Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa
South Africa: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 23.02 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
23.02 million people
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
26th
of 238 countries
All-time high
24.38 million people
in 2036
All-time low
257,995 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa is 23.02 million people, measured in 2050.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa peaked at 24.38 million people in 2036 and was at its lowest, 257,995 people, in 1000.
That places South Africa 26th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 257,995 people | — |
| 1100 | 309,582 people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 361,137 people | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 412,584 people | +14.2% |
| 1400 | 463,671 people | +12.4% |
| 1500 | 513,569 people | +10.8% |
| 1600 | 593,492 people | +15.6% |
| 1700 | 823,536 people | +38.8% |
| 1710 | 803,312 people | -2.5% |
| 1720 | 783,268 people | -2.5% |
| 1730 | 763,403 people | -2.5% |
| 1740 | 743,718 people | -2.6% |
| 1750 | 724,212 people | -2.6% |
| 1760 | 704,887 people | -2.7% |
| 1770 | 685,741 people | -2.7% |
| 1780 | 666,774 people | -2.8% |
| 1790 | 647,988 people | -2.8% |
| 1800 | 629,381 people | -2.9% |
| 1810 | 610,954 people | -2.9% |
| 1820 | 592,706 people | -3.0% |
| 1830 | 574,638 people | -3.0% |
| 1840 | 556,750 people | -3.1% |
| 1850 | 651,233 people | +17.0% |
| 1860 | 797,821 people | +22.5% |
| 1870 | 1.05 million people | +31.8% |
| 1880 | 2.07 million people | +96.6% |
| 1890 | 2.52 million people | +22.0% |
| 1900 | 3.49 million people | +38.6% |
| 1910 | 4.54 million people | +29.9% |
| 1920 | 5.43 million people | +19.7% |
| 1930 | 6.42 million people | +18.2% |
| 1940 | 7.35 million people | +14.5% |
| 1950 | 7.55 million people | +2.7% |
| 1951 | 7.63 million people | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 7.71 million people | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 7.80 million people | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 7.90 million people | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 8.01 million people | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 8.13 million people | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 8.26 million people | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 8.41 million people | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 8.57 million people | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 8.76 million people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 8.98 million people | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 9.23 million people | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 9.49 million people | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 9.76 million people | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 10.05 million people | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 10.35 million people | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 10.66 million people | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 10.98 million people | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 11.30 million people | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 11.64 million people | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 11.96 million people | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 12.30 million people | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 12.64 million people | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 12.99 million people | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 13.34 million people | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 13.69 million people | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 14.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 14.43 million people | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 14.80 million people | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 15.23 million people | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 15.73 million people | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 16.24 million people | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 16.77 million people | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 17.29 million people | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 17.80 million people | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 18.25 million people | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 18.63 million people | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 18.96 million people | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 19.27 million people | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 19.57 million people | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 19.84 million people | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 20.08 million people | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 20.40 million people | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 20.65 million people | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 20.80 million people | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 20.95 million people | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 21.00 million people | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 20.96 million people | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 20.82 million people | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 20.63 million people | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 20.45 million people | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 20.33 million people | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 20.19 million people | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 20.04 million people | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 19.88 million people | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 19.74 million people | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 19.61 million people | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 19.54 million people | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 19.52 million people | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.56 million people | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 19.69 million people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 19.92 million people | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 20.20 million people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 20.49 million people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 20.87 million people | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 21.03 million people | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 21.13 million people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 21.47 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 21.80 million people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 22.14 million people | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 22.48 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 22.78 million people | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 23.02 million people | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 23.24 million people | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 23.43 million people | +0.8% |
| 2026 | 23.59 million people | +0.7% |
| 2027 | 23.74 million people | +0.6% |
| 2028 | 23.88 million people | +0.6% |
| 2029 | 24.00 million people | +0.5% |
| 2030 | 24.10 million people | +0.4% |
| 2031 | 24.19 million people | +0.4% |
| 2032 | 24.26 million people | +0.3% |
| 2033 | 24.31 million people | +0.2% |
| 2034 | 24.35 million people | +0.2% |
| 2035 | 24.37 million people | +0.1% |
| 2036 | 24.38 million people | +0.0% |
| 2037 | 24.37 million people | -0.0% |
| 2038 | 24.35 million people | -0.1% |
| 2039 | 24.31 million people | -0.2% |
| 2040 | 24.26 million people | -0.2% |
| 2041 | 24.20 million people | -0.3% |
| 2042 | 24.12 million people | -0.3% |
| 2043 | 24.03 million people | -0.4% |
| 2044 | 23.92 million people | -0.4% |
| 2045 | 23.81 million people | -0.5% |
| 2046 | 23.68 million people | -0.5% |
| 2047 | 23.54 million people | -0.6% |
| 2048 | 23.38 million people | -0.7% |
| 2049 | 23.21 million people | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 23.02 million people | -0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 23.02 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.23 million people, 18.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 23.02 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.62 million people, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | +96.6% | 1.05 million people | 2.07 million people |
| 1700 | +38.8% | 593,492 people | 823,536 people |
| 1900 | +38.6% | 2.52 million people | 3.49 million people |
| 1870 | +31.8% | 797,821 people | 1.05 million people |
| 1910 | +29.9% | 3.49 million people | 4.54 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 257,995 people | 257,995 people | 257,995 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 309,582 people | 309,582 people | 309,582 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 361,137 people | 361,137 people | 361,137 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 412,584 people | 412,584 people | 412,584 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 463,671 people | 463,671 people | 463,671 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 513,569 people | 513,569 people | 513,569 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 593,492 people | 593,492 people | 593,492 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 823,536 people | 823,536 people | 823,536 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 803,312 people | 803,312 people | 803,312 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 783,268 people | 783,268 people | 783,268 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 763,403 people | 763,403 people | 763,403 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 743,718 people | 743,718 people | 743,718 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 724,212 people | 724,212 people | 724,212 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 704,887 people | 704,887 people | 704,887 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 685,741 people | 685,741 people | 685,741 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 666,774 people | 666,774 people | 666,774 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 647,988 people | 647,988 people | 647,988 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 629,381 people | 629,381 people | 629,381 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 610,954 people | 610,954 people | 610,954 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 592,706 people | 592,706 people | 592,706 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 574,638 people | 574,638 people | 574,638 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 556,750 people | 556,750 people | 556,750 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 651,233 people | 651,233 people | 651,233 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 797,821 people | 797,821 people | 797,821 people | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.05 million people | 1.05 million people | 1.05 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.07 million people | 2.07 million people | 2.07 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.52 million people | 2.52 million people | 2.52 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.49 million people | 3.49 million people | 3.49 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.54 million people | 4.54 million people | 4.54 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.43 million people | 5.43 million people | 5.43 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 6.42 million people | 6.42 million people | 6.42 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 7.35 million people | 7.35 million people | 7.35 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 8.00 million people | 7.55 million people | 8.57 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.96 million people | 8.76 million people | 11.30 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.18 million people | 11.64 million people | 14.80 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.42 million people | 15.23 million people | 19.27 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.51 million people | 19.57 million people | 21.00 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.99 million people | 19.52 million people | 20.63 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.62 million people | 19.56 million people | 21.80 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.23 million people | 22.14 million people | 24.00 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 24.30 million people | 24.10 million people | 24.38 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 23.81 million people | 23.21 million people | 24.26 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 23.02 million people | 23.02 million people | 23.02 million people | 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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Africa was 23.02 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 24.38 million people in 2036.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 257,995 people in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.