Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 1.35 % change on previous year in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
1.35 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
107th
of 234 countries
All-time high
4.4 % change on previous year
in 1988
All-time low
0.7452 % change on previous year
in 2017
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa is 1.35 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 4.4 % change on previous year in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.7452 % change on previous year, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 107th of 234 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 75 years of available data.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 3.5 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 3.59 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 3.51 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1955 | 3.5 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1956 | 3.46 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 3.39 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 3.27 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 3.19 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.15 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1961 | 3.22 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 3.34 % change on previous year | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 3.36 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 3.35 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 3.35 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 3.35 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 3.36 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 3.34 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 3.31 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 3.25 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 3.13 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 3.04 % change on previous year | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 2.97 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 2.85 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 2.86 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 2.9 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 3.28 % change on previous year | +12.9% |
| 1981 | 3.69 % change on previous year | +12.6% |
| 1982 | 3.79 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 3.89 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 3.92 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 3.86 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 4 % change on previous year | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 4.29 % change on previous year | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 4.4 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 4.3 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 3.99 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 1991 | 3.16 % change on previous year | -20.7% |
| 1992 | 2.36 % change on previous year | -25.4% |
| 1993 | 2.42 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 2 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 1995 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -18.6% |
| 1996 | 1.83 % change on previous year | +12.8% |
| 1997 | 2.02 % change on previous year | +9.9% |
| 1998 | 2.44 % change on previous year | +21.2% |
| 1999 | 2.55 % change on previous year | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 2.41 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 2.19 % change on previous year | -8.9% |
| 2002 | 2.14 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 2.23 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 2.27 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 2.26 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 2.22 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 2.16 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 2.13 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 2 % change on previous year | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 2011 | 1.6 % change on previous year | -10.7% |
| 2012 | 1.67 % change on previous year | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 1.81 % change on previous year | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 1.81 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.15 % change on previous year | +18.9% |
| 2016 | 1.05 % change on previous year | -51.2% |
| 2017 | 0.7452 % change on previous year | -29.0% |
| 2018 | 1.77 % change on previous year | +137.6% |
| 2019 | 1.72 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 1.67 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 1.57 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 1.47 % change on previous year | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 1.51 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 2025 | 1.35 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.35 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9495 % change on previous year, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.35 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.42 % change on previous year, 40% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +137.6% | 0.7452 % change on previous year | 1.77 % change on previous year |
| 2016 | -51.2% | 2.15 % change on previous year | 1.05 % change on previous year |
| 2017 | -29.0% | 1.05 % change on previous year | 0.7452 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.44 % change on previous year | 3.19 % change on previous year | 3.59 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 3.31 % change on previous year | 3.15 % change on previous year | 3.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.98 % change on previous year | 2.85 % change on previous year | 3.25 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.94 % change on previous year | 3.28 % change on previous year | 4.4 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.44 % change on previous year | 1.63 % change on previous year | 3.99 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2 % change on previous year | 2 % change on previous year | 2.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.61 % change on previous year | 0.7452 % change on previous year | 2.15 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5 % change on previous year | 1.35 % change on previous year | 1.67 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 104 Ireland 1.39 % change on previous year compare
- 105 Saint Barthelemy 1.39 % change on previous year compare
- 106 Colombia 1.36 % change on previous year compare
- 108 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 1.32 % change on previous year compare
- 109 Sri Lanka 1.29 % change on previous year compare
- 110 Iceland 1.28 % change on previous year compare
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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in South Africa was 1.35 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4 % change on previous year in 1988.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7452 % change on previous year in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 107th out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.