Population in cities over 1 million in South Africa in 2025 — 23,357,296 people. Ranked 17 in the world out of 121. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 481.3%.
1960–2025 · people
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | people | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23.36M | +399,622 | +1.74% |
| 2024 | 22.96M | +409,020 | +1.81% |
| 2023 | 22.55M | +418,039 | +1.89% |
| 2022 | 22.13M | +425,951 | +1.96% |
| 2021 | 21.7M | +432,380 | +2.03% |
| 2020 | 21.27M | +435,982 | +2.09% |
| 2019 | 20.84M | +435,575 | +2.14% |
| 2018 | 20.4M | +521,422 | +2.62% |
| 2017 | 19.88M | +505,934 | +2.61% |
| 2016 | 19.37M | +490,951 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 18.88M | +476,449 | +2.59% |
| 2014 | 18.41M | +462,413 | +2.58% |
| 2013 | 17.94M | +448,830 | +2.57% |
| 2012 | 17.49M | +435,681 | +2.55% |
| 2011 | 17.06M | +422,378 | +2.54% |
| 2010 | 16.64M | +410,089 | +2.53% |
| 2009 | 16.23M | +397,650 | +2.51% |
| 2008 | 15.83M | +387,211 | +2.51% |
| 2007 | 15.44M | +375,515 | +2.49% |
| 2006 | 15.07M | +364,711 | +2.48% |
| 2005 | 14.7M | +353,768 | +2.47% |
| 2004 | 14.35M | +344,593 | +2.46% |
| 2003 | 14M | +334,300 | +2.45% |
| 2002 | 13.67M | +364,058 | +2.74% |
| 2001 | 13.3M | +451,815 | +3.52% |
| 2000 | 12.85M | +436,464 | +3.52% |
| 1999 | 12.42M | +419,907 | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 12M | +404,566 | +3.49% |
| 1997 | 11.59M | +410,808 | +3.67% |
| 1996 | 11.18M | +448,663 | +4.18% |
| 1995 | 10.73M | +426,117 | +4.13% |
| 1994 | 10.31M | +405,383 | +4.09% |
| 1993 | 9.9M | +385,233 | +4.05% |
| 1992 | 9.52M | +367,681 | +4.02% |
| 1991 | 9.15M | +292,696 | +3.31% |
| 1990 | 8.86M | +256,436 | +2.98% |
| 1989 | 8.6M | +248,206 | +2.97% |
| 1988 | 8.35M | +241,244 | +2.97% |
| 1987 | 8.11M | +233,518 | +2.96% |
| 1986 | 7.88M | +226,370 | +2.96% |
| 1985 | 7.65M | +196,763 | +2.64% |
| 1984 | 7.45M | +180,347 | +2.48% |
| 1983 | 7.27M | +174,847 | +2.46% |
| 1982 | 7.1M | +169,760 | +2.45% |
| 1981 | 6.93M | +164,613 | +2.43% |
| 1980 | 6.76M | +160,296 | +2.43% |
| 1979 | 6.6M | +155,456 | +2.41% |
| 1978 | 6.45M | +150,989 | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 6.3M | +146,459 | +2.38% |
| 1976 | 6.15M | +142,671 | +2.37% |
| 1975 | 6.01M | +138,409 | +2.36% |
| 1974 | 5.87M | +134,479 | +2.35% |
| 1973 | 5.73M | +130,495 | +2.33% |
| 1972 | 5.6M | +127,162 | +2.32% |
| 1971 | 5.48M | +123,411 | +2.31% |
| 1970 | 5.35M | +148,160 | +2.85% |
| 1969 | 5.21M | +148,547 | +2.94% |
| 1968 | 5.06M | +144,407 | +2.94% |
| 1967 | 4.91M | +139,810 | +2.93% |
| 1966 | 4.77M | +135,560 | +2.92% |
| 1965 | 4.64M | +131,275 | +2.91% |
| 1964 | 4.51M | +127,655 | +2.92% |
| 1963 | 4.38M | +123,632 | +2.91% |
| 1962 | 4.25M | +119,914 | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 4.13M | +116,218 | +2.89% |
| 1960 | 4.02M | — | — |
The population of urban agglomerations with more than one million residents. The unit of count is the agglomeration, not the city within its administrative boundaries, and that is essential: along administrative lines many of the largest concentrations of people break up into dozens of municipalities. The indicator measures not urbanization as such but its concentration in large centers — a country can be highly urbanized without a single million-plus city.
Important: The table covers about 120 territories — the rest have no agglomerations of this size, and that is a zero, not a gap. Aggregates for groups of countries are therefore calculated at a lowered coverage threshold.
Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.
What share of a country's population lives in agglomerations larger than a million.
Demography Urban populationThe absolute number of city dwellers by country.
Demography Urban population shareWhat part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.
Environment Forest coverWhat share of a country's territory is covered by forest.
Environment Forest areaThe absolute area of forest in square kilometers.
Environment Protected areasThe share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.
