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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 85,518,661 people in Turkey in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 86,002,379 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 +1.44% per year vs +1.06% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86M (22.8% growth).

South Africa vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Turkey
2100 94,767,727 64,274,243
2099 94,556,931 64,924,706
2098 94,349,546 65,567,989
2097 94,158,472 66,219,045
2096 93,960,605 66,865,890
2095 93,752,736 67,516,190
2094 93,527,902 68,169,346
2093 93,300,398 68,835,313
2092 93,074,837 69,496,264
2091 92,826,204 70,159,325
2090 92,594,033 70,828,304
2089 92,355,184 71,490,133
2088 92,112,914 72,146,464
2087 91,866,024 72,792,552
2086 91,614,165 73,439,558
2085 91,385,350 74,085,313
2084 91,139,318 74,713,882
2083 90,877,425 75,342,464
2082 90,615,359 75,969,760
2081 90,345,492 76,583,769
2080 90,071,835 77,195,480
2079 89,801,998 77,793,711
2078 89,526,224 78,386,293
2077 89,249,206 78,973,194
2076 88,986,114 79,556,991
2075 88,713,215 80,128,010
2074 88,428,616 80,697,544
2073 88,149,885 81,244,619
2072 87,866,246 81,785,452
2071 87,540,177 82,311,503
2070 87,209,425 82,827,402
2069 86,901,512 83,324,862
2068 86,588,742 83,806,741
2067 86,268,392 84,270,976
2066 85,935,310 84,728,547
2065 85,604,376 85,177,268
2064 85,244,950 85,611,517
2063 84,875,503 86,026,471
2062 84,503,237 86,425,827
2061 84,132,885 86,800,591
2060 83,748,999 87,156,663
2059 83,354,923 87,500,101
2058 82,947,675 87,809,920
2057 82,538,045 88,100,397
2056 82,127,477 88,369,840
2055 81,698,196 88,598,739
2054 81,255,867 88,806,632
2053 80,818,632 88,985,609
2052 80,367,409 89,144,425
2051 79,886,672 89,270,515
2050 79,411,977 89,374,730
2049 78,925,493 89,447,182
2048 78,437,677 89,484,074
2047 77,922,211 89,492,406
2046 77,397,298 89,467,391
2045 76,879,838 89,441,098
2044 76,357,155 89,390,601
2043 75,827,709 89,326,342
2042 75,291,615 89,237,658
2041 74,748,408 89,137,199
2040 74,205,530 89,021,820
2039 73,663,047 88,885,792
2038 73,105,930 88,736,121
2037 72,532,742 88,562,197
2036 71,956,247 88,373,007
2035 71,362,555 88,178,595
2034 70,762,815 87,975,336
2033 70,153,205 87,754,631
2032 69,527,410 87,524,158
2031 68,890,002 87,274,280
2030 68,245,372 87,004,538
2029 67,573,179 86,741,614
2028 66,884,377 86,466,107
2027 66,190,258 86,189,693
2026 65,496,277 85,932,926
2025 64,770,314 85,718,588
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,724,417 people (a 8.48% 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 20.9% to 79,411,977 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of Turkey will increase by 3.92% to 89,374,730 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 89.5M 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 1.19% 0.23%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.23%.

Live population counters

South Africa Turkey
Current population
65683993
86002379
Population rank 24/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 1.04%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
2.73 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
33 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
59.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +528
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +192,696
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +0.23%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 154/197
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 - 166,972 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/turkey | 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 Turkey 73% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,333,352 people) and 27% is from migration (a gain of 2,718,916 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
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
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 (1960–2024, 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/turkey | CC BY

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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)

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