How does South Africa rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit?

South Africa ranks 42nd out of 120 countries with data for 2025.

Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa

Name: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa
Creator: Statizoid (derived)
License: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page

South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit was 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.0001 units per US$ of GDP

Change on year

down 4.5%

World rank

42nd

of 120 countries

All-time high

0.0005 units per US$ of GDP

in 1960

All-time low

0 units per US$ of GDP

in 2011

Years of data

1960–2025

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa, 1960–2025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per US$ of GDP.

Analysis

In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa stood at 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP.

That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa peaked at 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0 units per US$ of GDP, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 42nd of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960 to 2025.
Year	units per US$ of GDP	Change
1960	0.0005 units per US$ of GDP	—
1961	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	-2.4%
1962	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	-3.3%
1963	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	-7.0%
1964	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	-6.6%
1965	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	-5.9%
1966	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	-5.4%
1967	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	-7.5%
1968	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	-4.9%
1969	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	-8.5%
1970	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	-6.7%
1971	0.0002 units per US$ of GDP	-7.3%
1972	0.0002 units per US$ of GDP	-2.3%
1973	0.0002 units per US$ of GDP	-24.6%
1974	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-17.7%
1975	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-1.3%
1976	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+6.7%
1977	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-7.1%
1978	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-10.1%
1979	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-16.2%
1980	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-27.8%
1981	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-1.7%
1982	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+11.1%
1983	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-8.5%
1984	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+16.2%
1985	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+35.1%
1986	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-9.5%
1987	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-21.8%
1988	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-4.4%
1989	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-0.9%
1990	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-11.7%
1991	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-3.7%
1992	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-4.3%
1993	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+3.9%
1994	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-0.2%
1995	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-6.9%
1996	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+9.6%
1997	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+0.2%
1998	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+14.3%
1999	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+4.5%
2000	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+3.4%
2001	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+16.0%
2002	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+7.8%
2003	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-32.9%
2004	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-21.1%
2005	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-9.3%
2006	0 units per US$ of GDP	-2.6%
2007	0 units per US$ of GDP	-6.5%
2008	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+8.0%
2009	0 units per US$ of GDP	-1.7%
2010	0 units per US$ of GDP	-19.0%
2011	0 units per US$ of GDP	-6.6%
2012	0 units per US$ of GDP	+8.2%
2013	0 units per US$ of GDP	+11.1%
2014	0 units per US$ of GDP	+7.9%
2015	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+12.8%
2016	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+9.9%
2017	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-13.0%
2018	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-3.4%
2019	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+6.3%
2020	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+17.6%
2021	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-17.9%
2022	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+5.1%
2023	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	+8.9%
2024	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-3.2%
2025	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	-4.5%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0 units per US$ of GDP, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
South Africa's 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP, 50% of the median. (30 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	0.0004 units per US$ of GDP	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	0.0005 units per US$ of GDP	10
1970s	0.0002 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0003 units per US$ of GDP	10
1980s	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	10
1990s	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	10
2000s	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	10
2010s	0 units per US$ of GDP	0 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	10
2020s	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	0.0001 units per US$ of GDP	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

39 India 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare
40 Côte d'Ivoire 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare
41 Ghana 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare
43 Kenya 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare
44 Colombia 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare
45 Nicaragua 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

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, annual 1.74 % change on previous year (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)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa?: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa was 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP in 1960.
What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0 units per US$ of GDP in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit?: South Africa ranks 42nd out of 120 countries with data for 2025.
Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/stat/population-in-urban-agglomerations-of-more-than-1-million-per-unit-of-gdp/south-africa/

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<a href="https://urban.statizoid.com/stat/population-in-urban-agglomerations-of-more-than-1-million-per-unit-of-gdp/south-africa/">Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million ÷ GDP (current US$)

Computed from

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks

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

Indicator: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit of GDP
Unit: units per US$ of GDP
Source: Statizoid (derived)
Licence: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage: 120 places, 7,236 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 18 August 2026

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.