Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate was 0.1941 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.1941 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
133rd
of 234 countries
All-time high
1.48 % change on previous year
in 2000
All-time low
0.0207 % change on previous year
in 2021
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa is 0.1941 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 12.8% on the previous year and up 64.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 1.48 % change on previous year in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0207 % change on previous year, in 2021.
That places South Africa 133rd out of 234 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1.4 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 1.4 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 1.33 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 1954 | 1.25 % change on previous year | -6.2% |
| 1955 | 1.15 % change on previous year | -7.6% |
| 1956 | 1.04 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 1957 | 0.924 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 1958 | 0.7907 % change on previous year | -14.4% |
| 1959 | 0.645 % change on previous year | -18.4% |
| 1960 | 0.4827 % change on previous year | -25.2% |
| 1961 | 0.3639 % change on previous year | -24.6% |
| 1962 | 0.3143 % change on previous year | -13.6% |
| 1963 | 0.2772 % change on previous year | -11.8% |
| 1964 | 0.2454 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 1965 | 0.2188 % change on previous year | -10.8% |
| 1966 | 0.1976 % change on previous year | -9.7% |
| 1967 | 0.1817 % change on previous year | -8.1% |
| 1968 | 0.171 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 1969 | 0.1655 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 0.1637 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 0.1507 % change on previous year | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 0.1292 % change on previous year | -14.3% |
| 1973 | 0.115 % change on previous year | -11.0% |
| 1974 | 0.1065 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 0.1041 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 0.1076 % change on previous year | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 0.117 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1978 | 0.1322 % change on previous year | +13.0% |
| 1979 | 0.1534 % change on previous year | +16.0% |
| 1980 | 0.1801 % change on previous year | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 0.2169 % change on previous year | +20.5% |
| 1982 | 0.2647 % change on previous year | +22.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3208 % change on previous year | +21.2% |
| 1984 | 0.3843 % change on previous year | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 0.4555 % change on previous year | +18.5% |
| 1986 | 0.7307 % change on previous year | +60.4% |
| 1987 | 1.09 % change on previous year | +48.9% |
| 1988 | 1.27 % change on previous year | +16.7% |
| 1989 | 1.28 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 1.13 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 1991 | 0.8313 % change on previous year | -26.7% |
| 1992 | 0.5353 % change on previous year | -35.6% |
| 1993 | 0.4043 % change on previous year | -24.5% |
| 1994 | 0.3598 % change on previous year | -11.0% |
| 1995 | 0.4001 % change on previous year | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 0.5229 % change on previous year | +30.7% |
| 1997 | 0.8009 % change on previous year | +53.2% |
| 1998 | 1.21 % change on previous year | +50.8% |
| 1999 | 1.44 % change on previous year | +18.9% |
| 2000 | 1.48 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 1.32 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 1.18 % change on previous year | -10.8% |
| 2003 | 1.21 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1.24 % change on previous year | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 1.23 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 1.18 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 1.08 % change on previous year | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 0.9565 % change on previous year | -11.8% |
| 2009 | 0.7933 % change on previous year | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 0.5953 % change on previous year | -25.0% |
| 2011 | 0.3524 % change on previous year | -40.8% |
| 2012 | 0.1768 % change on previous year | -49.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1441 % change on previous year | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 0.1313 % change on previous year | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1178 % change on previous year | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 0.1036 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 0.0885 % change on previous year | -14.6% |
| 2018 | 0.0728 % change on previous year | -17.8% |
| 2019 | 0.056 % change on previous year | -23.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0388 % change on previous year | -30.7% |
| 2021 | 0.0207 % change on previous year | -46.8% |
| 2022 | 0.0414 % change on previous year | +100.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1665 % change on previous year | +301.7% |
| 2024 | 0.1721 % change on previous year | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 0.1941 % change on previous year | +12.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.1941 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3466 % change on previous year, 56% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.1941 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.15 % change on previous year, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +301.7% | 0.0414 % change on previous year | 0.1665 % change on previous year |
| 2022 | +100.7% | 0.0207 % change on previous year | 0.0414 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.1 % change on previous year | 0.645 % change on previous year | 1.4 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 0.2618 % change on previous year | 0.1655 % change on previous year | 0.4827 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1279 % change on previous year | 0.1041 % change on previous year | 0.1637 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6193 % change on previous year | 0.1801 % change on previous year | 1.28 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7632 % change on previous year | 0.3598 % change on previous year | 1.44 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.17 % change on previous year | 0.7933 % change on previous year | 1.48 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1839 % change on previous year | 0.056 % change on previous year | 0.5953 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1056 % change on previous year | 0.0207 % change on previous year | 0.1941 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 130 Latvia 0.2171 % change on previous year compare
- 131 Canada 0.2121 % change on previous year compare
- 132 Chile 0.2047 % change on previous year compare
- 134 Sudan 0.1939 % change on previous year compare
- 135 Poland 0.1914 % change on previous year compare
- 136 Saudi Arabia 0.1858 % change on previous year compare
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 vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate in South Africa was 0.1941 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 % change on previous year in 2000.
- What is the lowest urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0207 % change on previous year in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 133rd out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban vs rural majority, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban vs rural majority. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban vs rural majority. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.