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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 85,878,556 people in Turkey in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 86,225,430 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 1.31 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.83% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.98% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86.2M (23.1% growth).

South Africa vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Turkey
2100 94,734,082 64,394,191
2099 94,523,360 65,045,868
2098 94,316,049 65,690,351
2097 94,125,043 66,342,622
2096 93,927,246 66,990,674
2095 93,719,451 67,642,188
2094 93,494,697 68,296,562
2093 93,267,274 68,963,773
2092 93,041,793 69,625,957
2091 92,793,249 70,290,255
2090 92,561,159 70,960,483
2089 92,322,396 71,623,547
2088 92,080,212 72,281,102
2087 91,833,409 72,928,397
2086 91,581,639 73,576,610
2085 91,352,906 74,223,570
2084 91,106,961 74,853,312
2083 90,845,161 75,483,067
2082 90,583,188 76,111,533
2081 90,313,417 76,726,689
2080 90,039,857 77,339,541
2079 89,770,116 77,938,889
2078 89,494,440 78,532,577
2077 89,217,520 79,120,573
2076 88,954,522 79,705,459
2075 88,681,719 80,277,544
2074 88,397,221 80,848,141
2073 88,118,589 81,396,237
2072 87,835,051 81,938,080
2071 87,509,098 82,465,112
2070 87,178,463 82,981,973
2069 86,870,660 83,480,362
2068 86,558,000 83,963,140
2067 86,237,764 84,428,242
2066 85,904,801 84,886,666
2065 85,573,984 85,336,225
2064 85,214,686 85,771,285
2063 84,845,370 86,187,013
2062 84,473,236 86,587,114
2061 84,103,016 86,962,577
2060 83,719,266 87,319,314
2059 83,325,330 87,663,392
2058 82,918,226 87,973,789
2057 82,508,742 88,264,809
2056 82,098,320 88,534,755
2055 81,669,191 88,764,080
2054 81,227,019 88,972,362
2053 80,789,939 89,151,673
2052 80,338,877 89,310,785
2051 79,858,310 89,437,110
2050 79,383,784 89,541,520
2049 78,897,472 89,614,107
2048 78,409,829 89,651,068
2047 77,894,547 89,659,415
2046 77,369,819 89,634,354
2045 76,852,544 89,608,012
2044 76,330,046 89,557,421
2043 75,800,788 89,493,042
2042 75,264,885 89,404,193
2041 74,721,871 89,303,546
2040 74,179,185 89,187,952
2039 73,636,894 89,051,669
2038 73,079,976 88,901,719
2037 72,506,991 88,727,471
2036 71,930,701 88,537,927
2035 71,337,219 88,343,153
2034 70,737,692 88,139,515
2033 70,128,299 87,918,397
2032 69,502,726 87,687,495
2031 68,865,544 87,437,150
2030 68,221,143 87,166,904
2029 67,549,189 86,903,490
2028 66,860,631 86,627,469
2027 66,166,759 86,350,539
2026 65,473,024 86,093,293
2025 64,747,319 85,878,556
2024 64,007,187 85,518,661
2023 63,212,384 85,325,965
2022 62,378,410 84,979,913
2021 61,502,603 84,147,318
2020 60,562,381 83,384,680
2019 59,587,885 82,579,440
2018 58,613,001 81,407,204
2017 57,635,162 80,312,698
2016 57,259,551 79,277,962
2015 56,723,537 78,218,479
2014 55,594,838 77,181,884
2013 54,678,791 76,147,624
2012 53,782,567 75,175,827
2011 52,995,205 74,223,629
2010 52,344,051 73,142,150
2009 51,728,516 72,039,206
2008 51,114,599 71,051,678
2007 50,528,584 70,158,112
2006 49,998,277 70,045,349
2005 49,490,033 69,329,557
2004 48,991,421 68,592,617
2003 48,500,348 67,831,730
2002 48,019,415 67,048,795
2001 47,566,800 66,245,128
2000 47,159,719 65,425,961
1999 46,730,335 64,591,923
1998 46,223,880 63,734,383
1997 45,666,838 62,852,966
1996 45,123,018 61,951,134
1995 44,541,554 61,024,503
1994 44,004,139 60,033,836
1993 43,297,156 58,999,167
1992 42,443,509 57,990,118
1991 41,687,898 57,009,887
1990 40,746,268 56,015,628
1989 39,628,575 54,976,723
1988 38,480,649 53,909,626
1987 37,326,190 52,843,670
1986 36,180,515 51,777,772
1985 35,042,093 50,687,115
1984 33,892,788 49,574,069
1983 32,739,304 48,447,410
1982 31,615,339 47,322,096
1981 30,541,044 46,321,190
1980 29,518,857 45,408,815
1979 28,634,162 44,510,429
1978 27,869,507 43,645,306
1977 27,118,952 42,773,298
1976 26,395,450 41,899,984
1975 25,690,940 41,053,126
1974 24,989,108 40,210,234
1973 24,294,263 39,329,533
1972 23,609,456 38,430,221
1971 22,942,143 37,518,611
1970 22,279,984 36,638,465
1969 21,614,676 35,787,774
1968 20,957,287 34,921,684
1967 20,314,066 34,050,421
1966 19,690,087 33,177,672
1965 19,089,380 32,345,220
1964 18,511,361 31,543,072
1963 17,954,564 30,726,841
1962 17,418,522 29,916,147
1961 16,908,035 29,119,238
1960 16,440,172 28,329,898

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,947,468 people (a 8.76% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th 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 Turkey will increase by 3.85% to 89,541,520 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people compared to the peak of 89.7M people in 2047 for Turkey.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Turkey
2100 0.22% -1%
2099 0.22% -0.98%
2098 0.2% -0.98%
2097 0.21% -0.97%
2096 0.22% -0.96%
2095 0.24% -0.96%
2094 0.24% -0.97%
2093 0.24% -0.95%
2092 0.27% -0.95%
2091 0.25% -0.94%
2090 0.26% -0.93%
2089 0.26% -0.91%
2088 0.27% -0.89%
2087 0.27% -0.88%
2086 0.25% -0.87%
2085 0.27% -0.84%
2084 0.29% -0.83%
2083 0.29% -0.83%
2082 0.3% -0.8%
2081 0.3% -0.79%
2080 0.3% -0.77%
2079 0.31% -0.76%
2078 0.31% -0.74%
2077 0.3% -0.73%
2076 0.31% -0.71%
2075 0.32% -0.71%
2074 0.32% -0.67%
2073 0.32% -0.66%
2072 0.37% -0.64%
2071 0.38% -0.62%
2070 0.35% -0.6%
2069 0.36% -0.57%
2068 0.37% -0.55%
2067 0.39% -0.54%
2066 0.39% -0.53%
2065 0.42% -0.51%
2064 0.44% -0.48%
2063 0.44% -0.46%
2062 0.44% -0.43%
2061 0.46% -0.41%
2060 0.47% -0.39%
2059 0.49% -0.35%
2058 0.5% -0.33%
2057 0.5% -0.3%
2056 0.53% -0.26%
2055 0.54% -0.23%
2054 0.54% -0.2%
2053 0.56% -0.18%
2052 0.6% -0.14%
2051 0.6% -0.12%
2050 0.62% -0.08%
2049 0.62% -0.04%
2048 0.66% -0.009%
2047 0.68% 0.03%
2046 0.67% 0.03%
2045 0.68% 0.06%
2044 0.7% 0.07%
2043 0.71% 0.1%
2042 0.73% 0.11%
2041 0.73% 0.13%
2040 0.74% 0.15%
2039 0.76% 0.17%
2038 0.79% 0.2%
2037 0.8% 0.21%
2036 0.83% 0.22%
2035 0.85% 0.23%
2034 0.87% 0.25%
2033 0.9% 0.26%
2032 0.93% 0.29%
2031 0.94% 0.31%
2030 0.99% 0.3%
2029 1.03% 0.32%
2028 1.05% 0.32%
2027 1.06% 0.3%
2026 1.12% 0.25%
2025 1.16% 0.42%
2024 1.26% 0.23%
2023 1.34% 0.41%
2022 1.42% 0.99%
2021 1.55% 0.91%
2020 1.64% 0.98%
2019 1.66% 1.44%
2018 1.7% 1.36%
2017 0.66% 1.31%
2016 0.94% 1.35%
2015 2.03% 1.34%
2014 1.68% 1.36%
2013 1.67% 1.29%
2012 1.49% 1.28%
2011 1.24% 1.48%
2010 1.19% 1.53%
2009 1.2% 1.39%
2008 1.16% 1.27%
2007 1.06% 0.16%
2006 1.03% 1.03%
2005 1.02% 1.07%
2004 1.01% 1.12%
2003 1% 1.17%
2002 0.95% 1.21%
2001 0.86% 1.25%
2000 0.92% 1.29%
1999 1.1% 1.35%
1998 1.22% 1.4%
1997 1.21% 1.46%
1996 1.31% 1.52%
1995 1.22% 1.65%
1994 1.63% 1.75%
1993 2.01% 1.74%
1992 1.81% 1.72%
1991 2.31% 1.77%
1990 2.82% 1.89%
1989 2.98% 1.98%
1988 3.09% 2.02%
1987 3.17% 2.06%
1986 3.25% 2.15%
1985 3.39% 2.25%
1984 3.52% 2.33%
1983 3.56% 2.38%
1982 3.52% 2.16%
1981 3.46% 2.01%
1980 3.09% 2.02%
1979 2.74% 1.98%
1978 2.77% 2.04%
1977 2.74% 2.08%
1976 2.74% 2.06%
1975 2.81% 2.1%
1974 2.86% 2.24%
1973 2.9% 2.34%
1972 2.91% 2.43%
1971 2.97% 2.4%
1970 3.08% 2.38%
1969 3.14% 2.48%
1968 3.17% 2.56%
1967 3.17% 2.63%
1966 3.15% 2.57%
1965 3.12% 2.54%
1964 3.1% 2.66%
1963 3.08% 2.71%
1962 3.02% 2.74%
1961 2.85% 2.79%

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/turkey | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.42%.

Live population counters

South Africa Turkey
Current population
65829368
86225430
Population rank 24/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 1.04%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
1.46 minutes
One birth every
26.7 seconds
33.5 seconds
One death every
53.3 seconds
1.08 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 +986
Annual growth/decline +740,132 +359,895
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% +0.42%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 138/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -258,205
Net migration rank 9/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -258,205
2024 591,618 166,972 453,249 -275,952
2023 602,793 228,222 426,630 -318,070
2022 603,636 233,284 535,373 -301,544
2021 456,411 458,246 521,713 20,283
2020 595,873 369,901 608,708 37,934
2019 652,130 331,124 751,472 -15,690
2018 648,319 318,260 830,353 187,570
2017 645,975 343,146 875,408 659,846
2016 641,365 -879,235 895,841 352,063
2015 668,771 641,150 930,799 1,063,140
2014 674,754 272,697 957,055 1,033,384
2013 652,427 232,230 921,386 438,618
2012 643,723 264,091 917,145 258,623
2011 601,708 65,166 875,839 68,849
2010 566,834 68,563 892,334 55,532
2009 554,115 41,528 900,491 24,276
2008 595,332 36,869 868,749 47,915
2007 503,567 36,339 876,626 -186,402
2006 487,584 33,159 897,351 -190,194
2005 464,464 31,286 898,650 -174,177
2004 442,540 58,924 896,025 -146,574
2003 415,018 65,604 893,683 -121,383
2002 430,926 50,313 922,927 -129,444
2001 484,801 -60,793 980,560 -166,759
2000 526,963 -136,794 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 594,643 -126,011 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 627,027 -82,722 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 667,969 -98,181 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 710,868 -193,007 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 743,488 -98,403 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 698,609 -268,849 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 789,220 194,977 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 794,415 -71,342 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 827,296 -39,131 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 835,421 259,718 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 884,629 255,605 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 909,221 246,382 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 922,330 231,009 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 903,644 234,378 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 893,889 244,940 1,098,846 8,960
1984 869,011 290,789 1,096,529 21,787
1983 837,013 310,172 1,095,106 39,871
1982 807,550 293,195 1,091,863 23,728
1981 767,833 279,985 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 738,415 258,127 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 716,541 56,323 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 694,341 62,121 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 680,929 63,739 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 675,011 27,333 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 667,862 38,809 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 658,438 38,518 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 651,596 41,125 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 638,754 38,163 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 624,761 32,961 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 605,102 61,514 991,950 -150,924
1969 590,794 73,225 970,958 -110,578
1968 571,841 78,932 950,778 -78,973
1967 553,741 81,932 936,727 -65,993
1966 534,862 77,417 925,790 -50,999
1965 506,632 82,514 904,016 -113,911
1964 490,606 76,298 884,152 -69,978
1963 473,821 72,844 862,626 -44,317
1962 455,634 69,771 837,473 -34,353
1961 437,851 57,728 816,911 -26,187
1960 421,263 18,891 773,009 14,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/turkey | 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 Turkey 82.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,829,546 people) and 17.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,409,580 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

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
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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