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South Africa vs Nigeria population, 1950 to 2100

Nigeria had 227.88 million people in 2023, versus 63.21 million in South Africa. Compare UN estimates and projections to 2100.

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What the data shows

  • South Africa: 13.04M in 1950, 94.31M in 2100 (projected) (7.2× higher). The latest estimate is 63.21M in 2023.
  • Nigeria: 37.28M in 1950, 476.75M in 2100 (projected) (13× higher). The latest estimate is 227.88M in 2023.

About this chart

The UN projects Nigeria to reach 476.75 million people in 2100, above its 2023 estimate of 227.88 million. At the estimated endpoint, Nigeria has 227.88 million people against 63.21 million for South Africa. In 1950, the corresponding totals were 13.04 million for South Africa and 37.28 million for Nigeria. All values are population totals, rather than population density or annual growth rates.

By 2100, the UN medium-variant projection reaches 94.31 million people for South Africa and 476.75 million for Nigeria. Estimates end in 2023; later values are conditional projections rather than observed counts. Future fertility, mortality and migration can move the eventual totals away from this path. Comparing the same projection variant keeps the two countries on a consistent basis.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts.

South Africa vs Nigeria population, Millions of people, 1950–2100; projected after 2023, 1950–2100
Date🇿🇦 South Africa🇳🇬 Nigeria
195013.04M37.28M
195113.31M37.99M
195213.60M38.72M
195313.89M39.44M
195414.20M40.18M
195514.53M40.94M
195614.88M41.72M
195715.24M42.52M
195815.62M43.32M
195916.01M44.16M
196016.44M45.05M
196116.91M45.99M
196217.42M46.97M
196317.95M47.97M
196418.51M49.01M
196519.09M50.09M
196619.69M51.19M
196720.31M52.29M
196820.96M53.43M
196921.61M54.63M
197022.28M55.89M
197122.94M57.21M
197223.61M58.60M
197324.29M60.08M
197424.99M61.68M
197525.69M63.41M
197626.40M65.26M
197727.12M67.23M
197827.87M69.33M
197928.63M71.50M
198029.52M73.76M
198130.54M76.07M
198231.62M78.38M
198332.74M80.44M
198433.89M82.53M
198535.04M84.90M
198636.18M87.24M
198737.33M89.59M
198838.48M92.02M
198939.63M94.53M
199040.75M97.12M
199141.69M99.72M
199242.44M102.37M
199343.30M105.12M
199444.00M107.94M
199544.54M110.82M
199645.12M113.75M
199745.67M116.75M
199846.22M119.85M
199946.73M123.05M
200047.16M126.38M
200147.57M129.86M
200248.02M133.47M
200348.50M137.20M
200448.99M141.06M
200549.49M145.02M
200650.00M149.08M
200750.53M153.27M
200851.11M157.60M
200951.73M162.05M
201052.34M166.64M
201153.00M171.38M
201253.78M176.20M
201354.68M181.05M
201455.59M185.90M
201556.72M190.67M
201657.26M195.44M
201757.64M200.25M
201858.61M204.94M
201959.59M209.49M
202060.56M214.00M
202161.50M218.53M
202262.38M223.15M
202363.21M227.88M
202464.01M232.68M
202564.75M237.53M
202665.45M242.43M
202766.14M247.37M
202866.83M252.35M
202967.51M257.35M
203068.16M262.38M
203168.80M267.42M
203269.43M272.48M
203370.04M277.56M
203470.64M282.62M
203571.23M287.69M
203671.82M292.74M
203772.39M297.77M
203872.95M302.78M
203973.50M307.76M
204074.04M312.71M
204174.58M317.61M
204275.11M322.45M
204375.64M327.24M
204476.16M331.98M
204576.68M336.66M
204677.20M341.28M
204777.72M345.84M
204878.22M350.35M
204978.70M354.79M
205079.18M359.19M
205179.65M363.52M
205280.12M367.80M
205380.56M372.02M
205480.99M376.18M
205581.43M380.27M
205681.84M384.30M
205782.25M388.27M
205882.66M392.17M
205983.06M396.01M
206083.44M399.79M
206183.82M403.50M
206284.19M407.15M
206384.56M410.73M
206484.92M414.23M
206585.26M417.66M
206685.59M421.00M
206785.92M424.26M
206886.23M427.43M
206986.54M430.50M
207086.86M433.49M
207187.18M436.37M
207287.49M439.17M
207387.77M441.87M
207488.05M444.47M
207588.32M446.97M
207688.59M449.37M
207788.86M451.66M
207889.13M453.85M
207989.40M455.94M
208089.67M457.92M
208189.94M459.79M
208290.21M461.54M
208390.47M463.19M
208490.72M464.74M
208590.96M466.19M
208691.20M467.53M
208791.44M468.77M
208891.69M469.90M
208991.93M470.94M
209092.16M471.89M
209192.40M472.74M
209292.64M473.50M
209392.86M474.16M
209493.09M474.74M
209593.30M475.25M
209693.50M475.69M
209793.70M476.07M
209893.89M476.38M
209994.10M476.60M
210094.31M476.75M

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has more people, South Africa or Nigeria?

Nigeria has more people in the 2023 UN estimates: about 227.88 million, compared with 63.21 million in South Africa. The gap is approximately 164.67 million.

What populations are projected for 2100?

The UN medium-variant projection gives South Africa 94.31 million people and Nigeria 476.75 million in 2100. These values are projections, not current population estimates.

Where do the estimates end and projections begin?

The UN World Population Prospects series uses estimates through 2023. Values from 2024 onward follow its medium-variant projection. Both countries use the same source and scenario.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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Related data

All world charts
WorldReal data

South Africa's population

South Africa: 63.21M in 2023; UN projects 94.31M in 2100. The 1950 estimate was 13.04M. Future values follow the medium scenario.

MoneyReal data

South Africa's GDP

South Africa GDP: $458.2B in 2011, versus $427.2B in 2025. World Bank totals in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation.

WorldReal data

South Africa: life expectancy

South Africa: 66.3 years in 2024. Life expectancy peaked at 66.3 years in 2024 in this 1990–2024 series.