Urban population, male in South Africa

South Africa: Urban population, male was 32.1% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
32.1%
World rank
74th
of 193 countries
All-time high
32.1%
in 2015
All-time low
24.5%
in 1980
Years of data
8
1980–2015

Urban population, male in South Africa, 1980–2015

01020301980199720151980: 24.5 % of total1985: 25 % of total1990: 26.2 % of total1995: 27.3 % of total2000: 28.4 % of total2005: 29.6 % of total2010: 30.7 % of total2015: 32.1 % of total

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for urban population, male in South Africa is 32.1%, measured in 2015. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is up 8.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, male in South Africa peaked at 32.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 24.5%, in 1980.

That places South Africa 74th out of 193 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

Urban population, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Urban population, male (% of total) in South Africa, 1980 to 2015.
Year % of total Change
1980 24.5%
1985 25.0% +1.9%
1990 26.2% +5.0%
1995 27.3% +4.2%
2000 28.4% +4.0%
2005 29.6% +4.0%
2010 30.7% +4.0%
2015 32.1% +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.7% 24.5% 25.0% 2
1990s 26.8% 26.2% 27.3% 2
2000s 29.0% 28.4% 29.6% 2
2010s 31.4% 30.7% 32.1% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 71 Congo 33.1% compare
  2. 72 Panama 33.0% compare
  3. 73 Suriname 32.8% compare
  4. 75 Ukraine 31.9% compare
  5. 76 Austria 31.8% compare
  6. 77 Sao Tome and Principe 31.5% 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, male in South Africa?
Urban population, male in South Africa was 32.1% in 2015, according to The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects.
What is the highest urban population, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 32.1% in 2015.
What is the lowest urban population, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 24.5% in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for urban population, male?
South Africa ranks 74th out of 193 countries with data for 2015.
Is urban population, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. 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, male (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-male-percent-of-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Urban 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 urban population is the percentage of males who live in urban areas to total population.