South Africa vs Spain: Population in largest city
South Africa
6.44 million
in 2025
Spain
6.81 million
in 2025
South Africa rank
35th
Spain rank
32nd
Population in largest city over time
- South Africa
- Spain
How they compare
Spain currently reports 6.81 million against 6.44 million in South Africa, a difference of 365,950.
That makes Spain's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, Spain has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 35th and Spain ranks 32nd of 153 countries.
Spain has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Spain | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.28 million | 2.90 million | 1.62 million | Spain |
| 1970s | 1.49 million | 3.86 million | 2.36 million | Spain |
| 1980s | 1.87 million | 4.34 million | 2.47 million | Spain |
| 1990s | 2.47 million | 4.66 million | 2.19 million | Spain |
| 2000s | 3.58 million | 5.35 million | 1.77 million | Spain |
| 2010s | 4.92 million | 6.18 million | 1.26 million | Spain |
| 2020s | 6.12 million | 6.72 million | 600,558 | Spain |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population in largest city, South Africa or Spain?
- Spain, at 6.81 million against 6.44 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population in largest city between South Africa and Spain?
- 365,950, with Spain ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Spain?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Spain rank globally for population in largest city?
- South Africa ranks 35th and Spain ranks 32nd of 153 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in largest city. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.