South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population projections

South Africa
85.03 million Persons
in 2070
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
80.10 million Persons
in 2070
South Africa rank
10th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
12th

Population projections over time

  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M202420472070

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 85.03 million Persons against 80.10 million Persons in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 4.93 million Persons.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 47 shared years of data; in 2024 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

South Africa ranks 10th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th of 43 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 3 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
2020s 64.77 million Persons 70.52 million Persons 5.75 million Persons United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2030s 69.73 million Persons 73.25 million Persons 3.52 million Persons United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2040s 74.92 million Persons 75.94 million Persons 1.01 million Persons United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2050s 79.49 million Persons 77.98 million Persons 1.50 million Persons South Africa
2060s 83.34 million Persons 79.39 million Persons 3.95 million Persons South Africa
2070s 85.03 million Persons 80.10 million Persons 4.93 million Persons South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population projections, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
South Africa, at 85.03 million Persons against 80.10 million Persons in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2070.
What is the difference in population projections between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
4.93 million Persons, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
47 years are reported by both, from 2024 to 2070.
How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for population projections?
South Africa ranks 10th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th of 43 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Population projections. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population projections. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/population-projections/south-africa/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Population projections
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
56 places, 2,581 data points, 2024–2070
Last refreshed

This dataset presents annual population projections data up to 2070 by sex and five year age groups as well as the share of children, youth, the elderly, old-age and total dependency ratios. The data is available for all member countries as well as for the EU27 and G20 countries, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the World total. The data refer to mid-year estimates of the population. Population projections are, in most countries, according to medium variant. See country details for the variants retained for each demographic component of total fertility, life expectancy at birth and net annual migration) in Population projection metadata.