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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.07 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.64% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

South Africa vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa United Kingdom
2100 94,767,727 74,700,585
2099 94,556,931 74,831,175
2098 94,349,546 74,950,267
2097 94,158,472 75,064,397
2096 93,960,605 75,176,691
2095 93,752,736 75,287,063
2094 93,527,902 75,383,856
2093 93,300,398 75,482,205
2092 93,074,837 75,575,769
2091 92,826,204 75,666,091
2090 92,594,033 75,753,129
2089 92,355,184 75,835,723
2088 92,112,914 75,907,614
2087 91,866,024 75,978,712
2086 91,614,165 76,046,742
2085 91,385,350 76,105,680
2084 91,139,318 76,156,223
2083 90,877,425 76,205,894
2082 90,615,359 76,246,844
2081 90,345,492 76,274,040
2080 90,071,835 76,306,205
2079 89,801,998 76,334,949
2078 89,526,224 76,353,484
2077 89,249,206 76,371,123
2076 88,986,114 76,373,520
2075 88,713,215 76,386,071
2074 88,428,616 76,397,426
2073 88,149,885 76,406,554
2072 87,866,246 76,398,941
2071 87,540,177 76,388,223
2070 87,209,425 76,378,505
2069 86,901,512 76,371,827
2068 86,588,742 76,370,973
2067 86,268,392 76,363,548
2066 85,935,310 76,356,638
2065 85,604,376 76,355,841
2064 85,244,950 76,352,770
2063 84,875,503 76,353,175
2062 84,503,237 76,346,535
2061 84,132,885 76,344,206
2060 83,748,999 76,344,725
2059 83,354,923 76,345,215
2058 82,947,675 76,326,961
2057 82,538,045 76,307,006
2056 82,127,477 76,274,247
2055 81,698,196 76,235,304
2054 81,255,867 76,167,710
2053 80,818,632 76,094,051
2052 80,367,409 76,001,979
2051 79,886,672 75,895,690
2050 79,411,977 75,777,445
2049 78,925,493 75,646,044
2048 78,437,677 75,499,380
2047 77,922,211 75,338,951
2046 77,397,298 75,171,300
2045 76,879,838 74,993,186
2044 76,357,155 74,807,530
2043 75,827,709 74,607,485
2042 75,291,615 74,407,783
2041 74,748,408 74,203,292
2040 74,205,530 73,994,525
2039 73,663,047 73,782,112
2038 73,105,930 73,559,085
2037 72,532,742 73,335,723
2036 71,956,247 73,101,646
2035 71,362,555 72,850,722
2034 70,762,815 72,597,177
2033 70,153,205 72,322,802
2032 69,527,410 72,046,316
2031 68,890,002 71,757,868
2030 68,245,372 71,442,811
2029 67,573,179 71,123,782
2028 66,884,377 70,783,199
2027 66,190,258 70,421,923
2026 65,496,277 70,055,911
2025 64,770,314 69,658,188
2024 64,007,187 69,226,000
2023 63,212,384 68,492,000
2022 62,378,410 67,604,000
2021 61,502,603 66,984,000
2020 60,562,381 66,744,000
2019 59,587,885 66,631,000
2018 58,613,001 66,289,000
2017 57,635,162 65,966,000
2016 57,259,551 65,607,000
2015 56,723,537 65,088,000
2014 55,594,838 64,620,000
2013 54,678,791 64,139,000
2012 53,782,567 63,711,000
2011 52,995,205 63,258,810
2010 52,344,051 62,766,365
2009 51,728,516 62,276,270
2008 51,114,599 61,806,995
2007 50,528,584 61,322,463
2006 49,998,277 60,846,820
2005 49,490,033 60,401,206
2004 48,991,421 59,987,905
2003 48,500,348 59,647,577
2002 48,019,415 59,370,479
2001 47,566,800 59,119,673
2000 47,159,719 58,892,514
1999 46,730,335 58,682,466
1998 46,223,880 58,487,141
1997 45,666,838 58,316,954
1996 45,123,018 58,166,950
1995 44,541,554 58,019,030
1994 44,004,139 57,865,745
1993 43,297,156 57,718,614
1992 42,443,509 57,580,402
1991 41,687,898 57,424,897
1990 40,746,268 57,247,586
1989 39,628,575 57,076,711
1988 38,480,649 56,928,327
1987 37,326,190 56,802,050
1986 36,180,515 56,681,396
1985 35,042,093 56,550,268
1984 33,892,788 56,422,072
1983 32,739,304 56,332,848
1982 31,615,339 56,313,641
1981 30,541,044 56,333,829
1980 29,518,857 56,314,216
1979 28,634,162 56,246,951
1978 27,869,507 56,196,504
1977 27,118,952 56,193,492
1976 26,395,450 56,211,968
1975 25,690,940 56,225,800
1974 24,989,108 56,229,974
1973 24,294,263 56,194,527
1972 23,609,456 56,086,065
1971 22,942,143 55,896,223
1970 22,279,984 55,663,250
1969 21,614,676 55,441,750
1968 20,957,287 55,211,700
1967 20,314,066 54,943,600
1966 19,690,087 54,648,500
1965 19,089,380 54,348,050
1964 18,511,361 54,000,000
1963 17,954,564 53,650,000
1962 17,418,522 53,250,000
1961 16,908,035 52,800,000
1960 16,440,172 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa United Kingdom
2100 0.22% -0.17%
2099 0.22% -0.16%
2098 0.2% -0.15%
2097 0.21% -0.15%
2096 0.22% -0.15%
2095 0.24% -0.13%
2094 0.24% -0.13%
2093 0.24% -0.12%
2092 0.27% -0.12%
2091 0.25% -0.11%
2090 0.26% -0.11%
2089 0.26% -0.09%
2088 0.27% -0.09%
2087 0.27% -0.09%
2086 0.25% -0.08%
2085 0.27% -0.07%
2084 0.29% -0.07%
2083 0.29% -0.05%
2082 0.3% -0.04%
2081 0.3% -0.04%
2080 0.3% -0.04%
2079 0.31% -0.02%
2078 0.31% -0.02%
2077 0.3% -0.003%
2076 0.31% -0.02%
2075 0.32% -0.01%
2074 0.32% -0.01%
2073 0.32% 0.01%
2072 0.37% 0.01%
2071 0.38% 0.01%
2070 0.35% 0.009%
2069 0.36% 0.001%
2068 0.37% 0.01%
2067 0.39% 0.009%
2066 0.39% 0.001%
2065 0.42% 0.004%
2064 0.44% -0%
2063 0.44% 0.009%
2062 0.44% 0.003%
2061 0.46% -0.001%
2060 0.47% -0.001%
2059 0.49% 0.02%
2058 0.5% 0.03%
2057 0.5% 0.04%
2056 0.53% 0.05%
2055 0.54% 0.09%
2054 0.54% 0.1%
2053 0.56% 0.12%
2052 0.6% 0.14%
2051 0.6% 0.16%
2050 0.62% 0.17%
2049 0.62% 0.19%
2048 0.66% 0.21%
2047 0.68% 0.22%
2046 0.67% 0.24%
2045 0.68% 0.25%
2044 0.7% 0.27%
2043 0.71% 0.27%
2042 0.73% 0.28%
2041 0.73% 0.28%
2040 0.74% 0.29%
2039 0.76% 0.3%
2038 0.79% 0.3%
2037 0.8% 0.32%
2036 0.83% 0.34%
2035 0.85% 0.35%
2034 0.87% 0.38%
2033 0.9% 0.38%
2032 0.93% 0.4%
2031 0.94% 0.44%
2030 0.99% 0.45%
2029 1.03% 0.48%
2028 1.05% 0.51%
2027 1.06% 0.52%
2026 1.12% 0.57%
2025 1.19% 0.62%
2024 1.26% 1.07%
2023 1.34% 1.31%
2022 1.42% 0.93%
2021 1.55% 0.36%
2020 1.64% 0.17%
2019 1.66% 0.52%
2018 1.7% 0.49%
2017 0.66% 0.55%
2016 0.94% 0.8%
2015 2.03% 0.72%
2014 1.68% 0.75%
2013 1.67% 0.67%
2012 1.49% 0.71%
2011 1.24% 0.78%
2010 1.19% 0.79%
2009 1.2% 0.76%
2008 1.16% 0.79%
2007 1.06% 0.78%
2006 1.03% 0.74%
2005 1.02% 0.69%
2004 1.01% 0.57%
2003 1% 0.47%
2002 0.95% 0.42%
2001 0.86% 0.39%
2000 0.92% 0.36%
1999 1.1% 0.33%
1998 1.22% 0.29%
1997 1.21% 0.26%
1996 1.31% 0.25%
1995 1.22% 0.26%
1994 1.63% 0.25%
1993 2.01% 0.24%
1992 1.81% 0.27%
1991 2.31% 0.31%
1990 2.82% 0.3%
1989 2.98% 0.26%
1988 3.09% 0.22%
1987 3.17% 0.21%
1986 3.25% 0.23%
1985 3.39% 0.23%
1984 3.52% 0.16%
1983 3.56% 0.03%
1982 3.52% -0.04%
1981 3.46% 0.03%
1980 3.09% 0.12%
1979 2.74% 0.09%
1978 2.77% 0.005%
1977 2.74% -0.03%
1976 2.74% -0.02%
1975 2.81% -0.007%
1974 2.86% 0.06%
1973 2.9% 0.19%
1972 2.91% 0.34%
1971 2.97% 0.42%
1970 3.08% 0.4%
1969 3.14% 0.42%
1968 3.17% 0.49%
1967 3.17% 0.54%
1966 3.15% 0.55%
1965 3.12% 0.64%
1964 3.1% 0.65%
1963 3.08% 0.75%
1962 3.02% 0.85%
1961 2.85% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

South Africa United Kingdom
Current population
65683993
70154914
Population rank 24/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.85%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
26.6 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 97/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 +389,911
Net migration rank 9/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 389,911
2024 - 166,972 - 417,114
2023 602,793 228,222 34,589 445,523
2022 603,636 233,284 39,751 487,029
2021 456,411 458,246 30,612 462,967
2020 595,873 369,901 -4,272 144,221
2019 652,130 331,124 108,342 232,727
2018 648,319 318,260 119,321 259,744
2017 645,975 343,146 145,125 272,311
2016 641,365 -879,235 177,139 324,649
2015 668,771 641,150 175,738 347,839
2014 674,754 272,697 206,784 306,091
2013 652,427 232,230 198,830 237,272
2012 643,723 264,091 248,473 172,088
2011 601,708 65,166 259,361 228,773
2010 566,834 68,563 251,066 274,811
2009 554,115 41,528 230,422 249,639
2008 595,332 36,869 216,325 263,390
2007 503,567 36,339 196,232 309,385
2006 487,584 33,159 176,455 288,923
2005 464,464 31,286 144,963 308,279
2004 442,540 58,924 131,974 276,077
2003 415,018 65,604 89,471 211,846
2002 430,926 50,313 65,308 203,577
2001 484,801 -60,793 65,032 175,133
2000 526,963 -136,794 70,671 153,917
1999 594,643 -126,011 64,551 152,653
1998 627,027 -82,722 87,730 125,541
1997 667,969 -98,181 99,138 59,723
1996 710,868 -193,007 98,884 54,964
1995 743,488 -98,403 87,028 61,385
1994 698,609 -268,849 127,304 45,339
1993 789,220 194,977 103,893 27,403
1992 794,415 -71,342 149,709 17,846
1991 827,296 -39,131 143,562 27,601
1990 835,421 259,718 154,569 57,132
1989 884,629 255,605 119,861 49,586
1988 909,221 246,382 136,628 13,952
1987 922,330 231,009 136,325 8,266
1986 903,644 234,378 90,690 41,836
1985 893,889 244,940 79,170 83,164
1984 869,011 290,789 84,633 71,107
1983 837,013 310,172 61,966 27,063
1982 807,550 293,195 56,314 -61,152
1981 767,833 279,985 73,234 -83,876
1980 738,415 258,127 95,734 -25,187
1979 716,541 56,323 61,872 11,255
1978 694,341 62,121 16,859 3,783
1977 680,929 63,739 0 -21,636
1976 675,011 27,333 -5,621 -19,135
1975 667,862 38,809 33,735 -40,241
1974 658,438 38,518 67,476 -65,710
1973 651,596 41,125 112,389 -33,840
1972 638,754 38,163 162,650 -1,406
1971 624,761 32,961 257,123 1,175
1970 605,102 61,514 244,918 -15,254
1969 590,794 73,225 260,577 -60,655
1968 571,841 78,932 292,622 -38,852
1967 553,741 81,932 346,145 -39,659
1966 534,862 77,417 333,356 -27,935
1965 506,632 82,514 364,132 -24,955
1964 490,606 76,298 405,000 -23,885
1963 473,821 72,844 337,995 8,271
1962 455,634 69,771 340,800 76,443
1961 437,851 57,728 311,519 52,295
1960 421,263 18,891 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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