The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 70,175 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
South Africa vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 94,767,727 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 94,556,931 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 94,349,546 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 94,158,472 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 93,960,605 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 93,752,736 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 93,527,902 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 93,300,398 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 93,074,837 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 92,826,204 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 92,594,033 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 92,355,184 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 92,112,914 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 91,866,024 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 91,614,165 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 91,385,350 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 91,139,318 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 90,877,425 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 90,615,359 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 90,345,492 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 90,071,835 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 89,801,998 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 89,526,224 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 89,249,206 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 88,986,114 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 88,713,215 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 88,428,616 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 88,149,885 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 87,866,246 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 87,540,177 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 87,209,425 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 86,901,512 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 86,588,742 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 86,268,392 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 85,935,310 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 85,604,376 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 85,244,950 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 84,875,503 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 84,503,237 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 84,132,885 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 83,748,999 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 83,354,923 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 82,947,675 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 82,538,045 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 82,127,477 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 81,698,196 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 81,255,867 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 80,818,632 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 80,367,409 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 79,886,672 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 79,411,977 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 78,925,493 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 78,437,677 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 77,922,211 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 77,397,298 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 76,879,838 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 76,357,155 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 75,827,709 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 75,291,615 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 74,748,408 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 74,205,530 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 73,663,047 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 73,105,930 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 72,532,742 | 996 |
| 2036 | 71,956,247 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 71,362,555 | 988 |
| 2034 | 70,762,815 | 988 |
| 2033 | 70,153,205 | 974 |
| 2032 | 69,527,410 | 964 |
| 2031 | 68,890,002 | 977 |
| 2030 | 68,245,372 | 979 |
| 2029 | 67,573,179 | 985 |
| 2028 | 66,884,377 | 983 |
| 2027 | 66,190,258 | 946 |
| 2026 | 65,496,277 | 933 |
| 2025 | 64,770,314 | 927 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 910 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 927 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 951 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 972 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 987 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | - |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | - |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 842 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 839 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 836 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 832 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 829 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 826 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 824 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 821 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 932 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 921 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 921 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 911 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 900 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 890 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 880 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | - |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | - |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | - |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | - |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | - |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | - |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | - |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | - |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | - |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | - |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | - |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | - |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | - |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | - |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | - |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | - |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | - |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | - |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | - |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | - |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | - |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | - |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | - |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | - |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | - |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | - |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | - |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | - |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | - |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | - |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | - |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | - |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | - |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | - |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | - |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | - |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | - |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | - |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | - |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 0.22% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | 0.22% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | 0.21% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | 0.22% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | 0.24% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | 0.24% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | 0.24% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | 0.27% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | 0.25% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | 0.26% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 0.26% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | 0.27% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | 0.27% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | 0.25% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | 0.27% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | 0.29% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | 0.29% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | 0.3% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.3% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.31% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 0.32% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 0.32% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 0.32% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 0.37% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 0.38% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 0.35% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 0.36% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 0.37% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 0.39% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 0.39% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 0.42% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 0.44% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 0.44% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 0.44% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 0.46% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 0.49% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 0.5% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 0.53% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 0.54% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 0.54% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 0.56% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 0.6% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 0.6% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 0.62% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 0.62% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 0.66% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 0.68% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 0.67% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 0.68% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 0.7% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 0.71% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 0.73% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 0.73% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 0.74% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 0.76% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 0.79% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 0.8% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 0.83% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 0.85% | 0% |
| 2034 | 0.87% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 0.9% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 0.93% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 0.94% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 0.99% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 1.03% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 1.05% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 1.06% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 1.19% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 1.26% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 1.34% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 1.42% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 1.55% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.66% | 0% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | 0% |
| 2017 | 0.66% | 0% |
| 2016 | 0.94% | 0% |
| 2015 | 2.03% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 1.68% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.67% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 1.49% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 1.24% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 1.19% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 1.16% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 1.06% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 1.03% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 1.02% | 0% |
| 2004 | 1.01% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 1% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 0.95% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.86% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 0.92% | - |
| 1999 | 1.1% | - |
| 1998 | 1.22% | - |
| 1997 | 1.21% | - |
| 1996 | 1.31% | - |
| 1995 | 1.22% | - |
| 1994 | 1.63% | - |
| 1993 | 2.01% | - |
| 1992 | 1.81% | - |
| 1991 | 2.31% | - |
| 1990 | 2.82% | - |
| 1989 | 2.98% | - |
| 1988 | 3.09% | - |
| 1987 | 3.17% | - |
| 1986 | 3.25% | - |
| 1985 | 3.39% | - |
| 1984 | 3.52% | - |
| 1983 | 3.56% | - |
| 1982 | 3.52% | - |
| 1981 | 3.46% | - |
| 1980 | 3.09% | - |
| 1979 | 2.74% | - |
| 1978 | 2.77% | - |
| 1977 | 2.74% | - |
| 1976 | 2.74% | - |
| 1975 | 2.81% | - |
| 1974 | 2.86% | - |
| 1973 | 2.9% | - |
| 1972 | 2.91% | - |
| 1971 | 2.97% | - |
| 1970 | 3.08% | - |
| 1969 | 3.14% | - |
| 1968 | 3.17% | - |
| 1967 | 3.17% | - |
| 1966 | 3.15% | - |
| 1965 | 3.12% | - |
| 1964 | 3.1% | - |
| 1963 | 3.08% | - |
| 1962 | 3.02% | - |
| 1961 | 2.85% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
65683993
|
936
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.79% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
39.7 seconds
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
26.6 seconds
|
n/a |
| One death every |
54 seconds
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +2,178 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +794,803 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.26% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 85/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.6 minutes
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | +146,370 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 9/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,631,100 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 28/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.1% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 146,370 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | 166,972 | - | - |
| 2023 | 602,793 | 228,222 | - | - |
| 2022 | 603,636 | 233,284 | - | - |
| 2021 | 456,411 | 458,246 | - | - |
| 2020 | 595,873 | 369,901 | - | - |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 331,124 | - | - |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 318,260 | - | - |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 343,146 | - | - |
| 2016 | 641,365 | -879,235 | - | - |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 641,150 | - | - |
| 2014 | 674,754 | 272,697 | - | - |
| 2013 | 652,427 | 232,230 | - | - |
| 2012 | 643,723 | 264,091 | - | - |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 65,166 | - | - |
| 2010 | 566,834 | 68,563 | - | - |
| 2009 | 554,115 | 41,528 | - | - |
| 2008 | 595,332 | 36,869 | - | - |
| 2007 | 503,567 | 36,339 | - | - |
| 2006 | 487,584 | 33,159 | - | - |
| 2005 | 464,464 | 31,286 | - | - |
| 2004 | 442,540 | 58,924 | - | - |
| 2003 | 415,018 | 65,604 | - | - |
| 2002 | 430,926 | 50,313 | - | - |
| 2001 | 484,801 | -60,793 | - | - |
| 2000 | 526,963 | -136,794 | - | - |
| 1999 | 594,643 | -126,011 | - | - |
| 1998 | 627,027 | -82,722 | - | - |
| 1997 | 667,969 | -98,181 | - | - |
| 1996 | 710,868 | -193,007 | - | - |
| 1995 | 743,488 | -98,403 | - | - |
| 1994 | 698,609 | -268,849 | - | - |
| 1993 | 789,220 | 194,977 | - | - |
| 1992 | 794,415 | -71,342 | - | - |
| 1991 | 827,296 | -39,131 | - | - |
| 1990 | 835,421 | 259,718 | - | - |
| 1989 | 884,629 | 255,605 | - | - |
| 1988 | 909,221 | 246,382 | - | - |
| 1987 | 922,330 | 231,009 | - | - |
| 1986 | 903,644 | 234,378 | - | - |
| 1985 | 893,889 | 244,940 | - | - |
| 1984 | 869,011 | 290,789 | - | - |
| 1983 | 837,013 | 310,172 | - | - |
| 1982 | 807,550 | 293,195 | - | - |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 279,985 | - | - |
| 1980 | 738,415 | 258,127 | - | - |
| 1979 | 716,541 | 56,323 | - | - |
| 1978 | 694,341 | 62,121 | - | - |
| 1977 | 680,929 | 63,739 | - | - |
| 1976 | 675,011 | 27,333 | - | - |
| 1975 | 667,862 | 38,809 | - | - |
| 1974 | 658,438 | 38,518 | - | - |
| 1973 | 651,596 | 41,125 | - | - |
| 1972 | 638,754 | 38,163 | - | - |
| 1971 | 624,761 | 32,961 | - | - |
| 1970 | 605,102 | 61,514 | - | - |
| 1969 | 590,794 | 73,225 | - | - |
| 1968 | 571,841 | 78,932 | - | - |
| 1967 | 553,741 | 81,932 | - | - |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 77,417 | - | - |
| 1965 | 506,632 | 82,514 | - | - |
| 1964 | 490,606 | 76,298 | - | - |
| 1963 | 473,821 | 72,844 | - | - |
| 1962 | 455,634 | 69,771 | - | - |
| 1961 | 437,851 | 57,728 | - | - |
| 1960 | 421,263 | 18,891 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/vatican | CC BY
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 |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Africa and the Vatican
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 31.1 years | n/a |
| Median age | 29.5 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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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