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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 5.24 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.94% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

South Africa vs United States: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa United States
2100 94,767,727 415,429,771
2099 94,556,931 414,829,167
2098 94,349,546 414,231,720
2097 94,158,472 413,576,381
2096 93,960,605 412,927,393
2095 93,752,736 412,225,379
2094 93,527,902 411,498,749
2093 93,300,398 410,785,729
2092 93,074,837 410,051,921
2091 92,826,204 409,320,183
2090 92,594,033 408,613,732
2089 92,355,184 407,885,645
2088 92,112,914 407,129,733
2087 91,866,024 406,421,298
2086 91,614,165 405,715,343
2085 91,385,350 405,059,379
2084 91,139,318 404,343,130
2083 90,877,425 403,612,785
2082 90,615,359 402,871,293
2081 90,345,492 402,054,554
2080 90,071,835 401,319,194
2079 89,801,998 400,554,914
2078 89,526,224 399,737,968
2077 89,249,206 398,906,565
2076 88,986,114 398,035,750
2075 88,713,215 397,109,170
2074 88,428,616 396,226,412
2073 88,149,885 395,307,725
2072 87,866,246 394,393,561
2071 87,540,177 393,415,363
2070 87,209,425 392,469,727
2069 86,901,512 391,479,981
2068 86,588,742 390,517,695
2067 86,268,392 389,543,856
2066 85,935,310 388,597,719
2065 85,604,376 387,685,327
2064 85,244,950 386,805,026
2063 84,875,503 385,911,917
2062 84,503,237 385,032,627
2061 84,132,885 384,170,837
2060 83,748,999 383,361,269
2059 83,354,923 382,542,030
2058 82,947,675 381,704,804
2057 82,538,045 380,907,023
2056 82,127,477 380,159,777
2055 81,698,196 379,430,756
2054 81,255,867 378,682,851
2053 80,818,632 377,878,421
2052 80,367,409 377,073,303
2051 79,886,672 376,229,840
2050 79,411,977 375,373,155
2049 78,925,493 374,493,150
2048 78,437,677 373,590,762
2047 77,922,211 372,626,259
2046 77,397,298 371,644,809
2045 76,879,838 370,602,914
2044 76,357,155 369,518,897
2043 75,827,709 368,375,680
2042 75,291,615 367,158,772
2041 74,748,408 365,937,822
2040 74,205,530 364,671,837
2039 73,663,047 363,367,337
2038 73,105,930 361,997,023
2037 72,532,742 360,606,236
2036 71,956,247 359,193,245
2035 71,362,555 357,750,686
2034 70,762,815 356,266,726
2033 70,153,205 354,775,032
2032 69,527,410 353,259,037
2031 68,890,002 351,721,511
2030 68,245,372 350,155,042
2029 67,573,179 348,564,667
2028 66,884,377 346,906,294
2027 66,190,258 345,257,605
2026 65,496,277 343,565,426
2025 64,770,314 341,784,857
2024 64,007,187 340,110,988
2023 63,212,384 334,914,895
2022 62,378,410 333,271,411
2021 61,502,603 331,893,745
2020 60,562,381 331,526,933
2019 59,587,885 328,329,953
2018 58,613,001 326,838,199
2017 57,635,162 325,122,128
2016 57,259,551 323,071,755
2015 56,723,537 320,738,994
2014 55,594,838 318,386,329
2013 54,678,791 316,059,947
2012 53,782,567 313,877,662
2011 52,995,205 311,583,481
2010 52,344,051 309,327,143
2009 51,728,516 306,771,529
2008 51,114,599 304,093,966
2007 50,528,584 301,231,207
2006 49,998,277 298,379,912
2005 49,490,033 295,516,599
2004 48,991,421 292,805,298
2003 48,500,348 290,107,933
2002 48,019,415 287,625,193
2001 47,566,800 284,968,955
2000 47,159,719 282,162,411
1999 46,730,335 279,294,713
1998 46,223,880 276,115,288
1997 45,666,838 272,911,760
1996 45,123,018 269,667,391
1995 44,541,554 266,557,091
1994 44,004,139 263,435,673
1993 43,297,156 260,255,352
1992 42,443,509 256,894,189
1991 41,687,898 253,492,503
1990 40,746,268 250,131,894
1989 39,628,575 246,819,222
1988 38,480,649 244,499,004
1987 37,326,190 242,288,936
1986 36,180,515 240,132,831
1985 35,042,093 237,923,734
1984 33,892,788 235,824,908
1983 32,739,304 233,792,014
1982 31,615,339 231,664,432
1981 30,541,044 229,465,744
1980 29,518,857 226,542,250
1979 28,634,162 225,055,487
1978 27,869,507 222,584,545
1977 27,118,952 220,239,425
1976 26,395,450 218,035,164
1975 25,690,940 215,973,199
1974 24,989,108 213,853,928
1973 24,294,263 211,908,788
1972 23,609,456 209,896,021
1971 22,942,143 207,660,677
1970 22,279,984 205,052,174
1969 21,614,676 202,676,946
1968 20,957,287 200,706,052
1967 20,314,066 198,712,056
1966 19,690,087 196,560,338
1965 19,089,380 194,302,963
1964 18,511,361 191,888,791
1963 17,954,564 189,241,798
1962 17,418,522 186,537,737
1961 16,908,035 183,691,481
1960 16,440,172 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa United States
2100 0.22% 0.14%
2099 0.22% 0.14%
2098 0.2% 0.16%
2097 0.21% 0.16%
2096 0.22% 0.17%
2095 0.24% 0.18%
2094 0.24% 0.17%
2093 0.24% 0.18%
2092 0.27% 0.18%
2091 0.25% 0.17%
2090 0.26% 0.18%
2089 0.26% 0.19%
2088 0.27% 0.17%
2087 0.27% 0.17%
2086 0.25% 0.16%
2085 0.27% 0.18%
2084 0.29% 0.18%
2083 0.29% 0.18%
2082 0.3% 0.2%
2081 0.3% 0.18%
2080 0.3% 0.19%
2079 0.31% 0.2%
2078 0.31% 0.21%
2077 0.3% 0.22%
2076 0.31% 0.23%
2075 0.32% 0.22%
2074 0.32% 0.23%
2073 0.32% 0.23%
2072 0.37% 0.25%
2071 0.38% 0.24%
2070 0.35% 0.25%
2069 0.36% 0.25%
2068 0.37% 0.25%
2067 0.39% 0.24%
2066 0.39% 0.24%
2065 0.42% 0.23%
2064 0.44% 0.23%
2063 0.44% 0.23%
2062 0.44% 0.22%
2061 0.46% 0.21%
2060 0.47% 0.21%
2059 0.49% 0.22%
2058 0.5% 0.21%
2057 0.5% 0.2%
2056 0.53% 0.19%
2055 0.54% 0.2%
2054 0.54% 0.21%
2053 0.56% 0.21%
2052 0.6% 0.22%
2051 0.6% 0.23%
2050 0.62% 0.23%
2049 0.62% 0.24%
2048 0.66% 0.26%
2047 0.68% 0.26%
2046 0.67% 0.28%
2045 0.68% 0.29%
2044 0.7% 0.31%
2043 0.71% 0.33%
2042 0.73% 0.33%
2041 0.73% 0.35%
2040 0.74% 0.36%
2039 0.76% 0.38%
2038 0.79% 0.39%
2037 0.8% 0.39%
2036 0.83% 0.4%
2035 0.85% 0.42%
2034 0.87% 0.42%
2033 0.9% 0.43%
2032 0.93% 0.44%
2031 0.94% 0.45%
2030 0.99% 0.46%
2029 1.03% 0.48%
2028 1.05% 0.48%
2027 1.06% 0.49%
2026 1.12% 0.52%
2025 1.19% 0.49%
2024 1.26% 1.55%
2023 1.34% 0.49%
2022 1.42% 0.42%
2021 1.55% 0.11%
2020 1.64% 0.97%
2019 1.66% 0.46%
2018 1.7% 0.53%
2017 0.66% 0.63%
2016 0.94% 0.73%
2015 2.03% 0.74%
2014 1.68% 0.74%
2013 1.67% 0.7%
2012 1.49% 0.74%
2011 1.24% 0.73%
2010 1.19% 0.83%
2009 1.2% 0.88%
2008 1.16% 0.95%
2007 1.06% 0.96%
2006 1.03% 0.97%
2005 1.02% 0.93%
2004 1.01% 0.93%
2003 1% 0.86%
2002 0.95% 0.93%
2001 0.86% 0.99%
2000 0.92% 1.03%
1999 1.1% 1.15%
1998 1.22% 1.17%
1997 1.21% 1.2%
1996 1.31% 1.17%
1995 1.22% 1.18%
1994 1.63% 1.22%
1993 2.01% 1.31%
1992 1.81% 1.34%
1991 2.31% 1.34%
1990 2.82% 1.34%
1989 2.98% 0.95%
1988 3.09% 0.91%
1987 3.17% 0.9%
1986 3.25% 0.93%
1985 3.39% 0.89%
1984 3.52% 0.87%
1983 3.56% 0.92%
1982 3.52% 0.96%
1981 3.46% 1.29%
1980 3.09% 0.66%
1979 2.74% 1.11%
1978 2.77% 1.06%
1977 2.74% 1.01%
1976 2.74% 0.95%
1975 2.81% 0.99%
1974 2.86% 0.92%
1973 2.9% 0.96%
1972 2.91% 1.08%
1971 2.97% 1.27%
1970 3.08% 1.17%
1969 3.14% 0.98%
1968 3.17% 1%
1967 3.17% 1.09%
1966 3.15% 1.16%
1965 3.12% 1.26%
1964 3.1% 1.4%
1963 3.08% 1.45%
1962 3.02% 1.55%
1961 2.85% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

South Africa United States
Current population
65683993
344023146
Population rank 24/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 4.15%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
26.6 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 134/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +146,370 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 9/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 1,230,663
2024 - 166,972 - 1,286,132
2023 602,793 228,222 502,372 1,322,668
2022 603,636 233,284 399,926 1,319,009
2021 456,411 458,246 199,137 674,787
2020 595,873 369,901 208,862 329,769
2019 652,130 331,124 887,476 1,774,500
2018 648,319 318,260 955,022 1,764,961
2017 645,975 343,146 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 641,365 -879,235 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 668,771 641,150 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 674,754 272,697 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 652,427 232,230 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 643,723 264,091 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 601,708 65,166 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 566,834 68,563 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 554,115 41,528 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 595,332 36,869 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 503,567 36,339 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 487,584 33,159 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 464,464 31,286 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 442,540 58,924 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 415,018 65,604 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 430,926 50,313 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 484,801 -60,793 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 526,963 -136,794 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 594,643 -126,011 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 627,027 -82,722 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 667,969 -98,181 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 710,868 -193,007 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 743,488 -98,403 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 698,609 -268,849 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 789,220 194,977 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 794,415 -71,342 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 827,296 -39,131 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 835,421 259,718 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 884,629 255,605 1,875,826 400,998
1988 909,221 246,382 1,735,943 460,778
1987 922,330 231,009 1,720,252 480,815
1986 903,644 234,378 1,656,917 493,082
1985 893,889 244,940 1,689,258 598,777
1984 869,011 290,789 1,627,192 622,793
1983 837,013 310,172 1,636,544 662,840
1982 807,550 293,195 1,714,317 600,149
1981 767,833 279,985 1,652,153 583,070
1980 738,415 258,127 1,608,450 595,916
1979 716,541 56,323 1,597,894 503,559
1978 694,341 62,121 1,402,283 556,521
1977 680,929 63,739 1,431,556 577,060
1976 675,011 27,333 1,264,604 635,590
1975 667,862 38,809 1,252,644 655,078
1974 658,438 38,518 1,218,968 706,978
1973 651,596 41,125 1,165,499 783,163
1972 638,754 38,163 1,301,355 833,543
1971 624,761 32,961 1,640,519 833,549
1970 605,102 61,514 1,824,965 744,902
1969 590,794 73,225 1,702,487 523,740
1968 571,841 78,932 1,565,507 594,514
1967 553,741 81,932 1,669,181 585,410
1966 534,862 77,417 1,749,387 637,692
1965 506,632 82,514 1,943,030 644,902
1964 490,606 76,298 2,245,099 618,635
1963 473,821 72,844 2,289,826 639,495
1962 455,634 69,771 2,406,337 625,617
1961 437,851 57,728 2,571,681 580,333
1960 421,263 18,891 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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