Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 12,277,109 people in Tunisia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 12,437,803 in Tunisia.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.28 times bigger than Tunisia's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Tunisia is the 81st.
  • The countries together account for 0.94% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.15% for Tunisia.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.89% in Tunisia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Tunisia has grown from 10.3M to 12.4M (20.2% growth).

South Africa vs Tunisia: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tunisia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Tunisia
2100 94,767,727 10,722,837
2099 94,556,931 10,798,417
2098 94,349,546 10,872,527
2097 94,158,472 10,944,510
2096 93,960,605 11,017,262
2095 93,752,736 11,088,773
2094 93,527,902 11,159,761
2093 93,300,398 11,228,741
2092 93,074,837 11,296,441
2091 92,826,204 11,362,922
2090 92,594,033 11,428,150
2089 92,355,184 11,492,395
2088 92,112,914 11,554,451
2087 91,866,024 11,616,399
2086 91,614,165 11,677,706
2085 91,385,350 11,736,824
2084 91,139,318 11,795,185
2083 90,877,425 11,853,617
2082 90,615,359 11,911,196
2081 90,345,492 11,966,771
2080 90,071,835 12,023,486
2079 89,801,998 12,080,879
2078 89,526,224 12,138,513
2077 89,249,206 12,194,072
2076 88,986,114 12,247,445
2075 88,713,215 12,301,960
2074 88,428,616 12,355,470
2073 88,149,885 12,410,281
2072 87,866,246 12,463,568
2071 87,540,177 12,517,952
2070 87,209,425 12,571,557
2069 86,901,512 12,625,027
2068 86,588,742 12,677,388
2067 86,268,392 12,728,611
2066 85,935,310 12,778,160
2065 85,604,376 12,827,417
2064 85,244,950 12,873,288
2063 84,875,503 12,917,720
2062 84,503,237 12,960,075
2061 84,132,885 12,999,502
2060 83,748,999 13,037,172
2059 83,354,923 13,069,268
2058 82,947,675 13,098,461
2057 82,538,045 13,124,682
2056 82,127,477 13,147,057
2055 81,698,196 13,164,337
2054 81,255,867 13,177,456
2053 80,818,632 13,184,564
2052 80,367,409 13,188,052
2051 79,886,672 13,187,435
2050 79,411,977 13,181,992
2049 78,925,493 13,173,401
2048 78,437,677 13,160,968
2047 77,922,211 13,144,429
2046 77,397,298 13,125,908
2045 76,879,838 13,104,999
2044 76,357,155 13,081,801
2043 75,827,709 13,057,259
2042 75,291,615 13,031,516
2041 74,748,408 13,006,019
2040 74,205,530 12,979,703
2039 73,663,047 12,952,741
2038 73,105,930 12,925,306
2037 72,532,742 12,896,316
2036 71,956,247 12,865,989
2035 71,362,555 12,835,689
2034 70,762,815 12,803,284
2033 70,153,205 12,766,519
2032 69,527,410 12,728,299
2031 68,890,002 12,687,827
2030 68,245,372 12,644,489
2029 67,573,179 12,596,686
2028 66,884,377 12,542,752
2027 66,190,258 12,484,560
2026 65,496,277 12,420,467
2025 64,770,314 12,351,028
2024 64,007,187 12,277,109
2023 63,212,384 12,200,431
2022 62,378,410 12,119,334
2021 61,502,603 12,048,622
2020 60,562,381 11,974,057
2019 59,587,885 11,875,081
2018 58,613,001 11,765,514
2017 57,635,162 11,650,498
2016 57,259,551 11,528,674
2015 56,723,537 11,402,264
2014 55,594,838 11,274,288
2013 54,678,791 11,141,361
2012 53,782,567 11,009,647
2011 52,995,205 10,886,035
2010 52,344,051 10,765,980
2009 51,728,516 10,650,681
2008 51,114,599 10,542,635
2007 50,528,584 10,441,702
2006 49,998,277 10,346,410
2005 49,490,033 10,255,472
2004 48,991,421 10,166,163
2003 48,500,348 10,071,632
2002 48,019,415 9,971,515
2001 47,566,800 9,869,677
2000 47,159,719 9,764,935
1999 46,730,335 9,655,963
1998 46,223,880 9,541,667
1997 45,666,838 9,421,270
1996 45,123,018 9,294,432
1995 44,541,554 9,161,258
1994 44,004,139 9,018,448
1993 43,297,156 8,857,910
1992 42,443,509 8,682,512
1991 41,687,898 8,501,827
1990 40,746,268 8,324,509
1989 39,628,575 8,151,660
1988 38,480,649 7,974,440
1987 37,326,190 7,789,987
1986 36,180,515 7,600,301
1985 35,042,093 7,409,903
1984 33,892,788 7,220,044
1983 32,739,304 7,053,800
1982 31,615,339 6,908,642
1981 30,541,044 6,758,284
1980 29,518,857 6,606,195
1979 28,634,162 6,456,419
1978 27,869,507 6,309,390
1977 27,118,952 6,155,931
1976 26,395,450 5,996,994
1975 25,690,940 5,839,262
1974 24,989,108 5,684,674
1973 24,294,263 5,537,242
1972 23,609,456 5,396,557
1971 22,942,143 5,261,658
1970 22,279,984 5,131,396
1969 21,614,676 5,004,697
1968 20,957,287 4,879,899
1967 20,314,066 4,760,970
1966 19,690,087 4,652,287
1965 19,089,380 4,561,385
1964 18,511,361 4,489,869
1963 17,954,564 4,427,131
1962 17,418,522 4,369,136
1961 16,908,035 4,316,278
1960 16,440,172 4,267,288

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/tunisia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Tunisia gained 1,182,264 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Tunisia's population increased by 909,129 people (a 7.89% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Tunisia was ranked 79th in 2006 and ranked 81st 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 Tunisia will increase by 5.98% to 13,181,992 people and rank change from 81st to 89th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 13.2M people in 2052 for Tunisia.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Tunisia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Tunisia
2100 0.22% -0.7%
2099 0.22% -0.68%
2098 0.2% -0.66%
2097 0.21% -0.66%
2096 0.22% -0.64%
2095 0.24% -0.64%
2094 0.24% -0.61%
2093 0.24% -0.6%
2092 0.27% -0.59%
2091 0.25% -0.57%
2090 0.26% -0.56%
2089 0.26% -0.54%
2088 0.27% -0.53%
2087 0.27% -0.52%
2086 0.25% -0.5%
2085 0.27% -0.49%
2084 0.29% -0.49%
2083 0.29% -0.48%
2082 0.3% -0.46%
2081 0.3% -0.47%
2080 0.3% -0.48%
2079 0.31% -0.47%
2078 0.31% -0.46%
2077 0.3% -0.44%
2076 0.31% -0.44%
2075 0.32% -0.43%
2074 0.32% -0.44%
2073 0.32% -0.43%
2072 0.37% -0.43%
2071 0.38% -0.43%
2070 0.35% -0.42%
2069 0.36% -0.41%
2068 0.37% -0.4%
2067 0.39% -0.39%
2066 0.39% -0.38%
2065 0.42% -0.36%
2064 0.44% -0.34%
2063 0.44% -0.33%
2062 0.44% -0.3%
2061 0.46% -0.29%
2060 0.47% -0.25%
2059 0.49% -0.22%
2058 0.5% -0.2%
2057 0.5% -0.17%
2056 0.53% -0.13%
2055 0.54% -0.1%
2054 0.54% -0.05%
2053 0.56% -0.03%
2052 0.6% 0.005%
2051 0.6% 0.04%
2050 0.62% 0.07%
2049 0.62% 0.09%
2048 0.66% 0.13%
2047 0.68% 0.14%
2046 0.67% 0.16%
2045 0.68% 0.18%
2044 0.7% 0.19%
2043 0.71% 0.2%
2042 0.73% 0.2%
2041 0.73% 0.2%
2040 0.74% 0.21%
2039 0.76% 0.21%
2038 0.79% 0.22%
2037 0.8% 0.24%
2036 0.83% 0.24%
2035 0.85% 0.25%
2034 0.87% 0.29%
2033 0.9% 0.3%
2032 0.93% 0.32%
2031 0.94% 0.34%
2030 0.99% 0.38%
2029 1.03% 0.43%
2028 1.05% 0.47%
2027 1.06% 0.52%
2026 1.12% 0.56%
2025 1.19% 0.6%
2024 1.26% 0.63%
2023 1.34% 0.67%
2022 1.42% 0.59%
2021 1.55% 0.62%
2020 1.64% 0.83%
2019 1.66% 0.93%
2018 1.7% 0.99%
2017 0.66% 1.06%
2016 0.94% 1.11%
2015 2.03% 1.14%
2014 1.68% 1.19%
2013 1.67% 1.2%
2012 1.49% 1.14%
2011 1.24% 1.12%
2010 1.19% 1.08%
2009 1.2% 1.02%
2008 1.16% 0.97%
2007 1.06% 0.92%
2006 1.03% 0.89%
2005 1.02% 0.88%
2004 1.01% 0.94%
2003 1% 1%
2002 0.95% 1.03%
2001 0.86% 1.07%
2000 0.92% 1.13%
1999 1.1% 1.2%
1998 1.22% 1.28%
1997 1.21% 1.36%
1996 1.31% 1.45%
1995 1.22% 1.58%
1994 1.63% 1.81%
1993 2.01% 2.02%
1992 1.81% 2.13%
1991 2.31% 2.13%
1990 2.82% 2.12%
1989 2.98% 2.22%
1988 3.09% 2.37%
1987 3.17% 2.5%
1986 3.25% 2.57%
1985 3.39% 2.63%
1984 3.52% 2.36%
1983 3.56% 2.1%
1982 3.52% 2.22%
1981 3.46% 2.3%
1980 3.09% 2.32%
1979 2.74% 2.33%
1978 2.77% 2.49%
1977 2.74% 2.65%
1976 2.74% 2.7%
1975 2.81% 2.72%
1974 2.86% 2.66%
1973 2.9% 2.61%
1972 2.91% 2.56%
1971 2.97% 2.54%
1970 3.08% 2.53%
1969 3.14% 2.56%
1968 3.17% 2.5%
1967 3.17% 2.34%
1966 3.15% 1.99%
1965 3.12% 1.59%
1964 3.1% 1.42%
1963 3.08% 1.33%
1962 3.02% 1.22%
1961 2.85% 1.15%

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/tunisia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Tunisia's population grew by 0.63%.

Live population counters

South Africa Tunisia
Current population
65683993
12437803
Population rank 24/197 81/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.15%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
6.85 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
3.13 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
7.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +210
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +76,678
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +0.63%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 124/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
36.3 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -14,523
Net migration rank 9/196 142/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 63,201
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 145/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 0.5%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 177/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Tunisia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Tunisia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -14,523
2024 - 166,972 - -15,221
2023 602,793 228,222 93,663 -14,001
2022 603,636 233,284 96,531 -14,001
2021 456,411 458,246 68,087 -9,190
2020 595,873 369,901 109,431 -19,188
2019 652,130 331,124 127,312 -19,612
2018 648,319 318,260 132,445 -21,012
2017 645,975 343,146 140,971 -22,365
2016 641,365 -879,235 148,870 -23,827
2015 668,771 641,150 153,007 -25,229
2014 674,754 272,697 154,762 -26,586
2013 652,427 232,230 154,687 -17,020
2012 643,723 264,091 151,812 -26,059
2011 601,708 65,166 143,401 -21,935
2010 566,834 68,563 132,809 -14,168
2009 554,115 41,528 125,465 -13,512
2008 595,332 36,869 121,873 -17,742
2007 503,567 36,339 118,920 -21,190
2006 487,584 33,159 116,945 -24,098
2005 464,464 31,286 115,374 -26,361
2004 442,540 58,924 113,322 -23,735
2003 415,018 65,604 111,926 -12,459
2002 430,926 50,313 109,099 -8,334
2001 484,801 -60,793 110,146 -7,235
2000 526,963 -136,794 112,501 -5,937
1999 594,643 -126,011 114,829 -3,452
1998 627,027 -82,722 121,332 -4,111
1997 667,969 -98,181 128,327 -4,756
1996 710,868 -193,007 135,615 -5,506
1995 743,488 -98,403 144,345 -8,095
1994 698,609 -268,849 153,647 -4,271
1993 789,220 194,977 160,922 10,771
1992 794,415 -71,342 163,978 15,124
1991 827,296 -39,131 166,245 16,021
1990 835,421 259,718 168,180 4,183
1989 884,629 255,605 169,221 4,100
1988 909,221 246,382 177,176 3,934
1987 922,330 231,009 184,101 3,711
1986 903,644 234,378 188,107 3,464
1985 893,889 244,940 186,344 2,887
1984 869,011 290,789 182,386 8,109
1983 837,013 310,172 179,878 -37,895
1982 807,550 293,195 177,898 -29,559
1981 767,833 279,985 176,628 -24,242
1980 738,415 258,127 171,094 -19,321
1979 716,541 56,323 171,463 -23,688
1978 694,341 62,121 173,255 -26,968
1977 680,929 63,739 174,539 -13,910
1976 675,011 27,333 172,744 -15,499
1975 667,862 38,809 166,991 -8,765
1974 658,438 38,518 160,200 -9,254
1973 651,596 41,125 153,525 -9,606
1972 638,754 38,163 147,239 -9,790
1971 624,761 32,961 142,296 -9,949
1970 605,102 61,514 138,235 -10,054
1969 590,794 73,225 135,257 -10,049
1968 571,841 78,932 134,246 -9,848
1967 553,741 81,932 132,626 -19,155
1966 534,862 77,417 131,274 -27,393
1965 506,632 82,514 127,673 -49,751
1964 490,606 76,298 124,711 -59,602
1963 473,821 72,844 120,865 -60,505
1962 455,634 69,771 116,887 -61,260
1961 437,851 57,728 111,459 -61,369
1960 421,263 18,891 109,234 -61,334

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/tunisia | 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 Tunisia 86.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,225,079 people) and 13.7% is from migration (a loss of 195,011 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 63,201 people or 0.5% in Tunisia.

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
Tunisia
City Population
Tunis 603K
Sfax 273K
Sousse 222K
Kairouan 187K
Bizerte 143K
Aryanah 123K
Gafsa 121K
Gabes 116K
La Marsa 93K
Nabeul 84.3K

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/tunisia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.