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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 50,015,092 people in Uganda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 53,170,946 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.24 times bigger than Uganda's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 1.43% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3.21% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.2M (84.7% growth).

South Africa vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Uganda
2100 94,767,727 122,497,526
2099 94,556,931 122,436,109
2098 94,349,546 122,364,302
2097 94,158,472 122,266,255
2096 93,960,605 122,146,810
2095 93,752,736 121,976,411
2094 93,527,902 121,799,752
2093 93,300,398 121,584,860
2092 93,074,837 121,336,796
2091 92,826,204 121,070,447
2090 92,594,033 120,767,412
2089 92,355,184 120,427,771
2088 92,112,914 120,064,594
2087 91,866,024 119,668,549
2086 91,614,165 119,256,686
2085 91,385,350 118,815,763
2084 91,139,318 118,339,179
2083 90,877,425 117,821,938
2082 90,615,359 117,274,958
2081 90,345,492 116,707,394
2080 90,071,835 116,096,095
2079 89,801,998 115,474,153
2078 89,526,224 114,805,376
2077 89,249,206 114,118,687
2076 88,986,114 113,390,189
2075 88,713,215 112,637,851
2074 88,428,616 111,863,410
2073 88,149,885 111,070,771
2072 87,866,246 110,240,940
2071 87,540,177 109,392,890
2070 87,209,425 108,505,633
2069 86,901,512 107,607,659
2068 86,588,742 106,677,578
2067 86,268,392 105,722,829
2066 85,935,310 104,739,111
2065 85,604,376 103,737,893
2064 85,244,950 102,701,560
2063 84,875,503 101,646,533
2062 84,503,237 100,561,859
2061 84,132,885 99,450,764
2060 83,748,999 98,334,788
2059 83,354,923 97,187,498
2058 82,947,675 96,014,439
2057 82,538,045 94,821,765
2056 82,127,477 93,613,209
2055 81,698,196 92,385,049
2054 81,255,867 91,132,827
2053 80,818,632 89,857,705
2052 80,367,409 88,568,311
2051 79,886,672 87,270,603
2050 79,411,977 85,957,376
2049 78,925,493 84,632,277
2048 78,437,677 83,284,965
2047 77,922,211 81,928,165
2046 77,397,298 80,569,225
2045 76,879,838 79,208,662
2044 76,357,155 77,834,944
2043 75,827,709 76,453,982
2042 75,291,615 75,075,287
2041 74,748,408 73,701,695
2040 74,205,530 72,333,375
2039 73,663,047 70,963,211
2038 73,105,930 69,580,447
2037 72,532,742 68,186,136
2036 71,956,247 66,804,746
2035 71,362,555 65,411,934
2034 70,762,815 64,023,352
2033 70,153,205 62,634,483
2032 69,527,410 61,235,174
2031 68,890,002 59,825,075
2030 68,245,372 58,415,479
2029 67,573,179 57,006,283
2028 66,884,377 55,596,520
2027 66,190,258 54,191,271
2026 65,496,277 52,792,624
2025 64,770,314 51,400,003
2024 64,007,187 50,015,092
2023 63,212,384 48,656,601
2022 62,378,410 47,312,719
2021 61,502,603 45,910,930
2020 60,562,381 44,457,152
2019 59,587,885 42,999,637
2018 58,613,001 41,565,831
2017 57,635,162 40,177,388
2016 57,259,551 38,799,152
2015 56,723,537 37,531,446
2014 55,594,838 36,395,539
2013 54,678,791 35,337,042
2012 53,782,567 34,337,438
2011 52,995,205 33,354,543
2010 52,344,051 32,390,802
2009 51,728,516 31,451,151
2008 51,114,599 30,539,553
2007 50,528,584 29,653,430
2006 49,998,277 28,794,003
2005 49,490,033 27,963,289
2004 48,991,421 27,154,515
2003 48,500,348 26,352,124
2002 48,019,415 25,532,870
2001 47,566,800 24,745,676
2000 47,159,719 24,000,150
1999 46,730,335 23,257,281
1998 46,223,880 22,515,806
1997 45,666,838 21,856,046
1996 45,123,018 21,231,550
1995 44,541,554 20,665,667
1994 44,004,139 20,108,801
1993 43,297,156 19,445,161
1992 42,443,509 18,785,032
1991 41,687,898 18,155,901
1990 40,746,268 17,569,897
1989 39,628,575 17,010,698
1988 38,480,649 16,470,483
1987 37,326,190 15,954,170
1986 36,180,515 15,467,579
1985 35,042,093 15,023,681
1984 33,892,788 14,607,677
1983 32,739,304 14,221,881
1982 31,615,339 13,873,631
1981 30,541,044 13,556,452
1980 29,518,857 13,275,741
1979 28,634,162 13,002,163
1978 27,869,507 12,692,113
1977 27,118,952 12,359,669
1976 26,395,450 12,037,294
1975 25,690,940 11,725,240
1974 24,989,108 11,424,846
1973 24,294,263 11,144,236
1972 23,609,456 10,885,796
1971 22,942,143 10,618,206
1970 22,279,984 10,321,603
1969 21,614,676 10,014,858
1968 20,957,287 9,708,632
1967 20,314,066 9,408,924
1966 19,690,087 9,122,864
1965 19,089,380 8,849,203
1964 18,511,361 8,586,363
1963 17,954,564 8,333,663
1962 17,418,522 8,092,231
1961 16,908,035 7,862,217
1960 16,440,172 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,371,794 people (a 37% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 61.7% to 85,957,376 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Uganda
2100 0.22% 0.05%
2099 0.22% 0.06%
2098 0.2% 0.08%
2097 0.21% 0.1%
2096 0.22% 0.14%
2095 0.24% 0.15%
2094 0.24% 0.18%
2093 0.24% 0.2%
2092 0.27% 0.22%
2091 0.25% 0.25%
2090 0.26% 0.28%
2089 0.26% 0.3%
2088 0.27% 0.33%
2087 0.27% 0.35%
2086 0.25% 0.37%
2085 0.27% 0.4%
2084 0.29% 0.44%
2083 0.29% 0.47%
2082 0.3% 0.49%
2081 0.3% 0.53%
2080 0.3% 0.54%
2079 0.31% 0.58%
2078 0.31% 0.6%
2077 0.3% 0.64%
2076 0.31% 0.67%
2075 0.32% 0.69%
2074 0.32% 0.71%
2073 0.32% 0.75%
2072 0.37% 0.78%
2071 0.38% 0.82%
2070 0.35% 0.83%
2069 0.36% 0.87%
2068 0.37% 0.9%
2067 0.39% 0.94%
2066 0.39% 0.97%
2065 0.42% 1.01%
2064 0.44% 1.04%
2063 0.44% 1.08%
2062 0.44% 1.12%
2061 0.46% 1.13%
2060 0.47% 1.18%
2059 0.49% 1.22%
2058 0.5% 1.26%
2057 0.5% 1.29%
2056 0.53% 1.33%
2055 0.54% 1.37%
2054 0.54% 1.42%
2053 0.56% 1.46%
2052 0.6% 1.49%
2051 0.6% 1.53%
2050 0.62% 1.57%
2049 0.62% 1.62%
2048 0.66% 1.66%
2047 0.68% 1.69%
2046 0.67% 1.72%
2045 0.68% 1.76%
2044 0.7% 1.81%
2043 0.71% 1.84%
2042 0.73% 1.86%
2041 0.73% 1.89%
2040 0.74% 1.93%
2039 0.76% 1.99%
2038 0.79% 2.04%
2037 0.8% 2.07%
2036 0.83% 2.13%
2035 0.85% 2.17%
2034 0.87% 2.22%
2033 0.9% 2.29%
2032 0.93% 2.36%
2031 0.94% 2.41%
2030 0.99% 2.47%
2029 1.03% 2.54%
2028 1.05% 2.59%
2027 1.06% 2.65%
2026 1.12% 2.71%
2025 1.19% 2.77%
2024 1.26% 2.79%
2023 1.34% 2.84%
2022 1.42% 3.05%
2021 1.55% 3.27%
2020 1.64% 3.39%
2019 1.66% 3.45%
2018 1.7% 3.46%
2017 0.66% 3.55%
2016 0.94% 3.38%
2015 2.03% 3.12%
2014 1.68% 3%
2013 1.67% 2.91%
2012 1.49% 2.95%
2011 1.24% 2.98%
2010 1.19% 2.99%
2009 1.2% 2.98%
2008 1.16% 2.99%
2007 1.06% 2.98%
2006 1.03% 2.97%
2005 1.02% 2.98%
2004 1.01% 3.04%
2003 1% 3.21%
2002 0.95% 3.18%
2001 0.86% 3.11%
2000 0.92% 3.19%
1999 1.1% 3.29%
1998 1.22% 3.02%
1997 1.21% 2.94%
1996 1.31% 2.74%
1995 1.22% 2.77%
1994 1.63% 3.41%
1993 2.01% 3.51%
1992 1.81% 3.47%
1991 2.31% 3.34%
1990 2.82% 3.29%
1989 2.98% 3.28%
1988 3.09% 3.24%
1987 3.17% 3.15%
1986 3.25% 2.95%
1985 3.39% 2.85%
1984 3.52% 2.71%
1983 3.56% 2.51%
1982 3.52% 2.34%
1981 3.46% 2.11%
1980 3.09% 2.1%
1979 2.74% 2.44%
1978 2.77% 2.69%
1977 2.74% 2.68%
1976 2.74% 2.66%
1975 2.81% 2.63%
1974 2.86% 2.52%
1973 2.9% 2.37%
1972 2.91% 2.52%
1971 2.97% 2.87%
1970 3.08% 3.06%
1969 3.14% 3.15%
1968 3.17% 3.19%
1967 3.17% 3.14%
1966 3.15% 3.09%
1965 3.12% 3.06%
1964 3.1% 3.03%
1963 3.08% 2.98%
1962 3.02% 2.93%
1961 2.85% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.79%.

Live population counters

South Africa Uganda
Current population
65683993
53170946
Population rank 24/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.64%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
23.2 seconds
One birth every
26.6 seconds
18.4 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +3,722
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +1,358,491
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +2.79%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 22/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -119,059
Net migration rank 9/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -119,059
2024 - 166,972 - -117,924
2023 602,793 228,222 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 603,636 233,284 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 456,411 458,246 1,423,377 43,464
2020 595,873 369,901 1,397,288 43,464
2019 652,130 331,124 1,367,044 107,210
2018 648,319 318,260 1,332,600 60,724
2017 645,975 343,146 1,290,658 92,879
2016 641,365 -879,235 1,249,565 123,379
2015 668,771 641,150 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 674,754 272,697 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 652,427 232,230 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 643,723 264,091 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 601,708 65,166 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 566,834 68,563 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 554,115 41,528 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 595,332 36,869 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 503,567 36,339 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 487,584 33,159 999,958 -156,232
2005 464,464 31,286 969,096 -151,386
2004 442,540 58,924 938,623 -138,770
2003 415,018 65,604 901,374 -96,429
2002 430,926 50,313 868,756 -35,149
2001 484,801 -60,793 836,751 -95,956
2000 526,963 -136,794 803,069 -52,824
1999 594,643 -126,011 775,166 -39,695
1998 627,027 -82,722 741,175 6,277
1997 667,969 -98,181 727,523 -155,461
1996 710,868 -193,007 699,707 -22,795
1995 743,488 -98,403 697,218 -242,378
1994 698,609 -268,849 675,092 -16,198
1993 789,220 194,977 650,032 18,349
1992 794,415 -71,342 627,139 24,723
1991 827,296 -39,131 602,740 3,643
1990 835,421 259,718 587,291 -21,688
1989 884,629 255,605 565,367 -12,576
1988 909,221 246,382 547,759 -20,113
1987 922,330 231,009 527,397 -22,415
1986 903,644 234,378 487,693 -19,485
1985 893,889 244,940 462,534 -42,942
1984 869,011 290,789 421,241 -8,818
1983 837,013 310,172 404,940 -45,776
1982 807,550 293,195 390,820 -53,497
1981 767,833 279,985 380,028 -83,010
1980 738,415 258,127 370,287 -105,900
1979 716,541 56,323 381,626 -98,863
1978 694,341 62,121 371,930 -34,606
1977 680,929 63,739 365,216 -37,671
1976 675,011 27,333 359,458 -42,259
1975 667,862 38,809 354,278 -47,359
1974 658,438 38,518 345,773 -51,910
1973 651,596 41,125 340,780 -73,439
1972 638,754 38,163 335,935 -86,409
1971 624,761 32,961 328,294 -42,642
1970 605,102 61,514 333,202 -25,646
1969 590,794 73,225 320,486 -14,548
1968 571,841 78,932 309,725 -3,214
1967 553,741 81,932 296,692 -3,773
1966 534,862 77,417 282,225 -3,021
1965 506,632 82,514 271,830 -3,716
1964 490,606 76,298 260,733 -3,169
1963 473,821 72,844 250,885 -3,058
1962 455,634 69,771 241,513 -6,470
1961 437,851 57,728 232,894 -7,893
1960 421,263 18,891 225,080 -7,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

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
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K

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/uganda | 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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