 people (a 2.1% decline).
South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,871 people and will still be ranked 183rd.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Tonga
|
|
| 2100 | 0.22% | 0.03% |
| 2099 | 0.22% | 0.05% |
| 2098 | 0.2% | 0.03% |
| 2097 | 0.21% | 0.03% |
| 2096 | 0.22% | 0.07% |
| 2095 | 0.24% | 0.08% |
| 2094 | 0.24% | 0.07% |
| 2093 | 0.24% | 0.09% |
| 2092 | 0.27% | 0.1% |
| 2091 | 0.25% | 0.12% |
| 2090 | 0.26% | 0.13% |
| 2089 | 0.26% | 0.17% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | 0.18% |
| 2087 | 0.27% | 0.16% |
| 2086 | 0.25% | 0.19% |
| 2085 | 0.27% | 0.21% |
| 2084 | 0.29% | 0.25% |
| 2083 | 0.29% | 0.26% |
| 2082 | 0.3% | 0.25% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 0.29% |
| 2080 | 0.3% | 0.31% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.32% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.32% |
| 2077 | 0.3% | 0.36% |
| 2076 | 0.31% | 0.34% |
| 2075 | 0.32% | 0.34% |
| 2074 | 0.32% | 0.35% |
| 2073 | 0.32% | 0.37% |
| 2072 | 0.37% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | 0.38% | 0.35% |
| 2070 | 0.35% | 0.33% |
| 2069 | 0.36% | 0.35% |
| 2068 | 0.37% | 0.35% |
| 2067 | 0.39% | 0.35% |
| 2066 | 0.39% | 0.3% |
| 2065 | 0.42% | 0.33% |
| 2064 | 0.44% | 0.32% |
| 2063 | 0.44% | 0.3% |
| 2062 | 0.44% | 0.29% |
| 2061 | 0.46% | 0.26% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.26% |
| 2059 | 0.49% | 0.24% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.23% |
| 2057 | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| 2056 | 0.53% | 0.2% |
| 2055 | 0.54% | 0.2% |
| 2054 | 0.54% | 0.2% |
| 2053 | 0.56% | 0.19% |
| 2052 | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| 2051 | 0.6% | 0.22% |
| 2050 | 0.62% | 0.2% |
| 2049 | 0.62% | 0.24% |
| 2048 | 0.66% | 0.22% |
| 2047 | 0.68% | 0.29% |
| 2046 | 0.67% | 0.29% |
| 2045 | 0.68% | 0.32% |
| 2044 | 0.7% | 0.27% |
| 2043 | 0.71% | 0.24% |
| 2042 | 0.73% | 0.24% |
| 2041 | 0.73% | 0.21% |
| 2040 | 0.74% | 0.16% |
| 2039 | 0.76% | 0.22% |
| 2038 | 0.79% | 0.13% |
| 2037 | 0.8% | 0.08% |
| 2036 | 0.83% | 0.05% |
| 2035 | 0.85% | 0.009% |
| 2034 | 0.87% | -0.02% |
| 2033 | 0.9% | -0.04% |
| 2032 | 0.93% | -0.13% |
| 2031 | 0.94% | -0.16% |
| 2030 | 0.99% | -0.25% |
| 2029 | 1.03% | -0.31% |
| 2028 | 1.05% | -0.34% |
| 2027 | 1.06% | -0.43% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | -0.44% |
| 2025 | 1.19% | -0.39% |
| 2024 | 1.26% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 1.34% | -0.42% |
| 2022 | 1.42% | -0.42% |
| 2021 | 1.55% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 1.66% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.66% | -0.16% |
| 2016 | 0.94% | -0.54% |
| 2015 | 2.03% | -0.48% |
| 2014 | 1.68% | -0.44% |
| 2013 | 1.67% | -0.36% |
| 2012 | 1.49% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 1.24% | 0.16% |
| 2010 | 1.19% | 0.18% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | 0.17% |
| 2008 | 1.16% | 0.28% |
| 2007 | 1.06% | 0.45% |
| 2006 | 1.03% | 0.55% |
| 2005 | 1.02% | 0.57% |
| 2004 | 1.01% | 0.58% |
| 2003 | 1% | 0.57% |
| 2002 | 0.95% | 0.57% |
| 2001 | 0.86% | 0.6% |
| 2000 | 0.92% | 0.62% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | 0.65% |
| 1998 | 1.22% | 0.71% |
| 1997 | 1.21% | 0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.31% | 0.05% |
| 1995 | 1.22% | 0.06% |
| 1994 | 1.63% | 0.06% |
| 1993 | 2.01% | 0.08% |
| 1992 | 1.81% | 0.13% |
| 1991 | 2.31% | 0.2% |
| 1990 | 2.82% | 0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 0.44% |
| 1988 | 3.09% | 0.6% |
| 1987 | 3.17% | 0.37% |
| 1986 | 3.25% | 0.03% |
| 1985 | 3.39% | -0.006% |
| 1984 | 3.52% | -0.008% |
| 1983 | 3.56% | 0.02% |
| 1982 | 3.52% | 0.07% |
| 1981 | 3.46% | 0.14% |
| 1980 | 3.09% | 0.23% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 0.35% |
| 1978 | 2.77% | 0.5% |
| 1977 | 2.74% | 1.47% |
| 1976 | 2.74% | 2.48% |
| 1975 | 2.81% | 2.57% |
| 1974 | 2.86% | 2.11% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | 1.66% |
| 1972 | 2.91% | 1.7% |
| 1971 | 2.97% | 1.77% |
| 1970 | 3.08% | 1.83% |
| 1969 | 3.14% | 1.88% |
| 1968 | 3.17% | 1.93% |
| 1967 | 3.17% | 2.32% |
| 1966 | 3.15% | 2.74% |
| 1965 | 3.12% | 2.77% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | 2.77% |
| 1963 | 3.08% | 2.78% |
| 1962 | 3.02% | 2.8% |
| 1961 | 2.85% | 2.82% |
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/tonga | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.4%.
Live population counters
|
South Africa
|
Tonga
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
65683993
|
103309
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 183/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.79% | 0.001% |
| One net population change |
39.7 seconds
|
20.8 hours
|
| One birth every |
26.6 seconds
|
3.62 hours
|
| One death every |
54 seconds
|
13 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2,178 | -1 |
| Annual growth/decline | +794,803 | -422 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.26% | -0.4% |
| Population growth rate rank | 85/197 | 183/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.6 minutes
|
4.09 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +146,370 | -2,150 |
| Net migration rank | 9/196 | 99/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,631,100 | 3,581 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 28/195 | 187/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 105/195 | 113/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Tonga
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 146,370 | - | -2,150 |
| 2024 | - | 166,972 | - | -2,149 |
| 2023 | 602,793 | 228,222 | 1,744 | -2,173 |
| 2022 | 603,636 | 233,284 | 1,772 | -2,218 |
| 2021 | 456,411 | 458,246 | 1,773 | -2,220 |
| 2020 | 595,873 | 369,901 | 1,816 | -1,807 |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 331,124 | 1,841 | -1,778 |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 318,260 | 1,873 | -1,723 |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 343,146 | 1,912 | -1,642 |
| 2016 | 641,365 | -879,235 | 1,989 | -2,591 |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 641,150 | 2,064 | -2,610 |
| 2014 | 674,754 | 272,697 | 2,135 | -2,622 |
| 2013 | 652,427 | 232,230 | 2,199 | -2,637 |
| 2012 | 643,723 | 264,091 | 2,255 | -2,578 |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 65,166 | 2,298 | -2,198 |
| 2010 | 566,834 | 68,563 | 2,332 | -2,097 |
| 2009 | 554,115 | 41,528 | 2,358 | -2,204 |
| 2008 | 595,332 | 36,869 | 2,397 | -2,177 |
| 2007 | 503,567 | 36,339 | 2,423 | -2,057 |
| 2006 | 487,584 | 33,159 | 2,459 | -1,875 |
| 2005 | 464,464 | 31,286 | 2,495 | -1,906 |
| 2004 | 442,540 | 58,924 | 2,478 | -1,876 |
| 2003 | 415,018 | 65,604 | 2,448 | -1,844 |
| 2002 | 430,926 | 50,313 | 2,396 | -1,815 |
| 2001 | 484,801 | -60,793 | 2,358 | -1,766 |
| 2000 | 526,963 | -136,794 | 2,346 | -1,721 |
| 1999 | 594,643 | -126,011 | 2,352 | -1,710 |
| 1998 | 627,027 | -82,722 | 2,344 | -1,665 |
| 1997 | 667,969 | -98,181 | 2,332 | -1,589 |
| 1996 | 710,868 | -193,007 | 2,393 | -2,338 |
| 1995 | 743,488 | -98,403 | 2,476 | -2,422 |
| 1994 | 698,609 | -268,849 | 2,547 | -2,484 |
| 1993 | 789,220 | 194,977 | 2,594 | -2,532 |
| 1992 | 794,415 | -71,342 | 2,622 | -2,524 |
| 1991 | 827,296 | -39,131 | 2,637 | -2,484 |
| 1990 | 835,421 | 259,718 | 2,641 | -2,409 |
| 1989 | 884,629 | 255,605 | 2,644 | -2,280 |
| 1988 | 909,221 | 246,382 | 2,649 | -2,138 |
| 1987 | 922,330 | 231,009 | 2,646 | -1,970 |
| 1986 | 903,644 | 234,378 | 2,704 | -2,650 |
| 1985 | 893,889 | 244,940 | 2,762 | -2,775 |
| 1984 | 869,011 | 290,789 | 2,814 | -2,823 |
| 1983 | 837,013 | 310,172 | 2,840 | -2,840 |
| 1982 | 807,550 | 293,195 | 2,853 | -2,814 |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 279,985 | 2,882 | -2,778 |
| 1980 | 738,415 | 258,127 | 2,885 | -2,708 |
| 1979 | 716,541 | 56,323 | 2,884 | -2,604 |
| 1978 | 694,341 | 62,121 | 2,862 | -2,457 |
| 1977 | 680,929 | 63,739 | 2,822 | -2,273 |
| 1976 | 675,011 | 27,333 | 2,769 | -523 |
| 1975 | 667,862 | 38,809 | 2,709 | -346 |
| 1974 | 658,438 | 38,518 | 2,650 | -344 |
| 1973 | 651,596 | 41,125 | 2,617 | -1,168 |
| 1972 | 638,754 | 38,163 | 2,605 | -1,153 |
| 1971 | 624,761 | 32,961 | 2,611 | -1,138 |
| 1970 | 605,102 | 61,514 | 2,628 | -1,122 |
| 1969 | 590,794 | 73,225 | 2,632 | -1,101 |
| 1968 | 571,841 | 78,932 | 2,614 | -1,078 |
| 1967 | 553,741 | 81,932 | 2,603 | -1,060 |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 77,417 | 2,550 | -465 |
| 1965 | 506,632 | 82,514 | 2,498 | -426 |
| 1964 | 490,606 | 76,298 | 2,445 | -428 |
| 1963 | 473,821 | 72,844 | 2,394 | -426 |
| 1962 | 455,634 | 69,771 | 2,343 | -420 |
| 1961 | 437,851 | 57,728 | 2,284 | -401 |
| 1960 | 421,263 | 18,891 | 2,230 | -384 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/tonga | 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 Tonga 46.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,919 people) and 53.1% is from migration (a loss of 21,384 people).
As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.
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 |
|
Tonga
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Nukualofa | 23.2K |
| Mua | 5K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Africa and Tonga
|
South Africa
|
Tonga
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 73.4 years |
| Average age | 31.1 years | 27.9 years |
| Median age | 29.5 years | 21.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 47.2:52.8 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | 3.13 births per woman |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 372 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/tonga | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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