South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population: comparison of UN projections
South Africa
63.21 million people
in 2023
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
68.68 million people
in 2023
South Africa rank
24th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
21st
Population: comparison of UN projections over time
- South Africa
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 68.68 million people against 63.21 million people in South Africa, a difference of 5.47 million people.
That makes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 74 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 21st of 236 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 8 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.43 million people | 51.10 million people | 36.67 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1960s | 18.89 million people | 54.11 million people | 35.22 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1970s | 25.38 million people | 56.10 million people | 30.72 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 34.50 million people | 56.61 million people | 22.12 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 44.05 million people | 58.09 million people | 14.04 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 49.31 million people | 60.56 million people | 11.25 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 55.92 million people | 65.12 million people | 9.20 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 61.91 million people | 67.97 million people | 6.06 million people | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population: comparison of un projections, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 68.68 million people against 63.21 million people in South Africa as of 2023.
- What is the difference in population: comparison of un projections between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 5.47 million people, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 74 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2023.
- How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for population: comparison of un projections?
- South Africa ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 21st 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.
Individual pages
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.