Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 78.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in South Africa stood at 78.6%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 78.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 48.6%, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 89th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 suburbs vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 48.6% | — |
| 1955 | 50.4% | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 52.7% | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 55.7% | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 58.8% | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 61.7% | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 64.1% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 66.4% | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 69.1% | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 71.1% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 72.9% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 74.2% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 75.7% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 77.1% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 78.6% | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 78.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 78.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.4%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 49.5% | 48.6% | 50.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 54.2% | 52.7% | 55.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 60.3% | 58.8% | 61.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 65.3% | 64.1% | 66.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 70.1% | 69.1% | 71.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 72.9% | 74.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 76.4% | 75.7% | 77.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 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 suburbs vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 78.6% 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 suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 78.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.6% in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. 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 suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.