Rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Rural population, annual growth rate was 0.812 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.812 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 14.8%
World rank
64th
of 208 countries
All-time high
3.26 % change on previous year
in 1982
All-time low
-0.9341 % change on previous year
in 2000
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa is 0.812 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.8% on the previous year and down 55.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 3.26 % change on previous year in 1982 and was at its lowest, -0.9341 % change on previous year, in 2000.
That places South Africa 64th out of 208 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.
Rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.52 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 2.73 % change on previous year | +8.5% |
| 1963 | 2.82 % change on previous year | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 2.88 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 2.92 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 2.96 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 3 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 3.01 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 2.98 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 2.79 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 2.79 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 2.76 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 2.71 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 2.64 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 2.63 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 2.64 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 2.6 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 2.92 % change on previous year | +12.2% |
| 1981 | 3.25 % change on previous year | +11.6% |
| 1982 | 3.26 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.14 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 2.94 % change on previous year | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 2.52 % change on previous year | -14.3% |
| 1987 | 2.06 % change on previous year | -18.0% |
| 1988 | 1.78 % change on previous year | -13.8% |
| 1989 | 1.62 % change on previous year | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 1.59 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 1.39 % change on previous year | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 1.21 % change on previous year | -12.8% |
| 1993 | 1.55 % change on previous year | +27.9% |
| 1994 | 1.22 % change on previous year | -21.2% |
| 1995 | 0.7629 % change on previous year | -37.6% |
| 1996 | 0.7009 % change on previous year | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 0.2697 % change on previous year | -61.5% |
| 1998 | -0.2157 % change on previous year | -180.0% |
| 1999 | -0.6536 % change on previous year | +203.1% |
| 2000 | -0.9341 % change on previous year | +42.9% |
| 2001 | -0.8488 % change on previous year | -9.1% |
| 2002 | -0.6234 % change on previous year | -26.6% |
| 2003 | -0.6691 % change on previous year | +7.3% |
| 2004 | -0.7474 % change on previous year | +11.7% |
| 2005 | -0.7765 % change on previous year | +3.9% |
| 2006 | -0.7418 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 2007 | -0.6202 % change on previous year | -16.4% |
| 2008 | -0.3651 % change on previous year | -41.1% |
| 2009 | -0.0962 % change on previous year | -73.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1962 % change on previous year | -303.9% |
| 2011 | 0.6462 % change on previous year | +229.4% |
| 2012 | 1.18 % change on previous year | +83.0% |
| 2013 | 1.42 % change on previous year | +19.8% |
| 2014 | 1.45 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 1.82 % change on previous year | +26.0% |
| 2016 | 0.7653 % change on previous year | -58.1% |
| 2017 | 0.5027 % change on previous year | -34.3% |
| 2018 | 1.57 % change on previous year | +212.1% |
| 2019 | 1.56 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.57 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.52 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 1.35 % change on previous year | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 1.04 % change on previous year | -22.7% |
| 2024 | 0.9531 % change on previous year | -8.7% |
| 2025 | 0.812 % change on previous year | -14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.87 % change on previous year | 2.52 % change on previous year | 3.01 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.73 % change on previous year | 2.6 % change on previous year | 2.92 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.67 % change on previous year | 1.62 % change on previous year | 3.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.783 % change on previous year | -0.6536 % change on previous year | 1.59 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.6423 % change on previous year | -0.9341 % change on previous year | -0.0962 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.11 % change on previous year | 0.1962 % change on previous year | 1.82 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.21 % change on previous year | 0.812 % change on previous year | 1.57 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 61 Liberia 0.8615 % change on previous year compare
- 62 Aruba 0.8434 % change on previous year compare
- 63 Libya 0.835 % change on previous year compare
- 65 Cambodia 0.7882 % change on previous year compare
- 66 Suriname 0.7818 % change on previous year compare
- 67 Seychelles 0.7772 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
- Rural population 36.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in South Africa was 0.812 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.26 % change on previous year in 1982.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9341 % change on previous year in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.