The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 190.5 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).
South Africa vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 94,767,727 | 883,219 |
| 2099 | 94,556,931 | 878,572 |
| 2098 | 94,349,546 | 873,798 |
| 2097 | 94,158,472 | 868,872 |
| 2096 | 93,960,605 | 863,899 |
| 2095 | 93,752,736 | 858,713 |
| 2094 | 93,527,902 | 853,379 |
| 2093 | 93,300,398 | 847,908 |
| 2092 | 93,074,837 | 842,392 |
| 2091 | 92,826,204 | 836,807 |
| 2090 | 92,594,033 | 831,106 |
| 2089 | 92,355,184 | 825,333 |
| 2088 | 92,112,914 | 819,413 |
| 2087 | 91,866,024 | 813,386 |
| 2086 | 91,614,165 | 807,304 |
| 2085 | 91,385,350 | 801,030 |
| 2084 | 91,139,318 | 794,642 |
| 2083 | 90,877,425 | 788,195 |
| 2082 | 90,615,359 | 781,693 |
| 2081 | 90,345,492 | 775,091 |
| 2080 | 90,071,835 | 768,410 |
| 2079 | 89,801,998 | 761,593 |
| 2078 | 89,526,224 | 754,638 |
| 2077 | 89,249,206 | 747,679 |
| 2076 | 88,986,114 | 740,583 |
| 2075 | 88,713,215 | 733,404 |
| 2074 | 88,428,616 | 726,144 |
| 2073 | 88,149,885 | 718,748 |
| 2072 | 87,866,246 | 711,260 |
| 2071 | 87,540,177 | 703,705 |
| 2070 | 87,209,425 | 696,123 |
| 2069 | 86,901,512 | 688,506 |
| 2068 | 86,588,742 | 680,826 |
| 2067 | 86,268,392 | 673,074 |
| 2066 | 85,935,310 | 665,248 |
| 2065 | 85,604,376 | 657,389 |
| 2064 | 85,244,950 | 649,466 |
| 2063 | 84,875,503 | 641,532 |
| 2062 | 84,503,237 | 633,599 |
| 2061 | 84,132,885 | 625,729 |
| 2060 | 83,748,999 | 617,794 |
| 2059 | 83,354,923 | 609,801 |
| 2058 | 82,947,675 | 601,770 |
| 2057 | 82,538,045 | 593,715 |
| 2056 | 82,127,477 | 585,658 |
| 2055 | 81,698,196 | 577,507 |
| 2054 | 81,255,867 | 569,335 |
| 2053 | 80,818,632 | 561,113 |
| 2052 | 80,367,409 | 552,889 |
| 2051 | 79,886,672 | 544,646 |
| 2050 | 79,411,977 | 536,304 |
| 2049 | 78,925,493 | 527,975 |
| 2048 | 78,437,677 | 519,610 |
| 2047 | 77,922,211 | 511,256 |
| 2046 | 77,397,298 | 502,817 |
| 2045 | 76,879,838 | 494,393 |
| 2044 | 76,357,155 | 485,933 |
| 2043 | 75,827,709 | 477,540 |
| 2042 | 75,291,615 | 469,142 |
| 2041 | 74,748,408 | 460,812 |
| 2040 | 74,205,530 | 452,499 |
| 2039 | 73,663,047 | 444,231 |
| 2038 | 73,105,930 | 435,987 |
| 2037 | 72,532,742 | 427,825 |
| 2036 | 71,956,247 | 419,744 |
| 2035 | 71,362,555 | 411,746 |
| 2034 | 70,762,815 | 403,811 |
| 2033 | 70,153,205 | 395,944 |
| 2032 | 69,527,410 | 388,203 |
| 2031 | 68,890,002 | 380,500 |
| 2030 | 68,245,372 | 372,841 |
| 2029 | 67,573,179 | 365,246 |
| 2028 | 66,884,377 | 357,704 |
| 2027 | 66,190,258 | 350,204 |
| 2026 | 65,496,277 | 342,728 |
| 2025 | 64,770,314 | 335,246 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).
South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 0.22% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | 0.22% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | 0.2% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | 0.21% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | 0.22% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | 0.24% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | 0.24% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | 0.24% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | 0.27% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | 0.25% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | 0.26% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | 0.26% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | 0.27% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | 0.25% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | 0.27% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | 0.29% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | 0.29% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | 0.3% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | 0.3% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | 0.31% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | 0.32% | 1% |
| 2074 | 0.32% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | 0.32% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | 0.37% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | 0.38% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | 0.35% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | 0.36% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | 0.37% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | 0.39% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | 0.39% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | 0.42% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | 0.44% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | 0.44% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | 0.44% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | 0.46% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | 0.49% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | 0.5% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | 0.53% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | 0.54% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | 0.54% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | 0.56% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | 0.6% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | 0.6% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | 0.62% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | 0.62% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | 0.66% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | 0.68% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | 0.67% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | 0.68% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | 0.7% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | 0.71% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | 0.73% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | 0.73% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 0.74% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | 0.76% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | 0.79% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | 0.8% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | 0.83% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | 0.85% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | 0.87% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 0.9% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 0.93% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 0.94% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 0.99% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 1.03% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 1.05% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 1.06% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 1.19% | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 1.26% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 1.34% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 1.42% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 1.55% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 1.66% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 0.66% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 0.94% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 2.03% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 1.68% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 1.67% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 1.49% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 1.24% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 1.19% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 1.16% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 1.06% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 1.03% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 1.02% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 1.01% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 1% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 0.95% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 0.86% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 0.92% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 1.22% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 1.21% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 1.31% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 1.22% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 1.63% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 2.01% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 1.81% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 2.31% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 2.82% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 3.09% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 3.17% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 3.25% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 3.39% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 3.52% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 3.56% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 3.52% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 3.46% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 3.09% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 2.74% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.77% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 2.74% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 2.74% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 2.81% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 2.86% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 2.91% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 2.97% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 3.08% | 3% |
| 1969 | 3.14% | 3% |
| 1968 | 3.17% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 3.17% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 3.15% | 3% |
| 1965 | 3.12% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 3.08% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 3.02% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 2.85% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.
Live population counters
|
South Africa
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
65683993
|
344750
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.79% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
39.7 seconds
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
26.6 seconds
|
58.5 minutes
|
| One death every |
54 seconds
|
5.38 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2,178 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +794,803 | +7,368 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.26% | +2.3% |
| Population growth rate rank | 85/197 | 38/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.6 minutes
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +146,370 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 9/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,631,100 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 28/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.1% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 105/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 146,370 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | - | 166,972 | - | -43 |
| 2023 | 602,793 | 228,222 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 603,636 | 233,284 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 456,411 | 458,246 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 595,873 | 369,901 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 331,124 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 318,260 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 343,146 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 641,365 | -879,235 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 641,150 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 674,754 | 272,697 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 652,427 | 232,230 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 643,723 | 264,091 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 65,166 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 566,834 | 68,563 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 554,115 | 41,528 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 595,332 | 36,869 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 503,567 | 36,339 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 487,584 | 33,159 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 464,464 | 31,286 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 442,540 | 58,924 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 415,018 | 65,604 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 430,926 | 50,313 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 484,801 | -60,793 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 526,963 | -136,794 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 594,643 | -126,011 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 627,027 | -82,722 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 667,969 | -98,181 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 710,868 | -193,007 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 743,488 | -98,403 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 698,609 | -268,849 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 789,220 | 194,977 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 794,415 | -71,342 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 827,296 | -39,131 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 835,421 | 259,718 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 884,629 | 255,605 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 909,221 | 246,382 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 922,330 | 231,009 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 903,644 | 234,378 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 893,889 | 244,940 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 869,011 | 290,789 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 837,013 | 310,172 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 807,550 | 293,195 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 279,985 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 738,415 | 258,127 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 716,541 | 56,323 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 694,341 | 62,121 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 680,929 | 63,739 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 675,011 | 27,333 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 667,862 | 38,809 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 658,438 | 38,518 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 651,596 | 41,125 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 638,754 | 38,163 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 624,761 | 32,961 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 605,102 | 61,514 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 590,794 | 73,225 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 571,841 | 78,932 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 553,741 | 81,932 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 77,417 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 506,632 | 82,514 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 490,606 | 76,298 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 473,821 | 72,844 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 455,634 | 69,771 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 437,851 | 57,728 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 421,263 | 18,891 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).
As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
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 |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Africa and Vanuatu
|
South Africa
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 31.1 years | 25.6 years |
| Median age | 29.5 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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