Urban population in South Africa in 2025 — 41,318,761 people. Ranked 24 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 438.3%.
1960–2025 · people
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | people | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41.32M | +551,432 | +1.35% |
| 2024 | 40.77M | +575,397 | +1.43% |
| 2023 | 40.19M | +596,195 | +1.51% |
| 2022 | 39.6M | +572,094 | +1.47% |
| 2021 | 39.02M | +604,498 | +1.57% |
| 2020 | 38.42M | +632,843 | +1.67% |
| 2019 | 37.79M | +639,050 | +1.72% |
| 2018 | 37.15M | +646,265 | +1.77% |
| 2017 | 36.5M | +269,950 | +0.75% |
| 2016 | 36.23M | +376,296 | +1.05% |
| 2015 | 35.85M | +754,811 | +2.15% |
| 2014 | 35.1M | +623,639 | +1.81% |
| 2013 | 34.48M | +613,896 | +1.81% |
| 2012 | 33.86M | +554,576 | +1.67% |
| 2011 | 33.31M | +524,786 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 32.78M | +577,229 | +1.79% |
| 2009 | 32.21M | +632,675 | +2% |
| 2008 | 31.57M | +657,693 | +2.13% |
| 2007 | 30.92M | +652,656 | +2.16% |
| 2006 | 30.26M | +655,776 | +2.21% |
| 2005 | 29.61M | +654,182 | +2.26% |
| 2004 | 28.95M | +641,988 | +2.27% |
| 2003 | 28.31M | +616,905 | +2.23% |
| 2002 | 27.69M | +580,171 | +2.14% |
| 2001 | 27.11M | +582,174 | +2.19% |
| 2000 | 26.53M | +623,888 | +2.41% |
| 1999 | 25.91M | +643,459 | +2.55% |
| 1998 | 25.26M | +602,310 | +2.44% |
| 1997 | 24.66M | +487,307 | +2.02% |
| 1996 | 24.17M | +435,657 | +1.84% |
| 1995 | 23.74M | +379,893 | +1.63% |
| 1994 | 23.36M | +457,687 | +2% |
| 1993 | 22.9M | +541,926 | +2.42% |
| 1992 | 22.36M | +514,998 | +2.36% |
| 1991 | 21.84M | +669,442 | +3.16% |
| 1990 | 21.18M | +811,718 | +3.99% |
| 1989 | 20.36M | +840,238 | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 19.52M | +823,159 | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 18.7M | +769,016 | +4.29% |
| 1986 | 17.93M | +690,176 | +4% |
| 1985 | 17.24M | +641,067 | +3.86% |
| 1984 | 16.6M | +626,334 | +3.92% |
| 1983 | 15.97M | +597,690 | +3.89% |
| 1982 | 15.38M | +561,699 | +3.79% |
| 1981 | 14.81M | +526,793 | +3.69% |
| 1980 | 14.29M | +453,118 | +3.28% |
| 1979 | 13.83M | +390,039 | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 13.44M | +379,336 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 13.06M | +363,408 | +2.86% |
| 1976 | 12.7M | +352,292 | +2.85% |
| 1975 | 12.35M | +349,845 | +2.92% |
| 1974 | 12M | +346,062 | +2.97% |
| 1973 | 11.65M | +341,475 | +3.02% |
| 1972 | 11.31M | +333,908 | +3.04% |
| 1971 | 10.98M | +332,860 | +3.13% |
| 1970 | 10.64M | +334,752 | +3.25% |
| 1969 | 10.31M | +330,081 | +3.31% |
| 1968 | 9.98M | +322,820 | +3.34% |
| 1967 | 9.66M | +313,615 | +3.36% |
| 1966 | 9.34M | +302,922 | +3.35% |
| 1965 | 9.04M | +292,887 | +3.35% |
| 1964 | 8.75M | +283,882 | +3.35% |
| 1963 | 8.46M | +275,387 | +3.36% |
| 1962 | 8.19M | +264,899 | +3.34% |
| 1961 | 7.92M | +247,177 | +3.22% |
| 1960 | 7.68M | — | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The population living in urban settlements, by national definitions of urban areas. The indicator complements the urban population share: a country with a modest urbanization percentage can hold one of the largest urban populations in the world simply because of its overall size.
Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.
What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.
Environment Population in cities over 1 millionHow many people live in urban agglomerations larger than a million.
Environment Population living in slumsWhat share of the urban population lives in slums under the UN definition.
Demography PopulationResident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.
