Iran vs South Africa: Urban area long term
Iran
8,281
in 2025
South Africa
8,172
in 2025
Iran rank
17th
South Africa rank
18th
Urban area long term over time
- Iran
- South Africa
How they compare
Iran currently reports 8,281 against 8,172 in South Africa, a difference of 109.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was Iran ahead.
Iran ranks 17th and South Africa ranks 18th of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, Iran averaged higher in 35 and South Africa in 5.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 30.81 | 0.0026 | 30.81 | Iran |
| 1100s | 34.16 | 0.0093 | 34.15 | Iran |
| 1200s | 37.68 | 0.0326 | 37.65 | Iran |
| 1300s | 27.58 | 0.1118 | 27.47 | Iran |
| 1400s | 30.85 | 0.3772 | 30.47 | Iran |
| 1500s | 34.28 | 1.26 | 33.02 | Iran |
| 1600s | 44.57 | 4.4 | 40.17 | Iran |
| 1700s | 46.3 | 18.86 | 27.44 | Iran |
| 1710s | 54.37 | 20.92 | 33.45 | Iran |
| 1720s | 60.8 | 22.88 | 37.92 | Iran |
| 1730s | 68 | 24.75 | 43.25 | Iran |
| 1740s | 76.05 | 26.53 | 49.52 | Iran |
| 1750s | 85.06 | 28.22 | 56.84 | Iran |
| 1760s | 95.13 | 29.81 | 65.32 | Iran |
| 1770s | 106.39 | 31.31 | 75.08 | Iran |
| 1780s | 118.98 | 32.71 | 86.27 | Iran |
| 1790s | 133.07 | 34.03 | 99.04 | Iran |
| 1800s | 148.83 | 35.25 | 113.58 | Iran |
| 1810s | 166.45 | 36.38 | 130.07 | Iran |
| 1820s | 186.15 | 37.41 | 148.74 | Iran |
| 1830s | 215.41 | 38.35 | 177.06 | Iran |
| 1840s | 248.56 | 39.19 | 209.37 | Iran |
| 1850s | 286.06 | 48.2 | 237.86 | Iran |
| 1860s | 328.45 | 61.75 | 266.7 | Iran |
| 1870s | 376.32 | 84.07 | 292.26 | Iran |
| 1880s | 475.32 | 166.07 | 309.26 | Iran |
| 1890s | 589.77 | 193.06 | 396.71 | Iran |
| 1900s | 705.92 | 237.22 | 468.7 | Iran |
| 1910s | 838.84 | 298.57 | 540.27 | Iran |
| 1920s | 990.54 | 331.84 | 658.7 | Iran |
| 1930s | 1,161 | 397.13 | 764.23 | Iran |
| 1940s | 1,333 | 487.77 | 845.61 | Iran |
| 1950s | 1,535 | 1,057 | 478.2 | Iran |
| 1960s | 1,678 | 1,477 | 201.47 | Iran |
| 1970s | 1,866 | 2,038 | 172.06 | South Africa |
| 1980s | 2,602 | 2,840 | 238.39 | South Africa |
| 1990s | 3,855 | 4,087 | 232.07 | South Africa |
| 2000s | 5,180 | 5,352 | 172.63 | South Africa |
| 2010s | 6,621 | 6,693 | 71.46 | South Africa |
| 2020s | 7,890 | 7,835 | 54.58 | Iran |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban area long term, Iran or South Africa?
- Iran, at 8,281 against 8,172 in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban area long term between Iran and South Africa?
- 109, with Iran ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran and South Africa?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do Iran and South Africa rank globally for urban area long term?
- Iran ranks 17th and South Africa ranks 18th of 202 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban area long term. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.