Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 48.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa is 48.8%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa peaked at 48.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.4%, in 1950.
That places South Africa 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.4% | — |
| 1955 | 13.9% | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 14.6% | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 16.6% | +13.2% |
| 1970 | 17.7% | +7.0% |
| 1975 | 19.6% | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 21.5% | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 23.8% | +10.7% |
| 1990 | 26.4% | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 30.1% | +14.1% |
| 2000 | 34.5% | +14.5% |
| 2005 | 39.2% | +13.8% |
| 2010 | 42.4% | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 44.9% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 48.8% | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.6% | 13.4% | 13.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 15.6% | 14.6% | 16.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.7% | 17.7% | 19.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 22.7% | 21.5% | 23.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.3% | 26.4% | 30.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.9% | 34.5% | 39.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 43.7% | 42.4% | 44.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 48.8% | 48.8% | 48.8% | 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)
- 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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in South Africa was 48.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4% in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.