Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in the capital city was 2.83 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
2.83
World rank
158th
of 170 countries
All-time high
2.83
in 2020
All-time low
1.28
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in South Africa stood at 2.83. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in South Africa peaked at 2.83 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.28, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 158th of 170 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.28 | — |
| 1955 | 1.37 | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 1.44 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 1.47 | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 1.49 | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 1.49 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 1.57 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 1.45 | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 1.68 | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 1.49 | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 1.49 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1.86 | +24.7% |
| 2010 | 2.39 | +28.2% |
| 2015 | 2.52 | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 2.83 | +12.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.83 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.62, 14% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.83 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.45, 21% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.32 | 1.28 | 1.37 | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.45 | 1.44 | 1.47 | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.49 | 1.49 | 1.49 | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.51 | 1.45 | 1.57 | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.58 | 1.49 | 1.68 | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.68 | 1.49 | 1.86 | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.46 | 2.39 | 2.52 | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.83 | 2.83 | 2.83 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 155 Italy 3.96 compare
- 156 South Sudan 3.18 compare
- 157 New Zealand 2.9 compare
- 159 Laos 2.52 compare
- 160 Switzerland 2.27 compare
- 161 India 2.07 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)
- 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 share of population living in the capital city in South Africa?
- Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa was 2.83 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.83 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.28 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- South Africa ranks 158th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. 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 Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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