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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 7,494,498 people in Turkmenistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 7,776,557 in Turkmenistan.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 8.45 times bigger than Turkmenistan's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Turkmenistan is the 104th.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.09% for Turkmenistan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.14% in Turkmenistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Turkmenistan has grown from 5.15M to 7.78M (51.1% growth).

South Africa vs Turkmenistan: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Turkmenistan
2100 94,767,727 10,046,945
2099 94,556,931 10,075,740
2098 94,349,546 10,103,319
2097 94,158,472 10,129,577
2096 93,960,605 10,154,338
2095 93,752,736 10,178,163
2094 93,527,902 10,200,371
2093 93,300,398 10,221,349
2092 93,074,837 10,240,959
2091 92,826,204 10,259,026
2090 92,594,033 10,276,261
2089 92,355,184 10,291,819
2088 92,112,914 10,306,303
2087 91,866,024 10,319,501
2086 91,614,165 10,331,090
2085 91,385,350 10,341,183
2084 91,139,318 10,349,710
2083 90,877,425 10,356,602
2082 90,615,359 10,362,422
2081 90,345,492 10,366,587
2080 90,071,835 10,369,293
2079 89,801,998 10,370,130
2078 89,526,224 10,369,013
2077 89,249,206 10,366,366
2076 88,986,114 10,361,975
2075 88,713,215 10,355,755
2074 88,428,616 10,348,384
2073 88,149,885 10,339,415
2072 87,866,246 10,328,653
2071 87,540,177 10,316,618
2070 87,209,425 10,303,565
2069 86,901,512 10,289,578
2068 86,588,742 10,274,625
2067 86,268,392 10,258,518
2066 85,935,310 10,241,362
2065 85,604,376 10,223,420
2064 85,244,950 10,204,034
2063 84,875,503 10,183,241
2062 84,503,237 10,160,903
2061 84,132,885 10,136,928
2060 83,748,999 10,111,369
2059 83,354,923 10,083,631
2058 82,947,675 10,052,905
2057 82,538,045 10,019,547
2056 82,127,477 9,983,379
2055 81,698,196 9,943,931
2054 81,255,867 9,901,473
2053 80,818,632 9,854,931
2052 80,367,409 9,804,909
2051 79,886,672 9,751,221
2050 79,411,977 9,693,713
2049 78,925,493 9,632,600
2048 78,437,677 9,567,946
2047 77,922,211 9,500,139
2046 77,397,298 9,429,355
2045 76,879,838 9,356,194
2044 76,357,155 9,280,988
2043 75,827,709 9,204,466
2042 75,291,615 9,126,898
2041 74,748,408 9,048,356
2040 74,205,530 8,969,478
2039 73,663,047 8,890,225
2038 73,105,930 8,810,850
2037 72,532,742 8,731,367
2036 71,956,247 8,651,719
2035 71,362,555 8,572,231
2034 70,762,815 8,492,483
2033 70,153,205 8,412,113
2032 69,527,410 8,330,912
2031 68,890,002 8,248,129
2030 68,245,372 8,163,024
2029 67,573,179 8,070,023
2028 66,884,377 7,969,080
2027 66,190,258 7,860,774
2026 65,496,277 7,745,331
2025 64,770,314 7,623,184
2024 64,007,187 7,494,498
2023 63,212,384 7,364,438
2022 62,378,410 7,230,193
2021 61,502,603 7,092,043
2020 60,562,381 6,949,912
2019 59,587,885 6,803,944
2018 58,613,001 6,655,524
2017 57,635,162 6,507,061
2016 57,259,551 6,360,041
2015 56,723,537 6,215,770
2014 55,594,838 6,075,283
2013 54,678,791 5,939,341
2012 53,782,567 5,808,546
2011 52,995,205 5,683,417
2010 52,344,051 5,564,356
2009 51,728,516 5,451,592
2008 51,114,599 5,345,029
2007 50,528,584 5,244,046
2006 49,998,277 5,147,105
2005 49,490,033 5,052,257
2004 48,991,421 4,958,093
2003 48,500,348 4,863,865
2002 48,019,415 4,769,465
2001 47,566,800 4,675,409
2000 47,159,719 4,582,677
1999 46,730,335 4,492,170
1998 46,223,880 4,410,507
1997 45,666,838 4,336,730
1996 45,123,018 4,263,819
1995 44,541,554 4,191,203
1994 44,004,139 4,116,662
1993 43,297,156 4,032,407
1992 42,443,509 3,944,689
1991 41,687,898 3,855,894
1990 40,746,268 3,760,562
1989 39,628,575 3,662,459
1988 38,480,649 3,559,363
1987 37,326,190 3,452,731
1986 36,180,515 3,347,809
1985 35,042,093 3,247,534
1984 33,892,788 3,154,079
1983 32,739,304 3,067,534
1982 31,615,339 2,985,557
1981 30,541,044 2,907,187
1980 29,518,857 2,832,203
1979 28,634,162 2,760,358
1978 27,869,507 2,691,088
1977 27,118,952 2,623,948
1976 26,395,450 2,558,521
1975 25,690,940 2,494,570
1974 24,989,108 2,432,028
1973 24,294,263 2,370,919
1972 23,609,456 2,311,430
1971 22,942,143 2,253,119
1970 22,279,984 2,195,616
1969 21,614,676 2,139,024
1968 20,957,287 2,083,069
1967 20,314,066 2,027,403
1966 19,690,087 1,971,737
1965 19,089,380 1,915,916
1964 18,511,361 1,859,997
1963 17,954,564 1,804,272
1962 17,418,522 1,749,214
1961 16,908,035 1,695,400
1960 16,440,172 1,643,457

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Turkmenistan gained 1,212,936 people (a 23.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Turkmenistan's population increased by 1,416,516 people (a 22.3% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Turkmenistan was ranked 113th in 2006 and ranked 104th 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 Turkmenistan will increase by 24.7% to 9,693,713 people and rank change from 104th to 101st.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 10.4M people in 2079 for Turkmenistan.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Turkmenistan
2100 0.22% -0.29%
2099 0.22% -0.27%
2098 0.2% -0.26%
2097 0.21% -0.24%
2096 0.22% -0.23%
2095 0.24% -0.22%
2094 0.24% -0.21%
2093 0.24% -0.19%
2092 0.27% -0.18%
2091 0.25% -0.17%
2090 0.26% -0.15%
2089 0.26% -0.14%
2088 0.27% -0.13%
2087 0.27% -0.11%
2086 0.25% -0.1%
2085 0.27% -0.08%
2084 0.29% -0.07%
2083 0.29% -0.06%
2082 0.3% -0.04%
2081 0.3% -0.03%
2080 0.3% -0.008%
2079 0.31% 0.01%
2078 0.31% 0.03%
2077 0.3% 0.04%
2076 0.31% 0.06%
2075 0.32% 0.07%
2074 0.32% 0.09%
2073 0.32% 0.1%
2072 0.37% 0.12%
2071 0.38% 0.13%
2070 0.35% 0.14%
2069 0.36% 0.15%
2068 0.37% 0.16%
2067 0.39% 0.17%
2066 0.39% 0.18%
2065 0.42% 0.19%
2064 0.44% 0.2%
2063 0.44% 0.22%
2062 0.44% 0.24%
2061 0.46% 0.25%
2060 0.47% 0.28%
2059 0.49% 0.31%
2058 0.5% 0.33%
2057 0.5% 0.36%
2056 0.53% 0.4%
2055 0.54% 0.43%
2054 0.54% 0.47%
2053 0.56% 0.51%
2052 0.6% 0.55%
2051 0.6% 0.59%
2050 0.62% 0.63%
2049 0.62% 0.68%
2048 0.66% 0.71%
2047 0.68% 0.75%
2046 0.67% 0.78%
2045 0.68% 0.81%
2044 0.7% 0.83%
2043 0.71% 0.85%
2042 0.73% 0.87%
2041 0.73% 0.88%
2040 0.74% 0.89%
2039 0.76% 0.9%
2038 0.79% 0.91%
2037 0.8% 0.92%
2036 0.83% 0.93%
2035 0.85% 0.94%
2034 0.87% 0.96%
2033 0.9% 0.97%
2032 0.93% 1%
2031 0.94% 1.04%
2030 0.99% 1.15%
2029 1.03% 1.27%
2028 1.05% 1.38%
2027 1.06% 1.49%
2026 1.12% 1.6%
2025 1.19% 1.72%
2024 1.26% 1.77%
2023 1.34% 1.86%
2022 1.42% 1.95%
2021 1.55% 2.05%
2020 1.64% 2.15%
2019 1.66% 2.23%
2018 1.7% 2.28%
2017 0.66% 2.31%
2016 0.94% 2.32%
2015 2.03% 2.31%
2014 1.68% 2.29%
2013 1.67% 2.25%
2012 1.49% 2.2%
2011 1.24% 2.14%
2010 1.19% 2.07%
2009 1.2% 1.99%
2008 1.16% 1.93%
2007 1.06% 1.88%
2006 1.03% 1.88%
2005 1.02% 1.9%
2004 1.01% 1.94%
2003 1% 1.98%
2002 0.95% 2.01%
2001 0.86% 2.02%
2000 0.92% 2.01%
1999 1.1% 1.85%
1998 1.22% 1.7%
1997 1.21% 1.71%
1996 1.31% 1.73%
1995 1.22% 1.81%
1994 1.63% 2.09%
1993 2.01% 2.22%
1992 1.81% 2.3%
1991 2.31% 2.54%
1990 2.82% 2.68%
1989 2.98% 2.9%
1988 3.09% 3.09%
1987 3.17% 3.13%
1986 3.25% 3.09%
1985 3.39% 2.96%
1984 3.52% 2.82%
1983 3.56% 2.75%
1982 3.52% 2.7%
1981 3.46% 2.65%
1980 3.09% 2.6%
1979 2.74% 2.57%
1978 2.77% 2.56%
1977 2.74% 2.56%
1976 2.74% 2.56%
1975 2.81% 2.57%
1974 2.86% 2.58%
1973 2.9% 2.57%
1972 2.91% 2.59%
1971 2.97% 2.62%
1970 3.08% 2.65%
1969 3.14% 2.69%
1968 3.17% 2.75%
1967 3.17% 2.82%
1966 3.15% 2.91%
1965 3.12% 3.01%
1964 3.1% 3.09%
1963 3.08% 3.15%
1962 3.02% 3.17%
1961 2.85% 3.16%

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Turkmenistan's population grew by 1.77%.

Live population counters

South Africa Turkmenistan
Current population
65683993
7776557
Population rank 24/197 104/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.09%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
4.04 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
3.28 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
12.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +356
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +130,060
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +1.77%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 61/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
39.7 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +13,268
Net migration rank 9/196 39/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 193,763
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 115/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 125/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Turkmenistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Turkmenistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 13,268
2024 - 166,972 - 14,646
2023 602,793 228,222 117,529 15,005
2022 603,636 233,284 121,814 14,141
2021 456,411 458,246 122,721 17,617
2020 595,873 369,901 124,014 19,913
2019 652,130 331,124 128,275 19,735
2018 648,319 318,260 129,537 19,293
2017 645,975 343,146 131,417 16,678
2016 641,365 -879,235 132,581 13,365
2015 668,771 641,150 132,663 9,936
2014 674,754 272,697 129,677 8,696
2013 652,427 232,230 126,217 7,287
2012 643,723 264,091 120,957 7,125
2011 601,708 65,166 115,197 6,992
2010 566,834 68,563 109,318 6,621
2009 554,115 41,528 102,931 6,656
2008 595,332 36,869 96,815 6,734
2007 503,567 36,339 92,038 6,388
2006 487,584 33,159 87,840 7,613
2005 464,464 31,286 83,968 10,263
2004 442,540 58,924 79,850 14,242
2003 415,018 65,604 76,737 17,625
2002 430,926 50,313 75,639 18,803
2001 484,801 -60,793 76,682 16,982
2000 526,963 -136,794 76,875 14,925
1999 594,643 -126,011 76,362 12,859
1998 627,027 -82,722 77,342 -3,239
1997 667,969 -98,181 79,045 -5,600
1996 710,868 -193,007 80,996 -8,627
1995 743,488 -98,403 86,289 -13,423
1994 698,609 -268,849 89,319 -13,094
1993 789,220 194,977 92,596 -312
1992 794,415 -71,342 96,668 -13,517
1991 827,296 -39,131 99,297 -4,864
1990 835,421 259,718 101,099 -4,864
1989 884,629 255,605 103,553 -3,576
1988 909,221 246,382 104,802 1,408
1987 922,330 231,009 103,885 3,161
1986 903,644 234,378 100,930 1,878
1985 893,889 244,940 95,890 1,861
1984 869,011 290,789 90,591 -1,427
1983 837,013 310,172 85,183 -1,264
1982 807,550 293,195 80,989 -961
1981 767,833 279,985 77,829 -1,102
1980 738,415 258,127 74,394 -1,152
1979 716,541 56,323 71,135 -677
1978 694,341 62,121 68,437 -350
1977 680,929 63,739 66,318 -132
1976 675,011 27,333 64,513 160
1975 667,862 38,809 62,681 550
1974 658,438 38,518 60,925 924
1973 651,596 41,125 59,169 1,194
1972 638,754 38,163 57,326 1,293
1971 624,761 32,961 56,666 1,348
1970 605,102 61,514 55,617 1,376
1969 590,794 73,225 54,791 1,397
1968 571,841 78,932 54,324 1,401
1967 553,741 81,932 54,209 1,397
1966 534,862 77,417 54,353 1,377
1965 506,632 82,514 54,558 1,366
1964 490,606 76,298 54,574 1,340
1963 473,821 72,844 54,203 1,332
1962 455,634 69,771 53,248 1,337
1961 437,851 57,728 51,659 1,372
1960 421,263 18,891 49,436 1,421

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/turkmenistan | 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 Turkmenistan 89.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,270,228 people) and 10.8% is from migration (a gain of 154,379 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 193,763 people or 2.6% in Turkmenistan.

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
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K
Anau 29.6K
Baherden 24.7K

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/turkmenistan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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