Share of population living in rural areas in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in rural areas was 21.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in 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
South Africa recorded 21.4% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in South Africa peaked at 51.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 51.4% | — |
| 1955 | 49.6% | -3.7% |
| 1960 | 47.3% | -4.6% |
| 1965 | 44.3% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 41.2% | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 38.3% | -7.1% |
| 1980 | 35.9% | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 33.6% | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 30.9% | -7.9% |
| 1995 | 28.9% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 27.1% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 22.9% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 21.4% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 50.5% | 49.6% | 51.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 45.8% | 44.3% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.7% | 38.3% | 41.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 34.7% | 33.6% | 35.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 29.9% | 28.9% | 30.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.4% | 25.8% | 27.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 22.9% | 24.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in South Africa?
- Share of population living in rural areas in South Africa was 21.4% 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 rural areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- South Africa ranks 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.