The 20 largest cities in South Africa: Where they are and why they matter

The land of Mzansi is vast and rich in natural beauty, but have you ever wondered which are the largest cities in South Africa? This article lists major urban hubs, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, highlighting their population sizes and unique features. Discover interesting facts about these bustling cities and more.

Key takeaways

• South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th largest in the world.
• It can be divided or categorised based on its provinces, cities, and towns.
• While some other countries use states, there are no states in South Africa; instead, a province is represented by a state in South Africa.

Top 20 largest cities in South Africa

Below is a list of cities in South Africa by population, based on the census carried out in the country in 2011 and data obtained from trusted sources such as GeoNames and Statistics South Africa.

South Africa is home to some of the most vibrant and diverse cities on the continent, each offering unique cultural, economic, and historical significance. From bustling urban centers to important administrative capitals, these cities play a vital role in shaping the nation's identity.

1. Johannesburg

• Population: 4,400,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Gold and diamond trade, Constitutional Court
• Nickname: Egoli (Place of Gold)

Johannesburg is not just the largest city that is in South Africa but also ranks as one of the 50 largest urban areas which are in the world. The city is known to be the centre of diamonds and a large-scale gold trade as well as the Constitutional Court seat of the country, even though it is not a capital city of South Africa.

2. Cape Town

• Population: 3,700,000+
• Province: Western Cape
• Known for: Table Mountain, Parliament of South Africa
• Nickname: Mother City

Being the oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town is called the Mother City colloquially. As the country's legislative capital as well as the Western Cape province's primate city, Cape Town is known to be among the largest cities in Africa.

3. Durban

• Population: 3,400,000+
• Province: KwaZulu-Natal
• Known for: Busiest port in South Africa, beaches
• Nickname: Surf City

In the ranking of the largest South African cities, Durban takes the third position, and it automatically assumes the largest city among others in KwaZulu-Natal province.

The city is famous and recognised as the busiest port in South Africa. Then, its estimated population is 3.44 million, including the neighbouring towns.

4. Pretoria

• Population: 741,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Executive capital, Jacaranda trees
• Nickname: Jacaranda City

Pretoria is one of the three capital cities that are in South Africa, and it serves as the administrative branch of the country's government seats. The city is assumed to have an estimated 741,651 population based on the census carried out in the country in 2011.

5. Pietermaritzburg

• Population: 600,000+
• Province: KwaZulu-Natal
• Known for: University of KwaZulu-Natal, Indian South African population
• Nickname: Maritzburg

Pietermaritzburg is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province and the second-largest city within the province. In English, Afrikaans, and Zulu, the South Africa city is popularly called Maritzburg.

There are so many schools including tertiary education institutions in the city. The University of KwaZulu-Natal also has a campus in the city. One of the highest populations of Indian South Africans is found in Pietermaritzburg, and at the moment.

6. Port Elizabeth

• Population: 312,000+
• Province: Eastern Cape
• Known for: Beaches, industrial and automotive hub
• Nickname: The Friendly City

Situated in the Eastern Cape Province, on the African continent, Port Elizabeth is known to be the southernmost large city with an estimated population of 312,392.

The city was founded in 1820 so that the British settlers would have a place of dwelling to strengthen the border region between the Xhosa and the Cape Colony.

7. East London

• Population: 267,000+
• Province: Eastern Cape
• Known for: South Africa's only river port
• Nickname: Buffalo City

Known as eMonti in the Xhosa language and Oos-Londen in Afrikaans, East London is situated on the southeast coast of the country, and it hosts the only river port that is in South Africa. The city is estimated to have a population of about 267,000 based on the data released during the 2011 census held in the country.

8. Bloemfontein

• Population: 256,000+
• Province: Free State
• Known for: Judicial capital, annual rose festival
• Nickname: City of Roses

In Dutch and Afrikaans languages, Bloemfontein means "blooming fountain" or "fountain of flowers". The city is the capital of the Free State Province and one of the three national capitals of South Africa.

Because of the abundant flowers and the yearly rose festival that takes place there, the city is poetically and popularly referred to as "the city of roses", and it has an estimated population of 256,185.

9. Vereeniging

• Population: 99,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Steel and manufacturing industries
• Nickname: Industrial Heartland

Vereeniging constitutes a part of the Vaal Triangle region. The name "Vereeniging" comes from the Dutch word meaning "union" or "association."

While it may not rank among the top 10 biggest cities in South Africa, Vereeniging is still one of the most important industrial manufacturing centres in the country. The city has an estimated population of about 99,787.

10. Soweto

• Population: 1,270,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Anti-apartheid movement, Hector Pieterson Museum
• Nickname: South Western Townships

As a township in the suburb of Johannesburg, the name "Soweto" carries the syllabic abbreviation in English for South Western Townships. The population there is mostly black and eleven out of the official languages of the country are spoken there.

Based on the statistics of the population census carried out in 2011, the Soweto region had an estimated population of 1,271,628, making it one of the top 10 cities in South Africa.

11. Thembisa

• Population: 463,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Vibrant township culture, community radio
• Nickname: Place of Promise

The township is located on the northern side of Kempton Park. Etymologically, Thembisa is a name in Nguni word that means promise and hope, although it got misspelt later as Thembisa. It was founded by people who were full of promise and hope for a brighter future for the people who live there.

12. Katlehong

• Population: 407,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Informal settlements, black township development
• Nickname: EKasi

Katlehong has grown to be a high-density area in Gauteng since it was created in 1945, and in the southern part, it has six informal settlements.

The township is so overcrowded that they even set up shacks for rent. Together with Vosloorus and Thokoza, after Soweto, Katlehong forms the second biggest black township, and it has an estimated population of 407,294.

13. Umlazi

• Population: 404,000+
• Province: KwaZulu-Natal
• Known for: Township with its distinct license plate, local commerce
• Nickname: Umlazi Z

As the fourth largest township in South Africa, Umlazi is the only township with its own registration plate in the country. It is divided into 26 sections, from A to Z, apart from I, O and X which are replaced with AA, BB and CC. Umlazi has several private and government investments, and in each section, there are police stations and clinics.

14. Soshanguve

• Population: 403,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Ethnic diversity, acronymic name
• Nickname: SoSha

Soshanguve town is situated in Gauteng province, and the name, as an acronym, shows how the multi-ethnic groups in the town are composed. The abbreviations are SOtho, SHAngaan, NGUni and VEnda. Its total population is estimated to be 403,162.

15. Khayelitsha

• Population: 391,000+
• Province: Western Cape
• Known for: Fast-growing township, Xhosa culture
• Nickname: Our New Home

As a partially informal township that is in the Western Cape, Khayelitsha is on the Cape Flats, and the Xhosa name means Our New Home.

The township is reputed to be the fastest-growing township among others in South Africa. The makeup of the ethnic groups in Khayelitsha is approximated to be 8.5% Coloured, 0.5% White, and 90.5% Black African, and the residents' language is predominantly Xhosa.

16. Mamelodi

• Population: 334,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Origin during apartheid, active youth scene
• Nickname: Mams

The township was set up during the apartheid government in the northeastern part of Pretoria in Gauteng province. Based on the census of 2011, the population of Mamelodi is about 334,577.

17. Mitchells Plain

• Population: 310,000+
• Province: Western Cape
• Known for: Large colored community, retail centres
• Nickname: MP

Mitchells Plain is one of the largest suburbs in South Africa, and it is situated between Khayelitsha and Muizenberg on the Cape Flats.

The township is considered to have the most substantial level of investment as far as the Cape Flats is concerned. Also, there are three large shopping centres and a central business district that is usually called "Town Centre" in the local parlance.

18. Ibhayi

• Population: 237,000+
• Province: Eastern Cape
• Known for: Zwide & KwaZakele townships, proximity to Gqeberha
• Nickname: Ibhayi Township

Ibhayi township is one of the Eastern Cape cities in South Africa. It is known to be a large township around Port Elizabeth, and it has sixteen subdivisions including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd KwaZakele and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Zwide. The population is estimated to be 237,799.

19. Sebokeng

• Population: 218,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Sesotho-speaking majority, cultural diversity
• Nickname: Gathering Place

Sebokeng township is situated around the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark. In Sesotho, Sebokeng means "gathering place". There are predominantly blacks in the township as well as an influx of other racial groups who live there. The lingua franca of the township is SeSotho, and it is spoken as any of the first to third languages of all residents.

20. Ivory Park

• Population: 182,000+
• Province: Gauteng
• Known for: Community services, Voice of Tembisa FM
• Nickname: Midrand Township

Ivory Park has a dense population of residential areas in the eastern part of Johannesburg. It is located in Midrand with well over 182,000 black people. The township is blessed with a police station, libraries, and clinics, and it is proud to have the Voice of Tembisa FM, a community radio station there.

How many cities are in South Africa?

South Africa has eight official metropolitan cities, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. In total, the country has over 250 cities and towns spread across its nine provinces, each varying in size and population.

What are the 10 biggest cities in South Africa?

The 10 biggest cities in South Africa by population include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Soweto, and Kimberley. These urban centres are economic, administrative, and cultural hubs that play vital roles in the country’s development.

What are the top 10 most beautiful cities in South Africa?

The top 10 most beautiful cities in South Africa are Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Knysna, Stellenbosch, George, Hermanus, Nelspruit (Mbombela), and Bloemfontein. These cities are known for their scenic landscapes, unique architecture, vibrant cultures, and proximity to nature, beaches, and mountains.

What is the name of the richest city in South Africa?

According to Business Insider Africa, Johannesburg is the richest city in South Africa, boasting approximately 12,300 millionaires, 25 centi-millionaires, and 2 billionaires as of 2025. It serves as the nation's commercial hub, housing major financial institutions and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

This overview of the largest cities in South Africa provides a clearer understanding of the country’s demographic and regional composition. The towns with the highest populations in South Africa have been examined, along with the country’s administrative structure. Unlike some countries that use states, South Africa is divided into provinces.

Briefly.co.za recently published a list of the biggest townships in South Africa, ranked by size and population. The biggest townships in South Africa are home to millions of the country's urban population.

The sprawling township of Soweto in Gauteng is the largest, with around 2 million people covering 200.03 square kilometres. These urban settlements are important economic centres contributing to the country's mainstream economy.

Source: Briefly News