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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 28,405,543 people in Venezuela in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 28,661,242 in Venezuela.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.29 times bigger than Venezuela's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Venezuela is the 54th.
  • The countries together account for 1.14% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.35% for Venezuela.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs -0.46% in Venezuela.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Venezuela has grown from 27.2M to 28.7M (5.28% growth).

South Africa vs Venezuela: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Venezuela
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Venezuela
2100 94,767,727 28,408,393
2099 94,556,931 28,554,225
2098 94,349,546 28,705,786
2097 94,158,472 28,850,257
2096 93,960,605 28,995,972
2095 93,752,736 29,132,759
2094 93,527,902 29,262,925
2093 93,300,398 29,392,244
2092 93,074,837 29,508,795
2091 92,826,204 29,621,832
2090 92,594,033 29,732,297
2089 92,355,184 29,838,428
2088 92,112,914 29,934,468
2087 91,866,024 30,028,670
2086 91,614,165 30,118,600
2085 91,385,350 30,199,220
2084 91,139,318 30,274,712
2083 90,877,425 30,346,195
2082 90,615,359 30,416,426
2081 90,345,492 30,482,094
2080 90,071,835 30,547,260
2079 89,801,998 30,610,834
2078 89,526,224 30,672,514
2077 89,249,206 30,728,816
2076 88,986,114 30,777,988
2075 88,713,215 30,827,559
2074 88,428,616 30,866,891
2073 88,149,885 30,911,390
2072 87,866,246 30,954,923
2071 87,540,177 30,997,109
2070 87,209,425 31,037,381
2069 86,901,512 31,075,808
2068 86,588,742 31,109,149
2067 86,268,392 31,145,122
2066 85,935,310 31,175,867
2065 85,604,376 31,200,466
2064 85,244,950 31,215,062
2063 84,875,503 31,230,451
2062 84,503,237 31,243,713
2061 84,132,885 31,253,501
2060 83,748,999 31,262,578
2059 83,354,923 31,270,532
2058 82,947,675 31,271,671
2057 82,538,045 31,274,675
2056 82,127,477 31,266,571
2055 81,698,196 31,250,513
2054 81,255,867 31,236,686
2053 80,818,632 31,220,143
2052 80,367,409 31,192,608
2051 79,886,672 31,172,098
2050 79,411,977 31,137,475
2049 78,925,493 31,102,109
2048 78,437,677 31,060,623
2047 77,922,211 31,007,458
2046 77,397,298 30,958,617
2045 76,879,838 30,903,304
2044 76,357,155 30,843,044
2043 75,827,709 30,774,770
2042 75,291,615 30,692,483
2041 74,748,408 30,605,785
2040 74,205,530 30,502,599
2039 73,663,047 30,387,061
2038 73,105,930 30,266,220
2037 72,532,742 30,143,030
2036 71,956,247 30,012,966
2035 71,362,555 29,868,832
2034 70,762,815 29,716,052
2033 70,153,205 29,572,150
2032 69,527,410 29,426,362
2031 68,890,002 29,278,011
2030 68,245,372 29,137,930
2029 67,573,179 29,002,751
2028 66,884,377 28,878,872
2027 66,190,258 28,749,068
2026 65,496,277 28,628,678
2025 64,770,314 28,514,989
2024 64,007,187 28,405,543
2023 63,212,384 28,300,854
2022 62,378,410 28,213,017
2021 61,502,603 28,237,826
2020 60,562,381 28,444,077
2019 59,587,885 28,938,098
2018 58,613,001 29,807,592
2017 57,635,162 30,565,323
2016 57,259,551 30,765,720
2015 56,723,537 30,573,972
2014 55,594,838 30,254,079
2013 54,678,791 29,912,198
2012 53,782,567 29,553,826
2011 52,995,205 29,185,212
2010 52,344,051 28,813,101
2009 51,728,516 28,438,298
2008 51,114,599 28,053,696
2007 50,528,584 27,649,363
2006 49,998,277 27,224,686
2005 49,490,033 26,785,804
2004 48,991,421 26,340,838
2003 48,500,348 25,892,703
2002 48,019,415 25,435,671
2001 47,566,800 24,979,922
2000 47,159,719 24,526,708
1999 46,730,335 24,066,593
1998 46,223,880 23,601,337
1997 45,666,838 23,131,685
1996 45,123,018 22,662,113
1995 44,541,554 22,193,821
1994 44,004,139 21,725,188
1993 43,297,156 21,254,520
1992 42,443,509 20,780,948
1991 41,687,898 20,304,896
1990 40,746,268 19,827,010
1989 39,628,575 19,348,921
1988 38,480,649 18,871,020
1987 37,326,190 18,394,963
1986 36,180,515 17,923,536
1985 35,042,093 17,461,434
1984 33,892,788 17,008,841
1983 32,739,304 16,562,205
1982 31,615,339 16,121,874
1981 30,541,044 15,687,297
1980 29,518,857 15,258,218
1979 28,634,162 14,834,552
1978 27,869,507 14,416,684
1977 27,118,952 14,006,812
1976 26,395,450 13,606,284
1975 25,690,940 13,215,892
1974 24,989,108 12,835,351
1973 24,294,263 12,463,537
1972 23,609,456 12,099,180
1971 22,942,143 11,741,008
1970 22,279,984 11,387,790
1969 21,614,676 11,040,280
1968 20,957,287 10,697,530
1967 20,314,066 10,358,513
1966 19,690,087 10,024,854
1965 19,089,380 9,697,790
1964 18,511,361 9,377,712
1963 17,954,564 9,064,021
1962 17,418,522 8,756,870
1961 16,908,035 8,455,915
1960 16,440,172 8,160,090

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/venezuela | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Venezuela gained 3,541,034 people (a 13% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Venezuela's population decreased by 2,104,478 people (a 6.84% decline).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Venezuela was ranked 41st in 2006 and ranked 54th 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 Venezuela will increase by 8.64% to 31,137,475 people and rank change from 54th to 61st.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 31.3M people in 2057 for Venezuela.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Venezuela
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Venezuela
2100 0.22% -0.51%
2099 0.22% -0.53%
2098 0.2% -0.5%
2097 0.21% -0.5%
2096 0.22% -0.47%
2095 0.24% -0.44%
2094 0.24% -0.44%
2093 0.24% -0.39%
2092 0.27% -0.38%
2091 0.25% -0.37%
2090 0.26% -0.36%
2089 0.26% -0.32%
2088 0.27% -0.31%
2087 0.27% -0.3%
2086 0.25% -0.27%
2085 0.27% -0.25%
2084 0.29% -0.24%
2083 0.29% -0.23%
2082 0.3% -0.22%
2081 0.3% -0.21%
2080 0.3% -0.21%
2079 0.31% -0.2%
2078 0.31% -0.18%
2077 0.3% -0.16%
2076 0.31% -0.16%
2075 0.32% -0.13%
2074 0.32% -0.14%
2073 0.32% -0.14%
2072 0.37% -0.14%
2071 0.38% -0.13%
2070 0.35% -0.12%
2069 0.36% -0.11%
2068 0.37% -0.12%
2067 0.39% -0.1%
2066 0.39% -0.08%
2065 0.42% -0.05%
2064 0.44% -0.05%
2063 0.44% -0.04%
2062 0.44% -0.03%
2061 0.46% -0.03%
2060 0.47% -0.03%
2059 0.49% -0.004%
2058 0.5% -0.01%
2057 0.5% 0.03%
2056 0.53% 0.05%
2055 0.54% 0.04%
2054 0.54% 0.05%
2053 0.56% 0.09%
2052 0.6% 0.07%
2051 0.6% 0.11%
2050 0.62% 0.11%
2049 0.62% 0.13%
2048 0.66% 0.17%
2047 0.68% 0.16%
2046 0.67% 0.18%
2045 0.68% 0.2%
2044 0.7% 0.22%
2043 0.71% 0.27%
2042 0.73% 0.28%
2041 0.73% 0.34%
2040 0.74% 0.38%
2039 0.76% 0.4%
2038 0.79% 0.41%
2037 0.8% 0.43%
2036 0.83% 0.48%
2035 0.85% 0.51%
2034 0.87% 0.49%
2033 0.9% 0.5%
2032 0.93% 0.51%
2031 0.94% 0.48%
2030 0.99% 0.47%
2029 1.03% 0.43%
2028 1.05% 0.45%
2027 1.06% 0.42%
2026 1.12% 0.4%
2025 1.19% 0.39%
2024 1.26% 0.37%
2023 1.34% 0.31%
2022 1.42% -0.09%
2021 1.55% -0.73%
2020 1.64% -1.71%
2019 1.66% -2.92%
2018 1.7% -2.48%
2017 0.66% -0.65%
2016 0.94% 0.63%
2015 2.03% 1.06%
2014 1.68% 1.14%
2013 1.67% 1.21%
2012 1.49% 1.26%
2011 1.24% 1.29%
2010 1.19% 1.32%
2009 1.2% 1.37%
2008 1.16% 1.46%
2007 1.06% 1.56%
2006 1.03% 1.64%
2005 1.02% 1.69%
2004 1.01% 1.73%
2003 1% 1.8%
2002 0.95% 1.82%
2001 0.86% 1.85%
2000 0.92% 1.91%
1999 1.1% 1.97%
1998 1.22% 2.03%
1997 1.21% 2.07%
1996 1.31% 2.11%
1995 1.22% 2.16%
1994 1.63% 2.21%
1993 2.01% 2.28%
1992 1.81% 2.34%
1991 2.31% 2.41%
1990 2.82% 2.47%
1989 2.98% 2.53%
1988 3.09% 2.59%
1987 3.17% 2.63%
1986 3.25% 2.65%
1985 3.39% 2.66%
1984 3.52% 2.7%
1983 3.56% 2.73%
1982 3.52% 2.77%
1981 3.46% 2.81%
1980 3.09% 2.86%
1979 2.74% 2.9%
1978 2.77% 2.93%
1977 2.74% 2.94%
1976 2.74% 2.95%
1975 2.81% 2.96%
1974 2.86% 2.98%
1973 2.9% 3.01%
1972 2.91% 3.05%
1971 2.97% 3.1%
1970 3.08% 3.15%
1969 3.14% 3.2%
1968 3.17% 3.27%
1967 3.17% 3.33%
1966 3.15% 3.37%
1965 3.12% 3.41%
1964 3.1% 3.46%
1963 3.08% 3.51%
1962 3.02% 3.56%
1961 2.85% 3.63%

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/venezuela | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Venezuela's population grew by 0.37%.

Live population counters

South Africa Venezuela
Current population
65683993
28661242
Population rank 24/197 54/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.35%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
5.02 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
1.23 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
2.46 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +287
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +104,689
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +0.37%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 143/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
5.25 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -100,467
Net migration rank 9/196 180/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 1,263,304
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 51/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 101/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Venezuela
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Venezuela
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -100,467
2024 - 166,972 - -105,297
2023 602,793 228,222 213,020 -112,899
2022 603,636 233,284 216,619 -141,107
2021 456,411 458,246 207,746 -332,936
2020 595,873 369,901 237,223 -524,649
2019 652,130 331,124 274,826 -975,534
2018 648,319 318,260 317,302 -1,355,602
2017 645,975 343,146 340,222 -817,376
2016 641,365 -879,235 359,651 -283,270
2015 668,771 641,150 384,560 -77,417
2014 674,754 272,697 395,088 -62,437
2013 652,427 232,230 408,930 -57,818
2012 643,723 264,091 420,758 -55,131
2011 601,708 65,166 425,958 -54,384
2010 566,834 68,563 425,397 -52,781
2009 554,115 41,528 427,257 -50,286
2008 595,332 36,869 435,870 -43,636
2007 503,567 36,339 452,482 -36,060
2006 487,584 33,159 460,152 -27,240
2005 464,464 31,286 463,260 -18,407
2004 442,540 58,924 455,881 -10,798
2003 415,018 65,604 456,902 -5,729
2002 430,926 50,313 466,821 -3,944
2001 484,801 -60,793 451,487 -2,856
2000 526,963 -136,794 459,802 -1,999
1999 594,643 -126,011 463,787 -1,376
1998 627,027 -82,722 469,123 -1,010
1997 667,969 -98,181 472,002 -816
1996 710,868 -193,007 468,653 -708
1995 743,488 -98,403 469,267 -622
1994 698,609 -268,849 469,178 -559
1993 789,220 194,977 473,189 -477
1992 794,415 -71,342 474,824 -381
1991 827,296 -39,131 477,917 -236
1990 835,421 259,718 478,168 -69
1989 884,629 255,605 478,053 32
1988 909,221 246,382 477,569 137
1987 922,330 231,009 474,204 182
1986 903,644 234,378 468,252 201
1985 893,889 244,940 455,517 237
1984 869,011 290,789 449,186 247
1983 837,013 310,172 443,569 260
1982 807,550 293,195 436,564 260
1981 767,833 279,985 432,059 251
1980 738,415 258,127 425,613 237
1979 716,541 56,323 421,256 228
1978 694,341 62,121 414,032 205
1977 680,929 63,739 405,315 196
1976 675,011 27,333 395,344 190
1975 667,862 38,809 385,045 186
1974 658,438 38,518 375,678 173
1973 651,596 41,125 367,612 171
1972 638,754 38,163 360,749 173
1971 624,761 32,961 355,212 215
1970 605,102 61,514 350,709 305
1969 590,794 73,225 343,596 403
1968 571,841 78,932 340,973 532
1967 553,741 81,932 335,813 717
1966 534,862 77,417 329,697 1,087
1965 506,632 82,514 321,695 1,656
1964 490,606 76,298 314,397 2,410
1963 473,821 72,844 307,279 3,296
1962 455,634 69,771 299,345 4,386
1961 437,851 57,728 292,109 6,069
1960 421,263 18,891 285,105 8,369

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/venezuela | 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 Venezuela 38.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,946,257 people) and 61.4% is from migration (a loss of 4,683,227 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 1,263,304 people or 4.4% in Venezuela.

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
Venezuela
City Population
Caracas 2.25M
Maracaibo 1.55M
Valencia 1.48M
Maracay 1.1M
Barquisimeto 1.06M
Barinas 874K
Maturin 753K
Ciudad Guayana 751K
Catia La Mar 662K
Ciudad Bolivar 568K

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/venezuela | 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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