Population of cities towns and villages in South Africa
South Africa: Population of cities towns and villages was 12.95 million in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
12.95 million
World rank
25th
of 236 countries
All-time high
12.97 million
in 2015
All-time low
6.71 million
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population of cities towns and villages in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of cities towns and villages in South Africa is 12.95 million, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of cities towns and villages in South Africa peaked at 12.97 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6.71 million, in 1950.
That places South Africa 25th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population of cities towns and villages in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.71 million | — |
| 1955 | 7.20 million | +7.4% |
| 1960 | 7.77 million | +7.9% |
| 1965 | 8.46 million | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 9.17 million | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 9.83 million | +7.2% |
| 1980 | 10.60 million | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 11.76 million | +11.0% |
| 1990 | 12.60 million | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 12.88 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 12.78 million | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 12.75 million | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 12.72 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 12.97 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 12.95 million | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.95 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.60 million, 8.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.95 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.66 million, 3.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.95 million | 6.71 million | 7.20 million | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.12 million | 7.77 million | 8.46 million | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.50 million | 9.17 million | 9.83 million | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.18 million | 10.60 million | 11.76 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.74 million | 12.60 million | 12.88 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.76 million | 12.75 million | 12.78 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.84 million | 12.72 million | 12.97 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.95 million | 12.95 million | 12.95 million | 1 |
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 population of cities towns and villages in South Africa?
- Population of cities towns and villages in South Africa was 12.95 million in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population of cities towns and villages recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.97 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest population of cities towns and villages recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.71 million in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for population of cities towns and villages?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population of cities towns and villages rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population of cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).