South Africa vs Syria: Population in the largest city

South Africa
15.6%
in 2025
Syria
15.2%
in 2025
South Africa rank
132nd
Syria rank
134th

Population in the largest city over time

  • South Africa
  • Syria
101520253035196019922025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 15.6% against 15.2% in Syria, a difference of 0.4%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Syria ahead.

South Africa ranks 132nd and Syria ranks 134th of 153 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Syria in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Syria Difference Ahead
1960s 14.3% 31.9% 17.6% Syria
1970s 12.3% 32.9% 20.6% Syria
1980s 11.0% 30.7% 19.7% Syria
1990s 10.5% 26.0% 15.6% Syria
2000s 12.2% 25.3% 13.1% Syria
2010s 13.9% 16.4% 2.5% Syria
2020s 15.3% 15.3% 0.1% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population in the largest city, South Africa or Syria?
South Africa, at 15.6% against 15.2% in Syria as of 2025.
What is the difference in population in the largest city between South Africa and Syria?
0.4%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Syria?
66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
How do South Africa and Syria rank globally for population in the largest city?
South Africa ranks 132nd and Syria ranks 134th of 153 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Syria: Population in the largest city. Statizoid, drawing on World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-in-the-largest-city-percent-of-urban-population/south-africa/syrian-arab-republic/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in the largest city (% of urban population)
Unit
% of urban population
Source
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
196 places, 12,906 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.