Rwanda vs South Africa

Rwanda vs South Africa: Population

Population in 2023: 14 million people in Rwanda and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 49.3 million people, or 4.53 times that in Rwanda.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Rwanda vs South Africa: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 14 million people in Rwanda and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 49.3 million people, or 4.53 times that in Rwanda.
RwandaSouth AfricaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Rwanda ranked 77 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Rwanda at 32.8 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

YearRwandaSouth AfricaWorld
202314 million63.2 million8.09 billion
202213.7 million62.4 million8.02 billion
202113.4 million61.5 million7.95 billion
202013.1 million60.6 million7.89 billion
201912.8 million59.6 million7.81 billion
201812.5 million58.6 million7.73 billion
201712.2 million57.6 million7.65 billion
201611.9 million57.3 million7.56 billion
201511.6 million56.7 million7.47 billion
201411.4 million55.6 million7.38 billion
201311.1 million54.7 million7.29 billion
201210.8 million53.8 million7.2 billion
201110.6 million53 million7.11 billion
201010.3 million52.3 million7.02 billion
200910.1 million51.7 million6.93 billion
20089.8 million51.1 million6.84 billion
20079.55 million50.5 million6.76 billion
20069.3 million50 million6.67 billion
20059.06 million49.5 million6.59 billion
20048.82 million49 million6.5 billion
20038.59 million48.5 million6.42 billion
20028.4 million48 million6.34 billion
20018.29 million47.6 million6.26 billion
20008.21 million47.2 million6.17 billion
19998.15 million46.7 million6.09 billion
19988.08 million46.2 million6.01 billion
19977.76 million45.7 million5.93 billion
19966.71 million45.1 million5.84 billion
19955.67 million44.5 million5.76 billion
19946.79 million44 million5.68 billion
19937.98 million43.3 million5.59 billion
19927.68 million42.4 million5.51 billion
19917.53 million41.7 million5.42 billion
19907.38 million40.8 million5.33 billion
19897.19 million39.6 million5.23 billion
19886.97 million38.5 million5.14 billion
19876.75 million37.3 million5.05 billion
19866.53 million36.2 million4.96 billion
19856.32 million35 million4.87 billion
19846.11 million33.9 million4.78 billion
19835.91 million32.7 million4.7 billion
19825.71 million31.6 million4.61 billion
19815.53 million30.5 million4.53 billion
19805.35 million29.5 million4.45 billion
19795.19 million28.6 million4.37 billion
19785.04 million27.9 million4.29 billion
19774.89 million27.1 million4.22 billion
19764.75 million26.4 million4.14 billion
19754.61 million25.7 million4.07 billion
19744.47 million25 million4 billion
19734.35 million24.3 million3.92 billion
19724.22 million23.6 million3.85 billion
19714.1 million22.9 million3.77 billion
19703.98 million22.3 million3.7 billion
19693.86 million21.6 million3.62 billion
19683.74 million21 million3.55 billion
19673.63 million20.3 million3.47 billion
19663.52 million19.7 million3.4 billion
19653.42 million19.1 million3.34 billion
19643.34 million18.5 million3.26 billion
19633.26 million18 million3.19 billion
19623.19 million17.4 million3.12 billion
19613.11 million16.9 million3.07 billion
19603.02 million16.4 million3.02 billion
19592.93 million16 million2.97 billion
19582.84 million15.6 million2.91 billion
19572.75 million15.2 million2.85 billion
19562.66 million14.9 million2.8 billion
19552.57 million14.5 million2.74 billion
19542.48 million14.2 million2.69 billion
19532.4 million13.9 million2.63 billion
19522.32 million13.6 million2.58 billion
19512.24 million13.3 million2.54 billion
19502.16 million13 million2.49 billion
19492.11 million12.8 million–
19482.06 million12.5 million–
19472.03 million12.3 million–
19461.99 million12 million–
19451.96 million11.8 million–
19441.92 million11.6 million–
19431.89 million11.4 million–
19421.86 million11.2 million–
19411.82 million11 million–
19401.79 million10.7 million–
19391.77 million10.5 million–
19381.74 million10.3 million–
19371.72 million10.1 million–
19361.69 million9.92 million–
19351.67 million9.72 million–
19341.65 million9.53 million–
19331.62 million9.34 million–
19321.6 million9.16 million–
19311.58 million8.97 million–
19301.56 million8.79 million–
19291.53 million8.62 million–
19281.51 million8.44 million–
19271.49 million8.27 million–
19261.47 million8.1 million–
19251.45 million7.93 million–
19241.42 million7.77 million–
19231.4 million7.61 million–
19221.38 million7.45 million–
19211.37 million7.3 million–
19201.36 million7.17 million–
19191.35 million7.04 million–
19181.35 million6.93 million–
19171.36 million6.82 million–
19161.36 million6.71 million–
19151.37 million6.61 million–
19141.38 million6.5 million–
19131.38 million6.4 million–
19121.39 million6.3 million–
19111.39 million6.2 million–
19101.4 million6.09 million–
19091.41 million5.99 million–
19081.42 million5.89 million–
19071.43 million5.79 million–
19061.45 million5.7 million–
19051.46 million5.6 million–
19041.47 million5.51 million–
19031.48 million5.41 million–
19021.49 million5.32 million–
19011.51 million5.24 million–
19001.52 million5.16 million–
18991.53 million5.1 million–
18981.54 million5.04 million–
18971.55 million4.98 million–
18961.56 million4.93 million–
18951.57 million4.88 million–
18941.58 million4.82 million–
18931.59 million4.77 million–
18921.59 million4.72 million–
18911.6 million4.67 million–
18901.61 million4.62 million–
18891.61 million4.57 million–
18881.6 million4.52 million–
18871.6 million4.48 million–
18861.59 million4.43 million–
18851.58 million4.38 million–
18841.58 million4.33 million–
18831.57 million4.29 million–
18821.57 million4.24 million–
18811.56 million4.2 million–
18801.56 million4.15 million–
18791.55 million4.11 million–
18781.55 million4.06 million–
18771.55 million4.02 million–
18761.55 million3.98 million–
18751.55 million3.93 million–
18741.55 million3.89 million–
18731.54 million3.85 million–
18721.54 million3.81 million–
18711.54 million3.77 million–
18701.54 million3.73 million–
18691.54 million3.69 million–
18681.54 million3.65 million–
18671.54 million3.61 million–
18661.54 million3.57 million–
18651.53 million3.53 million–
18641.53 million3.5 million–
18631.53 million3.46 million–
18621.53 million3.42 million–
18611.53 million3.39 million–
18601.53 million3.35 million–
18591.53 million3.31 million–
18581.53 million3.28 million–
18571.52 million3.24 million–
18561.52 million3.21 million–
18551.52 million3.17 million–
18541.52 million3.14 million–
18531.52 million3.11 million–
18521.52 million3.07 million–
18511.51 million3.03 million–
18501.5 million2.99 million–
18491.49 million2.94 million–
18481.47 million2.88 million–
18471.44 million2.82 million–
18461.42 million2.75 million–
18451.4 million2.69 million–
18441.37 million2.64 million–
18431.35 million2.58 million–
18421.33 million2.52 million–
18411.31 million2.47 million–
18401.29 million2.41 million–
18391.27 million2.36 million–
18381.25 million2.31 million–
18371.23 million2.26 million–
18361.21 million2.21 million–
18351.19 million2.16 million–
18341.17 million2.11 million–
18331.15 million2.07 million–
18321.13 million2.02 million–
18311.11 million1.98 million–
18301.09 million1.93 million–
18291.08 million1.89 million–
18281.06 million1.85 million–
18271.04 million1.81 million–
18261.02 million1.77 million–
18251.01 million1.73 million–
1824991,3001.69 million–
1823975,2001.66 million–
1822959,4001.62 million–
1821946,9001.6 million–
1820937,6001.59 million–
1819931,4001.57 million–
1818928,4001.56 million–
1817928,4001.56 million–
1816928,4001.55 million–
1815928,4001.54 million–
1814928,4001.53 million–
1813928,4001.52 million–
1812928,4001.52 million–
1811928,4001.51 million–
1810928,4001.5 million–
1809928,4001.5 million–
1808928,4001.49 million–
1807928,4001.49 million–
1806928,4001.48 million–
1805928,4001.48 million–
1804928,4001.47 million–
1803928,4001.46 million–
1802928,4001.46 million–
1801928,4001.45 million–
1800928,4001.45 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearRwandaSouth AfricaWorld
202414.3 million13.6 million–14.8 million64 million63.7 million–64.3 million8.16 billion
202514.6 million13 million–16.1 million64.8 million64 million–65.5 million8.23 billion
202614.9 million12.8 million–17.1 million65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million8.3 billion
202715.2 million12.6 million–17.8 million66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million8.37 billion
202815.5 million12.5 million–18.8 million66.8 million64.9 million–69 million8.44 billion
202915.8 million12.4 million–19.6 million67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million8.5 billion
203016.2 million12.2 million–20.4 million68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million8.57 billion
203116.5 million12.2 million–21.4 million68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million8.63 billion
203216.8 million12.1 million–22.4 million69.4 million66 million–73.4 million8.7 billion
203317.1 million12.1 million–23.3 million70 million66.3 million–74.5 million8.76 billion
203417.4 million12.1 million–24.2 million70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million8.82 billion
203517.8 million12.1 million–25 million71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million8.89 billion
203618.1 million12.1 million–26 million71.8 million67 million–77.5 million8.95 billion
203718.4 million12.2 million–27 million72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million9.01 billion
203818.7 million12.3 million–28.1 million73 million67.3 million–79.5 million9.06 billion
203919.1 million12.2 million–29.1 million73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million9.12 billion
204019.4 million12.4 million–30 million74 million67.5 million–81.5 million9.18 billion
204119.8 million12.5 million–31 million74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million9.23 billion
204220.2 million12.6 million–32.1 million75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million9.29 billion
204320.5 million12.5 million–33 million75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million9.34 billion
204420.8 million12.4 million–34.1 million76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million9.39 billion
204521.2 million12.6 million–35.2 million76.7 million68 million–86.9 million9.44 billion
204621.5 million12.7 million–36.2 million77.2 million68.1 million–88 million9.49 billion
204721.8 million12.6 million–36.9 million77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million9.54 billion
204822.1 million12.6 million–37.7 million78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million9.58 billion
204922.4 million12.8 million–38.8 million78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million9.62 billion
205022.7 million12.9 million–39.9 million79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million9.66 billion
205123 million12.9 million–40.9 million79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million9.7 billion
205223.3 million12.9 million–41.9 million80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million9.74 billion
205323.6 million12.8 million–43.2 million80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million9.78 billion
205423.9 million12.8 million–44.1 million81 million68.4 million–97.2 million9.81 billion
205524.2 million12.8 million–45.3 million81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million9.85 billion
205624.4 million12.6 million–46.5 million81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million9.88 billion
205724.7 million12.3 million–47.5 million82.3 million68 million–101 million9.91 billion
205825 million12.2 million–48.5 million82.7 million67.9 million–102 million9.94 billion
205925.3 million12.2 million–49.5 million83.1 million67.8 million–103 million9.96 billion
206025.6 million12.3 million–50.6 million83.4 million67.5 million–104 million9.99 billion
206125.9 million12.2 million–51.7 million83.8 million67.2 million–106 million10 billion
206226.1 million12.1 million–52.8 million84.2 million67.1 million–107 million10 billion
206326.4 million12.1 million–53.7 million84.6 million67 million–108 million10.1 billion
206426.7 million12.1 million–54.5 million84.9 million66.9 million–109 million10.1 billion
206526.9 million12.3 million–55.6 million85.3 million66.6 million–110 million10.1 billion
206627.2 million12.7 million–57 million85.6 million66.3 million–112 million10.1 billion
206727.4 million12.7 million–58.8 million85.9 million66.1 million–113 million10.1 billion
206827.7 million12.7 million–60.3 million86.2 million65.7 million–115 million10.2 billion
206927.9 million12.7 million–60.8 million86.5 million65.3 million–116 million10.2 billion
207028.1 million12.7 million–61.9 million86.9 million65 million–117 million10.2 billion
207128.4 million12.6 million–63.6 million87.2 million64.8 million–118 million10.2 billion
207228.6 million12.6 million–64.9 million87.5 million64.6 million–119 million10.2 billion
207328.8 million12.5 million–66.1 million87.8 million64.3 million–120 million10.2 billion
207429 million12.2 million–67.8 million88.1 million63.9 million–121 million10.2 billion
207529.2 million12.1 million–69.7 million88.3 million63.6 million–123 million10.3 billion
207629.4 million12 million–70.2 million88.6 million63.3 million–124 million10.3 billion
207729.6 million11.9 million–71.2 million88.9 million63.2 million–125 million10.3 billion
207829.8 million11.8 million–73 million89.1 million62.8 million–126 million10.3 billion
207930 million11.7 million–73.5 million89.4 million62.4 million–128 million10.3 billion
208030.1 million11.6 million–74.7 million89.7 million62 million–129 million10.3 billion
208130.3 million11.6 million–76.9 million89.9 million61.6 million–130 million10.3 billion
208230.5 million11.6 million–78.1 million90.2 million61.5 million–132 million10.3 billion
208330.7 million11.6 million–78.8 million90.5 million61.3 million–133 million10.3 billion
208430.8 million11.5 million–79.9 million90.7 million60.9 million–135 million10.3 billion
208531 million11.4 million–80.8 million91 million60.6 million–136 million10.3 billion
208631.1 million11.5 million–82.7 million91.2 million60.1 million–138 million10.3 billion
208731.3 million11.6 million–85 million91.4 million59.8 million–139 million10.3 billion
208831.5 million11.6 million–86.3 million91.7 million59.3 million–141 million10.3 billion
208931.6 million11.8 million–87.4 million91.9 million58.6 million–142 million10.3 billion
209031.8 million11.8 million–88.8 million92.2 million58.1 million–144 million10.3 billion
209131.9 million11.9 million–89.9 million92.4 million57.7 million–146 million10.3 billion
209232 million12.1 million–90.1 million92.6 million57.2 million–147 million10.3 billion
209332.1 million12.1 million–91.1 million92.9 million56.8 million–148 million10.3 billion
209432.2 million12.1 million–92 million93.1 million56.4 million–150 million10.2 billion
209532.3 million12.1 million–92.6 million93.3 million55.9 million–152 million10.2 billion
209632.4 million12 million–94.2 million93.5 million55.5 million–153 million10.2 billion
209732.5 million11.8 million–95.6 million93.7 million55 million–155 million10.2 billion
209832.6 million12 million–97.1 million93.9 million54.2 million–156 million10.2 billion
209932.7 million12.2 million–98.7 million94.1 million53.5 million–158 million10.2 billion
210032.8 million12.2 million–99.8 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

Rwanda vs South Africa

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