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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.89 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

South Africa vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Zambia
2100 94,767,727 65,217,429
2099 94,556,931 64,871,545
2098 94,349,546 64,515,891
2097 94,158,472 64,148,736
2096 93,960,605 63,777,313
2095 93,752,736 63,393,169
2094 93,527,902 62,992,652
2093 93,300,398 62,590,327
2092 93,074,837 62,175,930
2091 92,826,204 61,750,591
2090 92,594,033 61,321,399
2089 92,355,184 60,880,148
2088 92,112,914 60,434,676
2087 91,866,024 59,970,107
2086 91,614,165 59,499,234
2085 91,385,350 59,023,040
2084 91,139,318 58,535,857
2083 90,877,425 58,040,512
2082 90,615,359 57,538,672
2081 90,345,492 57,027,491
2080 90,071,835 56,506,421
2079 89,801,998 55,983,242
2078 89,526,224 55,449,777
2077 89,249,206 54,906,771
2076 88,986,114 54,361,075
2075 88,713,215 53,806,856
2074 88,428,616 53,246,777
2073 88,149,885 52,677,348
2072 87,866,246 52,101,139
2071 87,540,177 51,519,691
2070 87,209,425 50,931,614
2069 86,901,512 50,334,700
2068 86,588,742 49,737,479
2067 86,268,392 49,135,488
2066 85,935,310 48,530,443
2065 85,604,376 47,918,592
2064 85,244,950 47,299,740
2063 84,875,503 46,677,439
2062 84,503,237 46,048,819
2061 84,132,885 45,416,657
2060 83,748,999 44,777,347
2059 83,354,923 44,137,306
2058 82,947,675 43,494,451
2057 82,538,045 42,851,923
2056 82,127,477 42,206,898
2055 81,698,196 41,558,284
2054 81,255,867 40,906,492
2053 80,818,632 40,255,629
2052 80,367,409 39,603,888
2051 79,886,672 38,949,958
2050 79,411,977 38,294,607
2049 78,925,493 37,634,194
2048 78,437,677 36,971,309
2047 77,922,211 36,309,749
2046 77,397,298 35,645,868
2045 76,879,838 34,981,812
2044 76,357,155 34,316,981
2043 75,827,709 33,652,420
2042 75,291,615 32,990,657
2041 74,748,408 32,329,447
2040 74,205,530 31,664,262
2039 73,663,047 31,001,305
2038 73,105,930 30,335,662
2037 72,532,742 29,668,561
2036 71,956,247 29,000,264
2035 71,362,555 28,333,498
2034 70,762,815 27,671,195
2033 70,153,205 27,011,974
2032 69,527,410 26,356,580
2031 68,890,002 25,702,812
2030 68,245,372 25,055,216
2029 67,573,179 24,414,405
2028 66,884,377 23,780,809
2027 66,190,258 23,151,479
2026 65,496,277 22,529,742
2025 64,770,314 21,918,187
2024 64,007,187 21,314,956
2023 63,212,384 20,723,965
2022 62,378,410 20,152,938
2021 61,502,603 19,603,607
2020 60,562,381 19,059,395
2019 59,587,885 18,513,839
2018 58,613,001 17,973,569
2017 57,635,162 17,441,320
2016 57,259,551 16,914,423
2015 56,723,537 16,399,089
2014 55,594,838 15,895,315
2013 54,678,791 15,398,997
2012 53,782,567 14,913,629
2011 52,995,205 14,437,796
2010 52,344,051 13,965,594
2009 51,728,516 13,490,389
2008 51,114,599 13,021,324
2007 50,528,584 12,565,085
2006 49,998,277 12,129,553
2005 49,490,033 11,718,819
2004 48,991,421 11,338,198
2003 48,500,348 10,983,595
2002 48,019,415 10,647,949
2001 47,566,800 10,325,185
2000 47,159,719 10,017,631
1999 46,730,335 9,740,005
1998 46,223,880 9,482,408
1997 45,666,838 9,237,063
1996 45,123,018 9,004,053
1995 44,541,554 8,785,763
1994 44,004,139 8,576,269
1993 43,297,156 8,373,921
1992 42,443,509 8,176,680
1991 41,687,898 7,981,650
1990 40,746,268 7,786,169
1989 39,628,575 7,589,216
1988 38,480,649 7,391,440
1987 37,326,190 7,191,282
1986 36,180,515 6,986,471
1985 35,042,093 6,780,953
1984 33,892,788 6,580,490
1983 32,739,304 6,381,038
1982 31,615,339 6,178,637
1981 30,541,044 5,983,289
1980 29,518,857 5,802,833
1979 28,634,162 5,631,728
1978 27,869,507 5,465,374
1977 27,118,952 5,302,480
1976 26,395,450 5,143,842
1975 25,690,940 4,990,086
1974 24,989,108 4,842,746
1973 24,294,263 4,702,693
1972 23,609,456 4,569,309
1971 22,942,143 4,442,525
1970 22,279,984 4,321,718
1969 21,614,676 4,197,116
1968 20,957,287 4,065,593
1967 20,314,066 3,936,343
1966 19,690,087 3,812,003
1965 19,089,380 3,692,086
1964 18,511,361 3,577,017
1963 17,954,564 3,465,907
1962 17,418,522 3,358,099
1961 16,908,035 3,254,086
1960 16,440,172 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Zambia
2100 0.22% 0.53%
2099 0.22% 0.55%
2098 0.2% 0.57%
2097 0.21% 0.58%
2096 0.22% 0.61%
2095 0.24% 0.64%
2094 0.24% 0.64%
2093 0.24% 0.67%
2092 0.27% 0.69%
2091 0.25% 0.7%
2090 0.26% 0.72%
2089 0.26% 0.74%
2088 0.27% 0.77%
2087 0.27% 0.79%
2086 0.25% 0.81%
2085 0.27% 0.83%
2084 0.29% 0.85%
2083 0.29% 0.87%
2082 0.3% 0.9%
2081 0.3% 0.92%
2080 0.3% 0.93%
2079 0.31% 0.96%
2078 0.31% 0.99%
2077 0.3% 1%
2076 0.31% 1.03%
2075 0.32% 1.05%
2074 0.32% 1.08%
2073 0.32% 1.11%
2072 0.37% 1.13%
2071 0.38% 1.15%
2070 0.35% 1.19%
2069 0.36% 1.2%
2068 0.37% 1.23%
2067 0.39% 1.25%
2066 0.39% 1.28%
2065 0.42% 1.31%
2064 0.44% 1.33%
2063 0.44% 1.37%
2062 0.44% 1.39%
2061 0.46% 1.43%
2060 0.47% 1.45%
2059 0.49% 1.48%
2058 0.5% 1.5%
2057 0.5% 1.53%
2056 0.53% 1.56%
2055 0.54% 1.59%
2054 0.54% 1.62%
2053 0.56% 1.65%
2052 0.6% 1.68%
2051 0.6% 1.71%
2050 0.62% 1.75%
2049 0.62% 1.79%
2048 0.66% 1.82%
2047 0.68% 1.86%
2046 0.67% 1.9%
2045 0.68% 1.94%
2044 0.7% 1.97%
2043 0.71% 2.01%
2042 0.73% 2.05%
2041 0.73% 2.1%
2040 0.74% 2.14%
2039 0.76% 2.19%
2038 0.79% 2.25%
2037 0.8% 2.3%
2036 0.83% 2.35%
2035 0.85% 2.39%
2034 0.87% 2.44%
2033 0.9% 2.49%
2032 0.93% 2.54%
2031 0.94% 2.58%
2030 0.99% 2.62%
2029 1.03% 2.66%
2028 1.05% 2.72%
2027 1.06% 2.76%
2026 1.12% 2.79%
2025 1.19% 2.83%
2024 1.26% 2.85%
2023 1.34% 2.83%
2022 1.42% 2.8%
2021 1.55% 2.86%
2020 1.64% 2.95%
2019 1.66% 3.01%
2018 1.7% 3.05%
2017 0.66% 3.12%
2016 0.94% 3.14%
2015 2.03% 3.17%
2014 1.68% 3.22%
2013 1.67% 3.25%
2012 1.49% 3.3%
2011 1.24% 3.38%
2010 1.19% 3.52%
2009 1.2% 3.6%
2008 1.16% 3.63%
2007 1.06% 3.59%
2006 1.03% 3.5%
2005 1.02% 3.36%
2004 1.01% 3.23%
2003 1% 3.15%
2002 0.95% 3.13%
2001 0.86% 3.07%
2000 0.92% 2.85%
1999 1.1% 2.72%
1998 1.22% 2.66%
1997 1.21% 2.59%
1996 1.31% 2.48%
1995 1.22% 2.44%
1994 1.63% 2.42%
1993 2.01% 2.41%
1992 1.81% 2.44%
1991 2.31% 2.51%
1990 2.82% 2.6%
1989 2.98% 2.68%
1988 3.09% 2.78%
1987 3.17% 2.93%
1986 3.25% 3.03%
1985 3.39% 3.05%
1984 3.52% 3.13%
1983 3.56% 3.28%
1982 3.52% 3.26%
1981 3.46% 3.11%
1980 3.09% 3.04%
1979 2.74% 3.04%
1978 2.77% 3.07%
1977 2.74% 3.08%
1976 2.74% 3.08%
1975 2.81% 3.04%
1974 2.86% 2.98%
1973 2.9% 2.92%
1972 2.91% 2.85%
1971 2.97% 2.8%
1970 3.08% 2.97%
1969 3.14% 3.24%
1968 3.17% 3.28%
1967 3.17% 3.26%
1966 3.15% 3.25%
1965 3.12% 3.22%
1964 3.1% 3.21%
1963 3.08% 3.21%
1962 3.02% 3.2%
1961 2.85% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

South Africa Zambia
Current population
65683993
22697916
Population rank 24/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.27%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
26.6 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
54 seconds
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 21/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +146,370 +6,562
Net migration rank 9/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - 6,562
2024 - 166,972 - 7,381
2023 602,793 228,222 577,660 9,521
2022 603,636 233,284 563,456 -8,566
2021 456,411 458,246 535,629 8,143
2020 595,873 369,901 536,484 8,156
2019 652,130 331,124 528,089 18,385
2018 648,319 318,260 515,644 18,431
2017 645,975 343,146 504,630 25,789
2016 641,365 -879,235 497,521 25,860
2015 668,771 641,150 491,021 16,261
2014 674,754 272,697 483,663 16,574
2013 652,427 232,230 476,846 15,542
2012 643,723 264,091 469,406 8,958
2011 601,708 65,166 459,743 13,569
2010 566,834 68,563 448,337 22,761
2009 554,115 41,528 434,458 44,867
2008 595,332 36,869 419,560 39,249
2007 503,567 36,339 403,729 49,945
2006 487,584 33,159 387,891 29,517
2005 464,464 31,286 368,756 35,316
2004 442,540 58,924 349,352 7,819
2003 415,018 65,604 331,189 20,845
2002 430,926 50,313 316,041 3,206
2001 484,801 -60,793 302,682 23,582
2000 526,963 -136,794 293,186 -4,338
1999 594,643 -126,011 283,297 -16,888
1998 627,027 -82,722 275,568 -26,796
1997 667,969 -98,181 268,198 -26,276
1996 710,868 -193,007 262,468 -38,358
1995 743,488 -98,403 257,897 -45,423
1994 698,609 -268,849 252,023 -45,504
1993 789,220 194,977 245,917 -47,739
1992 794,415 -71,342 239,953 -43,656
1991 827,296 -39,131 237,957 -44,203
1990 835,421 259,718 235,835 -38,619
1989 884,629 255,605 233,429 -36,736
1988 909,221 246,382 230,118 -31,270
1987 922,330 231,009 227,813 -26,338
1986 903,644 234,378 224,768 -16,610
1985 893,889 244,940 221,351 -18,474
1984 869,011 290,789 216,695 -18,652
1983 837,013 310,172 212,712 -11,849
1982 807,550 293,195 207,621 -3,676
1981 767,833 279,985 202,822 -16,072
1980 738,415 258,127 198,817 -24,664
1979 716,541 56,323 197,578 -29,515
1978 694,341 62,121 194,933 -30,284
1977 680,929 63,739 191,557 -30,423
1976 675,011 27,333 186,762 -30,612
1975 667,862 38,809 182,258 -30,886
1974 658,438 38,518 174,484 -31,178
1973 651,596 41,125 168,258 -31,472
1972 638,754 38,163 161,648 -31,672
1971 624,761 32,961 155,249 -31,651
1970 605,102 61,514 149,380 -31,370
1969 590,794 73,225 142,660 -11,469
1968 571,841 78,932 137,315 -5,447
1967 553,741 81,932 131,938 -5,298
1966 534,862 77,417 127,164 -5,129
1965 506,632 82,514 122,814 -5,023
1964 490,606 76,298 117,197 -4,851
1963 473,821 72,844 114,555 -4,676
1962 455,634 69,771 110,173 -4,428
1961 437,851 57,728 106,318 -4,043
1960 421,263 18,891 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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