Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in the capital city was 2.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in South Africa stood at 2.8%. 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 2.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.3% | — |
| 1955 | 1.4% | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 1.4% | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 1.5% | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 1.5% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 1.6% | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | +24.7% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +28.2% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | +12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 155 Italy 4.0% compare
- 156 South Sudan 3.2% compare
- 157 New Zealand 2.9% compare
- 159 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.5% compare
- 160 Switzerland 2.3% compare
- 161 India 2.1% 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 share of population living in the capital city in South Africa?
- Share of population living in the capital city in South Africa was 2.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by 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 2.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% 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 European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by 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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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.