South Africa vs United States

South Africa vs United States: Population

Population in 2023: 63.2 million people in South Africa and 344 million people in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United States, by 280 million people, or 5.43 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

South Africa vs United States: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 63.2 million people in South Africa and 344 million people in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United States, by 280 million people, or 5.43 times that in South Africa.
South AfricaUnited StatesEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • United States has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, South Africa ranked 24 and United States ranked 3 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 94.3 million people and United States at 421 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearSouth AfricaUnited StatesWorld
202363.2 million344 million8.09 billion
202262.4 million342 million8.02 billion
202161.5 million340 million7.95 billion
202060.6 million339 million7.89 billion
201959.6 million338 million7.81 billion
201858.6 million335 million7.73 billion
201757.6 million332 million7.65 billion
201657.3 million329 million7.56 billion
201556.7 million326 million7.47 billion
201455.6 million323 million7.38 billion
201354.7 million320 million7.29 billion
201253.8 million317 million7.2 billion
201153 million314 million7.11 billion
201052.3 million311 million7.02 billion
200951.7 million308 million6.93 billion
200851.1 million305 million6.84 billion
200750.5 million302 million6.76 billion
200650 million299 million6.67 billion
200549.5 million296 million6.59 billion
200449 million293 million6.5 billion
200348.5 million290 million6.42 billion
200248 million287 million6.34 billion
200147.6 million284 million6.26 billion
200047.2 million282 million6.17 billion
199946.7 million279 million6.09 billion
199846.2 million276 million6.01 billion
199745.7 million274 million5.93 billion
199645.1 million271 million5.84 billion
199544.5 million268 million5.76 billion
199444 million266 million5.68 billion
199343.3 million263 million5.59 billion
199242.4 million260 million5.51 billion
199141.7 million257 million5.42 billion
199040.8 million253 million5.33 billion
198939.6 million251 million5.23 billion
198838.5 million248 million5.14 billion
198737.3 million246 million5.05 billion
198636.2 million244 million4.96 billion
198535 million242 million4.87 billion
198433.9 million239 million4.78 billion
198332.7 million237 million4.7 billion
198231.6 million235 million4.61 billion
198130.5 million232 million4.53 billion
198029.5 million230 million4.45 billion
197928.6 million228 million4.37 billion
197827.9 million225 million4.29 billion
197727.1 million223 million4.22 billion
197626.4 million221 million4.14 billion
197525.7 million219 million4.07 billion
197425 million217 million4 billion
197324.3 million215 million3.92 billion
197223.6 million213 million3.85 billion
197122.9 million210 million3.77 billion
197022.3 million208 million3.7 billion
196921.6 million205 million3.62 billion
196821 million203 million3.55 billion
196720.3 million201 million3.47 billion
196619.7 million198 million3.4 billion
196519.1 million196 million3.34 billion
196418.5 million193 million3.26 billion
196318 million190 million3.19 billion
196217.4 million187 million3.12 billion
196116.9 million184 million3.07 billion
196016.4 million180 million3.02 billion
195916 million177 million2.97 billion
195815.6 million174 million2.91 billion
195715.2 million172 million2.85 billion
195614.9 million169 million2.8 billion
195514.5 million166 million2.74 billion
195414.2 million164 million2.69 billion
195313.9 million161 million2.63 billion
195213.6 million159 million2.58 billion
195113.3 million157 million2.54 billion
195013 million154 million2.49 billion
194912.8 million146 million–
194812.5 million144 million–
194712.3 million142 million–
194612 million140 million–
194511.8 million138 million–
194411.6 million136 million–
194311.4 million134 million–
194211.2 million133 million–
194111 million131 million–
194010.7 million129 million–
193910.5 million128 million–
193810.3 million127 million–
193710.1 million126 million–
19369.92 million125 million–
19359.72 million124 million–
19349.53 million124 million–
19339.34 million123 million–
19329.16 million122 million–
19318.97 million121 million–
19308.79 million120 million–
19298.62 million118 million–
19288.44 million117 million–
19278.27 million115 million–
19268.1 million113 million–
19257.93 million112 million–
19247.77 million110 million–
19237.61 million109 million–
19227.45 million107 million–
19217.3 million105 million–
19207.17 million104 million–
19197.04 million102 million–
19186.93 million101 million–
19176.82 million99.6 million–
19166.71 million98.2 million–
19156.61 million96.9 million–
19146.5 million95.5 million–
19136.4 million94.2 million–
19126.3 million93 million–
19116.2 million91.6 million–
19106.09 million90.2 million–
19095.99 million88.7 million–
19085.89 million87.1 million–
19075.79 million85.4 million–
19065.7 million83.8 million–
19055.6 million82.3 million–
19045.51 million80.7 million–
19035.41 million79.2 million–
19025.32 million77.7 million–
19015.24 million76.3 million–
19005.16 million74.8 million–
18995.1 million73.5 million–
18985.04 million72.1 million–
18974.98 million70.8 million–
18964.93 million69.5 million–
18954.88 million68.2 million–
18944.82 million67 million–
18934.77 million65.8 million–
18924.72 million64.6 million–
18914.67 million63.4 million–
18904.62 million62.1 million–
18894.57 million60.8 million–
18884.52 million59.6 million–
18874.48 million58.2 million–
18864.43 million57 million–
18854.38 million55.7 million–
18844.33 million54.5 million–
18834.29 million53.3 million–
18824.24 million52.1 million–
18814.2 million51 million–
18804.15 million49.8 million–
18794.11 million48.8 million–
18784.06 million47.7 million–
18774.02 million46.6 million–
18763.98 million45.6 million–
18753.93 million44.6 million–
18743.89 million43.6 million–
18733.85 million42.7 million–
18723.81 million41.7 million–
18713.77 million40.8 million–
18703.73 million39.9 million–
18693.69 million39 million–
18683.65 million38.1 million–
18673.61 million37.3 million–
18663.57 million36.4 million–
18653.53 million35.6 million–
18643.5 million34.8 million–
18633.46 million34 million–
18623.42 million33.2 million–
18613.39 million32.4 million–
18603.35 million31.6 million–
18593.31 million30.8 million–
18583.28 million29.9 million–
18573.24 million29 million–
18563.21 million28.2 million–
18553.17 million27.4 million–
18543.14 million26.6 million–
18533.11 million25.8 million–
18523.07 million25 million–
18513.03 million24.3 million–
18502.99 million23.6 million–
18492.94 million22.9 million–
18482.88 million22.2 million–
18472.82 million21.6 million–
18462.75 million20.9 million–
18452.69 million20.3 million–
18442.64 million19.7 million–
18432.58 million19.1 million–
18422.52 million18.5 million–
18412.47 million18 million–
18402.41 million17.5 million–
18392.36 million17 million–
18382.31 million16.5 million–
18372.26 million16.1 million–
18362.21 million15.6 million–
18352.16 million15.2 million–
18342.11 million14.8 million–
18332.07 million14.4 million–
18322.02 million14 million–
18311.98 million13.6 million–
18301.93 million13.3 million–
18291.89 million12.9 million–
18281.85 million12.5 million–
18271.81 million12.2 million–
18261.77 million11.8 million–
18251.73 million11.5 million–
18241.69 million11.2 million–
18231.66 million10.9 million–
18221.62 million10.6 million–
18211.6 million10.3 million–
18201.59 million9.97 million–
18191.57 million9.67 million–
18181.56 million9.37 million–
18171.56 million9.07 million–
18161.55 million8.79 million–
18151.54 million8.51 million–
18141.53 million8.24 million–
18131.52 million7.98 million–
18121.52 million7.73 million–
18111.51 million7.5 million–
18101.5 million7.3 million–
18091.5 million7.11 million–
18081.49 million6.97 million–
18071.49 million6.84 million–
18061.48 million6.72 million–
18051.48 million6.59 million–
18041.47 million6.47 million–
18031.46 million6.35 million–
18021.46 million6.23 million–
18011.45 million6.11 million–
18001.45 million6 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearSouth AfricaUnited StatesWorld
202464 million63.7 million–64.3 million345 million345 million–346 million8.16 billion
202564.8 million64 million–65.5 million347 million346 million–348 million8.23 billion
202665.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million349 million347 million–351 million8.3 billion
202766.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million351 million348 million–354 million8.37 billion
202866.8 million64.9 million–69 million352 million349 million–356 million8.44 billion
202967.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million354 million349 million–359 million8.5 billion
203068.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million356 million350 million–362 million8.57 billion
203168.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million357 million350 million–365 million8.63 billion
203269.4 million66 million–73.4 million359 million351 million–367 million8.7 billion
203370 million66.3 million–74.5 million360 million351 million–370 million8.76 billion
203470.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million362 million351 million–373 million8.82 billion
203571.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million363 million351 million–376 million8.89 billion
203671.8 million67 million–77.5 million365 million351 million–379 million8.95 billion
203772.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million366 million351 million–382 million9.01 billion
203873 million67.3 million–79.5 million368 million351 million–385 million9.06 billion
203973.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million369 million350 million–388 million9.12 billion
204074 million67.5 million–81.5 million370 million350 million–391 million9.18 billion
204174.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million372 million349 million–394 million9.23 billion
204275.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million373 million349 million–397 million9.29 billion
204375.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million374 million348 million–400 million9.34 billion
204476.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million375 million347 million–403 million9.39 billion
204576.7 million68 million–86.9 million376 million346 million–406 million9.44 billion
204677.2 million68.1 million–88 million377 million346 million–409 million9.49 billion
204777.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million378 million344 million–411 million9.54 billion
204878.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million379 million343 million–414 million9.58 billion
204978.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million380 million343 million–417 million9.62 billion
205079.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million381 million342 million–420 million9.66 billion
205179.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million382 million341 million–423 million9.7 billion
205280.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million383 million340 million–425 million9.74 billion
205380.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million383 million339 million–428 million9.78 billion
205481 million68.4 million–97.2 million384 million337 million–431 million9.81 billion
205581.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million385 million336 million–434 million9.85 billion
205681.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million386 million335 million–436 million9.88 billion
205782.3 million68 million–101 million386 million333 million–440 million9.91 billion
205882.7 million67.9 million–102 million387 million332 million–443 million9.94 billion
205983.1 million67.8 million–103 million388 million331 million–446 million9.96 billion
206083.4 million67.5 million–104 million389 million329 million–449 million9.99 billion
206183.8 million67.2 million–106 million390 million327 million–452 million10 billion
206284.2 million67.1 million–107 million391 million325 million–455 million10 billion
206384.6 million67 million–108 million392 million325 million–458 million10.1 billion
206484.9 million66.9 million–109 million392 million324 million–462 million10.1 billion
206585.3 million66.6 million–110 million393 million322 million–465 million10.1 billion
206685.6 million66.3 million–112 million394 million320 million–469 million10.1 billion
206785.9 million66.1 million–113 million395 million319 million–474 million10.1 billion
206886.2 million65.7 million–115 million396 million317 million–478 million10.2 billion
206986.5 million65.3 million–116 million397 million315 million–481 million10.2 billion
207086.9 million65 million–117 million398 million313 million–485 million10.2 billion
207187.2 million64.8 million–118 million399 million311 million–489 million10.2 billion
207287.5 million64.6 million–119 million400 million309 million–493 million10.2 billion
207387.8 million64.3 million–120 million401 million307 million–497 million10.2 billion
207488.1 million63.9 million–121 million402 million305 million–502 million10.2 billion
207588.3 million63.6 million–123 million403 million304 million–506 million10.3 billion
207688.6 million63.3 million–124 million404 million302 million–510 million10.3 billion
207788.9 million63.2 million–125 million405 million300 million–515 million10.3 billion
207889.1 million62.8 million–126 million406 million298 million–520 million10.3 billion
207989.4 million62.4 million–128 million406 million297 million–525 million10.3 billion
208089.7 million62 million–129 million407 million295 million–530 million10.3 billion
208189.9 million61.6 million–130 million408 million293 million–535 million10.3 billion
208290.2 million61.5 million–132 million409 million292 million–538 million10.3 billion
208390.5 million61.3 million–133 million409 million291 million–542 million10.3 billion
208490.7 million60.9 million–135 million410 million289 million–547 million10.3 billion
208591 million60.6 million–136 million411 million286 million–552 million10.3 billion
208691.2 million60.1 million–138 million412 million284 million–558 million10.3 billion
208791.4 million59.8 million–139 million412 million282 million–564 million10.3 billion
208891.7 million59.3 million–141 million413 million280 million–568 million10.3 billion
208991.9 million58.6 million–142 million414 million279 million–573 million10.3 billion
209092.2 million58.1 million–144 million415 million278 million–578 million10.3 billion
209192.4 million57.7 million–146 million415 million276 million–581 million10.3 billion
209292.6 million57.2 million–147 million416 million274 million–585 million10.3 billion
209392.9 million56.8 million–148 million417 million272 million–590 million10.3 billion
209493.1 million56.4 million–150 million417 million269 million–596 million10.2 billion
209593.3 million55.9 million–152 million418 million267 million–601 million10.2 billion
209693.5 million55.5 million–153 million419 million265 million–605 million10.2 billion
209793.7 million55 million–155 million420 million262 million–610 million10.2 billion
209893.9 million54.2 million–156 million420 million260 million–616 million10.2 billion
209994.1 million53.5 million–158 million421 million258 million–621 million10.2 billion
210094.3 million53.3 million–159 million421 million256 million–625 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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