Rural population in South Africa
South Africa: Rural population was 36.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in South Africa stood at 36.2%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in South Africa peaked at 53.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 108th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 53.3% | — |
| 1961 | 53.1% | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 53.0% | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 52.9% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 52.7% | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 52.6% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 52.4% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 52.3% | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 52.2% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 52.2% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 52.1% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 52.0% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 52.0% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 51.9% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 51.9% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 51.8% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 51.8% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 51.7% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 51.5% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 51.4% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 51.2% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 51.0% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 50.8% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 50.4% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 49.9% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 49.3% | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 48.6% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 48.0% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 47.6% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 47.3% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 47.1% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 46.9% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 46.7% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 46.4% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 46.0% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 45.3% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 44.6% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 43.7% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 43.0% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 42.3% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 41.6% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 40.9% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 40.2% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 39.5% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 38.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 38.2% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 37.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 37.4% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 37.1% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 37.0% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 36.9% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 36.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 36.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 36.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 36.7% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 36.6% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 36.6% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 36.3% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 36.2% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.7% | 52.3% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 52.0% | 51.7% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.6% | 48.6% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.6% | 44.6% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.6% | 37.7% | 43.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 36.6% | 37.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 36.2% | 36.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in South Africa?
- Rural population in South Africa was 36.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 53.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for rural population?
- South Africa ranks 108th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.