Urban and rural population in South Africa
South Africa: Urban and rural population was 41.32 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
41.32 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
24th
of 236 countries
All-time high
41.32 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.49 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in South Africa is 41.32 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in South Africa peaked at 41.32 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.49 million, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 24th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.49 million | — |
| 1951 | 5.68 million | +3.5% |
| 1952 | 5.88 million | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 6.09 million | +3.5% |
| 1954 | 6.31 million | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 6.53 million | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 6.75 million | +3.5% |
| 1957 | 6.98 million | +3.4% |
| 1958 | 7.21 million | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 7.44 million | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 7.68 million | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 7.92 million | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 8.19 million | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 8.46 million | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 8.75 million | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 9.04 million | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 9.34 million | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 9.66 million | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 9.98 million | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 10.31 million | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 10.64 million | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 10.98 million | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 11.31 million | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 11.65 million | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 12.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 12.35 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 12.70 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 13.06 million | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 13.44 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 13.83 million | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 14.29 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 14.81 million | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 15.38 million | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 15.97 million | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 16.60 million | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 17.24 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 17.93 million | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 18.70 million | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 19.52 million | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 20.36 million | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 21.18 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 21.84 million | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 22.36 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 22.90 million | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 23.36 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 23.74 million | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 24.17 million | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 24.66 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 25.26 million | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 25.91 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 26.53 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 27.11 million | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 27.69 million | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 28.31 million | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 28.95 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 29.61 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 30.26 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 30.92 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 31.57 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 32.21 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 32.78 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 33.31 million | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 33.86 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 34.48 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 35.10 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 35.85 million | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 36.23 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 36.50 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 37.15 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 37.79 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 38.42 million | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 39.02 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 39.60 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 40.19 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 40.77 million | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 41.32 million | +1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41.32 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 9.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 41.32 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 8.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.44 million | 5.49 million | 7.44 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.93 million | 7.68 million | 10.31 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.20 million | 10.64 million | 13.83 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.08 million | 14.29 million | 20.36 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.54 million | 21.18 million | 25.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.32 million | 26.53 million | 32.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.30 million | 32.78 million | 37.79 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.89 million | 38.42 million | 41.32 million | 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 urban and rural population in South Africa?
- Urban and rural population in South Africa was 41.32 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 41.32 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for urban and rural population?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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