South Africa - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in South Africa was 67.35 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 67.35 in 2020, while its lowest value was 46.62 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 46.62
1961 46.79
1962 46.91
1963 47.02
1964 47.13
1965 47.25
1966 47.36
1967 47.48
1968 47.59
1969 47.70
1970 47.81
1971 47.87
1972 47.93
1973 47.99
1974 48.05
1975 48.11
1976 48.17
1977 48.23
1978 48.29
1979 48.35
1980 48.43
1981 48.59
1982 48.76
1983 48.92
1984 49.09
1985 49.37
1986 49.91
1987 50.44
1988 50.97
1989 51.51
1990 52.04
1991 52.55
1992 53.04
1993 53.52
1994 54.00
1995 54.49
1996 54.97
1997 55.45
1998 55.93
1999 56.41
2000 56.89
2001 57.37
2002 57.90
2003 58.45
2004 58.99
2005 59.54
2006 60.08
2007 60.62
2008 61.15
2009 61.69
2010 62.22
2011 62.75
2012 63.27
2013 63.79
2014 64.31
2015 64.83
2016 65.34
2017 65.85
2018 66.36
2019 66.86
2020 67.35

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization