Population in cities of more than 1 million as a share of population rose 0.550% to 35.9% in South Africa in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, population in cities of more than 1 million as a share of population in South Africa reached an all time high of 35.9% in 2024 and an all time low of 21.7% in 1989.
South Africa has been ranked 27th within the group of 121 countries we follow in terms of population in cities of more than 1 million as a share of population, 1 place above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Population in Cities of More Than 1 million (As % of Population) | Unit | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Angola | % | 24.8% | 24.8% | 24.9% | 25.0% | 25.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Botswana | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Lesotho | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Mozambique | % | 9.43% | 9.28% | 9.15% | 9.05% | 8.99% | ||||||||||||||||
| Namibia | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| South Africa | % | 34.8% | 35.0% | 35.1% | 35.3% | 35.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Swaziland | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Zambia | % | 14.0% | 14.3% | 14.6% | 14.8% | 15.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe | % | 10.1% | 9.96% | 9.85% | 9.76% | 9.69% |
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