South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Urban agglomerations more than 1 million

South Africa
17.85 million
in 2020
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
17.28 million
in 2020
South Africa rank
20th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
22nd

Urban agglomerations more than 1 million over time

  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M195019852020

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 17.85 million against 17.28 million in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 576,100.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 15 shared years of data; in 1950 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

South Africa ranks 20th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd of 182 countries.

Across the 8 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 7.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1950s 0 14.18 million 14.18 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1960s 0 14.98 million 14.98 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1970s 1.12 million 14.42 million 13.30 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1980s 3.24 million 13.17 million 9.94 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 5.39 million 12.70 million 7.30 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2000s 8.52 million 13.32 million 4.80 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2010s 13.54 million 14.83 million 1.28 million United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2020s 17.85 million 17.28 million 576,100 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher urban agglomerations more than 1 million, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
South Africa, at 17.85 million against 17.28 million in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2020.
What is the difference in urban agglomerations more than 1 million between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
576,100, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
15 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2020.
How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for urban agglomerations more than 1 million?
South Africa ranks 20th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd of 182 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Our World in Data, published as Urban agglomerations more than 1 million. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Urban agglomerations more than 1 million. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/urban-agglomerations-more-than-1-million/south-africa/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Urban agglomerations more than 1 million
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
182 places, 2,532 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed