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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 28,516,896 people in Venezuela in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 28,692,435 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 +1.4% per year vs -0.53% in Venezuela.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Venezuela has grown from 27.2M to 28.7M (5.39% growth).

South Africa vs Venezuela: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Venezuela
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Venezuela
2100 94,734,082 28,410,292
2099 94,523,360 28,556,135
2098 94,316,049 28,707,705
2097 94,125,043 28,852,186
2096 93,927,246 28,997,910
2095 93,719,451 29,134,707
2094 93,494,697 29,264,882
2093 93,267,274 29,394,209
2092 93,041,793 29,510,768
2091 92,793,249 29,623,813
2090 92,561,159 29,734,285
2089 92,322,396 29,840,423
2088 92,080,212 29,936,470
2087 91,833,409 30,030,678
2086 91,581,639 30,120,614
2085 91,352,906 30,201,240
2084 91,106,961 30,276,736
2083 90,845,161 30,348,224
2082 90,583,188 30,418,460
2081 90,313,417 30,484,132
2080 90,039,857 30,549,302
2079 89,770,116 30,612,881
2078 89,494,440 30,674,565
2077 89,217,520 30,730,870
2076 88,954,522 30,780,046
2075 88,681,719 30,829,620
2074 88,397,221 30,868,955
2073 88,118,589 30,913,457
2072 87,835,051 30,956,993
2071 87,509,098 30,999,181
2070 87,178,463 31,039,456
2069 86,870,660 31,077,886
2068 86,558,000 31,111,229
2067 86,237,764 31,147,205
2066 85,904,801 31,177,952
2065 85,573,984 31,202,552
2064 85,214,686 31,217,149
2063 84,845,370 31,232,539
2062 84,473,236 31,245,802
2061 84,103,016 31,255,590
2060 83,719,266 31,264,668
2059 83,325,330 31,272,623
2058 82,918,226 31,273,762
2057 82,508,742 31,276,766
2056 82,098,320 31,268,661
2055 81,669,191 31,252,602
2054 81,227,019 31,238,775
2053 80,789,939 31,222,231
2052 80,338,877 31,194,694
2051 79,858,310 31,174,182
2050 79,383,784 31,139,557
2049 78,897,472 31,104,189
2048 78,409,829 31,062,699
2047 77,894,547 31,009,532
2046 77,369,819 30,960,686
2045 76,852,544 30,905,370
2044 76,330,046 30,845,107
2043 75,800,788 30,776,828
2042 75,264,885 30,694,535
2041 74,721,871 30,607,831
2040 74,179,185 30,504,638
2039 73,636,894 30,389,092
2038 73,079,976 30,268,244
2037 72,506,991 30,145,046
2036 71,930,701 30,014,973
2035 71,337,219 29,870,829
2034 70,737,692 29,718,039
2033 70,128,299 29,574,127
2032 69,502,726 29,428,330
2031 68,865,544 29,279,969
2030 68,221,143 29,139,878
2029 67,549,189 29,004,690
2028 66,860,631 28,880,803
2027 66,166,759 28,750,990
2026 65,473,024 28,630,592
2025 64,747,319 28,516,896
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Venezuela's population decreased by 2,073,285 people (a 6.74% 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 20.6% to 79,383,784 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of Venezuela will increase by 8.53% to 31,139,557 people and rank change from 54th to 62nd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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 1.16% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/venezuela | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Venezuela's population grew by 0.39%.

Live population counters

South Africa Venezuela
Current population
65829368
28692435
Population rank 24/197 54/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.35%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
4.73 minutes
One birth every
26.7 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
53.3 seconds
2.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 +305
Annual growth/decline +740,132 +111,353
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% +0.39%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 139/197
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 591,618 166,972 214,547 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/venezuela | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 73.4% of the population change in South Africa is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people). In Venezuela 36.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,765,716 people) and 63.1% is from migration (a loss of 4,726,087 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/venezuela | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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