Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa
South Africa: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.2047 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa is 0.2047, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.9% on the previous year and up 84.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa peaked at 1.47 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.0106, in 2021.
That places South Africa 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.38 | — |
| 1951 | 1.4 | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 1.36 | -2.5% |
| 1953 | 1.28 | -5.8% |
| 1954 | 1.2 | -6.8% |
| 1955 | 1.09 | -8.4% |
| 1956 | 0.9811 | -10.4% |
| 1957 | 0.8552 | -12.8% |
| 1958 | 0.718 | -16.0% |
| 1959 | 0.5577 | -22.3% |
| 1960 | 0.419 | -24.9% |
| 1961 | 0.3311 | -21.0% |
| 1962 | 0.2949 | -10.9% |
| 1963 | 0.2602 | -11.8% |
| 1964 | 0.2311 | -11.2% |
| 1965 | 0.2074 | -10.3% |
| 1966 | 0.1889 | -8.9% |
| 1967 | 0.1756 | -7.0% |
| 1968 | 0.1675 | -4.6% |
| 1969 | 0.1654 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 0.158 | -4.5% |
| 1971 | 0.1397 | -11.6% |
| 1972 | 0.1212 | -13.2% |
| 1973 | 0.1099 | -9.3% |
| 1974 | 0.1046 | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 0.1051 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 0.1115 | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 0.1238 | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 0.1419 | +14.6% |
| 1979 | 0.1657 | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 0.197 | +18.9% |
| 1981 | 0.2393 | +21.5% |
| 1982 | 0.2914 | +21.8% |
| 1983 | 0.351 | +20.5% |
| 1984 | 0.4094 | +16.6% |
| 1985 | 0.5704 | +39.3% |
| 1986 | 0.9071 | +59.0% |
| 1987 | 1.2 | +31.8% |
| 1988 | 1.29 | +7.9% |
| 1989 | 1.22 | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 0.9856 | -19.4% |
| 1991 | 0.6663 | -32.4% |
| 1992 | 0.455 | -31.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3716 | -18.3% |
| 1994 | 0.3689 | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 0.4517 | +22.4% |
| 1996 | 0.6244 | +38.2% |
| 1997 | 1.01 | +62.5% |
| 1998 | 1.33 | +31.5% |
| 1999 | 1.47 | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 1.4 | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 1.24 | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 1.17 | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 1.23 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 1.23 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.2 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.13 | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 1.02 | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 0.8758 | -14.1% |
| 2009 | 0.7001 | -20.1% |
| 2010 | 0.4615 | -34.1% |
| 2011 | 0.2602 | -43.6% |
| 2012 | 0.1453 | -44.2% |
| 2013 | 0.1378 | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 0.1246 | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1107 | -11.2% |
| 2016 | 0.0961 | -13.2% |
| 2017 | 0.0807 | -16.0% |
| 2018 | 0.0645 | -20.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0476 | -26.2% |
| 2020 | 0.0296 | -37.8% |
| 2021 | 0.0106 | -64.2% |
| 2022 | 0.1268 | +1096.2% |
| 2023 | 0.1617 | +27.5% |
| 2024 | 0.183 | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 0.2047 | +11.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2047 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3526, 58% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2047 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.16, 18% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +1096.2% | 0.0106 | 0.1268 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.08 | 0.5577 | 1.4 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2441 | 0.1654 | 0.419 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1281 | 0.1046 | 0.1657 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6673 | 0.197 | 1.29 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7743 | 0.3689 | 1.47 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.12 | 0.7001 | 1.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1529 | 0.0476 | 0.4615 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1194 | 0.0106 | 0.2047 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Africa was 0.2047 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.47 in 1999.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0106 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- South Africa ranks 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 84.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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