Share urban and rural population in South Africa
South Africa: Share urban and rural population was 63.82 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
63.82
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
125th
of 236 countries
All-time high
63.82
in 2025
All-time low
42.1
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share urban and rural population in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 63.82 for share urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share urban and rural population in South Africa peaked at 63.82 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 42.1, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 125th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share urban and rural population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 42.1 | — |
| 1951 | 42.69 | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 43.28 | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 43.86 | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 44.41 | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 44.92 | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 45.39 | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 45.81 | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 46.17 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 46.47 | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 46.69 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 46.86 | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 47.01 | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 47.14 | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 47.26 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 47.36 | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 47.45 | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 47.54 | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 47.62 | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 47.7 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 47.78 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 47.85 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 47.91 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 47.97 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 48.02 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 48.07 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 48.12 | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 48.18 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 48.24 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 48.31 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 48.4 | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 48.51 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 48.63 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 48.79 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 48.98 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 49.2 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 49.56 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 50.1 | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 50.73 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 51.39 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 51.97 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 52.4 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 52.68 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 52.89 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 53.08 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 53.3 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 53.57 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 54 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 54.66 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 55.44 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 56.26 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 57 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 57.67 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 58.37 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 59.1 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 59.82 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 60.53 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 61.18 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 61.77 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 62.26 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.63 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 62.85 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 62.96 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 63.05 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 63.14 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 63.21 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 63.28 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 63.33 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 63.38 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.41 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 63.44 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 63.45 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 63.48 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 63.58 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 63.69 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 63.82 | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 63.82 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.53, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 63.82 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.89, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 44.51 | 42.1 | 46.47 | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.26 | 46.69 | 47.7 | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.04 | 47.78 | 48.31 | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.43 | 48.4 | 51.39 | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.4 | 51.97 | 55.44 | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.4 | 56.26 | 62.26 | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.12 | 62.63 | 63.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.58 | 63.44 | 63.82 | 6 |
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)
- 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 urban and rural population in South Africa?
- Share urban and rural population in South Africa was 63.82 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share urban and rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.82 in 2025.
- What is the lowest share urban and rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for share urban and rural population?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share urban and rural population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. 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 urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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