Rural population, male in South Africa

South Africa: Rural population, male was 16.5% in 2015. ▼ Falling

Latest (2015)
16.5%
World rank
120th
of 193 countries
All-time high
25.2%
in 1980
All-time low
16.5%
in 2015
Years of data
8
1980–2015

Rural population, male in South Africa, 1980–2015

01020301980199720151980: 25.2 % of total1985: 24.7 % of total1990: 23.3 % of total1995: 22 % of total2000: 20.6 % of total2005: 19.2 % of total2010: 17.8 % of total2015: 16.5 % of total

Source: The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Measured in % of total.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 16.5% for rural population, male in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 13.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rural population, male in South Africa peaked at 25.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 16.5%, in 2015.

That places South Africa 120th out of 193 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

Rural population, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Rural population, male (% of total) in South Africa, 1980 to 2015.
Year % of total Change
1980 25.2%
1985 24.7% -2.0%
1990 23.3% -5.9%
1995 22.0% -5.6%
2000 20.6% -6.2%
2005 19.2% -7.0%
2010 17.8% -7.3%
2015 16.5% -6.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 25.0% 24.7% 25.2% 2
1990s 22.6% 22.0% 23.3% 2
2000s 19.9% 19.2% 20.6% 2
2010s 17.2% 16.5% 17.8% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 117 Austria 17.1% compare
  2. 118 Congo 16.9% compare
  3. 119 Cape Verde 16.7% compare
  4. 121 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 16.4% compare
  5. 122 Tunisia 16.3% compare
  6. 123 El Salvador 16.2% compare

See the full ranking of 241 places →

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is rural population, male in South Africa?
Rural population, male in South Africa was 16.5% in 2015, according to The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects.
What is the highest rural population, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 1980.
What is the lowest rural population, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 16.5% in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for rural population, male?
South Africa ranks 120th out of 193 countries with data for 2015.
Is rural population, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, published as part of Rural population, male (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Rural population, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/rural-population-male-percent-of-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Rural population, male (% of total)
Unit
% of total
Source
The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
241 places, 1,928 data points, 1980–2015
Last refreshed

Male rural population is the percentage males who live in rural areas to total population.