South Africa vs South Korea

South Africa vs South Korea: Population

Population in 2023: 63.2 million people in South Africa and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 11.5 million people, or 1.22 times that in South Korea.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

South Africa vs South Korea: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 63.2 million people in South Africa and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 11.5 million people, or 1.22 times that in South Korea.
South AfricaSouth KoreaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • South Africa has been higher since 1999, when it overtook South Korea.
  • In 2023, South Africa ranked 24 and South Korea ranked 29 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 94.3 million people and South Korea at 21.9 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearSouth AfricaSouth KoreaWorld
202363.2 million51.8 million8.09 billion
202262.4 million51.8 million8.02 billion
202161.5 million51.9 million7.95 billion
202060.6 million51.9 million7.89 billion
201959.6 million51.8 million7.81 billion
201858.6 million51.6 million7.73 billion
201757.6 million51.5 million7.65 billion
201657.3 million51.3 million7.56 billion
201556.7 million51 million7.47 billion
201455.6 million50.5 million7.38 billion
201354.7 million50.1 million7.29 billion
201253.8 million49.6 million7.2 billion
201153 million49.1 million7.11 billion
201052.3 million48.8 million7.02 billion
200951.7 million48.6 million6.93 billion
200851.1 million48.4 million6.84 billion
200750.5 million48.2 million6.76 billion
200650 million48 million6.67 billion
200549.5 million47.9 million6.59 billion
200449 million47.7 million6.5 billion
200348.5 million47.5 million6.42 billion
200248 million47.3 million6.34 billion
200147.6 million47 million6.26 billion
200047.2 million46.8 million6.17 billion
199946.7 million46.5 million6.09 billion
199846.2 million46.2 million6.01 billion
199745.7 million45.9 million5.93 billion
199645.1 million45.6 million5.84 billion
199544.5 million45.4 million5.76 billion
199444 million45.1 million5.68 billion
199343.3 million44.9 million5.59 billion
199242.4 million44.7 million5.51 billion
199141.7 million44.4 million5.42 billion
199040.8 million44.1 million5.33 billion
198939.6 million43.5 million5.23 billion
198838.5 million42.9 million5.14 billion
198737.3 million42.3 million5.05 billion
198636.2 million41.7 million4.96 billion
198535 million41.2 million4.87 billion
198433.9 million40.6 million4.78 billion
198332.7 million40 million4.7 billion
198231.6 million39.4 million4.61 billion
198130.5 million38.7 million4.53 billion
198029.5 million38.1 million4.45 billion
197928.6 million37.7 million4.37 billion
197827.9 million37.3 million4.29 billion
197727.1 million36.8 million4.22 billion
197626.4 million36.4 million4.14 billion
197525.7 million35.9 million4.07 billion
197425 million35.3 million4 billion
197324.3 million34.6 million3.92 billion
197223.6 million33.9 million3.85 billion
197122.9 million33.2 million3.77 billion
197022.3 million32.5 million3.7 billion
196921.6 million31.9 million3.62 billion
196821 million31.2 million3.55 billion
196720.3 million30.5 million3.47 billion
196619.7 million29.9 million3.4 billion
196519.1 million29.3 million3.34 billion
196418.5 million28.7 million3.26 billion
196318 million28.2 million3.19 billion
196217.4 million27.5 million3.12 billion
196116.9 million26.9 million3.07 billion
196016.4 million26.1 million3.02 billion
195916 million25.3 million2.97 billion
195815.6 million24.5 million2.91 billion
195715.2 million23.7 million2.85 billion
195614.9 million22.9 million2.8 billion
195514.5 million22.1 million2.74 billion
195414.2 million21.4 million2.69 billion
195313.9 million20.8 million2.63 billion
195213.6 million20.2 million2.58 billion
195113.3 million19.9 million2.54 billion
195013 million19.8 million2.49 billion
194912.8 million19.6 million–
194812.5 million19.1 million–
194712.3 million18.6 million–
194612 million18 million–
194511.8 million17.5 million–
194411.6 million17 million–
194311.4 million16.6 million–
194211.2 million16.1 million–
194111 million15.7 million–
194010.7 million15.3 million–
193910.5 million15.1 million–
193810.3 million14.8 million–
193710.1 million14.7 million–
19369.92 million14.5 million–
19359.72 million14.3 million–
19349.53 million14.1 million–
19339.34 million14 million–
19329.16 million13.8 million–
19318.97 million13.6 million–
19308.79 million13.5 million–
19298.62 million13.3 million–
19288.44 million13.1 million–
19278.27 million12.9 million–
19268.1 million12.6 million–
19257.93 million12.4 million–
19247.77 million12.2 million–
19237.61 million12 million–
19227.45 million11.8 million–
19217.3 million11.7 million–
19207.17 million11.5 million–
19197.04 million11.3 million–
19186.93 million11.1 million–
19176.82 million10.9 million–
19166.71 million10.8 million–
19156.61 million10.6 million–
19146.5 million10.5 million–
19136.4 million10.3 million–
19126.3 million10.1 million–
19116.2 million10 million–
19106.09 million9.91 million–
19095.99 million9.84 million–
19085.89 million9.8 million–
19075.79 million9.78 million–
19065.7 million9.77 million–
19055.6 million9.75 million–
19045.51 million9.74 million–
19035.41 million9.72 million–
19025.32 million9.71 million–
19015.24 million9.7 million–
19005.16 million9.69 million–
18995.1 million9.68 million–
18985.04 million9.68 million–
18974.98 million9.68 million–
18964.93 million9.68 million–
18954.88 million9.68 million–
18944.82 million9.68 million–
18934.77 million9.68 million–
18924.72 million9.68 million–
18914.67 million9.68 million–
18904.62 million9.68 million–
18894.57 million9.68 million–
18884.52 million9.67 million–
18874.48 million9.67 million–
18864.43 million9.67 million–
18854.38 million9.67 million–
18844.33 million9.67 million–
18834.29 million9.67 million–
18824.24 million9.67 million–
18814.2 million9.67 million–
18804.15 million9.67 million–
18794.11 million9.67 million–
18784.06 million9.67 million–
18774.02 million9.67 million–
18763.98 million9.67 million–
18753.93 million9.67 million–
18743.89 million9.67 million–
18733.85 million9.67 million–
18723.81 million9.67 million–
18713.77 million9.67 million–
18703.73 million9.66 million–
18693.69 million9.66 million–
18683.65 million9.66 million–
18673.61 million9.65 million–
18663.57 million9.64 million–
18653.53 million9.64 million–
18643.5 million9.63 million–
18633.46 million9.62 million–
18623.42 million9.62 million–
18613.39 million9.61 million–
18603.35 million9.61 million–
18593.31 million9.6 million–
18583.28 million9.59 million–
18573.24 million9.59 million–
18563.21 million9.58 million–
18553.17 million9.58 million–
18543.14 million9.57 million–
18533.11 million9.56 million–
18523.07 million9.56 million–
18513.03 million9.55 million–
18502.99 million9.55 million–
18492.94 million9.54 million–
18482.88 million9.54 million–
18472.82 million9.53 million–
18462.75 million9.53 million–
18452.69 million9.52 million–
18442.64 million9.52 million–
18432.58 million9.51 million–
18422.52 million9.51 million–
18412.47 million9.5 million–
18402.41 million9.5 million–
18392.36 million9.49 million–
18382.31 million9.49 million–
18372.26 million9.48 million–
18362.21 million9.48 million–
18352.16 million9.47 million–
18342.11 million9.47 million–
18332.07 million9.46 million–
18322.02 million9.46 million–
18311.98 million9.45 million–
18301.93 million9.45 million–
18291.89 million9.44 million–
18281.85 million9.44 million–
18271.81 million9.43 million–
18261.77 million9.43 million–
18251.73 million9.42 million–
18241.69 million9.42 million–
18231.66 million9.41 million–
18221.62 million9.41 million–
18211.6 million9.4 million–
18201.59 million9.4 million–
18191.57 million9.4 million–
18181.56 million9.4 million–
18171.56 million9.4 million–
18161.55 million9.4 million–
18151.54 million9.4 million–
18141.53 million9.4 million–
18131.52 million9.4 million–
18121.52 million9.4 million–
18111.51 million9.4 million–
18101.5 million9.4 million–
18091.5 million9.4 million–
18081.49 million9.4 million–
18071.49 million9.4 million–
18061.48 million9.4 million–
18051.48 million9.4 million–
18041.47 million9.4 million–
18031.46 million9.4 million–
18021.46 million9.4 million–
18011.45 million9.4 million–
18001.45 million9.4 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearSouth AfricaSouth KoreaWorld
202464 million63.7 million–64.3 million51.7 million51.6 million–51.8 million8.16 billion
202564.8 million64 million–65.5 million51.7 million51.4 million–51.9 million8.23 billion
202665.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million51.6 million51.1 million–52.1 million8.3 billion
202766.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million51.5 million50.8 million–52.3 million8.37 billion
202866.8 million64.9 million–69 million51.4 million50.4 million–52.5 million8.44 billion
202967.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million51.3 million50 million–52.7 million8.5 billion
203068.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million51.2 million49.6 million–52.9 million8.57 billion
203168.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million51.1 million49.1 million–53.1 million8.63 billion
203269.4 million66 million–73.4 million50.9 million48.6 million–53.3 million8.7 billion
203370 million66.3 million–74.5 million50.7 million48.1 million–53.4 million8.76 billion
203470.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million50.5 million47.6 million–53.6 million8.82 billion
203571.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million50.3 million47.1 million–53.8 million8.89 billion
203671.8 million67 million–77.5 million50.1 million46.6 million–54 million8.95 billion
203772.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million49.8 million46 million–54.2 million9.01 billion
203873 million67.3 million–79.5 million49.5 million45.4 million–54.2 million9.06 billion
203973.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million49.3 million44.7 million–54.4 million9.12 billion
204074 million67.5 million–81.5 million49 million44.2 million–54.6 million9.18 billion
204174.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million48.6 million43.6 million–54.7 million9.23 billion
204275.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million48.3 million42.9 million–54.8 million9.29 billion
204375.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million48 million42.2 million–54.9 million9.34 billion
204476.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million47.6 million41.5 million–55 million9.39 billion
204576.7 million68 million–86.9 million47.2 million40.8 million–55.1 million9.44 billion
204677.2 million68.1 million–88 million46.9 million40.2 million–55.2 million9.49 billion
204777.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million46.5 million39.5 million–55.2 million9.54 billion
204878.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million46 million38.8 million–55.1 million9.58 billion
204978.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million45.6 million38.2 million–54.9 million9.62 billion
205079.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million45.1 million37.5 million–54.9 million9.66 billion
205179.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million44.7 million36.7 million–54.9 million9.7 billion
205280.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million44.2 million36 million–54.8 million9.74 billion
205380.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million43.7 million35.2 million–54.6 million9.78 billion
205481 million68.4 million–97.2 million43.2 million34.4 million–54.5 million9.81 billion
205581.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million42.6 million33.6 million–54.5 million9.85 billion
205681.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million42.1 million33 million–54.4 million9.88 billion
205782.3 million68 million–101 million41.6 million32.2 million–54.3 million9.91 billion
205882.7 million67.9 million–102 million41 million31.4 million–54.2 million9.94 billion
205983.1 million67.8 million–103 million40.4 million30.6 million–54 million9.96 billion
206083.4 million67.5 million–104 million39.9 million29.8 million–53.8 million9.99 billion
206183.8 million67.2 million–106 million39.3 million29.1 million–53.6 million10 billion
206284.2 million67.1 million–107 million38.7 million28.3 million–53.6 million10 billion
206384.6 million67 million–108 million38.2 million27.6 million–53.5 million10.1 billion
206484.9 million66.9 million–109 million37.6 million26.8 million–53.3 million10.1 billion
206585.3 million66.6 million–110 million37.1 million26 million–53.1 million10.1 billion
206685.6 million66.3 million–112 million36.6 million25.3 million–52.9 million10.1 billion
206785.9 million66.1 million–113 million36 million24.7 million–53 million10.1 billion
206886.2 million65.7 million–115 million35.5 million24 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
206986.5 million65.3 million–116 million35 million23.3 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207086.9 million65 million–117 million34.5 million22.6 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207187.2 million64.8 million–118 million33.9 million22 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207287.5 million64.6 million–119 million33.4 million21.4 million–53 million10.2 billion
207387.8 million64.3 million–120 million32.9 million20.8 million–52.9 million10.2 billion
207488.1 million63.9 million–121 million32.5 million20.3 million–52.8 million10.2 billion
207588.3 million63.6 million–123 million32 million19.8 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
207688.6 million63.3 million–124 million31.5 million19.2 million–52.7 million10.3 billion
207788.9 million63.2 million–125 million31 million18.6 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207889.1 million62.8 million–126 million30.6 million18 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207989.4 million62.4 million–128 million30.1 million17.4 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208089.7 million62 million–129 million29.7 million16.9 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208189.9 million61.6 million–130 million29.2 million16.5 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208290.2 million61.5 million–132 million28.8 million15.9 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208390.5 million61.3 million–133 million28.4 million15.5 million–53 million10.3 billion
208490.7 million60.9 million–135 million27.9 million15.2 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208591 million60.6 million–136 million27.5 million14.7 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208691.2 million60.1 million–138 million27.1 million14.3 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
208791.4 million59.8 million–139 million26.7 million13.8 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208891.7 million59.3 million–141 million26.3 million13.4 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208991.9 million58.6 million–142 million25.9 million12.9 million–52.3 million10.3 billion
209092.2 million58.1 million–144 million25.5 million12.5 million–52 million10.3 billion
209192.4 million57.7 million–146 million25.1 million12.1 million–51.8 million10.3 billion
209292.6 million57.2 million–147 million24.7 million11.8 million–51.6 million10.3 billion
209392.9 million56.8 million–148 million24.3 million11.5 million–51.7 million10.3 billion
209493.1 million56.4 million–150 million23.9 million11.1 million–52 million10.2 billion
209593.3 million55.9 million–152 million23.5 million10.7 million–52.2 million10.2 billion
209693.5 million55.5 million–153 million23.2 million10.4 million–52.1 million10.2 billion
209793.7 million55 million–155 million22.8 million10.1 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
209893.9 million54.2 million–156 million22.5 million9.82 million–51.7 million10.2 billion
209994.1 million53.5 million–158 million22.2 million9.53 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
210094.3 million53.3 million–159 million21.9 million9.29 million–52 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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