Urban area over the long-term in South Africa
South Africa: Urban area over the long-term was 8,172 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8,172 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
18th
of 202 countries
All-time high
8,172 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0026 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in South Africa, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in South Africa stood at 8,172 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in South Africa peaked at 8,172 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0026 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places South Africa 18th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in South Africa, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0026 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0093 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0326 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1300 | 0.1118 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1400 | 0.3772 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1500 | 1.26 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1600 | 4.4 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1700 | 18.86 km² per grid cell | +328.6% |
| 1710 | 20.92 km² per grid cell | +10.9% |
| 1720 | 22.88 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1730 | 24.75 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1740 | 26.53 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1750 | 28.22 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1760 | 29.81 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1770 | 31.31 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1780 | 32.71 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1790 | 34.03 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1800 | 35.25 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1810 | 36.38 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1820 | 37.41 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1830 | 38.35 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1840 | 39.19 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1850 | 48.2 km² per grid cell | +23.0% |
| 1860 | 61.75 km² per grid cell | +28.1% |
| 1870 | 84.07 km² per grid cell | +36.1% |
| 1880 | 166.07 km² per grid cell | +97.5% |
| 1890 | 193.06 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1900 | 237.22 km² per grid cell | +22.9% |
| 1910 | 298.57 km² per grid cell | +25.9% |
| 1920 | 331.84 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1930 | 397.13 km² per grid cell | +19.7% |
| 1940 | 487.77 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1950 | 896.63 km² per grid cell | +83.8% |
| 1951 | 926.51 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 961.72 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 997.77 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 1,035 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 1,072 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1956 | 1,110 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 1,149 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 1,189 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 1,229 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 1,271 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 1,317 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 1,362 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 1,407 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 1,453 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 1,499 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 1,545 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 1,591 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 1,638 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 1,685 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 1,733 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 1,797 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 1,864 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 1,934 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 2,005 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 2,078 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 2,142 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 2,208 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 2,276 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 2,346 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 2,420 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 2,502 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 2,587 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 2,676 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 2,765 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 2,862 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 2,974 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 3,087 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 3,203 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 3,325 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 3,456 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 3,580 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 3,722 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 3,870 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 4,018 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 4,156 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 4,309 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 4,450 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 4,588 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 4,722 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 4,856 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 4,882 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 5,014 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 5,147 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 5,282 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 5,419 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 5,542 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 5,667 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 5,793 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 5,921 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 6,050 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 6,189 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 6,330 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 6,472 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 6,616 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 6,761 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 6,906 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 7,053 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 7,200 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 7,350 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 7,501 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 7,634 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 7,767 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 7,901 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 8,036 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 8,172 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8,172 km² per grid cell is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 8.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8,172 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 11.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +328.6% | 4.4 km² per grid cell | 18.86 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +260.0% | 0.0026 km² per grid cell | 0.0093 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +250.0% | 0.0093 km² per grid cell | 0.0326 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +250.0% | 1.26 km² per grid cell | 4.4 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.9% | 0.0326 km² per grid cell | 0.1118 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +237.5% | 0.1118 km² per grid cell | 0.3772 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0026 km² per grid cell | 0.0026 km² per grid cell | 0.0026 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0093 km² per grid cell | 0.0093 km² per grid cell | 0.0093 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0326 km² per grid cell | 0.0326 km² per grid cell | 0.0326 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.1118 km² per grid cell | 0.1118 km² per grid cell | 0.1118 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.3772 km² per grid cell | 0.3772 km² per grid cell | 0.3772 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.26 km² per grid cell | 1.26 km² per grid cell | 1.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 4.4 km² per grid cell | 4.4 km² per grid cell | 4.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 18.86 km² per grid cell | 18.86 km² per grid cell | 18.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 20.92 km² per grid cell | 20.92 km² per grid cell | 20.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 22.88 km² per grid cell | 22.88 km² per grid cell | 22.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 24.75 km² per grid cell | 24.75 km² per grid cell | 24.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 26.53 km² per grid cell | 26.53 km² per grid cell | 26.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 28.22 km² per grid cell | 28.22 km² per grid cell | 28.22 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 29.81 km² per grid cell | 29.81 km² per grid cell | 29.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 31.31 km² per grid cell | 31.31 km² per grid cell | 31.31 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 32.71 km² per grid cell | 32.71 km² per grid cell | 32.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 34.03 km² per grid cell | 34.03 km² per grid cell | 34.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 35.25 km² per grid cell | 35.25 km² per grid cell | 35.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 36.38 km² per grid cell | 36.38 km² per grid cell | 36.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 37.41 km² per grid cell | 37.41 km² per grid cell | 37.41 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 38.35 km² per grid cell | 38.35 km² per grid cell | 38.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 39.19 km² per grid cell | 39.19 km² per grid cell | 39.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 48.2 km² per grid cell | 48.2 km² per grid cell | 48.2 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 61.75 km² per grid cell | 61.75 km² per grid cell | 61.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 84.07 km² per grid cell | 84.07 km² per grid cell | 84.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 166.07 km² per grid cell | 166.07 km² per grid cell | 166.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 193.06 km² per grid cell | 193.06 km² per grid cell | 193.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 237.22 km² per grid cell | 237.22 km² per grid cell | 237.22 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 298.57 km² per grid cell | 298.57 km² per grid cell | 298.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 331.84 km² per grid cell | 331.84 km² per grid cell | 331.84 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 397.13 km² per grid cell | 397.13 km² per grid cell | 397.13 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 487.77 km² per grid cell | 487.77 km² per grid cell | 487.77 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 1,057 km² per grid cell | 896.63 km² per grid cell | 1,229 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,477 km² per grid cell | 1,271 km² per grid cell | 1,685 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,038 km² per grid cell | 1,733 km² per grid cell | 2,346 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,840 km² per grid cell | 2,420 km² per grid cell | 3,325 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,087 km² per grid cell | 3,456 km² per grid cell | 4,722 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,352 km² per grid cell | 4,856 km² per grid cell | 5,921 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,693 km² per grid cell | 6,050 km² per grid cell | 7,350 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,835 km² per grid cell | 7,501 km² per grid cell | 8,172 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in South Africa?
- Urban area over the long-term in South Africa was 8,172 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8,172 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0026 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for urban area over the long-term?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.