South Africa vs South Sudan: Population growth
Population growth in 2023: 1.32% a year in South Africa and 5.86% a year in South Sudan, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Sudan, by 4.55 percentage points, or 4.46 times that in South Africa.
South AfricaSouth Sudan
Watch it change on the map% a year · UN
Latest figures
% a year · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2023 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 1.32 2023 | 1.62 | 87 of 229 | 0.23 2100 |
| South Sudan | 5.86 2023 | 3.42 | 1 of 229 | 0.03 2100 |
| World | 0.87 2023 | 1.23 | -0.13 2100 |
What the numbers say
- South Sudan has been higher since 2022, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 87 and South Sudan ranked 1 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 0.23% a year and South Sudan at 0.03% a year in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 0.87% a year in 2023.
Every year
% a year · UN
| Year | South Africa | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.32 | 5.86 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 1.34 | 2.28 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 1.49 | 0.55 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 1.6 | 2.57 | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 1.65 | 2.64 | 1.03 |
| 2018 | 1.65 | 3.22 | 1.07 |
| 2017 | 1.72 | -5.83 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | -0.42 | -5.02 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 2.31 | -0.1 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 1.7 | -2.17 | 1.22 |
| 2013 | 1.62 | 3.42 | 1.23 |
| 2012 | 1.69 | 4.08 | 1.27 |
| 2011 | 1.26 | 4.84 | 1.26 |
| 2010 | 1.21 | 6.02 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 1.15 | 4.52 | 1.28 |
| 2008 | 1.24 | 4.92 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | 1.07 | 5.05 | 1.28 |
| 2006 | 1.04 | 5.02 | 1.28 |
| 2005 | 1 | 4.9 | 1.27 |
| 2004 | 1.02 | 4.73 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 0.99 | 4.6 | 1.29 |
| 2002 | 1 | 4.47 | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 0.89 | 4.47 | 1.33 |
| 2000 | 0.83 | 4.48 | 1.35 |
| 1999 | 1 | 4.35 | 1.35 |
| 1998 | 1.18 | 0.93 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 1.25 | 3.08 | 1.39 |
| 1996 | 1.15 | 2.51 | 1.42 |
| 1995 | 1.45 | 2.44 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 0.98 | 3.59 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 2.27 | 0.98 | 1.52 |
| 1992 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.57 |
| 1991 | 1.89 | 2.11 | 1.63 |
| 1990 | 2.69 | 2.02 | 1.76 |
| 1989 | 2.88 | -1 | 1.78 |
| 1988 | 3 | -4.59 | 1.79 |
| 1987 | 3.09 | -0.13 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 3.15 | 1.8 | 1.83 |
| 1985 | 3.25 | 1.77 | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 3.42 | 1.73 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | 3.5 | 2.06 | 1.78 |
| 1982 | 3.48 | 2.45 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 3.43 | 2.46 | 1.82 |
| 1980 | 3.38 | 2.47 | 1.8 |
| 1979 | 2.7 | 2.49 | 1.79 |
| 1978 | 2.71 | 2.53 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 2.75 | 2.56 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 1.78 |
| 1975 | 2.75 | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| 1974 | 2.79 | 2.61 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 2.85 | 2.61 | 1.94 |
| 1972 | 2.87 | 2.12 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 2.87 | 2.1 | 1.97 |
| 1970 | 2.99 | 1.33 | 2.06 |
| 1969 | 3.07 | 1.27 | 2.06 |
| 1968 | 3.11 | 1.36 | 2.09 |
| 1967 | 3.13 | 1.3 | 2 |
| 1966 | 3.11 | 1.23 | 2.04 |
| 1965 | 3.09 | 1.67 | 2.09 |
| 1964 | 3.06 | 2.13 | 2.16 |
| 1963 | 3.05 | 1.56 | 2.28 |
| 1962 | 3.02 | 1.61 | 2.11 |
| 1961 | 2.93 | 1.56 | 1.67 |
| 1960 | 2.68 | 1.5 | 1.58 |
| 1959 | 2.56 | 1.44 | 1.73 |
| 1958 | 2.43 | 1.38 | 2 |
| 1957 | 2.44 | 1.76 | 2.07 |
| 1956 | 2.39 | 1.81 | 1.98 |
| 1955 | 2.33 | 1.82 | 2.01 |
| 1954 | 2.26 | 1.76 | 1.99 |
| 1953 | 2.17 | 1.69 | 1.9 |
| 1952 | 2.16 | 1.6 | 1.94 |
| 1951 | 2.1 | 1.51 | 1.75 |
| 1950 | 2.01 | 1.39 | 1.74 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.190.34–1.98 | 2.07-1.03–4.8 | 0.86 |
| 2025 | 1.120.23–2.01 | 2-1.43–5.42 | 0.84 |
| 2026 | 1.050.1–1.94 | 2.02-1.76–5.41 | 0.83 |
| 2027 | 1.040.12–1.97 | 1.98-1.46–5.56 | 0.81 |
| 2028 | 1.030.07–2.02 | 1.98-1.55–5.49 | 0.8 |
| 2029 | 0.990.04–1.9 | 1.94-1.74–5.39 | 0.78 |
| 2030 | 0.94-0.03–1.93 | 1.95-1.72–5.51 | 0.76 |
| 2031 | 0.920–1.95 | 1.99-1.66–5.56 | 0.75 |
| 2032 | 0.9-0.06–1.9 | 1.92-1.74–5.44 | 0.73 |
| 2033 | 0.87-0.12–1.84 | 1.84-1.87–5.47 | 0.72 |
| 2034 | 0.84-0.19–1.83 | 1.85-1.91–5.61 | 0.7 |
| 2035 | 0.83-0.15–1.82 | 1.85-1.72–5.38 | 0.69 |
| 2036 | 0.8-0.19–1.74 | 1.79-1.94–5.35 | 0.67 |
| 2037 | 0.79-0.26–1.8 | 1.7-2.16–5.16 | 0.65 |
| 2038 | 0.76-0.27–1.73 | 1.66-2.14–5.12 | 0.64 |
| 2039 | 0.73-0.31–1.74 | 1.58-2.54–5.11 | 0.62 |
| 2040 | 0.73-0.37–1.71 | 1.56-2.36–4.99 | 0.61 |
| 2041 | 0.72-0.33–1.73 | 1.51-2.34–4.84 | 0.59 |
| 2042 | 0.71-0.31–1.81 | 1.45-2.32–4.86 | 0.57 |
| 2043 | 0.7-0.31–1.75 | 1.37-2.37–4.71 | 0.56 |
| 2044 | 0.68-0.34–1.72 | 1.35-2.23–4.67 | 0.54 |
| 2045 | 0.67-0.35–1.76 | 1.28-2.63–4.71 | 0.52 |
| 2046 | 0.68-0.29–1.74 | 1.28-2.42–4.84 | 0.5 |
| 2047 | 0.66-0.38–1.71 | 1.2-2.71–4.82 | 0.48 |
| 2048 | 0.62-0.43–1.66 | 1.16-2.58–4.67 | 0.46 |
| 2049 | 0.61-0.42–1.71 | 1.11-2.56–4.61 | 0.44 |
| 2050 | 0.6-0.46–1.66 | 1.07-2.74–4.67 | 0.42 |
| 2051 | 0.6-0.43–1.72 | 1.11-2.64–4.55 | 0.4 |
| 2052 | 0.56-0.46–1.69 | 1.16-2.63–4.77 | 0.38 |
| 2053 | 0.54-0.51–1.6 | 1.03-2.97–4.74 | 0.36 |
| 2054 | 0.54-0.55–1.62 | 1.07-2.82–4.74 | 0.34 |
| 2055 | 0.52-0.56–1.6 | 1-2.84–4.76 | 0.33 |
| 2056 | 0.5-0.6–1.6 | 0.98-2.91–4.67 | 0.31 |
| 2057 | 0.5-0.66–1.66 | 0.98-2.99–4.71 | 0.3 |
| 2058 | 0.49-0.58–1.71 | 0.92-3.2–4.49 | 0.28 |
| 2059 | 0.47-0.66–1.64 | 0.96-2.82–4.34 | 0.27 |
| 2060 | 0.46-0.65–1.62 | 0.87-3.01–4.37 | 0.25 |
| 2061 | 0.44-0.69–1.57 | 0.85-3.1–4.44 | 0.24 |
| 2062 | 0.44-0.73–1.59 | 0.86-2.74–4.66 | 0.23 |
| 2063 | 0.43-0.75–1.56 | 0.84-2.76–4.47 | 0.22 |
| 2064 | 0.42-0.74–1.6 | 0.83-2.99–4.59 | 0.21 |
| 2065 | 0.39-0.74–1.52 | 0.84-3.21–4.58 | 0.2 |
| 2066 | 0.39-0.76–1.53 | 0.77-3.21–4.43 | 0.19 |
| 2067 | 0.37-0.8–1.52 | 0.77-3.26–4.49 | 0.18 |
| 2068 | 0.36-0.86–1.53 | 0.79-3.08–4.44 | 0.17 |
| 2069 | 0.35-0.89–1.54 | 0.67-3.28–4.43 | 0.16 |
| 2070 | 0.38-0.87–1.6 | 0.61-3.41–4.18 | 0.15 |
| 2071 | 0.37-0.83–1.6 | 0.68-3.29–4.3 | 0.14 |
| 2072 | 0.32-0.85–1.52 | 0.64-3.35–4.33 | 0.13 |
| 2073 | 0.32-0.88–1.45 | 0.63-3.34–4.37 | 0.12 |
| 2074 | 0.32-0.92–1.58 | 0.63-3.32–4.22 | 0.1 |
| 2075 | 0.31-0.94–1.44 | 0.52-3.78–4.26 | 0.09 |
| 2076 | 0.3-0.96–1.37 | 0.43-3.74–4.09 | 0.08 |
| 2077 | 0.31-0.93–1.51 | 0.48-3.7–4.23 | 0.07 |
| 2078 | 0.31-0.93–1.53 | 0.42-3.43–4.19 | 0.06 |
| 2079 | 0.3-1.05–1.53 | 0.42-3.53–4.17 | 0.05 |
| 2080 | 0.3-1.01–1.52 | 0.32-4.11–4.03 | 0.04 |
| 2081 | 0.3-0.99–1.52 | 0.32-3.75–4.14 | 0.03 |
| 2082 | 0.29-1.04–1.49 | 0.33-3.81–4.14 | 0.02 |
| 2083 | 0.29-1.04–1.51 | 0.29-4.12–4.07 | 0.01 |
| 2084 | 0.27-1.01–1.55 | 0.3-4.27–4 | -0 |
| 2085 | 0.25-1.1–1.51 | 0.19-4.29–3.9 | -0.01 |
| 2086 | 0.28-1.09–1.53 | 0.23-4.38–4.18 | -0.02 |
| 2087 | 0.27-1.06–1.54 | 0.15-4–4.04 | -0.03 |
| 2088 | 0.26-1.13–1.51 | 0.19-4.04–3.99 | -0.04 |
| 2089 | 0.26-1.11–1.51 | 0.17-4.32–3.78 | -0.05 |
| 2090 | 0.25-1.16–1.52 | 0.09-4.35–3.85 | -0.05 |
| 2091 | 0.27-1.09–1.45 | 0.08-4.38–3.7 | -0.06 |
| 2092 | 0.24-1.17–1.46 | 0.08-4.43–3.99 | -0.07 |
| 2093 | 0.24-1.19–1.54 | 0.04-4.45–3.7 | -0.07 |
| 2094 | 0.24-1.21–1.48 | -0.01-4.16–3.87 | -0.08 |
| 2095 | 0.22-1.12–1.52 | 0.03-4.31–3.96 | -0.09 |
| 2096 | 0.21-1.14–1.48 | 0.05-4.54–3.86 | -0.1 |
| 2097 | 0.2-1.23–1.49 | -0.01-4.86–3.79 | -0.11 |
| 2098 | 0.22-1.19–1.5 | 0.08-4.89–3.72 | -0.11 |
| 2099 | 0.22-1.1–1.46 | 0.02-4.73–3.9 | -0.12 |
| 2100 | 0.23-1.2–1.45 | 0.03-4.63–4.04 | -0.13 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How fast the population grew or shrank in a year: births minus deaths, plus people moving in minus people moving out.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- 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