Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 63.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 63.8%, measured 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 of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 63.8% 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 44.5% | 42.1% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.3% | 46.7% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.0% | 47.8% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.4% | 52.0% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 56.3% | 62.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.1% | 62.6% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.6% | 63.4% | 63.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.07 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 63.8% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.