Italy vs South Africa: Population: comparison of UN projections

Italy
59.50 million people
in 2023
South Africa
63.21 million people
in 2023
Italy rank
25th
South Africa rank
24th

Population: comparison of UN projections over time

  • Italy
  • South Africa
20.0M40.0M60.0M195019862023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 63.21 million people against 59.50 million people in Italy, a difference of 3.71 million people.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Italy's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 74 shared years of data; in 1950 it was Italy ahead.

Italy ranks 25th and South Africa ranks 24th of 236 countries.

Across the 8 decades both report, Italy averaged higher in 7 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Italy South Africa Difference Ahead
1950s 47.87 million people 14.43 million people 33.44 million people Italy
1960s 51.26 million people 18.89 million people 32.37 million people Italy
1970s 54.88 million people 25.38 million people 29.50 million people Italy
1980s 56.79 million people 34.50 million people 22.29 million people Italy
1990s 57.20 million people 44.05 million people 13.16 million people Italy
2000s 58.38 million people 49.31 million people 9.07 million people Italy
2010s 60.42 million people 55.92 million people 4.50 million people Italy
2020s 59.69 million people 61.91 million people 2.22 million people South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population: comparison of un projections, Italy or South Africa?
South Africa, at 63.21 million people against 59.50 million people in Italy as of 2023.
What is the difference in population: comparison of un projections between Italy and South Africa?
3.71 million people, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?
74 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2023.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for population: comparison of un projections?
Italy ranks 25th and South Africa ranks 24th of 236 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Population: comparison of UN projections. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Africa: Population: comparison of UN projections. Statizoid, drawing on UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/comparison-of-world-population-projections/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population: comparison of UN projections
Unit
people
Source
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.