The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 9,646 people in Tuvalu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 9,341 in Tuvalu.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 7,032 times bigger than Tuvalu's.
- South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Tuvalu is the 196th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.0001% for Tuvalu.
- For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs -1.19% in Tuvalu.
- Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.34K (7.11% decline).
South Africa vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Tuvalu
|
|
| 2100 | 94,767,727 | 12,153 |
| 2099 | 94,556,931 | 12,146 |
| 2098 | 94,349,546 | 12,126 |
| 2097 | 94,158,472 | 12,104 |
| 2096 | 93,960,605 | 12,081 |
| 2095 | 93,752,736 | 12,066 |
| 2094 | 93,527,902 | 12,048 |
| 2093 | 93,300,398 | 12,028 |
| 2092 | 93,074,837 | 11,999 |
| 2091 | 92,826,204 | 11,972 |
| 2090 | 92,594,033 | 11,941 |
| 2089 | 92,355,184 | 11,909 |
| 2088 | 92,112,914 | 11,874 |
| 2087 | 91,866,024 | 11,847 |
| 2086 | 91,614,165 | 11,812 |
| 2085 | 91,385,350 | 11,772 |
| 2084 | 91,139,318 | 11,728 |
| 2083 | 90,877,425 | 11,689 |
| 2082 | 90,615,359 | 11,649 |
| 2081 | 90,345,492 | 11,609 |
| 2080 | 90,071,835 | 11,547 |
| 2079 | 89,801,998 | 11,491 |
| 2078 | 89,526,224 | 11,441 |
| 2077 | 89,249,206 | 11,382 |
| 2076 | 88,986,114 | 11,324 |
| 2075 | 88,713,215 | 11,268 |
| 2074 | 88,428,616 | 11,203 |
| 2073 | 88,149,885 | 11,127 |
| 2072 | 87,866,246 | 11,069 |
| 2071 | 87,540,177 | 10,994 |
| 2070 | 87,209,425 | 10,936 |
| 2069 | 86,901,512 | 10,866 |
| 2068 | 86,588,742 | 10,798 |
| 2067 | 86,268,392 | 10,730 |
| 2066 | 85,935,310 | 10,666 |
| 2065 | 85,604,376 | 10,611 |
| 2064 | 85,244,950 | 10,546 |
| 2063 | 84,875,503 | 10,482 |
| 2062 | 84,503,237 | 10,425 |
| 2061 | 84,132,885 | 10,356 |
| 2060 | 83,748,999 | 10,299 |
| 2059 | 83,354,923 | 10,230 |
| 2058 | 82,947,675 | 10,167 |
| 2057 | 82,538,045 | 10,115 |
| 2056 | 82,127,477 | 10,048 |
| 2055 | 81,698,196 | 9,985 |
| 2054 | 81,255,867 | 9,927 |
| 2053 | 80,818,632 | 9,859 |
| 2052 | 80,367,409 | 9,802 |
| 2051 | 79,886,672 | 9,731 |
| 2050 | 79,411,977 | 9,666 |
| 2049 | 78,925,493 | 9,600 |
| 2048 | 78,437,677 | 9,533 |
| 2047 | 77,922,211 | 9,456 |
| 2046 | 77,397,298 | 9,390 |
| 2045 | 76,879,838 | 9,329 |
| 2044 | 76,357,155 | 9,267 |
| 2043 | 75,827,709 | 9,201 |
| 2042 | 75,291,615 | 9,136 |
| 2041 | 74,748,408 | 9,084 |
| 2040 | 74,205,530 | 9,043 |
| 2039 | 73,663,047 | 8,992 |
| 2038 | 73,105,930 | 8,952 |
| 2037 | 72,532,742 | 8,925 |
| 2036 | 71,956,247 | 8,910 |
| 2035 | 71,362,555 | 8,901 |
| 2034 | 70,762,815 | 8,894 |
| 2033 | 70,153,205 | 8,903 |
| 2032 | 69,527,410 | 8,923 |
| 2031 | 68,890,002 | 8,946 |
| 2030 | 68,245,372 | 8,997 |
| 2029 | 67,573,179 | 9,056 |
| 2028 | 66,884,377 | 9,132 |
| 2027 | 66,190,258 | 9,226 |
| 2026 | 65,496,277 | 9,341 |
| 2025 | 64,770,314 | 9,484 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 9,646 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 9,816 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 9,992 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 10,194 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 10,399 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 10,581 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 10,751 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 10,869 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 10,930 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 10,963 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 10,984 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 11,001 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 10,934 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 10,780 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 10,614 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 10,461 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 10,321 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 10,182 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 10,056 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 9,940 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 9,816 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 9,695 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 9,623 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 9,586 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 9,544 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 9,496 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 9,451 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 9,400 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 9,342 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 9,280 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 9,207 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 9,126 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 9,038 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 8,928 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 8,798 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 8,662 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 8,518 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 8,371 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 8,217 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 8,046 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 7,902 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 7,789 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 7,664 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 7,526 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 7,366 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 7,184 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 6,957 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 6,686 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 6,404 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 6,117 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 5,822 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 5,681 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 5,692 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 5,685 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 5,663 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 5,631 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 5,624 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 5,652 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 5,686 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 5,715 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 5,752 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 5,751 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 5,699 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 5,648 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 5,598 |
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/tuvalu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Tuvalu gained 874 people (a 8.69% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,589 people (a 14.5% decline).
South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Tuvalu was ranked 195th in 2006 and ranked 196th 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 Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,666 people and will still be ranked 196th.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 12.2K people in 2100 for Tuvalu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Tuvalu
|
|
| 2100 | 0.22% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | 0.22% | 0.17% |
| 2098 | 0.2% | 0.18% |
| 2097 | 0.21% | 0.19% |
| 2096 | 0.22% | 0.12% |
| 2095 | 0.24% | 0.15% |
| 2094 | 0.24% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | 0.24% | 0.25% |
| 2092 | 0.27% | 0.22% |
| 2091 | 0.25% | 0.26% |
| 2090 | 0.26% | 0.27% |
| 2089 | 0.26% | 0.3% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | 0.23% |
| 2087 | 0.27% | 0.29% |
| 2086 | 0.25% | 0.35% |
| 2085 | 0.27% | 0.37% |
| 2084 | 0.29% | 0.33% |
| 2083 | 0.29% | 0.35% |
| 2082 | 0.3% | 0.34% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 0.54% |
| 2080 | 0.3% | 0.48% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.43% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.52% |
| 2077 | 0.3% | 0.51% |
| 2076 | 0.31% | 0.5% |
| 2075 | 0.32% | 0.58% |
| 2074 | 0.32% | 0.69% |
| 2073 | 0.32% | 0.53% |
| 2072 | 0.37% | 0.68% |
| 2071 | 0.38% | 0.54% |
| 2070 | 0.35% | 0.64% |
| 2069 | 0.36% | 0.63% |
| 2068 | 0.37% | 0.63% |
| 2067 | 0.39% | 0.6% |
| 2066 | 0.39% | 0.51% |
| 2065 | 0.42% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | 0.44% | 0.61% |
| 2063 | 0.44% | 0.55% |
| 2062 | 0.44% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | 0.46% | 0.55% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.68% |
| 2059 | 0.49% | 0.61% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.52% |
| 2057 | 0.5% | 0.66% |
| 2056 | 0.53% | 0.64% |
| 2055 | 0.54% | 0.58% |
| 2054 | 0.54% | 0.69% |
| 2053 | 0.56% | 0.58% |
| 2052 | 0.6% | 0.73% |
| 2051 | 0.6% | 0.67% |
| 2050 | 0.62% | 0.69% |
| 2049 | 0.62% | 0.7% |
| 2048 | 0.66% | 0.82% |
| 2047 | 0.68% | 0.71% |
| 2046 | 0.67% | 0.65% |
| 2045 | 0.68% | 0.67% |
| 2044 | 0.7% | 0.71% |
| 2043 | 0.71% | 0.72% |
| 2042 | 0.73% | 0.57% |
| 2041 | 0.73% | 0.46% |
| 2040 | 0.74% | 0.56% |
| 2039 | 0.76% | 0.44% |
| 2038 | 0.79% | 0.31% |
| 2037 | 0.8% | 0.17% |
| 2036 | 0.83% | 0.1% |
| 2035 | 0.85% | 0.08% |
| 2034 | 0.87% | -0.1% |
| 2033 | 0.9% | -0.22% |
| 2032 | 0.93% | -0.27% |
| 2031 | 0.94% | -0.56% |
| 2030 | 0.99% | -0.66% |
| 2029 | 1.03% | -0.83% |
| 2028 | 1.05% | -1.02% |
| 2027 | 1.06% | -1.23% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | -1.51% |
| 2025 | 1.19% | -1.68% |
| 2024 | 1.26% | -1.73% |
| 2023 | 1.34% | -1.76% |
| 2022 | 1.42% | -1.98% |
| 2021 | 1.55% | -1.97% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | -1.72% |
| 2019 | 1.66% | -1.58% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -1.09% |
| 2017 | 0.66% | -0.56% |
| 2016 | 0.94% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 2.03% | -0.19% |
| 2014 | 1.68% | -0.15% |
| 2013 | 1.67% | 0.61% |
| 2012 | 1.49% | 1.43% |
| 2011 | 1.24% | 1.56% |
| 2010 | 1.19% | 1.46% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | 1.36% |
| 2008 | 1.16% | 1.37% |
| 2007 | 1.06% | 1.25% |
| 2006 | 1.03% | 1.17% |
| 2005 | 1.02% | 1.26% |
| 2004 | 1.01% | 1.25% |
| 2003 | 1% | 0.75% |
| 2002 | 0.95% | 0.39% |
| 2001 | 0.86% | 0.44% |
| 2000 | 0.92% | 0.51% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | 0.48% |
| 1998 | 1.22% | 0.54% |
| 1997 | 1.21% | 0.62% |
| 1996 | 1.31% | 0.67% |
| 1995 | 1.22% | 0.79% |
| 1994 | 1.63% | 0.89% |
| 1993 | 2.01% | 0.97% |
| 1992 | 1.81% | 1.23% |
| 1991 | 2.31% | 1.48% |
| 1990 | 2.82% | 1.57% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 1.69% |
| 1988 | 3.09% | 1.76% |
| 1987 | 3.17% | 1.87% |
| 1986 | 3.25% | 2.13% |
| 1985 | 3.39% | 1.82% |
| 1984 | 3.52% | 1.45% |
| 1983 | 3.56% | 1.63% |
| 1982 | 3.52% | 1.83% |
| 1981 | 3.46% | 2.17% |
| 1980 | 3.09% | 2.53% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 3.26% |
| 1978 | 2.77% | 4.05% |
| 1977 | 2.74% | 4.4% |
| 1976 | 2.74% | 4.69% |
| 1975 | 2.81% | 5.07% |
| 1974 | 2.86% | 2.48% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | -0.19% |
| 1972 | 2.91% | 0.12% |
| 1971 | 2.97% | 0.39% |
| 1970 | 3.08% | 0.57% |
| 1969 | 3.14% | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 3.17% | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 3.17% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 3.15% | -0.51% |
| 1965 | 3.12% | -0.64% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | 0.02% |
| 1963 | 3.08% | 0.91% |
| 1962 | 3.02% | 0.9% |
| 1961 | 2.85% | 0.89% |
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/tuvalu | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.73%.
Live population counters
|
South Africa
|
Tuvalu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
65683993
|
9341
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 196/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.79% | 0.0001% |
| One net population change |
39.7 seconds
|
2.15 days
|
| One birth every |
26.6 seconds
|
1.62 days
|
| One death every |
54 seconds
|
4.1 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2,178 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +794,803 | -170 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.26% | -1.73% |
| Population growth rate rank | 85/197 | 195/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.6 minutes
|
1.44 days
|
| Annual migration change | +146,370 | -255 |
| Net migration rank | 9/196 | 86/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,631,100 | 246 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 28/195 | 195/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.1% | 2.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 105/195 | 126/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Tuvalu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 146,370 | - | -255 |
| 2024 | - | 166,972 | - | -280 |
| 2023 | 602,793 | 228,222 | 137 | -323 |
| 2022 | 603,636 | 233,284 | 150 | -320 |
| 2021 | 456,411 | 458,246 | 151 | -366 |
| 2020 | 595,873 | 369,901 | 161 | -355 |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 331,124 | 166 | -343 |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 318,260 | 169 | -329 |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 343,146 | 163 | -246 |
| 2016 | 641,365 | -879,235 | 157 | -200 |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 641,150 | 153 | -179 |
| 2014 | 674,754 | 272,697 | 149 | -166 |
| 2013 | 652,427 | 232,230 | 148 | -160 |
| 2012 | 643,723 | 264,091 | 148 | 1 |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 65,166 | 142 | 28 |
| 2010 | 566,834 | 68,563 | 136 | 22 |
| 2009 | 554,115 | 41,528 | 130 | 15 |
| 2008 | 595,332 | 36,869 | 125 | 10 |
| 2007 | 503,567 | 36,339 | 125 | 1 |
| 2006 | 487,584 | 33,159 | 129 | -5 |
| 2005 | 464,464 | 31,286 | 131 | -8 |
| 2004 | 442,540 | 58,924 | 132 | -10 |
| 2003 | 415,018 | 65,604 | 136 | -16 |
| 2002 | 430,926 | 50,313 | 141 | -104 |
| 2001 | 484,801 | -60,793 | 151 | -117 |
| 2000 | 526,963 | -136,794 | 159 | -118 |
| 1999 | 594,643 | -126,011 | 166 | -120 |
| 1998 | 627,027 | -82,722 | 172 | -122 |
| 1997 | 667,969 | -98,181 | 177 | -120 |
| 1996 | 710,868 | -193,007 | 182 | -121 |
| 1995 | 743,488 | -98,403 | 191 | -125 |
| 1994 | 698,609 | -268,849 | 195 | -120 |
| 1993 | 789,220 | 194,977 | 202 | -119 |
| 1992 | 794,415 | -71,342 | 196 | -104 |
| 1991 | 827,296 | -39,131 | 203 | -72 |
| 1990 | 835,421 | 259,718 | 204 | -69 |
| 1989 | 884,629 | 255,605 | 208 | -71 |
| 1988 | 909,221 | 246,382 | 215 | -72 |
| 1987 | 922,330 | 231,009 | 219 | -68 |
| 1986 | 903,644 | 234,378 | 219 | -56 |
| 1985 | 893,889 | 244,940 | 215 | -36 |
| 1984 | 869,011 | 290,789 | 212 | -103 |
| 1983 | 837,013 | 310,172 | 206 | -87 |
| 1982 | 807,550 | 293,195 | 198 | -66 |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 279,985 | 186 | -46 |
| 1980 | 738,415 | 258,127 | 173 | 0 |
| 1979 | 716,541 | 56,323 | 158 | 37 |
| 1978 | 694,341 | 62,121 | 141 | 119 |
| 1977 | 680,929 | 63,739 | 128 | 149 |
| 1976 | 675,011 | 27,333 | 117 | 171 |
| 1975 | 667,862 | 38,809 | 108 | 186 |
| 1974 | 658,438 | 38,518 | 102 | 197 |
| 1973 | 651,596 | 41,125 | 101 | -121 |
| 1972 | 638,754 | 38,163 | 94 | -102 |
| 1971 | 624,761 | 32,961 | 101 | -85 |
| 1970 | 605,102 | 61,514 | 102 | -71 |
| 1969 | 590,794 | 73,225 | 102 | -65 |
| 1968 | 571,841 | 78,932 | 97 | -127 |
| 1967 | 553,741 | 81,932 | 92 | -123 |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 77,417 | 91 | -121 |
| 1965 | 506,632 | 82,514 | 93 | -128 |
| 1964 | 490,606 | 76,298 | 98 | -135 |
| 1963 | 473,821 | 72,844 | 106 | -52 |
| 1962 | 455,634 | 69,771 | 113 | -61 |
| 1961 | 437,851 | 57,728 | 120 | -77 |
| 1960 | 421,263 | 18,891 | 126 | -79 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 35.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,556 people) and 64.5% is from migration (a loss of 2,827 people).
As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 246 people or 2.6% in Tuvalu.
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 |
|
Tuvalu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Funafuti | 6.02K |
| Vaiaku | 516 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Africa and Tuvalu
|
South Africa
|
Tuvalu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 67.6 years |
| Average age | 31.1 years | 29.5 years |
| Median age | 29.5 years | 25.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 51.2:48.8 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | 3.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 806 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/tuvalu | 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)
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.