South Africa—Urban Population Growth (%)
Category: Urban DevelopmentSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #99 of 217Updated April 2026
Latest Value
1.4%
2024
YoY Change
-4.9%
2023 → 2024
Global Rank
#99
of 217 countries
Maximum
2.4%
2000
Minimum
0.7%
2017
CAGR
-2.1%
25 years
Last
1.4%
Previous
1.5%
Highest
2.4%
Lowest
0.7%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
South Africa's urban population growth (%) was 1.4% in 2024, ranking #99 out of 217 countries. This represents a -4.9% change from 2023. Over the past 25 years, the highest recorded value was 2.4% (2000) and the lowest was 0.7% (2017). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.4% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +136.4% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | -28.9% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -50.9% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +18.7% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 2.0% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 2.4% |
Top Countries — Urban Population Growth (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burundi | 7.9% | 2024 |
| 2 | Qatar | 7.4% | 2024 |
| 3 | Chad | 7.2% | 2024 |
| 4 | Rwanda | 5.6% | 2024 |
| 5 | South Sudan | 5.4% | 2024 |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 5.0% | 2024 |
| 7 | Niger | 5.0% | 2024 |
| 8 | Uganda | 4.9% | 2024 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 4.9% | 2024 |
| 10 | Mali | 4.9% | 2024 |