Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 3,386,588 people in Uruguay in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 3,382,789 in Uruguay.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 19.4 times bigger than Uruguay's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Uruguay is the 133rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.04% for Uruguay.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.11% in Uruguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Uruguay has grown from 3.29M to 3.38M (2.84% growth).

South Africa vs Uruguay: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Uruguay
2100 94,767,727 2,256,741
2099 94,556,931 2,279,899
2098 94,349,546 2,303,351
2097 94,158,472 2,326,987
2096 93,960,605 2,350,799
2095 93,752,736 2,374,835
2094 93,527,902 2,398,960
2093 93,300,398 2,423,269
2092 93,074,837 2,447,646
2091 92,826,204 2,472,126
2090 92,594,033 2,496,514
2089 92,355,184 2,520,852
2088 92,112,914 2,545,052
2087 91,866,024 2,569,100
2086 91,614,165 2,592,974
2085 91,385,350 2,616,629
2084 91,139,318 2,640,001
2083 90,877,425 2,663,150
2082 90,615,359 2,686,021
2081 90,345,492 2,708,594
2080 90,071,835 2,730,883
2079 89,801,998 2,752,831
2078 89,526,224 2,774,432
2077 89,249,206 2,795,709
2076 88,986,114 2,816,677
2075 88,713,215 2,837,308
2074 88,428,616 2,857,709
2073 88,149,885 2,877,721
2072 87,866,246 2,897,543
2071 87,540,177 2,917,097
2070 87,209,425 2,936,478
2069 86,901,512 2,955,616
2068 86,588,742 2,974,445
2067 86,268,392 2,992,987
2066 85,935,310 3,011,309
2065 85,604,376 3,029,441
2064 85,244,950 3,047,343
2063 84,875,503 3,065,064
2062 84,503,237 3,082,642
2061 84,132,885 3,100,006
2060 83,748,999 3,117,149
2059 83,354,923 3,133,952
2058 82,947,675 3,150,250
2057 82,538,045 3,166,055
2056 82,127,477 3,181,373
2055 81,698,196 3,196,072
2054 81,255,867 3,210,110
2053 80,818,632 3,223,395
2052 80,367,409 3,235,973
2051 79,886,672 3,247,888
2050 79,411,977 3,259,108
2049 78,925,493 3,269,675
2048 78,437,677 3,279,610
2047 77,922,211 3,288,969
2046 77,397,298 3,297,696
2045 76,879,838 3,305,917
2044 76,357,155 3,313,556
2043 75,827,709 3,320,565
2042 75,291,615 3,326,955
2041 74,748,408 3,332,884
2040 74,205,530 3,338,277
2039 73,663,047 3,343,295
2038 73,105,930 3,347,790
2037 72,532,742 3,351,911
2036 71,956,247 3,355,671
2035 71,362,555 3,359,126
2034 70,762,815 3,362,276
2033 70,153,205 3,365,250
2032 69,527,410 3,368,057
2031 68,890,002 3,370,727
2030 68,245,372 3,373,273
2029 67,573,179 3,375,805
2028 66,884,377 3,378,198
2027 66,190,258 3,380,504
2026 65,496,277 3,382,789
2025 64,770,314 3,384,805
2024 64,007,187 3,386,588
2023 63,212,384 3,388,081
2022 62,378,410 3,390,913
2021 61,502,603 3,396,695
2020 60,562,381 3,398,968
2019 59,587,885 3,397,206
2018 58,613,001 3,394,534
2017 57,635,162 3,388,438
2016 57,259,551 3,379,283
2015 56,723,537 3,368,017
2014 55,594,838 3,356,334
2013 54,678,791 3,345,337
2012 53,782,567 3,335,401
2011 52,995,205 3,326,825
2010 52,344,051 3,318,580
2009 51,728,516 3,310,091
2008 51,114,599 3,302,177
2007 50,528,584 3,295,153
2006 49,998,277 3,289,506
2005 49,490,033 3,285,771
2004 48,991,421 3,283,148
2003 48,500,348 3,281,186
2002 48,019,415 3,278,867
2001 47,566,800 3,274,251
2000 47,159,719 3,266,206
1999 46,730,335 3,254,015
1998 46,223,880 3,239,280
1997 45,666,838 3,223,345
1996 45,123,018 3,206,324
1995 44,541,554 3,189,440
1994 44,004,139 3,172,834
1993 43,297,156 3,156,345
1992 42,443,509 3,139,702
1991 41,687,898 3,122,354
1990 40,746,268 3,104,403
1989 39,628,575 3,086,255
1988 38,480,649 3,067,961
1987 37,326,190 3,049,896
1986 36,180,515 3,032,845
1985 35,042,093 3,017,037
1984 33,892,788 3,002,488
1983 32,739,304 2,988,778
1982 31,615,339 2,975,492
1981 30,541,044 2,963,246
1980 29,518,857 2,951,953
1979 28,634,162 2,939,903
1978 27,869,507 2,925,715
1977 27,118,952 2,909,461
1976 26,395,450 2,891,392
1975 25,690,940 2,872,320
1974 24,989,108 2,853,944
1973 24,294,263 2,837,133
1972 23,609,456 2,821,644
1971 22,942,143 2,806,462
1970 22,279,984 2,790,807
1969 21,614,676 2,773,974
1968 20,957,287 2,754,606
1967 20,314,066 2,732,277
1966 19,690,087 2,707,646
1965 19,089,380 2,681,169
1964 18,511,361 2,653,180
1963 17,954,564 2,623,766
1962 17,418,522 2,593,298
1961 16,908,035 2,562,044
1960 16,440,172 2,529,957

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/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Uruguay gained 89,777 people (a 2.73% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Uruguay's population increased by 3,506 people (a 0.1% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Uruguay was ranked 129th in 2006 and ranked 133rd 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 Uruguay will decrease by 3.66% to 3,259,108 people and rank change from 133rd to 138th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Uruguay's population already peaked in 2020 at 3.4M people and is projected to decrease to 2.26M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Uruguay
2100 0.22% -1.02%
2099 0.22% -1.02%
2098 0.2% -1.02%
2097 0.21% -1.01%
2096 0.22% -1.01%
2095 0.24% -1.01%
2094 0.24% -1%
2093 0.24% -1%
2092 0.27% -0.99%
2091 0.25% -0.98%
2090 0.26% -0.97%
2089 0.26% -0.95%
2088 0.27% -0.94%
2087 0.27% -0.92%
2086 0.25% -0.9%
2085 0.27% -0.89%
2084 0.29% -0.87%
2083 0.29% -0.85%
2082 0.3% -0.83%
2081 0.3% -0.82%
2080 0.3% -0.8%
2079 0.31% -0.78%
2078 0.31% -0.76%
2077 0.3% -0.74%
2076 0.31% -0.73%
2075 0.32% -0.71%
2074 0.32% -0.7%
2073 0.32% -0.68%
2072 0.37% -0.67%
2071 0.38% -0.66%
2070 0.35% -0.65%
2069 0.36% -0.63%
2068 0.37% -0.62%
2067 0.39% -0.61%
2066 0.39% -0.6%
2065 0.42% -0.59%
2064 0.44% -0.58%
2063 0.44% -0.57%
2062 0.44% -0.56%
2061 0.46% -0.55%
2060 0.47% -0.54%
2059 0.49% -0.52%
2058 0.5% -0.5%
2057 0.5% -0.48%
2056 0.53% -0.46%
2055 0.54% -0.44%
2054 0.54% -0.41%
2053 0.56% -0.39%
2052 0.6% -0.37%
2051 0.6% -0.34%
2050 0.62% -0.32%
2049 0.62% -0.3%
2048 0.66% -0.28%
2047 0.68% -0.26%
2046 0.67% -0.25%
2045 0.68% -0.23%
2044 0.7% -0.21%
2043 0.71% -0.19%
2042 0.73% -0.18%
2041 0.73% -0.16%
2040 0.74% -0.15%
2039 0.76% -0.13%
2038 0.79% -0.12%
2037 0.8% -0.11%
2036 0.83% -0.1%
2035 0.85% -0.09%
2034 0.87% -0.09%
2033 0.9% -0.08%
2032 0.93% -0.08%
2031 0.94% -0.08%
2030 0.99% -0.08%
2029 1.03% -0.07%
2028 1.05% -0.07%
2027 1.06% -0.07%
2026 1.12% -0.06%
2025 1.19% -0.05%
2024 1.26% -0.04%
2023 1.34% -0.08%
2022 1.42% -0.17%
2021 1.55% -0.07%
2020 1.64% 0.05%
2019 1.66% 0.08%
2018 1.7% 0.18%
2017 0.66% 0.27%
2016 0.94% 0.33%
2015 2.03% 0.35%
2014 1.68% 0.33%
2013 1.67% 0.3%
2012 1.49% 0.26%
2011 1.24% 0.25%
2010 1.19% 0.26%
2009 1.2% 0.24%
2008 1.16% 0.21%
2007 1.06% 0.17%
2006 1.03% 0.11%
2005 1.02% 0.08%
2004 1.01% 0.06%
2003 1% 0.07%
2002 0.95% 0.14%
2001 0.86% 0.25%
2000 0.92% 0.37%
1999 1.1% 0.45%
1998 1.22% 0.49%
1997 1.21% 0.53%
1996 1.31% 0.53%
1995 1.22% 0.52%
1994 1.63% 0.52%
1993 2.01% 0.53%
1992 1.81% 0.56%
1991 2.31% 0.58%
1990 2.82% 0.59%
1989 2.98% 0.6%
1988 3.09% 0.59%
1987 3.17% 0.56%
1986 3.25% 0.52%
1985 3.39% 0.48%
1984 3.52% 0.46%
1983 3.56% 0.45%
1982 3.52% 0.41%
1981 3.46% 0.38%
1980 3.09% 0.41%
1979 2.74% 0.48%
1978 2.77% 0.56%
1977 2.74% 0.62%
1976 2.74% 0.66%
1975 2.81% 0.64%
1974 2.86% 0.59%
1973 2.9% 0.55%
1972 2.91% 0.54%
1971 2.97% 0.56%
1970 3.08% 0.61%
1969 3.14% 0.7%
1968 3.17% 0.82%
1967 3.17% 0.91%
1966 3.15% 0.99%
1965 3.12% 1.05%
1964 3.1% 1.12%
1963 3.08% 1.17%
1962 3.02% 1.22%
1961 2.85% 1.27%

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/uruguay | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Uruguay's population declined by 0.04%.

Live population counters

South Africa Uruguay
Current population
65683993
3382789
Population rank 24/197 133/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.04%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
5.87 hours
One birth every
26.6 seconds
15.7 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
15.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 -4
Annual growth/decline +794,803 -1,493
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% -0.04%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 167/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
6.57 hours
Annual migration change +146,370 -1,338
Net migration rank 9/196 95/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 160,064
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 121/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.7%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 95/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Uruguay
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Uruguay
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -1,338
2024 - 166,972 - -1,348
2023 602,793 228,222 298 -1,501
2022 603,636 233,284 -2,964 -1,501
2021 456,411 458,246 -5,621 -1,482
2020 595,873 369,901 4,048 -1,482
2019 652,130 331,124 3,873 -2,899
2018 648,319 318,260 7,322 -2,963
2017 645,975 343,146 10,907 -3,091
2016 641,365 -879,235 14,008 -3,506
2015 668,771 641,150 16,194 -4,157
2014 674,754 272,697 16,238 -4,919
2013 652,427 232,230 16,318 -5,647
2012 643,723 264,091 15,520 -6,317
2011 601,708 65,166 14,934 -6,982
2010 566,834 68,563 16,231 -7,696
2009 554,115 41,528 16,947 -8,510
2008 595,332 36,869 16,838 -9,458
2007 503,567 36,339 17,422 -10,750
2006 487,584 33,159 17,783 -13,161
2005 464,464 31,286 18,926 -16,086
2004 442,540 58,924 18,067 -15,668
2003 415,018 65,604 18,628 -17,105
2002 430,926 50,313 20,073 -16,957
2001 484,801 -60,793 20,729 -14,620
2000 526,963 -136,794 21,060 -11,076
1999 594,643 -126,011 21,844 -7,441
1998 627,027 -82,722 22,114 -7,048
1997 667,969 -98,181 23,737 -6,938
1996 710,868 -193,007 24,635 -7,397
1995 743,488 -98,403 24,872 -8,339
1994 698,609 -268,849 24,637 -7,955
1993 789,220 194,977 24,212 -7,922
1992 794,415 -71,342 24,847 -7,850
1991 827,296 -39,131 25,422 -7,714
1990 835,421 259,718 25,699 -7,499
1989 884,629 255,605 25,322 -7,229
1988 909,221 246,382 25,071 -6,582
1987 922,330 231,009 24,469 -6,833
1986 903,644 234,378 24,505 -8,046
1985 893,889 244,940 23,988 -8,832
1984 869,011 290,789 23,684 -9,730
1983 837,013 310,172 24,146 -10,671
1982 807,550 293,195 25,224 -12,131
1981 767,833 279,985 24,968 -13,577
1980 738,415 258,127 25,451 -14,252
1979 716,541 56,323 27,456 -14,552
1978 694,341 62,121 30,076 -14,611
1977 680,929 63,739 31,321 -14,280
1976 675,011 27,333 33,199 -14,096
1975 667,862 38,809 33,393 -14,350
1974 658,438 38,518 32,221 -14,512
1973 651,596 41,125 30,213 -14,312
1972 638,754 38,163 28,896 -13,817
1971 624,761 32,961 28,584 -13,288
1970 605,102 61,514 28,737 -12,727
1969 590,794 73,225 28,805 -11,149
1968 571,841 78,932 29,103 -8,028
1967 553,741 81,932 29,514 -5,938
1966 534,862 77,417 30,293 -4,599
1965 506,632 82,514 30,807 -3,542
1964 490,606 76,298 31,340 -2,623
1963 473,821 72,844 31,824 -1,707
1962 455,634 69,771 31,441 -623
1961 437,851 57,728 30,975 703
1960 421,263 18,891 30,438 2,057

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/uruguay | 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 Uruguay 70% is from natural causes (a gain of 64,303 people) and 30% is from migration (a loss of 27,501 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 160,064 people or 4.7% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 125K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 76.4K
Tacuarembo 54.8K
Melo 51.8K
Mercedes 42K
Artigas 40.7K

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/uruguay | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

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.