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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Africa was 64,007,187 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Africa's population is 65,683,993 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.78 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • South Africa is ranked the 24th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 1% of the world: 0.79% for South Africa vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, South Africa has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Africa has increased from 50M people to 65.7M (31.4% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

South Africa vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Africa Zimbabwe
2100 94,767,727 37,483,053
2099 94,556,931 37,412,398
2098 94,349,546 37,328,255
2097 94,158,472 37,235,542
2096 93,960,605 37,142,915
2095 93,752,736 37,032,129
2094 93,527,902 36,912,747
2093 93,300,398 36,810,893
2092 93,074,837 36,688,511
2091 92,826,204 36,567,262
2090 92,594,033 36,425,606
2089 92,355,184 36,280,973
2088 92,112,914 36,141,446
2087 91,866,024 35,977,638
2086 91,614,165 35,808,135
2085 91,385,350 35,637,092
2084 91,139,318 35,456,207
2083 90,877,425 35,268,035
2082 90,615,359 35,078,904
2081 90,345,492 34,873,129
2080 90,071,835 34,658,962
2079 89,801,998 34,439,720
2078 89,526,224 34,217,295
2077 89,249,206 33,982,909
2076 88,986,114 33,739,228
2075 88,713,215 33,495,867
2074 88,428,616 33,244,838
2073 88,149,885 32,978,488
2072 87,866,246 32,706,059
2071 87,540,177 32,445,747
2070 87,209,425 32,181,119
2069 86,901,512 31,906,793
2068 86,588,742 31,631,000
2067 86,268,392 31,345,338
2066 85,935,310 31,062,884
2065 85,604,376 30,766,830
2064 85,244,950 30,479,939
2063 84,875,503 30,176,104
2062 84,503,237 29,867,679
2061 84,132,885 29,557,068
2060 83,748,999 29,252,423
2059 83,354,923 28,945,088
2058 82,947,675 28,631,679
2057 82,538,045 28,307,305
2056 82,127,477 27,990,713
2055 81,698,196 27,658,887
2054 81,255,867 27,331,920
2053 80,818,632 26,986,935
2052 80,367,409 26,643,553
2051 79,886,672 26,287,592
2050 79,411,977 25,934,893
2049 78,925,493 25,585,239
2048 78,437,677 25,228,082
2047 77,922,211 24,874,649
2046 77,397,298 24,513,443
2045 76,879,838 24,147,637
2044 76,357,155 23,783,088
2043 75,827,709 23,401,965
2042 75,291,615 23,035,288
2041 74,748,408 22,647,950
2040 74,205,530 22,273,520
2039 73,663,047 21,902,980
2038 73,105,930 21,530,130
2037 72,532,742 21,159,664
2036 71,956,247 20,791,034
2035 71,362,555 20,413,656
2034 70,762,815 20,048,019
2033 70,153,205 19,676,339
2032 69,527,410 19,311,985
2031 68,890,002 18,959,300
2030 68,245,372 18,613,738
2029 67,573,179 18,270,049
2028 66,884,377 17,933,466
2027 66,190,258 17,600,984
2026 65,496,277 17,273,208
2025 64,770,314 16,949,303
2024 64,007,187 16,634,373
2023 63,212,384 16,340,822
2022 62,378,410 16,069,056
2021 61,502,603 15,797,210
2020 60,562,381 15,526,888
2019 59,587,885 15,271,368
2018 58,613,001 15,034,452
2017 57,635,162 14,812,482
2016 57,259,551 14,600,294
2015 56,723,537 14,399,013
2014 55,594,838 14,207,359
2013 54,678,791 14,013,808
2012 53,782,567 13,817,887
2011 52,995,205 13,595,424
2010 52,344,051 13,356,548
2009 51,728,516 13,142,790
2008 51,114,599 12,959,149
2007 50,528,584 12,804,058
2006 49,998,277 12,636,445
2005 49,490,033 12,483,432
2004 48,991,421 12,365,896
2003 48,500,348 12,232,323
2002 48,019,415 12,087,653
2001 47,566,800 11,971,901
2000 47,159,719 11,892,055
1999 46,730,335 11,783,458
1998 46,223,880 11,594,297
1997 45,666,838 11,369,827
1996 45,123,018 11,158,360
1995 44,541,554 10,974,599
1994 44,004,139 10,873,148
1993 43,297,156 10,860,288
1992 42,443,509 10,702,700
1991 41,687,898 10,404,816
1990 40,746,268 10,137,281
1989 39,628,575 9,864,798
1988 38,480,649 9,583,094
1987 37,326,190 9,284,644
1986 36,180,515 8,982,578
1985 35,042,093 8,686,813
1984 33,892,788 8,391,488
1983 32,739,304 8,098,404
1982 31,615,339 7,796,496
1981 30,541,044 7,498,635
1980 29,518,857 7,041,303
1979 28,634,162 6,647,556
1978 27,869,507 6,543,575
1977 27,118,952 6,449,512
1976 26,395,450 6,287,105
1975 25,690,940 6,098,658
1974 24,989,108 5,908,328
1973 24,294,263 5,720,404
1972 23,609,456 5,542,445
1971 22,942,143 5,374,712
1970 22,279,984 5,215,918
1969 21,614,676 5,058,181
1968 20,957,287 4,900,440
1967 20,314,066 4,748,307
1966 19,690,087 4,601,217
1965 19,089,380 4,458,462
1964 18,511,361 4,320,006
1963 17,954,564 4,185,877
1962 17,418,522 4,055,959
1961 16,908,035 3,930,401
1960 16,440,172 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Africa increased by 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Africa gained 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

South Africa was ranked 24th most populous country in 2006 and is still 24th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

South Africa
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Africa Zimbabwe
2100 0.22% 0.19%
2099 0.22% 0.23%
2098 0.2% 0.25%
2097 0.21% 0.25%
2096 0.22% 0.3%
2095 0.24% 0.32%
2094 0.24% 0.28%
2093 0.24% 0.33%
2092 0.27% 0.33%
2091 0.25% 0.39%
2090 0.26% 0.4%
2089 0.26% 0.39%
2088 0.27% 0.46%
2087 0.27% 0.47%
2086 0.25% 0.48%
2085 0.27% 0.51%
2084 0.29% 0.53%
2083 0.29% 0.54%
2082 0.3% 0.59%
2081 0.3% 0.62%
2080 0.3% 0.64%
2079 0.31% 0.65%
2078 0.31% 0.69%
2077 0.3% 0.72%
2076 0.31% 0.73%
2075 0.32% 0.76%
2074 0.32% 0.81%
2073 0.32% 0.83%
2072 0.37% 0.8%
2071 0.38% 0.82%
2070 0.35% 0.86%
2069 0.36% 0.87%
2068 0.37% 0.91%
2067 0.39% 0.91%
2066 0.39% 0.96%
2065 0.42% 0.94%
2064 0.44% 1.01%
2063 0.44% 1.03%
2062 0.44% 1.05%
2061 0.46% 1.04%
2060 0.47% 1.06%
2059 0.49% 1.09%
2058 0.5% 1.15%
2057 0.5% 1.13%
2056 0.53% 1.2%
2055 0.54% 1.2%
2054 0.54% 1.28%
2053 0.56% 1.29%
2052 0.6% 1.35%
2051 0.6% 1.36%
2050 0.62% 1.37%
2049 0.62% 1.42%
2048 0.66% 1.42%
2047 0.68% 1.47%
2046 0.67% 1.51%
2045 0.68% 1.53%
2044 0.7% 1.63%
2043 0.71% 1.59%
2042 0.73% 1.71%
2041 0.73% 1.68%
2040 0.74% 1.69%
2039 0.76% 1.73%
2038 0.79% 1.75%
2037 0.8% 1.77%
2036 0.83% 1.85%
2035 0.85% 1.82%
2034 0.87% 1.89%
2033 0.9% 1.89%
2032 0.93% 1.86%
2031 0.94% 1.86%
2030 0.99% 1.88%
2029 1.03% 1.88%
2028 1.05% 1.89%
2027 1.06% 1.9%
2026 1.12% 1.91%
2025 1.19% 1.89%
2024 1.26% 1.8%
2023 1.34% 1.69%
2022 1.42% 1.72%
2021 1.55% 1.74%
2020 1.64% 1.67%
2019 1.66% 1.58%
2018 1.7% 1.5%
2017 0.66% 1.45%
2016 0.94% 1.4%
2015 2.03% 1.35%
2014 1.68% 1.38%
2013 1.67% 1.42%
2012 1.49% 1.64%
2011 1.24% 1.79%
2010 1.19% 1.63%
2009 1.2% 1.42%
2008 1.16% 1.21%
2007 1.06% 1.33%
2006 1.03% 1.23%
2005 1.02% 0.95%
2004 1.01% 1.09%
2003 1% 1.2%
2002 0.95% 0.97%
2001 0.86% 0.67%
2000 0.92% 0.92%
1999 1.1% 1.63%
1998 1.22% 1.97%
1997 1.21% 1.9%
1996 1.31% 1.67%
1995 1.22% 0.93%
1994 1.63% 0.12%
1993 2.01% 1.47%
1992 1.81% 2.86%
1991 2.31% 2.64%
1990 2.82% 2.76%
1989 2.98% 2.94%
1988 3.09% 3.21%
1987 3.17% 3.36%
1986 3.25% 3.4%
1985 3.39% 3.52%
1984 3.52% 3.62%
1983 3.56% 3.87%
1982 3.52% 3.97%
1981 3.46% 6.49%
1980 3.09% 5.92%
1979 2.74% 1.59%
1978 2.77% 1.46%
1977 2.74% 2.58%
1976 2.74% 3.09%
1975 2.81% 3.22%
1974 2.86% 3.29%
1973 2.9% 3.21%
1972 2.91% 3.12%
1971 2.97% 3.04%
1970 3.08% 3.12%
1969 3.14% 3.22%
1968 3.17% 3.2%
1967 3.17% 3.2%
1966 3.15% 3.2%
1965 3.12% 3.2%
1964 3.1% 3.2%
1963 3.08% 3.2%
1962 3.02% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Africa grew by 1.26%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

South Africa Zimbabwe
Current population
65683993
17361868
Population rank 24/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.79% 0.21%
One net population change
39.7 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
26.6 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
54 seconds
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,178 +804
Annual growth/decline +794,803 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.26% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 85/197 60/197
One migration net change every
3.6 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +146,370 -54,555
Net migration rank 9/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 2,631,100 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 28/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 105/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Africa
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Africa Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 146,370 - -54,555
2024 - 166,972 - -60,528
2023 602,793 228,222 372,505 -97,380
2022 603,636 233,284 371,243 -102,828
2021 456,411 458,246 349,908 -74,623
2020 595,873 369,901 354,790 -89,440
2019 652,130 331,124 348,798 -103,107
2018 648,319 318,260 345,883 -117,758
2017 645,975 343,146 344,035 -128,241
2016 641,365 -879,235 348,772 -140,181
2015 668,771 641,150 356,203 -162,220
2014 674,754 272,697 366,350 -177,029
2013 652,427 232,230 374,757 -176,972
2012 643,723 264,091 371,135 -177,061
2011 601,708 65,166 359,572 -108,714
2010 566,834 68,563 335,570 -108,671
2009 554,115 41,528 309,316 -108,689
2008 595,332 36,869 280,527 -113,858
2007 503,567 36,339 261,805 -118,299
2006 487,584 33,159 248,963 -57,257
2005 464,464 31,286 248,545 -134,212
2004 442,540 58,924 248,307 -127,550
2003 415,018 65,604 243,057 -96,667
2002 430,926 50,313 244,170 -101,212
2001 484,801 -60,793 227,909 -139,361
2000 526,963 -136,794 236,343 -165,181
1999 594,643 -126,011 232,393 -86,343
1998 627,027 -82,722 225,614 6,645
1997 667,969 -98,181 216,288 395
1996 710,868 -193,007 205,269 978
1995 743,488 -98,403 206,695 -45,428
1994 698,609 -268,849 216,343 -174,723
1993 789,220 194,977 228,045 -243,947
1992 794,415 -71,342 255,291 75,788
1991 827,296 -39,131 260,943 3,749
1990 835,421 259,718 265,444 4,948
1989 884,629 255,605 270,838 3,736
1988 909,221 246,382 277,498 11,327
1987 922,330 231,009 286,766 21,308
1986 903,644 234,378 289,894 6,154
1985 893,889 244,940 290,756 4,718
1984 869,011 290,789 290,052 5,124
1983 837,013 310,172 286,545 4,456
1982 807,550 293,195 279,934 32,899
1981 767,833 279,985 271,361 11,523
1980 738,415 258,127 241,179 390,593
1979 716,541 56,323 223,657 -67,937
1978 694,341 62,121 222,979 -170,727
1977 680,929 63,739 225,139 -89,270
1976 675,011 27,333 221,419 -32,495
1975 667,862 38,809 216,947 -28,988
1974 658,438 38,518 208,806 -16,105
1973 651,596 41,125 201,885 -18,733
1972 638,754 38,163 193,725 -20,959
1971 624,761 32,961 185,427 -22,719
1970 605,102 61,514 178,979 -24,102
1969 590,794 73,225 172,626 -12,028
1968 571,841 78,932 166,865 -11,997
1967 553,741 81,932 161,205 -11,814
1966 534,862 77,417 156,014 -11,211
1965 506,632 82,514 151,164 -10,465
1964 490,606 76,298 145,848 -9,631
1963 473,821 72,844 140,984 -8,936
1962 455,634 69,771 136,317 -8,529
1961 437,851 57,728 131,531 -8,204
1960 421,263 18,891 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-africa/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 2,631,100 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in South Africa, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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