Least developed countries: UN classification vs South Africa: Population, total

Least developed countries: UN classification
1.21 billion
in 2025
South Africa
64.75 million
in 2025
Least developed countries: UN classification rank
22nd
South Africa rank
24th

Population, total over time

  • Least developed countries: UN classification
  • South Africa
0250.0M500.0M750.0M1.0B1.2B196019922025

How they compare

Least developed countries: UN classification currently reports 1.21 billion against 64.75 million in South Africa, a difference of 1.15 billion.

That makes Least developed countries: UN classification's figure about 18.8 times South Africa's.

Across all 66 years both countries report, Least developed countries: UN classification has been ahead every year.

Least developed countries: UN classification ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 24th of 49 groups.

Least developed countries: UN classification has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Least developed countries: UN classification South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 274.62 million 18.89 million 255.73 million Least developed countries: UN classification
1970s 352.79 million 25.38 million 327.41 million Least developed countries: UN classification
1980s 452.67 million 34.50 million 418.18 million Least developed countries: UN classification
1990s 586.40 million 44.05 million 542.35 million Least developed countries: UN classification
2000s 752.40 million 49.31 million 703.09 million Least developed countries: UN classification
2010s 952.84 million 55.92 million 896.92 million Least developed countries: UN classification
2020s 1.15 billion 62.74 million 1.08 billion Least developed countries: UN classification

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population, total, Least developed countries: UN classification or South Africa?
Least developed countries: UN classification, at 1.21 billion against 64.75 million in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in population, total between Least developed countries: UN classification and South Africa?
1.15 billion, with Least developed countries: UN classification ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Least developed countries: UN classification and South Africa?
66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
How do Least developed countries: UN classification and South Africa rank globally for population, total?
Least developed countries: UN classification ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 24th of 49 groups.
Where does this data come from?
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as Population, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator
Population, total
Source
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
264 places, 17,394 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.