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South Africa: Urban population (% of total population)

In , South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) was 63.69.

That's up 0.2% from 2023, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 62.87 . South Africa ranks #111 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #9 of 48.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

South Africa Urban population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
63.69
Trough
59.82
1-year change
+0.2%
5-year change
+0.4%
+0.1% / yr
10-year change
+0.9%
+0.1% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Urban population (% of total population)
63.6918
63.5824
63.4767
63.4504
63.4373
63.4127
63.3772
63.3311
63.2751
63.2096

About Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Indicator code: SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) was 63.69, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) rising or falling?
South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) rose 0.2% from 2023 to 2024.
How does South Africa rank globally on Urban population (% of total population)?
In 2024, South Africa ranked #111 out of 217 countries reporting Urban population (% of total population).
How does South Africa's Urban population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Urban population (% of total population) in 2024 was 62.87, so South Africa is above the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #9 of 48.
What is Urban population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS), CC BY 4.0.