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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,747,319 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,829,368 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.88 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 +1.4% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.8M (31.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

South Africa vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Zambia
2100 94,734,082 65,204,593
2099 94,523,360 64,858,778
2098 94,316,049 64,503,193
2097 94,125,043 64,136,110
2096 93,927,246 63,764,760
2095 93,719,451 63,380,692
2094 93,494,697 62,980,254
2093 93,267,274 62,578,008
2092 93,041,793 62,163,693
2091 92,793,249 61,738,437
2090 92,561,159 61,309,330
2089 92,322,396 60,868,166
2088 92,080,212 60,422,781
2087 91,833,409 59,958,303
2086 91,581,639 59,487,524
2085 91,352,906 59,011,423
2084 91,106,961 58,524,337
2083 90,845,161 58,029,088
2082 90,583,188 57,527,347
2081 90,313,417 57,016,267
2080 90,039,857 56,495,299
2079 89,770,116 55,972,223
2078 89,494,440 55,438,864
2077 89,217,520 54,895,964
2076 88,954,522 54,350,375
2075 88,681,719 53,796,265
2074 88,397,221 53,236,297
2073 88,118,589 52,666,980
2072 87,835,051 52,090,884
2071 87,509,098 51,509,551
2070 87,178,463 50,921,590
2069 86,870,660 50,324,793
2068 86,558,000 49,727,689
2067 86,237,764 49,125,817
2066 85,904,801 48,520,891
2065 85,573,984 47,909,160
2064 85,214,686 47,290,430
2063 84,845,370 46,668,252
2062 84,473,236 46,039,755
2061 84,103,016 45,407,718
2060 83,719,266 44,768,534
2059 83,325,330 44,128,619
2058 82,918,226 43,485,891
2057 82,508,742 42,843,489
2056 82,098,320 42,198,591
2055 81,669,191 41,550,105
2054 81,227,019 40,898,440
2053 80,789,939 40,247,706
2052 80,338,877 39,596,094
2051 79,858,310 38,942,292
2050 79,383,784 38,287,070
2049 78,897,472 37,626,787
2048 78,409,829 36,964,032
2047 77,894,547 36,302,603
2046 77,369,819 35,638,852
2045 76,852,544 34,974,927
2044 76,330,046 34,310,227
2043 75,800,788 33,645,797
2042 75,264,885 32,984,164
2041 74,721,871 32,323,084
2040 74,179,185 31,658,029
2039 73,636,894 30,995,204
2038 73,079,976 30,329,691
2037 72,506,991 29,662,721
2036 71,930,701 28,994,556
2035 71,337,219 28,327,922
2034 70,737,692 27,665,749
2033 70,128,299 27,006,658
2032 69,502,726 26,351,393
2031 68,865,544 25,697,754
2030 68,221,143 25,050,285
2029 67,549,189 24,409,600
2028 66,860,631 23,776,128
2027 66,166,759 23,146,922
2026 65,473,024 22,525,308
2025 64,747,319 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 20.6% to 79,383,784 people with a rank change from 24th to 23rd. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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 1.16% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of South Africa grew by 1.16%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

South Africa Zambia
Current population
65829368
22844606
Population rank 24/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.27%
One net population change
42.7 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
26.7 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
53.3 seconds
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,028 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +740,132 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.16% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 19/197
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 591,618 166,972 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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