Ethekwini, South Africa Metro Area Population 1950-2024

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Ethekwini, South Africa metro area from 1950 to 2024. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.
  • The current metro area population of Ethekwini in 2024 is 3,262,000, a 1.05% increase from 2023.
  • The metro area population of Ethekwini in 2023 was 3,228,000, a 0.91% increase from 2022.
  • The metro area population of Ethekwini in 2022 was 3,199,000, a 0.72% increase from 2021.
  • The metro area population of Ethekwini in 2021 was 3,176,000, a 0.57% increase from 2020.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Other Cities in South Africa
City Name Population
Johannesburg 6,324,000
Cape Town 4,978,000
Ekurhuleni 4,191,000
Ethekwini 3,262,000
Pretoria 2,890,000
Nelson Mandela Bay 1,313,000
West Rand 948,000
Soshanguve 906,000
Vereeniging 803,000
Buffalo City 746,000
Bloemfontein 609,000
Rustenburg 592,000
The Msunduzi 553,000
Witbank 512,000
Polokwane 494,000
Ethekwini - Historical Population Data
Year Population Growth Rate
2024 3,262,000 1.05%
2023 3,228,000 0.91%
2022 3,199,000 0.72%
2021 3,176,000 0.57%
2020 3,158,000 0.41%
2019 3,145,000 0.35%
2018 3,134,000 0.77%
2017 3,110,000 0.75%
2016 3,087,000 0.78%
2015 3,063,000 0.76%
2014 3,040,000 0.76%
2013 3,017,000 0.77%
2012 2,994,000 0.74%
2011 2,972,000 0.78%
2010 2,949,000 0.75%
2009 2,927,000 0.76%
2008 2,905,000 0.76%
2007 2,883,000 0.77%
2006 2,861,000 0.77%
2005 2,839,000 0.75%
2004 2,818,000 0.75%
2003 2,797,000 0.76%
2002 2,776,000 1.68%
2001 2,730,000 4.00%
2000 2,625,000 4.00%
1999 2,524,000 4.00%
1998 2,427,000 4.03%
1997 2,333,000 4.15%
1996 2,240,000 4.62%
1995 2,141,000 4.54%
1994 2,048,000 4.60%
1993 1,958,000 4.59%
1992 1,872,000 4.58%
1991 1,790,000 3.89%
1990 1,723,000 3.55%
1989 1,664,000 3.55%
1988 1,607,000 3.61%
1987 1,551,000 3.54%
1986 1,498,000 3.60%
1985 1,446,000 3.51%
1984 1,397,000 3.56%
1983 1,349,000 3.61%
1982 1,302,000 3.58%
1981 1,257,000 3.54%
1980 1,214,000 3.58%
1979 1,172,000 3.53%
1978 1,132,000 3.57%
1977 1,093,000 3.50%
1976 1,056,000 3.63%
1975 1,019,000 3.56%
1974 984,000 3.58%
1973 950,000 3.49%
1972 918,000 3.61%
1971 886,000 3.50%
1970 856,000 2.51%
1969 835,000 2.33%
1968 816,000 2.38%
1967 797,000 2.31%
1966 779,000 2.37%
1965 761,000 2.28%
1964 744,000 2.34%
1963 727,000 2.25%
1962 711,000 2.45%
1961 694,000 2.51%
1960 677,000 3.36%
1959 655,000 3.48%
1958 633,000 3.43%
1957 612,000 3.38%
1956 592,000 3.32%
1955 573,000 3.43%
1954 554,000 3.55%
1953 535,000 3.28%
1952 518,000 3.39%
1951 501,000 3.51%
1950 484,000 0.00%