Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa
South Africa: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 63.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
63.8%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
127th
of 238 countries
All-time high
63.8%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa is 63.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa peaked at 63.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places South Africa 127th out of 238 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.
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.5% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 1.4% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 4.2% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 4.8% | +13.0% |
| 1720 | 5.3% | +11.5% |
| 1730 | 5.9% | +10.3% |
| 1740 | 6.5% | +9.4% |
| 1750 | 7.0% | +8.6% |
| 1760 | 7.6% | +7.9% |
| 1770 | 8.1% | +7.3% |
| 1780 | 8.7% | +6.8% |
| 1790 | 9.2% | +6.4% |
| 1800 | 9.8% | +6.0% |
| 1810 | 10.3% | +5.7% |
| 1820 | 10.9% | +5.4% |
| 1830 | 11.4% | +5.1% |
| 1840 | 12.0% | +4.8% |
| 1850 | 12.5% | +4.6% |
| 1860 | 13.1% | +4.4% |
| 1870 | 13.6% | +4.2% |
| 1880 | 14.2% | +4.1% |
| 1890 | 14.7% | +3.9% |
| 1900 | 15.3% | +3.7% |
| 1910 | 18.0% | +17.6% |
| 1920 | 20.7% | +15.0% |
| 1930 | 24.7% | +19.3% |
| 1940 | 28.9% | +17.0% |
| 1950 | 42.1% | +45.7% |
| 1951 | 42.7% | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 43.3% | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 43.9% | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 44.4% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 44.9% | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 45.4% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 45.8% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 46.2% | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 46.5% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 46.7% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 46.9% | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 47.0% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 47.1% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 47.3% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 47.4% | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 47.5% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 47.5% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 47.6% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 47.7% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 48.3% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 48.6% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 48.8% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 49.0% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 49.2% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 50.1% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 50.7% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 52.0% | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 52.4% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 52.7% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 52.9% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 53.1% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 53.3% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 53.6% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 54.0% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 54.7% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 55.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 57.7% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 58.4% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 59.1% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 59.8% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 62.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.6% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 62.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 63.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 63.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 63.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 63.2% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 63.3% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 63.3% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 63.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.4% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 63.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 63.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 63.8% | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 63.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 63.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Do more people live in urban or rural areas? 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.5% | 1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1710s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1720s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
| 1740s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1750s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1760s | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 1 |
| 1770s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
| 1780s | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 1 |
| 1790s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1810s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
| 1830s | 11.4% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 1 |
| 1840s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 1 |
| 1860s | 13.1% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1 |
| 1870s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 1880s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 1890s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 18.0% | 18.0% | 18.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 20.7% | 20.7% | 20.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 24.7% | 24.7% | 24.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 28.9% | 28.9% | 28.9% | 1 |
| 1950s | 44.5% | 42.1% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.3% | 46.7% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.0% | 47.8% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.4% | 52.0% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 56.3% | 62.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.1% | 62.6% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.6% | 63.4% | 63.8% | 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 do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in South Africa was 63.8% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- South Africa ranks 127th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.