South Africa vs United Kingdom: Population
South Africa
63.21 million
in 2023
United Kingdom
68.68 million
in 2023
South Africa rank
24th
United Kingdom rank
21st
Population over time
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
How they compare
United Kingdom currently reports 68.68 million against 63.21 million in South Africa, a difference of 5.47 million.
That makes United Kingdom's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 241 years both countries report, United Kingdom has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 24th and United Kingdom ranks 21st of 238 countries.
United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 40 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 258,000 | 1.70 million | 1.44 million | United Kingdom |
| 1100s | 309,600 | 2.56 million | 2.25 million | United Kingdom |
| 1200s | 361,200 | 4.53 million | 4.17 million | United Kingdom |
| 1300s | 412,800 | 6.33 million | 5.92 million | United Kingdom |
| 1400s | 464,400 | 2.90 million | 2.44 million | United Kingdom |
| 1500s | 516,000 | 4.21 million | 3.69 million | United Kingdom |
| 1600s | 602,000 | 5.01 million | 4.40 million | United Kingdom |
| 1700s | 860,000 | 6.76 million | 5.90 million | United Kingdom |
| 1710s | 843,752 | 7.25 million | 6.41 million | United Kingdom |
| 1720s | 827,505 | 7.75 million | 6.92 million | United Kingdom |
| 1730s | 811,258 | 8.25 million | 7.44 million | United Kingdom |
| 1740s | 795,011 | 8.76 million | 7.97 million | United Kingdom |
| 1750s | 778,764 | 9.29 million | 8.51 million | United Kingdom |
| 1760s | 762,517 | 9.82 million | 9.06 million | United Kingdom |
| 1770s | 746,270 | 10.37 million | 9.63 million | United Kingdom |
| 1780s | 730,023 | 10.94 million | 10.21 million | United Kingdom |
| 1790s | 713,776 | 11.52 million | 10.80 million | United Kingdom |
| 1800s | 1.47 million | 11.29 million | 9.82 million | United Kingdom |
| 1810s | 1.54 million | 15.78 million | 14.24 million | United Kingdom |
| 1820s | 1.72 million | 22.44 million | 20.72 million | United Kingdom |
| 1830s | 2.14 million | 25.28 million | 23.14 million | United Kingdom |
| 1840s | 2.67 million | 26.92 million | 24.26 million | United Kingdom |
| 1850s | 3.16 million | 27.95 million | 24.79 million | United Kingdom |
| 1860s | 3.52 million | 30.00 million | 26.48 million | United Kingdom |
| 1870s | 3.91 million | 32.81 million | 28.89 million | United Kingdom |
| 1880s | 4.36 million | 35.86 million | 31.50 million | United Kingdom |
| 1890s | 4.85 million | 39.07 million | 34.22 million | United Kingdom |
| 1900s | 5.56 million | 42.76 million | 37.19 million | United Kingdom |
| 1910s | 6.56 million | 45.67 million | 39.11 million | United Kingdom |
| 1920s | 7.86 million | 46.29 million | 38.43 million | United Kingdom |
| 1930s | 9.64 million | 46.86 million | 37.22 million | United Kingdom |
| 1940s | 11.72 million | 48.99 million | 37.27 million | United Kingdom |
| 1950s | 14.43 million | 51.10 million | 36.67 million | United Kingdom |
| 1960s | 18.89 million | 54.11 million | 35.22 million | United Kingdom |
| 1970s | 25.38 million | 56.10 million | 30.72 million | United Kingdom |
| 1980s | 34.50 million | 56.61 million | 22.12 million | United Kingdom |
| 1990s | 44.05 million | 58.09 million | 14.04 million | United Kingdom |
| 2000s | 49.31 million | 60.56 million | 11.25 million | United Kingdom |
| 2010s | 55.92 million | 65.12 million | 9.20 million | United Kingdom |
| 2020s | 61.91 million | 67.97 million | 6.06 million | United Kingdom |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population, South Africa or United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom, at 68.68 million against 63.21 million in South Africa as of 2023.
- What is the difference in population between South Africa and United Kingdom?
- 5.47 million, with United Kingdom ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom?
- 241 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2023.
- How do South Africa and United Kingdom rank globally for population?
- South Africa ranks 24th and United Kingdom ranks 21st of 238 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.