Population in the largest city in South Africa
South Africa: Population in the largest city was 15.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
15.6%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
132nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 2025
All-time low
10.1%
in 1991
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in South Africa is 15.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in South Africa peaked at 15.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 1991.
That places South Africa 132nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15.0% | — |
| 1961 | 14.8% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 14.7% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 14.5% | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 14.4% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 14.3% | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 14.0% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 13.8% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 13.7% | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 13.6% | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 13.2% | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 12.9% | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 12.7% | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 12.4% | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 12.1% | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 11.9% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 11.6% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 11.4% | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 11.2% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 11.3% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 11.3% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 11.3% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 11.2% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 11.0% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 10.8% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 10.6% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 10.2% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 10.1% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 10.1% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 10.1% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 10.3% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 10.9% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 11.1% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 11.3% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 11.5% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 11.7% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 12.0% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 12.1% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 12.4% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 12.5% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 12.6% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 13.4% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 14.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 14.9% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 15.1% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 15.3% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 15.5% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 15.6% | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.2%, 59% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.4%, 45% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.3% | 13.7% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.3% | 11.2% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.0% | 10.3% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.5% | 10.1% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 11.5% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 13.0% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 15.1% | 15.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 129 Czechia 16.8% compare
- 130 Morocco 16.5% compare
- 131 Kazakhstan 15.7% compare
- 133 Slovakia 15.4% compare
- 134 Syrian Arab Republic 15.2% compare
- 135 Mozambique 15.0% compare
More urban development data for South Africa
- Population density 52.11 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3607 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 23.36 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 18.59 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 6.44 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 8.05 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 750.74 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in South Africa?
- Population in the largest city in South Africa was 15.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for population in the largest city?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.