Japan vs South Africa

Japan vs South Africa: Population

Population in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 61.2 million people, or 1.97 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Japan vs South Africa: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 61.2 million people, or 1.97 times that in South Africa.
JapanSouth AfricaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • Japan has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Japan ranked 12 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Japan at 76.9 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

YearJapanSouth AfricaWorld
2023124 million63.2 million8.09 billion
2022125 million62.4 million8.02 billion
2021126 million61.5 million7.95 billion
2020126 million60.6 million7.89 billion
2019127 million59.6 million7.81 billion
2018127 million58.6 million7.73 billion
2017127 million57.6 million7.65 billion
2016127 million57.3 million7.56 billion
2015127 million56.7 million7.47 billion
2014128 million55.6 million7.38 billion
2013128 million54.7 million7.29 billion
2012128 million53.8 million7.2 billion
2011128 million53 million7.11 billion
2010128 million52.3 million7.02 billion
2009128 million51.7 million6.93 billion
2008128 million51.1 million6.84 billion
2007128 million50.5 million6.76 billion
2006128 million50 million6.67 billion
2005128 million49.5 million6.59 billion
2004128 million49 million6.5 billion
2003128 million48.5 million6.42 billion
2002128 million48 million6.34 billion
2001127 million47.6 million6.26 billion
2000127 million47.2 million6.17 billion
1999127 million46.7 million6.09 billion
1998127 million46.2 million6.01 billion
1997126 million45.7 million5.93 billion
1996126 million45.1 million5.84 billion
1995126 million44.5 million5.76 billion
1994125 million44 million5.68 billion
1993125 million43.3 million5.59 billion
1992124 million42.4 million5.51 billion
1991124 million41.7 million5.42 billion
1990123 million40.8 million5.33 billion
1989123 million39.6 million5.23 billion
1988123 million38.5 million5.14 billion
1987122 million37.3 million5.05 billion
1986121 million36.2 million4.96 billion
1985121 million35 million4.87 billion
1984120 million33.9 million4.78 billion
1983120 million32.7 million4.7 billion
1982120 million31.6 million4.61 billion
1981119 million30.5 million4.53 billion
1980118 million29.5 million4.45 billion
1979118 million28.6 million4.37 billion
1978117 million27.9 million4.29 billion
1977116 million27.1 million4.22 billion
1976115 million26.4 million4.14 billion
1975113 million25.7 million4.07 billion
1974112 million25 million4 billion
1973111 million24.3 million3.92 billion
1972109 million23.6 million3.85 billion
1971108 million22.9 million3.77 billion
1970107 million22.3 million3.7 billion
1969106 million21.6 million3.62 billion
1968104 million21 million3.55 billion
1967103 million20.3 million3.47 billion
1966102 million19.7 million3.4 billion
1965101 million19.1 million3.34 billion
196499.9 million18.5 million3.26 billion
196399 million18 million3.19 billion
196298.1 million17.4 million3.12 billion
196197.2 million16.9 million3.07 billion
196096.4 million16.4 million3.02 billion
195995.6 million16 million2.97 billion
195894.9 million15.6 million2.91 billion
195794.1 million15.2 million2.85 billion
195693.3 million14.9 million2.8 billion
195592.4 million14.5 million2.74 billion
195491.4 million14.2 million2.69 billion
195390.3 million13.9 million2.63 billion
195289.1 million13.6 million2.58 billion
195187.9 million13.3 million2.54 billion
195086.4 million13 million2.49 billion
194983.3 million12.8 million–
194882.2 million12.5 million–
194781 million12.3 million–
194679.9 million12 million–
194578.8 million11.8 million–
194477.7 million11.6 million–
194376.7 million11.4 million–
194275.6 million11.2 million–
194174.6 million11 million–
194073.6 million10.7 million–
193972.6 million10.5 million–
193871.7 million10.3 million–
193770.8 million10.1 million–
193669.9 million9.92 million–
193569 million9.72 million–
193468.1 million9.53 million–
193367.2 million9.34 million–
193266.4 million9.16 million–
193165.5 million8.97 million–
193064.7 million8.79 million–
192963.8 million8.62 million–
192862.9 million8.44 million–
192762.1 million8.27 million–
192661.2 million8.1 million–
192560.3 million7.93 million–
192459.5 million7.77 million–
192358.7 million7.61 million–
192257.9 million7.45 million–
192157.1 million7.3 million–
192056.3 million7.17 million–
191955.6 million7.04 million–
191854.9 million6.93 million–
191754.3 million6.82 million–
191653.6 million6.71 million–
191553 million6.61 million–
191452.3 million6.5 million–
191351.7 million6.4 million–
191251.1 million6.3 million–
191150.5 million6.2 million–
191049.9 million6.09 million–
190949.3 million5.99 million–
190848.7 million5.89 million–
190748.2 million5.79 million–
190647.6 million5.7 million–
190547 million5.6 million–
190446.5 million5.51 million–
190346 million5.41 million–
190245.4 million5.32 million–
190144.9 million5.24 million–
190044.4 million5.16 million–
189944 million5.1 million–
189843.5 million5.04 million–
189743.1 million4.98 million–
189642.7 million4.93 million–
189542.3 million4.88 million–
189441.9 million4.82 million–
189341.5 million4.77 million–
189241.1 million4.72 million–
189140.7 million4.67 million–
189040.3 million4.62 million–
188939.9 million4.57 million–
188839.6 million4.52 million–
188739.2 million4.48 million–
188638.9 million4.43 million–
188538.6 million4.38 million–
188438.2 million4.33 million–
188337.9 million4.29 million–
188237.6 million4.24 million–
188137.3 million4.2 million–
188037 million4.15 million–
187936.7 million4.11 million–
187836.4 million4.06 million–
187736.2 million4.02 million–
187636 million3.98 million–
187535.7 million3.93 million–
187435.5 million3.89 million–
187335.2 million3.85 million–
187235 million3.81 million–
187134.8 million3.77 million–
187034.6 million3.73 million–
186934.4 million3.69 million–
186834.3 million3.65 million–
186734.1 million3.61 million–
186634 million3.57 million–
186533.9 million3.53 million–
186433.7 million3.5 million–
186333.6 million3.46 million–
186233.5 million3.42 million–
186133.4 million3.39 million–
186033.2 million3.35 million–
185933.1 million3.31 million–
185833 million3.28 million–
185732.9 million3.24 million–
185632.7 million3.21 million–
185532.6 million3.17 million–
185432.5 million3.14 million–
185332.4 million3.11 million–
185232.2 million3.07 million–
185132.1 million3.03 million–
185032.1 million2.99 million–
184932 million2.94 million–
184831.9 million2.88 million–
184731.9 million2.82 million–
184631.9 million2.75 million–
184531.8 million2.69 million–
184431.8 million2.64 million–
184331.8 million2.58 million–
184231.7 million2.52 million–
184131.7 million2.47 million–
184031.7 million2.41 million–
183931.6 million2.36 million–
183831.6 million2.31 million–
183731.6 million2.26 million–
183631.5 million2.21 million–
183531.5 million2.16 million–
183431.5 million2.11 million–
183331.4 million2.07 million–
183231.4 million2.02 million–
183131.4 million1.98 million–
183031.3 million1.93 million–
182931.3 million1.89 million–
182831.3 million1.85 million–
182731.2 million1.81 million–
182631.2 million1.77 million–
182531.2 million1.73 million–
182431.1 million1.69 million–
182331.1 million1.66 million–
182231.1 million1.62 million–
182131 million1.6 million–
182030.9 million1.59 million–
181930.8 million1.57 million–
181830.7 million1.56 million–
181730.5 million1.56 million–
181630.4 million1.55 million–
181530.2 million1.54 million–
181430.1 million1.53 million–
181329.9 million1.52 million–
181229.8 million1.52 million–
181129.6 million1.51 million–
181029.5 million1.5 million–
180929.3 million1.5 million–
180829.2 million1.49 million–
180729 million1.49 million–
180628.9 million1.48 million–
180528.7 million1.48 million–
180428.6 million1.47 million–
180328.4 million1.46 million–
180228.3 million1.46 million–
180128.1 million1.45 million–
180028 million1.45 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearJapanSouth AfricaWorld
2024124 million124 million–124 million64 million63.7 million–64.3 million8.16 billion
2025123 million123 million–123 million64.8 million64 million–65.5 million8.23 billion
2026122 million122 million–123 million65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million8.3 billion
2027122 million121 million–123 million66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million8.37 billion
2028121 million120 million–122 million66.8 million64.9 million–69 million8.44 billion
2029120 million119 million–122 million67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million8.5 billion
2030120 million118 million–122 million68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million8.57 billion
2031119 million117 million–121 million68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million8.63 billion
2032118 million116 million–121 million69.4 million66 million–73.4 million8.7 billion
2033117 million115 million–120 million70 million66.3 million–74.5 million8.76 billion
2034117 million114 million–120 million70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million8.82 billion
2035116 million112 million–120 million71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million8.89 billion
2036115 million111 million–119 million71.8 million67 million–77.5 million8.95 billion
2037114 million110 million–119 million72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million9.01 billion
2038114 million109 million–119 million73 million67.3 million–79.5 million9.06 billion
2039113 million108 million–118 million73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million9.12 billion
2040112 million107 million–118 million74 million67.5 million–81.5 million9.18 billion
2041111 million106 million–118 million74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million9.23 billion
2042111 million105 million–117 million75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million9.29 billion
2043110 million104 million–117 million75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million9.34 billion
2044109 million103 million–117 million76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million9.39 billion
2045109 million102 million–116 million76.7 million68 million–86.9 million9.44 billion
2046108 million101 million–116 million77.2 million68.1 million–88 million9.49 billion
2047107 million99.6 million–116 million77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million9.54 billion
2048107 million98.5 million–115 million78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million9.58 billion
2049106 million97.5 million–115 million78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million9.62 billion
2050105 million96.4 million–115 million79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million9.66 billion
2051105 million95.3 million–115 million79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million9.7 billion
2052104 million94.1 million–114 million80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million9.74 billion
2053103 million93 million–114 million80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million9.78 billion
2054102 million91.9 million–114 million81 million68.4 million–97.2 million9.81 billion
2055102 million90.9 million–114 million81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million9.85 billion
2056101 million89.8 million–113 million81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million9.88 billion
2057100 million88.6 million–113 million82.3 million68 million–101 million9.91 billion
205899.6 million87.5 million–113 million82.7 million67.9 million–102 million9.94 billion
205998.9 million86.3 million–113 million83.1 million67.8 million–103 million9.96 billion
206098.1 million85.1 million–113 million83.4 million67.5 million–104 million9.99 billion
206197.4 million84 million–112 million83.8 million67.2 million–106 million10 billion
206296.6 million82.9 million–112 million84.2 million67.1 million–107 million10 billion
206395.8 million81.7 million–111 million84.6 million67 million–108 million10.1 billion
206495.1 million80.7 million–111 million84.9 million66.9 million–109 million10.1 billion
206594.3 million79.4 million–111 million85.3 million66.6 million–110 million10.1 billion
206693.6 million78 million–111 million85.6 million66.3 million–112 million10.1 billion
206792.8 million76.7 million–111 million85.9 million66.1 million–113 million10.1 billion
206892.1 million75.5 million–110 million86.2 million65.7 million–115 million10.2 billion
206991.3 million74.4 million–110 million86.5 million65.3 million–116 million10.2 billion
207090.6 million73.3 million–110 million86.9 million65 million–117 million10.2 billion
207189.9 million72.2 million–110 million87.2 million64.8 million–118 million10.2 billion
207289.2 million71.2 million–110 million87.5 million64.6 million–119 million10.2 billion
207388.6 million70.2 million–110 million87.8 million64.3 million–120 million10.2 billion
207488 million69.2 million–109 million88.1 million63.9 million–121 million10.2 billion
207587.4 million68.2 million–110 million88.3 million63.6 million–123 million10.3 billion
207686.8 million67.2 million–110 million88.6 million63.3 million–124 million10.3 billion
207786.2 million66.3 million–110 million88.9 million63.2 million–125 million10.3 billion
207885.7 million65.3 million–110 million89.1 million62.8 million–126 million10.3 billion
207985.2 million64.5 million–110 million89.4 million62.4 million–128 million10.3 billion
208084.7 million63.6 million–110 million89.7 million62 million–129 million10.3 billion
208184.3 million62.8 million–110 million89.9 million61.6 million–130 million10.3 billion
208283.8 million62.1 million–110 million90.2 million61.5 million–132 million10.3 billion
208383.4 million61.4 million–110 million90.5 million61.3 million–133 million10.3 billion
208483 million60.7 million–110 million90.7 million60.9 million–135 million10.3 billion
208582.6 million59.9 million–110 million91 million60.6 million–136 million10.3 billion
208682.2 million59.2 million–110 million91.2 million60.1 million–138 million10.3 billion
208781.8 million58.5 million–110 million91.4 million59.8 million–139 million10.3 billion
208881.4 million57.7 million–111 million91.7 million59.3 million–141 million10.3 billion
208981 million56.9 million–111 million91.9 million58.6 million–142 million10.3 billion
209080.6 million56.1 million–111 million92.2 million58.1 million–144 million10.3 billion
209180.3 million55.3 million–111 million92.4 million57.7 million–146 million10.3 billion
209279.9 million54.5 million–111 million92.6 million57.2 million–147 million10.3 billion
209379.5 million53.6 million–112 million92.9 million56.8 million–148 million10.3 billion
209479.1 million52.6 million–112 million93.1 million56.4 million–150 million10.2 billion
209578.8 million51.8 million–112 million93.3 million55.9 million–152 million10.2 billion
209678.4 million51 million–112 million93.5 million55.5 million–153 million10.2 billion
209778 million50.1 million–112 million93.7 million55 million–155 million10.2 billion
209877.6 million49.4 million–113 million93.9 million54.2 million–156 million10.2 billion
209977.2 million48.6 million–113 million94.1 million53.5 million–158 million10.2 billion
210076.9 million47.8 million–113 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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