South Africa vs Turkey: Urban area long term
South Africa
8,172
in 2025
Turkey
7,698
in 2025
South Africa rank
18th
Turkey rank
19th
Urban area long term over time
- South Africa
- Turkey
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 8,172 against 7,698 in Turkey, a difference of 474.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Turkey's.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was Turkey ahead.
South Africa ranks 18th and Turkey ranks 19th of 202 groups.
Across the 40 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 7 and Turkey in 33.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Turkey | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0026 | 45.26 | 45.26 | Turkey |
| 1100s | 0.0093 | 34.63 | 34.62 | Turkey |
| 1200s | 0.0326 | 42.66 | 42.63 | Turkey |
| 1300s | 0.1118 | 51.24 | 51.13 | Turkey |
| 1400s | 0.3772 | 42.96 | 42.59 | Turkey |
| 1500s | 1.26 | 48.12 | 46.86 | Turkey |
| 1600s | 4.4 | 63.92 | 59.52 | Turkey |
| 1700s | 18.86 | 70.39 | 51.53 | Turkey |
| 1710s | 20.92 | 80.23 | 59.32 | Turkey |
| 1720s | 22.88 | 89.15 | 66.27 | Turkey |
| 1730s | 24.75 | 99.05 | 74.3 | Turkey |
| 1740s | 26.53 | 110.06 | 83.53 | Turkey |
| 1750s | 28.22 | 122.29 | 94.07 | Turkey |
| 1760s | 29.81 | 135.88 | 106.07 | Turkey |
| 1770s | 31.31 | 150.97 | 119.66 | Turkey |
| 1780s | 32.71 | 167.75 | 135.03 | Turkey |
| 1790s | 34.03 | 186.38 | 152.36 | Turkey |
| 1800s | 35.25 | 207.09 | 171.85 | Turkey |
| 1810s | 36.38 | 230.1 | 193.73 | Turkey |
| 1820s | 37.41 | 255.67 | 218.26 | Turkey |
| 1830s | 38.35 | 290.6 | 252.25 | Turkey |
| 1840s | 39.19 | 329.23 | 290.04 | Turkey |
| 1850s | 48.2 | 372.9 | 324.7 | Turkey |
| 1860s | 61.75 | 421.87 | 360.12 | Turkey |
| 1870s | 84.07 | 475.18 | 391.11 | Turkey |
| 1880s | 166.07 | 521.62 | 355.55 | Turkey |
| 1890s | 193.06 | 553.02 | 359.96 | Turkey |
| 1900s | 237.22 | 553.02 | 315.8 | Turkey |
| 1910s | 298.57 | 553.02 | 254.45 | Turkey |
| 1920s | 331.84 | 553.02 | 221.18 | Turkey |
| 1930s | 397.13 | 553.02 | 155.88 | Turkey |
| 1940s | 487.77 | 553.02 | 65.25 | Turkey |
| 1950s | 1,057 | 688.84 | 367.77 | South Africa |
| 1960s | 1,477 | 1,098 | 378.62 | South Africa |
| 1970s | 2,038 | 1,742 | 296.61 | South Africa |
| 1980s | 2,840 | 2,832 | 8.38 | South Africa |
| 1990s | 4,087 | 4,190 | 102.85 | Turkey |
| 2000s | 5,352 | 5,287 | 65.38 | South Africa |
| 2010s | 6,693 | 6,429 | 264.02 | South Africa |
| 2020s | 7,835 | 7,387 | 448.11 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban area long term, South Africa or Turkey?
- South Africa, at 8,172 against 7,698 in Turkey as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban area long term between South Africa and Turkey?
- 474, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Turkey?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Turkey rank globally for urban area long term?
- South Africa ranks 18th and Turkey ranks 19th of 202 groups.
- 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.