Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa
South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual was 1.74 % change on previous year in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
1.74 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
52nd
of 121 countries
All-time high
4.18 % change on previous year
in 1996
All-time low
1.74 % change on previous year
in 2025
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa stood at 1.74 % change on previous year. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa peaked at 4.18 % change on previous year in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.74 % change on previous year, in 2025.
That places South Africa 52nd out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.89 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 2.9 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 2.91 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 2.92 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 2.91 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 2.92 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 2.93 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 2.94 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 2.94 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 2.85 % change on previous year | -3.1% |
| 1971 | 2.31 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 1972 | 2.32 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 2.33 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 2.35 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 2.36 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 2.37 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 2.38 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.4 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 2.41 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 2.43 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 2.43 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 2.45 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 2.46 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 2.48 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 2.64 % change on previous year | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 2.96 % change on previous year | +12.1% |
| 1987 | 2.96 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 2.97 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.97 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 2.98 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 3.31 % change on previous year | +10.8% |
| 1992 | 4.02 % change on previous year | +21.6% |
| 1993 | 4.05 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 4.09 % change on previous year | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 4.14 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 4.18 % change on previous year | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 3.67 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 3.5 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 3.52 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 3.52 % change on previous year | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.74 % change on previous year | -22.2% |
| 2003 | 2.45 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 2.46 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 2.47 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 2.48 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 2.49 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.51 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 2.51 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 2.53 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 2.54 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.55 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 2.57 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 2.58 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 2.59 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 2.6 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.61 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2.62 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 2.14 % change on previous year | -18.6% |
| 2020 | 2.09 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 2.03 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 1.96 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 1.81 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 2025 | 1.74 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.74 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.36 % change on previous year, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.74 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.88 % change on previous year, 45% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.92 % change on previous year | 2.89 % change on previous year | 2.94 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.41 % change on previous year | 2.31 % change on previous year | 2.85 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.68 % change on previous year | 2.43 % change on previous year | 2.97 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.74 % change on previous year | 2.98 % change on previous year | 4.18 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.71 % change on previous year | 2.45 % change on previous year | 3.52 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.53 % change on previous year | 2.14 % change on previous year | 2.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.92 % change on previous year | 1.74 % change on previous year | 2.09 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 49 Myanmar 1.85 % change on previous year compare
- 50 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.84 % change on previous year compare
- 51 Algeria 1.76 % change on previous year compare
- 53 Morocco 1.74 % change on previous year compare
- 54 Dominican Republic 1.69 % change on previous year compare
- 55 Kazakhstan 1.66 % change on previous year compare
More urban development data for South Africa
- Population in the largest city 15.6% (2025)
- 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 23.36 million (2025)
- 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, 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual in South Africa was 1.74 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.18 % change on previous year in 1996.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.74 % change on previous year in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.