Urban population, female in South Africa

South Africa: Urban population, female was 32.7% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
32.7%
World rank
78th
of 193 countries
All-time high
32.7%
in 2015
All-time low
23.9%
in 1980
Years of data
8
1980–2015

Urban population, female in South Africa, 1980–2015

01020301980199720151980: 23.9 % of total1985: 24.4 % of total1990: 25.8 % of total1995: 27.2 % of total2000: 28.5 % of total2005: 30 % of total2010: 31.5 % of total2015: 32.7 % of total

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 32.7% for urban population, female in 2015. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is up 9.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, female in South Africa peaked at 32.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 1980.

South Africa ranks 78th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Urban population, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Urban population, female (% of total) in South Africa, 1980 to 2015.
Year % of total Change
1980 23.9%
1985 24.4% +2.0%
1990 25.8% +5.8%
1995 27.2% +5.3%
2000 28.5% +4.8%
2005 30.0% +5.3%
2010 31.5% +5.0%
2015 32.7% +4.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.2% 23.9% 24.4% 2
1990s 26.5% 25.8% 27.2% 2
2000s 29.2% 28.5% 30.0% 2
2010s 32.1% 31.5% 32.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 75 Cyprus 33.0% compare
  2. 76 Portugal 33.0% compare
  3. 77 Montenegro 32.8% compare
  4. 79 Cape Verde 32.4% compare
  5. 80 Congo 32.3% compare
  6. 81 Ecuador 32.3% compare

See the full ranking of 241 places →

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population, female in South Africa?
Urban population, female in South Africa was 32.7% in 2015, according to The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects.
What is the highest urban population, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 32.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest urban population, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for urban population, female?
South Africa ranks 78th out of 193 countries with data for 2015.
Is urban population, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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 Urban population, female (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-female-percent-of-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Urban population, female (% 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

Female urban population is the percentage of females who live in urban areas to total population.