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Population in South Africa compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.62 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.93% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa UAE
2100 94,767,727 26,368,750
2099 94,556,931 26,130,374
2098 94,349,546 25,894,010
2097 94,158,472 25,660,062
2096 93,960,605 25,427,961
2095 93,752,736 25,197,670
2094 93,527,902 24,968,891
2093 93,300,398 24,741,434
2092 93,074,837 24,515,086
2091 92,826,204 24,289,496
2090 92,594,033 24,064,404
2089 92,355,184 23,839,033
2088 92,112,914 23,613,963
2087 91,866,024 23,388,786
2086 91,614,165 23,163,641
2085 91,385,350 22,938,169
2084 91,139,318 22,711,804
2083 90,877,425 22,484,154
2082 90,615,359 22,255,625
2081 90,345,492 22,026,183
2080 90,071,835 21,796,073
2079 89,801,998 21,565,118
2078 89,526,224 21,333,574
2077 89,249,206 21,101,274
2076 88,986,114 20,868,733
2075 88,713,215 20,636,203
2074 88,428,616 20,404,044
2073 88,149,885 20,171,659
2072 87,866,246 19,940,853
2071 87,540,177 19,710,934
2070 87,209,425 19,483,026
2069 86,901,512 19,256,572
2068 86,588,742 19,032,681
2067 86,268,392 18,811,331
2066 85,935,310 18,593,017
2065 85,604,376 18,377,364
2064 85,244,950 18,164,584
2063 84,875,503 17,955,352
2062 84,503,237 17,749,596
2061 84,132,885 17,547,827
2060 83,748,999 17,349,620
2059 83,354,923 17,153,273
2058 82,947,675 16,959,263
2057 82,538,045 16,767,893
2056 82,127,477 16,579,195
2055 81,698,196 16,392,558
2054 81,255,867 16,207,309
2053 80,818,632 16,024,789
2052 80,367,409 15,844,357
2051 79,886,672 15,665,362
2050 79,411,977 15,487,008
2049 78,925,493 15,309,031
2048 78,437,677 15,132,784
2047 77,922,211 14,958,209
2046 77,397,298 14,788,046
2045 76,879,838 14,620,902
2044 76,357,155 14,454,466
2043 75,827,709 14,289,021
2042 75,291,615 14,124,515
2041 74,748,408 13,961,010
2040 74,205,530 13,798,651
2039 73,663,047 13,637,499
2038 73,105,930 13,477,450
2037 72,532,742 13,319,346
2036 71,956,247 13,163,073
2035 71,362,555 13,009,160
2034 70,762,815 12,857,729
2033 70,153,205 12,709,520
2032 69,527,410 12,564,906
2031 68,890,002 12,424,286
2030 68,245,372 12,288,186
2029 67,573,179 12,148,661
2028 66,884,377 11,999,549
2027 66,190,258 11,831,082
2026 65,496,277 11,632,806
2025 64,770,314 11,367,504
2024 64,007,187 10,986,400
2023 63,212,384 10,483,751
2022 62,378,410 10,074,977
2021 61,502,603 9,575,152
2020 60,562,381 9,401,038
2019 59,587,885 9,445,785
2018 58,613,001 9,346,701
2017 57,635,162 9,223,225
2016 57,259,551 8,935,095
2015 56,723,537 8,505,237
2014 55,594,838 8,059,440
2013 54,678,791 7,693,031
2012 53,782,567 7,391,448
2011 52,995,205 7,104,538
2010 52,344,051 6,869,838
2009 51,728,516 6,707,058
2008 51,114,599 6,302,664
2007 50,528,584 5,624,635
2006 49,998,277 5,009,100
2005 49,490,033 4,664,790
2004 48,991,421 4,428,967
2003 48,500,348 4,192,457
2002 48,019,415 3,956,826
2001 47,566,800 3,723,590
2000 47,159,719 3,493,575
1999 46,730,335 3,266,009
1998 46,223,880 3,040,421
1997 45,666,838 2,817,410
1996 45,123,018 2,597,564
1995 44,541,554 2,434,662
1994 44,004,139 2,328,188
1993 43,297,156 2,222,093
1992 42,443,509 2,114,730
1991 41,687,898 2,006,626
1990 40,746,268 1,898,220
1989 39,628,575 1,789,851
1988 38,480,649 1,681,788
1987 37,326,190 1,574,244
1986 36,180,515 1,467,383
1985 35,042,093 1,377,911
1984 33,892,788 1,305,996
1983 32,739,304 1,235,305
1982 31,615,339 1,166,370
1981 30,541,044 1,099,855
1980 29,518,857 1,015,700
1979 28,634,162 912,010
1978 27,869,507 809,274
1977 27,118,952 710,209
1976 26,395,450 615,866
1975 25,690,940 542,856
1974 24,989,108 489,087
1973 24,294,263 436,399
1972 23,609,456 385,014
1971 22,942,143 335,027
1970 22,279,984 286,536
1969 21,614,676 239,660
1968 20,957,287 199,416
1967 20,314,066 179,700
1966 19,690,087 173,976
1965 19,089,380 167,103
1964 18,511,361 159,692
1963 17,954,564 152,211
1962 17,418,522 144,946
1961 16,908,035 137,989
1960 16,440,172 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa UAE
2100 0.22% 0.91%
2099 0.22% 0.91%
2098 0.2% 0.91%
2097 0.21% 0.91%
2096 0.22% 0.91%
2095 0.24% 0.92%
2094 0.24% 0.92%
2093 0.24% 0.92%
2092 0.27% 0.93%
2091 0.25% 0.94%
2090 0.26% 0.95%
2089 0.26% 0.95%
2088 0.27% 0.96%
2087 0.27% 0.97%
2086 0.25% 0.98%
2085 0.27% 1%
2084 0.29% 1.01%
2083 0.29% 1.03%
2082 0.3% 1.04%
2081 0.3% 1.06%
2080 0.3% 1.07%
2079 0.31% 1.09%
2078 0.31% 1.1%
2077 0.3% 1.11%
2076 0.31% 1.13%
2075 0.32% 1.14%
2074 0.32% 1.15%
2073 0.32% 1.16%
2072 0.37% 1.17%
2071 0.38% 1.17%
2070 0.35% 1.18%
2069 0.36% 1.18%
2068 0.37% 1.18%
2067 0.39% 1.17%
2066 0.39% 1.17%
2065 0.42% 1.17%
2064 0.44% 1.17%
2063 0.44% 1.16%
2062 0.44% 1.15%
2061 0.46% 1.14%
2060 0.47% 1.14%
2059 0.49% 1.14%
2058 0.5% 1.14%
2057 0.5% 1.14%
2056 0.53% 1.14%
2055 0.54% 1.14%
2054 0.54% 1.14%
2053 0.56% 1.14%
2052 0.6% 1.14%
2051 0.6% 1.15%
2050 0.62% 1.16%
2049 0.62% 1.16%
2048 0.66% 1.17%
2047 0.68% 1.15%
2046 0.67% 1.14%
2045 0.68% 1.15%
2044 0.7% 1.16%
2043 0.71% 1.16%
2042 0.73% 1.17%
2041 0.73% 1.18%
2040 0.74% 1.18%
2039 0.76% 1.19%
2038 0.79% 1.19%
2037 0.8% 1.19%
2036 0.83% 1.18%
2035 0.85% 1.18%
2034 0.87% 1.17%
2033 0.9% 1.15%
2032 0.93% 1.13%
2031 0.94% 1.11%
2030 0.99% 1.15%
2029 1.03% 1.24%
2028 1.05% 1.42%
2027 1.06% 1.7%
2026 1.12% 2.33%
2025 1.19% 3.47%
2024 1.26% 4.79%
2023 1.34% 4.06%
2022 1.42% 5.22%
2021 1.55% 1.85%
2020 1.64% -0.47%
2019 1.66% 1.06%
2018 1.7% 1.34%
2017 0.66% 3.22%
2016 0.94% 5.05%
2015 2.03% 5.53%
2014 1.68% 4.76%
2013 1.67% 4.08%
2012 1.49% 4.04%
2011 1.24% 3.42%
2010 1.19% 2.43%
2009 1.2% 6.42%
2008 1.16% 12.1%
2007 1.06% 12.3%
2006 1.03% 7.38%
2005 1.02% 5.32%
2004 1.01% 5.64%
2003 1% 5.96%
2002 0.95% 6.26%
2001 0.86% 6.58%
2000 0.92% 6.97%
1999 1.1% 7.42%
1998 1.22% 7.92%
1997 1.21% 8.46%
1996 1.31% 6.69%
1995 1.22% 4.57%
1994 1.63% 4.77%
1993 2.01% 5.08%
1992 1.81% 5.39%
1991 2.31% 5.71%
1990 2.82% 6.05%
1989 2.98% 6.43%
1988 3.09% 6.83%
1987 3.17% 7.28%
1986 3.25% 6.49%
1985 3.39% 5.51%
1984 3.52% 5.72%
1983 3.56% 5.91%
1982 3.52% 6.05%
1981 3.46% 8.29%
1980 3.09% 11.4%
1979 2.74% 12.7%
1978 2.77% 13.9%
1977 2.74% 15.3%
1976 2.74% 13.4%
1975 2.81% 11%
1974 2.86% 12.1%
1973 2.9% 13.3%
1972 2.91% 14.9%
1971 2.97% 16.9%
1970 3.08% 19.6%
1969 3.14% 20.2%
1968 3.17% 11%
1967 3.17% 3.29%
1966 3.15% 4.11%
1965 3.12% 4.64%
1964 3.1% 4.91%
1963 3.08% 5.01%
1962 3.02% 5.04%
1961 2.85% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

South Africa UAE
Current population
65683993
11686438
Population rank 24/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.14%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 3/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +158,634
Net migration rank 9/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 158,634
2024 - 166,972 - 278,439
2023 602,793 228,222 92,698 300,004
2022 603,636 233,284 81,758 322,773
2021 456,411 458,246 76,802 421,663
2020 595,873 369,901 87,871 92,541
2019 652,130 331,124 86,296 -125,186
2018 648,319 318,260 86,840 14,611
2017 645,975 343,146 89,382 34,155
2016 641,365 -879,235 87,028 195,317
2015 668,771 641,150 85,044 342,468
2014 674,754 272,697 84,277 360,174
2013 652,427 232,230 82,977 279,269
2012 643,723 264,091 78,682 225,921
2011 601,708 65,166 73,496 215,183
2010 566,834 68,563 69,907 161,842
2009 554,115 41,528 66,521 163,643
2008 595,332 36,869 55,426 523,207
2007 503,567 36,339 55,048 722,380
2006 487,584 33,159 54,338 399,306
2005 464,464 31,286 60,046 174,926
2004 442,540 58,924 60,344 176,319
2003 415,018 65,604 59,118 177,237
2002 430,926 50,313 55,922 178,988
2001 484,801 -60,793 52,789 178,779
2000 526,963 -136,794 49,993 178,469
1999 594,643 -126,011 46,198 180,469
1998 627,027 -82,722 41,176 183,329
1997 667,969 -98,181 38,207 183,310
1996 710,868 -193,007 37,886 180,296
1995 743,488 -98,403 38,685 68,938
1994 698,609 -268,849 42,976 62,352
1993 789,220 194,977 41,324 65,545
1992 794,415 -71,342 42,119 65,739
1991 827,296 -39,131 41,409 66,943
1990 835,421 259,718 41,339 67,118
1989 884,629 255,605 40,148 68,132
1988 909,221 246,382 38,861 68,991
1987 922,330 231,009 37,741 69,493
1986 903,644 234,378 36,829 69,655
1985 893,889 244,940 34,855 37,605
1984 869,011 290,789 33,250 38,124
1983 837,013 310,172 31,480 38,536
1982 807,550 293,195 29,585 38,276
1981 767,833 279,985 27,560 37,600
1980 738,415 258,127 25,005 78,148
1979 716,541 56,323 21,987 82,238
1978 694,341 62,121 18,879 82,359
1977 680,929 63,739 15,787 81,111
1976 675,011 27,333 12,876 78,903
1975 667,862 38,809 11,859 42,380
1974 658,438 38,518 10,835 42,474
1973 651,596 41,125 9,822 42,243
1972 638,754 38,163 8,818 41,888
1971 624,761 32,961 7,839 41,425
1970 605,102 61,514 6,922 40,792
1969 590,794 73,225 6,138 39,902
1968 571,841 78,932 5,588 28,866
1967 553,741 81,932 5,264 -283
1966 534,862 77,417 4,955 1,516
1965 506,632 82,514 4,675 2,598
1964 490,606 76,298 4,410 3,126
1963 473,821 72,844 4,157 3,264
1962 455,634 69,771 3,901 3,212
1961 437,851 57,728 3,657 3,141
1960 421,263 18,891 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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