Largest cities in South Africa, 1975 to 2050

Johannesburg leads South Africa with 7.08 million people in 2025, ahead of Cape Town at 4.51 million in the UN city ranking.

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What the data shows

In 2025, Johannesburg ranks #1 with 7.08M, ahead of Cape Town (4.51M) and Durban (3.18M).
By 2050, on the UN's projections, Johannesburg is projected to rank #1 with 8.92M, ahead of Cape Town (6.13M) and Durban (3.16M).
The top spot changed hands twice: Cape Town in 1980 and Johannesburg in 1997.
Biggest climber: Klipgat, from #14 in 1985 to #5 in 2050.
Johannesburg grew 6× between 1975 and 2025.
Klipgat wasn't on the board in 1975 but is in the top 5 by 2050.

About this chart

Johannesburg and Cape Town head the 2025 ranking for South Africa, at 7.08 million and 4.51 million people. Johannesburg also appears first in 1975, at 1.18 million, so the top position is unchanged between those two endpoints. Durban occupies third place in 2025 at 3.18 million. These are populations of urban areas defined consistently by the UN, rather than administrative city limits.

The UN projects Johannesburg to lead in 2050 at 8.92 million people. The figures after 2025 are projections. The Degree of Urbanization identifies contiguous dense settlements, so these totals can differ from municipal and metropolitan statistics. The historical ranking is useful for comparing positions; changing settlement boundaries mean it should not be treated as a measure of growth within fixed city limits.

The data

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population.

Largest cities in South Africa, Population in millions, 1975–2050; projected after 2025, 1975–2050
Date	🇿🇦 Johannesburg	🇿🇦 Cape Town	🇿🇦 Durban	🇿🇦 Pretoria	🇿🇦 Tembisa	🇿🇦 Evaton	🇿🇦 Gqeberha	🇿🇦 Bloemfontein	🇿🇦 Phuthaditjhaba	🇿🇦 Vanderbijlpark	🇿🇦 Masetjhaba View	🇿🇦 Madadeni	🇿🇦 Klipgat	🇿🇦 Chief Albert Luthuli Park
1975	1.18M	0.98M	0.57M	0.38M	0.31M	0.29M	0.25M	0.18M	0.14M	0.10M	0.09M	0.06M		0.06M
1976	1.19M	1.04M	0.61M	0.40M	0.31M	0.30M	0.26M	0.19M	0.15M	0.11M	0.10M	0.07M		0.07M
1977	1.19M	1.09M	0.65M	0.41M	0.31M	0.31M	0.26M	0.20M	0.15M	0.11M	0.11M	0.09M		0.08M
1978	1.20M	1.15M	0.69M	0.43M	0.32M	0.32M	0.27M	0.21M	0.16M	0.12M	0.12M	0.10M		0.09M
1979	1.20M	1.20M	0.73M	0.45M	0.32M	0.33M	0.27M	0.22M	0.17M	0.12M	0.13M	0.11M		0.10M
1980	1.21M	1.26M	0.77M	0.46M	0.32M	0.34M	0.28M	0.23M	0.17M	0.13M	0.14M	0.13M		0.12M
1981	1.23M	1.33M	0.83M	0.47M	0.33M	0.36M	0.29M	0.24M	0.18M	0.14M	0.14M	0.13M		0.12M
1982	1.25M	1.40M	0.90M	0.48M	0.33M	0.37M	0.30M	0.24M	0.19M	0.15M	0.15M	0.14M		0.12M
1983	1.26M	1.47M	0.97M	0.49M	0.34M	0.39M	0.30M	0.25M	0.19M	0.16M	0.15M	0.14M		0.13M
1984	1.28M	1.53M	1.03M	0.50M	0.35M	0.41M	0.31M	0.25M	0.20M	0.17M	0.15M	0.15M		0.13M
1985	1.30M	1.60M	1.10M	0.51M	0.36M	0.42M	0.32M	0.26M	0.20M	0.18M	0.16M	0.16M	0.07M	0.14M
1986	1.33M	1.65M	1.17M	0.54M	0.36M	0.43M	0.34M	0.26M	0.22M	0.18M	0.16M	0.17M	0.10M	0.14M
1987	1.36M	1.69M	1.25M	0.58M	0.37M	0.43M	0.36M	0.27M	0.23M	0.18M	0.16M	0.18M	0.13M	0.14M
1988	1.38M	1.73M	1.32M	0.61M	0.38M	0.44M	0.38M	0.27M	0.24M	0.18M	0.17M	0.19M	0.16M	0.14M
1989	1.41M	1.78M	1.39M	0.65M	0.39M	0.44M	0.40M	0.27M	0.26M	0.18M	0.17M	0.20M	0.19M	0.15M
1990	1.44M	1.82M	1.47M	0.68M	0.40M	0.44M	0.42M	0.27M	0.27M	0.18M	0.17M	0.21M	0.22M	0.15M
1991	1.56M	1.88M	1.55M	0.68M	0.43M	0.45M	0.42M	0.27M	0.26M	0.18M	0.19M	0.21M	0.26M	0.16M
1992	1.68M	1.95M	1.64M	0.67M	0.46M	0.45M	0.43M	0.27M	0.26M	0.18M	0.20M	0.21M	0.30M	0.17M
1993	1.79M	2.01M	1.73M	0.67M	0.49M	0.46M	0.44M	0.28M	0.25M	0.18M	0.21M	0.22M	0.34M	0.18M
1994	1.91M	2.07M	1.81M	0.67M	0.52M	0.46M	0.45M	0.28M	0.25M	0.18M	0.23M	0.22M	0.38M	0.19M
1995	2.03M	2.13M	1.90M	0.66M	0.55M	0.47M	0.45M	0.28M	0.24M	0.18M	0.24M	0.22M	0.42M	0.20M
1996	2.18M	2.19M	2.02M	0.67M	0.59M	0.48M	0.46M	0.28M	0.24M	0.18M	0.25M	0.22M	0.45M	0.21M
1997	2.33M	2.25M	2.13M	0.68M	0.62M	0.49M	0.46M	0.28M	0.24M	0.19M	0.26M	0.23M	0.49M	0.22M
1998	2.47M	2.31M	2.25M	0.69M	0.65M	0.50M	0.46M	0.28M	0.23M	0.19M	0.28M	0.23M	0.52M	0.23M
1999	2.62M	2.37M	2.37M	0.70M	0.68M	0.51M	0.47M	0.29M	0.23M	0.19M	0.29M	0.23M	0.56M	0.24M
2000	2.77M	2.43M	2.48M	0.70M	0.72M	0.52M	0.47M	0.29M	0.22M	0.19M	0.30M	0.23M	0.59M	0.25M
2001	3.00M	2.49M	2.53M	0.75M	0.74M	0.52M	0.48M	0.31M	0.22M	0.20M	0.31M	0.23M	0.63M	0.26M
2002	3.23M	2.56M	2.57M	0.79M	0.76M	0.53M	0.48M	0.32M	0.22M	0.20M	0.32M	0.24M	0.67M	0.26M
2003	3.45M	2.62M	2.61M	0.83M	0.78M	0.54M	0.48M	0.34M	0.21M	0.20M	0.32M	0.24M	0.71M	0.27M
2004	3.68M	2.69M	2.65M	0.88M	0.80M	0.55M	0.49M	0.36M	0.21M	0.21M	0.33M	0.24M	0.74M	0.28M
2005	3.91M	2.75M	2.69M	0.92M	0.82M	0.56M	0.49M	0.37M	0.21M	0.21M	0.34M	0.24M	0.78M	0.28M
2006	4.07M	2.81M	2.71M	0.99M	0.84M	0.56M	0.50M	0.38M	0.20M	0.21M	0.35M	0.24M	0.81M	0.29M
2007	4.22M	2.88M	2.73M	1.05M	0.86M	0.57M	0.50M	0.38M	0.20M	0.21M	0.35M	0.24M	0.83M	0.30M
2008	4.38M	2.94M	2.75M	1.12M	0.88M	0.58M	0.51M	0.39M	0.20M	0.21M	0.36M	0.24M	0.86M	0.30M
2009	4.53M	3.01M	2.77M	1.18M	0.91M	0.59M	0.51M	0.39M	0.20M	0.21M	0.37M	0.25M	0.88M	0.31M
2010	4.68M	3.07M	2.79M	1.25M	0.93M	0.59M	0.52M	0.40M	0.20M	0.21M	0.38M	0.25M	0.91M	0.32M
2011	4.83M	3.15M	2.81M	1.29M	0.95M	0.60M	0.53M	0.40M	0.19M	0.21M	0.38M	0.25M	0.93M	0.33M
2012	4.98M	3.23M	2.83M	1.32M	0.98M	0.61M	0.54M	0.41M	0.19M	0.22M	0.39M	0.25M	0.96M	0.33M
2013	5.13M	3.30M	2.85M	1.36M	1.00M	0.62M	0.55M	0.41M	0.19M	0.22M	0.40M	0.25M	0.99M	0.34M
2014	5.28M	3.38M	2.87M	1.40M	1.02M	0.63M	0.56M	0.42M	0.19M	0.22M	0.41M	0.25M	1.01M	0.35M
2015	5.43M	3.46M	2.89M	1.43M	1.05M	0.64M	0.57M	0.42M	0.19M	0.22M	0.42M	0.26M	1.04M	0.35M
2016	5.64M	3.58M	2.94M	1.49M	1.08M	0.66M	0.59M	0.43M	0.19M	0.22M	0.43M	0.26M	1.07M	0.36M
2017	5.86M	3.70M	2.99M	1.54M	1.12M	0.67M	0.60M	0.44M	0.19M	0.23M	0.44M	0.26M	1.10M	0.38M
2018	6.08M	3.83M	3.03M	1.60M	1.15M	0.68M	0.62M	0.44M	0.18M	0.23M	0.46M	0.27M	1.13M	0.39M
2019	6.30M	3.95M	3.08M	1.66M	1.19M	0.70M	0.64M	0.45M	0.18M	0.23M	0.47M	0.27M	1.16M	0.40M
2020	6.52M	4.08M	3.13M	1.71M	1.22M	0.71M	0.65M	0.46M	0.18M	0.23M	0.48M	0.27M	1.19M	0.41M
2021	6.63M	4.16M	3.14M	1.74M	1.24M	0.72M	0.65M	0.47M	0.18M	0.24M	0.49M	0.27M	1.21M	0.42M
2022	6.74M	4.25M	3.15M	1.76M	1.25M	0.74M	0.66M	0.47M	0.18M	0.24M	0.50M	0.27M	1.24M	0.42M
2023	6.85M	4.34M	3.16M	1.79M	1.27M	0.75M	0.66M	0.48M	0.18M	0.25M	0.51M	0.28M	1.26M	0.43M
2024	6.97M	4.42M	3.17M	1.81M	1.28M	0.76M	0.66M	0.49M	0.18M	0.25M	0.51M	0.28M	1.28M	0.43M
2025	7.08M	4.51M	3.18M	1.84M	1.30M	0.77M	0.66M	0.50M	0.18M	0.26M	0.52M	0.28M	1.30M	0.44M
2026	7.17M	4.59M	3.18M	1.86M	1.32M	0.78M	0.66M	0.50M	0.18M	0.26M	0.54M	0.28M	1.32M	0.46M
2027	7.27M	4.66M	3.18M	1.89M	1.34M	0.79M	0.66M	0.51M	0.18M	0.26M	0.55M	0.28M	1.33M	0.48M
2028	7.37M	4.74M	3.18M	1.91M	1.35M	0.80M	0.66M	0.51M	0.18M	0.27M	0.56M	0.28M	1.35M	0.49M
2029	7.46M	4.82M	3.18M	1.94M	1.37M	0.81M	0.66M	0.52M	0.18M	0.27M	0.58M	0.28M	1.37M	0.51M
2030	7.56M	4.89M	3.19M	1.97M	1.39M	0.82M	0.66M	0.52M	0.18M	0.27M	0.59M	0.28M	1.38M	0.53M
2031	7.63M	4.96M	3.19M	1.99M	1.41M	0.83M	0.66M	0.53M	0.18M	0.28M	0.60M	0.28M	1.40M	0.53M
2032	7.71M	5.03M	3.19M	2.01M	1.42M	0.84M	0.66M	0.55M	0.18M	0.28M	0.61M	0.28M	1.41M	0.54M
2033	7.79M	5.09M	3.19M	2.02M	1.44M	0.85M	0.66M	0.56M	0.18M	0.29M	0.62M	0.28M	1.43M	0.55M
2034	7.87M	5.16M	3.19M	2.04M	1.45M	0.86M	0.66M	0.57M	0.18M	0.29M	0.62M	0.28M	1.44M	0.56M
2035	7.94M	5.22M	3.19M	2.06M	1.46M	0.87M	0.66M	0.58M	0.18M	0.29M	0.63M	0.28M	1.45M	0.57M
2036	8.01M	5.29M	3.19M	2.08M	1.48M	0.88M	0.66M	0.59M	0.18M	0.30M	0.64M	0.28M	1.47M	0.58M
2037	8.08M	5.36M	3.19M	2.10M	1.49M	0.89M	0.66M	0.60M	0.18M	0.30M	0.65M	0.28M	1.50M	0.59M
2038	8.15M	5.42M	3.18M	2.12M	1.50M	0.90M	0.66M	0.61M	0.18M	0.31M	0.66M	0.28M	1.52M	0.60M
2039	8.22M	5.49M	3.18M	2.14M	1.52M	0.91M	0.66M	0.63M	0.18M	0.31M	0.67M	0.28M	1.54M	0.61M
2040	8.29M	5.56M	3.18M	2.16M	1.53M	0.92M	0.66M	0.64M	0.18M	0.32M	0.68M	0.28M	1.56M	0.62M
2041	8.36M	5.62M	3.18M	2.18M	1.54M	0.93M	0.66M	0.64M	0.18M	0.32M	0.69M	0.28M	1.57M	0.63M
2042	8.42M	5.67M	3.18M	2.19M	1.56M	0.94M	0.66M	0.65M	0.18M	0.32M	0.70M	0.28M	1.58M	0.64M
2043	8.49M	5.73M	3.18M	2.21M	1.57M	0.95M	0.66M	0.65M	0.18M	0.33M	0.71M	0.28M	1.60M	0.65M
2044	8.55M	5.79M	3.17M	2.23M	1.59M	0.96M	0.66M	0.65M	0.18M	0.33M	0.72M	0.28M	1.61M	0.65M
2045	8.62M	5.84M	3.17M	2.24M	1.60M	0.97M	0.66M	0.66M	0.18M	0.34M	0.72M	0.28M	1.63M	0.66M
2046	8.68M	5.90M	3.17M	2.26M	1.61M	0.97M	0.66M	0.66M	0.18M	0.35M	0.73M	0.28M	1.64M	0.67M
2047	8.74M	5.96M	3.17M	2.28M	1.62M	0.98M	0.66M	0.67M	0.18M	0.36M	0.74M	0.28M	1.65M	0.68M
2048	8.80M	6.01M	3.16M	2.30M	1.63M	0.99M	0.66M	0.67M	0.18M	0.37M	0.76M	0.28M	1.67M	0.68M
2049	8.86M	6.07M	3.16M	2.31M	1.64M	1.00M	0.66M	0.67M	0.18M	0.37M	0.77M	0.28M	1.68M	0.69M
2050	8.92M	6.13M	3.16M	2.33M	1.65M	1.01M	0.66M	0.68M	0.18M	0.38M	0.78M	0.28M	1.69M	0.70M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in South Africa?

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa in the UN 2025 series, with about 7.08 million people. Cape Town follows at 4.51 million. These figures use the UN Degree of Urbanization definition, not municipal boundaries.

Which city is projected to be largest in South Africa in 2050?

The UN projects Johannesburg to rank first in 2050, with about 8.92 million people. This is a projection, not an observed population count.

Was Johannesburg also the largest city in 1975?

The 1975 ranking was led by Johannesburg, with 1.18 million people. The table preserves every city that reached the top ten in any year shown, including cities outside the top ten today.

Where does this data come from?

UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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