China vs South Africa

China vs South Africa: Population

Population in 2023: 1.42 billion people in China and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 1.36 billion people, or 23 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

China vs South Africa: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 1.42 billion people in China and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 1.36 billion people, or 23 times that in South Africa.
ChinaSouth AfricaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • China has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, China ranked 2 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 633 million people and South Africa at 94.3 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearChinaSouth AfricaWorld
20231.42 billion63.2 million8.09 billion
20221.43 billion62.4 million8.02 billion
20211.43 billion61.5 million7.95 billion
20201.43 billion60.6 million7.89 billion
20191.42 billion59.6 million7.81 billion
20181.42 billion58.6 million7.73 billion
20171.41 billion57.6 million7.65 billion
20161.4 billion57.3 million7.56 billion
20151.4 billion56.7 million7.47 billion
20141.39 billion55.6 million7.38 billion
20131.38 billion54.7 million7.29 billion
20121.37 billion53.8 million7.2 billion
20111.36 billion53 million7.11 billion
20101.35 billion52.3 million7.02 billion
20091.34 billion51.7 million6.93 billion
20081.33 billion51.1 million6.84 billion
20071.33 billion50.5 million6.76 billion
20061.32 billion50 million6.67 billion
20051.31 billion49.5 million6.59 billion
20041.3 billion49 million6.5 billion
20031.3 billion48.5 million6.42 billion
20021.29 billion48 million6.34 billion
20011.28 billion47.6 million6.26 billion
20001.27 billion47.2 million6.17 billion
19991.26 billion46.7 million6.09 billion
19981.25 billion46.2 million6.01 billion
19971.24 billion45.7 million5.93 billion
19961.23 billion45.1 million5.84 billion
19951.22 billion44.5 million5.76 billion
19941.21 billion44 million5.68 billion
19931.2 billion43.3 million5.59 billion
19921.19 billion42.4 million5.51 billion
19911.17 billion41.7 million5.42 billion
19901.15 billion40.8 million5.33 billion
19891.13 billion39.6 million5.23 billion
19881.12 billion38.5 million5.14 billion
19871.1 billion37.3 million5.05 billion
19861.08 billion36.2 million4.96 billion
19851.06 billion35 million4.87 billion
19841.04 billion33.9 million4.78 billion
19831.03 billion32.7 million4.7 billion
19821.01 billion31.6 million4.61 billion
1981998 million30.5 million4.53 billion
1980983 million29.5 million4.45 billion
1979969 million28.6 million4.37 billion
1978956 million27.9 million4.29 billion
1977944 million27.1 million4.22 billion
1976930 million26.4 million4.14 billion
1975916 million25.7 million4.07 billion
1974900 million25 million4 billion
1973883 million24.3 million3.92 billion
1972864 million23.6 million3.85 billion
1971844 million22.9 million3.77 billion
1970823 million22.3 million3.7 billion
1969802 million21.6 million3.62 billion
1968781 million21 million3.55 billion
1967761 million20.3 million3.47 billion
1966742 million19.7 million3.4 billion
1965723 million19.1 million3.34 billion
1964705 million18.5 million3.26 billion
1963685 million18 million3.19 billion
1962665 million17.4 million3.12 billion
1961656 million16.9 million3.07 billion
1960655 million16.4 million3.02 billion
1959653 million16 million2.97 billion
1958644 million15.6 million2.91 billion
1957630 million15.2 million2.85 billion
1956617 million14.9 million2.8 billion
1955604 million14.5 million2.74 billion
1954590 million14.2 million2.69 billion
1953578 million13.9 million2.63 billion
1952565 million13.6 million2.58 billion
1951554 million13.3 million2.54 billion
1950544 million13 million2.49 billion
1949538 million12.8 million–
1948534 million12.5 million–
1947531 million12.3 million–
1946528 million12 million–
1945525 million11.8 million–
1944522 million11.6 million–
1943520 million11.4 million–
1942517 million11.2 million–
1941514 million11 million–
1940511 million10.7 million–
1939508 million10.5 million–
1938506 million10.3 million–
1937503 million10.1 million–
1936500 million9.92 million–
1935497 million9.72 million–
1934494 million9.53 million–
1933491 million9.34 million–
1932488 million9.16 million–
1931485 million8.97 million–
1930483 million8.79 million–
1929481 million8.62 million–
1928479 million8.44 million–
1927477 million8.27 million–
1926475 million8.1 million–
1925474 million7.93 million–
1924472 million7.77 million–
1923470 million7.61 million–
1922469 million7.45 million–
1921466 million7.3 million–
1920463 million7.17 million–
1919460 million7.04 million–
1918455 million6.93 million–
1917450 million6.82 million–
1916446 million6.71 million–
1915441 million6.61 million–
1914436 million6.5 million–
1913431 million6.4 million–
1912427 million6.3 million–
1911423 million6.2 million–
1910419 million6.09 million–
1909416 million5.99 million–
1908413 million5.89 million–
1907411 million5.79 million–
1906409 million5.7 million–
1905407 million5.6 million–
1904404 million5.51 million–
1903402 million5.41 million–
1902400 million5.32 million–
1901398 million5.24 million–
1900396 million5.16 million–
1899394 million5.1 million–
1898392 million5.04 million–
1897390 million4.98 million–
1896388 million4.93 million–
1895386 million4.88 million–
1894384 million4.82 million–
1893382 million4.77 million–
1892381 million4.72 million–
1891379 million4.67 million–
1890377 million4.62 million–
1889376 million4.57 million–
1888375 million4.52 million–
1887373 million4.48 million–
1886372 million4.43 million–
1885371 million4.38 million–
1884370 million4.33 million–
1883369 million4.29 million–
1882368 million4.24 million–
1881367 million4.2 million–
1880366 million4.15 million–
1879365 million4.11 million–
1878364 million4.06 million–
1877363 million4.02 million–
1876362 million3.98 million–
1875361 million3.93 million–
1874360 million3.89 million–
1873359 million3.85 million–
1872358 million3.81 million–
1871358 million3.77 million–
1870358 million3.73 million–
1869359 million3.69 million–
1868360 million3.65 million–
1867362 million3.61 million–
1866364 million3.57 million–
1865366 million3.53 million–
1864368 million3.5 million–
1863370 million3.46 million–
1862372 million3.42 million–
1861375 million3.39 million–
1860377 million3.35 million–
1859380 million3.31 million–
1858383 million3.28 million–
1857387 million3.24 million–
1856390 million3.21 million–
1855394 million3.17 million–
1854397 million3.14 million–
1853401 million3.11 million–
1852405 million3.07 million–
1851408 million3.03 million–
1850410 million2.99 million–
1849411 million2.94 million–
1848412 million2.88 million–
1847412 million2.82 million–
1846412 million2.75 million–
1845412 million2.69 million–
1844412 million2.64 million–
1843412 million2.58 million–
1842412 million2.52 million–
1841412 million2.47 million–
1840412 million2.41 million–
1839412 million2.36 million–
1838411 million2.31 million–
1837411 million2.26 million–
1836411 million2.21 million–
1835411 million2.16 million–
1834410 million2.11 million–
1833410 million2.07 million–
1832410 million2.02 million–
1831409 million1.98 million–
1830407 million1.93 million–
1829406 million1.89 million–
1828403 million1.85 million–
1827400 million1.81 million–
1826398 million1.77 million–
1825395 million1.73 million–
1824392 million1.69 million–
1823389 million1.66 million–
1822387 million1.62 million–
1821384 million1.6 million–
1820380 million1.59 million–
1819377 million1.57 million–
1818374 million1.56 million–
1817370 million1.56 million–
1816367 million1.55 million–
1815363 million1.54 million–
1814360 million1.53 million–
1813356 million1.52 million–
1812353 million1.52 million–
1811350 million1.51 million–
1810347 million1.5 million–
1809344 million1.5 million–
1808343 million1.49 million–
1807341 million1.49 million–
1806339 million1.48 million–
1805338 million1.48 million–
1804336 million1.47 million–
1803335 million1.46 million–
1802333 million1.46 million–
1801332 million1.45 million–
1800330 million1.45 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearChinaSouth AfricaWorld
20241.42 billion1.42 billion–1.42 billion64 million63.7 million–64.3 million8.16 billion
20251.42 billion1.41 billion–1.42 billion64.8 million64 million–65.5 million8.23 billion
20261.41 billion1.41 billion–1.42 billion65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million8.3 billion
20271.41 billion1.4 billion–1.42 billion66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million8.37 billion
20281.41 billion1.39 billion–1.42 billion66.8 million64.9 million–69 million8.44 billion
20291.4 billion1.39 billion–1.42 billion67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million8.5 billion
20301.4 billion1.38 billion–1.42 billion68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million8.57 billion
20311.39 billion1.37 billion–1.42 billion68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million8.63 billion
20321.39 billion1.36 billion–1.41 billion69.4 million66 million–73.4 million8.7 billion
20331.38 billion1.35 billion–1.41 billion70 million66.3 million–74.5 million8.76 billion
20341.38 billion1.35 billion–1.41 billion70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million8.82 billion
20351.37 billion1.34 billion–1.41 billion71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million8.89 billion
20361.37 billion1.33 billion–1.41 billion71.8 million67 million–77.5 million8.95 billion
20371.36 billion1.32 billion–1.41 billion72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million9.01 billion
20381.36 billion1.31 billion–1.4 billion73 million67.3 million–79.5 million9.06 billion
20391.35 billion1.3 billion–1.4 billion73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million9.12 billion
20401.34 billion1.28 billion–1.4 billion74 million67.5 million–81.5 million9.18 billion
20411.34 billion1.27 billion–1.39 billion74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million9.23 billion
20421.33 billion1.26 billion–1.39 billion75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million9.29 billion
20431.32 billion1.25 billion–1.39 billion75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million9.34 billion
20441.31 billion1.24 billion–1.38 billion76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million9.39 billion
20451.31 billion1.23 billion–1.38 billion76.7 million68 million–86.9 million9.44 billion
20461.3 billion1.21 billion–1.38 billion77.2 million68.1 million–88 million9.49 billion
20471.29 billion1.2 billion–1.37 billion77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million9.54 billion
20481.28 billion1.19 billion–1.37 billion78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million9.58 billion
20491.27 billion1.17 billion–1.36 billion78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million9.62 billion
20501.26 billion1.16 billion–1.35 billion79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million9.66 billion
20511.25 billion1.14 billion–1.35 billion79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million9.7 billion
20521.24 billion1.13 billion–1.34 billion80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million9.74 billion
20531.23 billion1.11 billion–1.33 billion80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million9.78 billion
20541.22 billion1.1 billion–1.32 billion81 million68.4 million–97.2 million9.81 billion
20551.2 billion1.08 billion–1.31 billion81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million9.85 billion
20561.19 billion1.06 billion–1.3 billion81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million9.88 billion
20571.18 billion1.05 billion–1.29 billion82.3 million68 million–101 million9.91 billion
20581.16 billion1.03 billion–1.29 billion82.7 million67.9 million–102 million9.94 billion
20591.15 billion1.01 billion–1.28 billion83.1 million67.8 million–103 million9.96 billion
20601.14 billion998 million–1.26 billion83.4 million67.5 million–104 million9.99 billion
20611.12 billion981 million–1.25 billion83.8 million67.2 million–106 million10 billion
20621.11 billion963 million–1.24 billion84.2 million67.1 million–107 million10 billion
20631.09 billion947 million–1.23 billion84.6 million67 million–108 million10.1 billion
20641.08 billion932 million–1.22 billion84.9 million66.9 million–109 million10.1 billion
20651.07 billion915 million–1.21 billion85.3 million66.6 million–110 million10.1 billion
20661.05 billion898 million–1.2 billion85.6 million66.3 million–112 million10.1 billion
20671.04 billion881 million–1.19 billion85.9 million66.1 million–113 million10.1 billion
20681.03 billion867 million–1.18 billion86.2 million65.7 million–115 million10.2 billion
20691.01 billion852 million–1.17 billion86.5 million65.3 million–116 million10.2 billion
2070999 million836 million–1.16 billion86.9 million65 million–117 million10.2 billion
2071986 million822 million–1.15 billion87.2 million64.8 million–118 million10.2 billion
2072973 million807 million–1.14 billion87.5 million64.6 million–119 million10.2 billion
2073960 million792 million–1.13 billion87.8 million64.3 million–120 million10.2 billion
2074947 million776 million–1.12 billion88.1 million63.9 million–121 million10.2 billion
2075935 million760 million–1.11 billion88.3 million63.6 million–123 million10.3 billion
2076922 million743 million–1.1 billion88.6 million63.3 million–124 million10.3 billion
2077909 million728 million–1.09 billion88.9 million63.2 million–125 million10.3 billion
2078896 million713 million–1.08 billion89.1 million62.8 million–126 million10.3 billion
2079883 million697 million–1.08 billion89.4 million62.4 million–128 million10.3 billion
2080870 million681 million–1.07 billion89.7 million62 million–129 million10.3 billion
2081857 million664 million–1.06 billion89.9 million61.6 million–130 million10.3 billion
2082844 million648 million–1.05 billion90.2 million61.5 million–132 million10.3 billion
2083832 million633 million–1.04 billion90.5 million61.3 million–133 million10.3 billion
2084819 million618 million–1.03 billion90.7 million60.9 million–135 million10.3 billion
2085806 million604 million–1.02 billion91 million60.6 million–136 million10.3 billion
2086794 million591 million–1.01 billion91.2 million60.1 million–138 million10.3 billion
2087781 million576 million–994 million91.4 million59.8 million–139 million10.3 billion
2088769 million562 million–984 million91.7 million59.3 million–141 million10.3 billion
2089757 million548 million–975 million91.9 million58.6 million–142 million10.3 billion
2090745 million534 million–967 million92.2 million58.1 million–144 million10.3 billion
2091733 million520 million–959 million92.4 million57.7 million–146 million10.3 billion
2092722 million507 million–951 million92.6 million57.2 million–147 million10.3 billion
2093710 million493 million–944 million92.9 million56.8 million–148 million10.3 billion
2094699 million480 million–937 million93.1 million56.4 million–150 million10.2 billion
2095688 million468 million–929 million93.3 million55.9 million–152 million10.2 billion
2096677 million455 million–920 million93.5 million55.5 million–153 million10.2 billion
2097666 million443 million–913 million93.7 million55 million–155 million10.2 billion
2098655 million431 million–906 million93.9 million54.2 million–156 million10.2 billion
2099644 million417 million–899 million94.1 million53.5 million–158 million10.2 billion
2100633 million404 million–890 million94.3 million53.3 million–159 million10.2 billion

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
  • Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
  • Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
  • The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
  • Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

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