Cape Town, South Africa Metro Area Population 1950-2025

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Cape Town, South Africa metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.
  • The current metro area population of Cape Town in 2025 is 5,064,000, a 1.73% increase from 2024.
  • The metro area population of Cape Town in 2024 was 4,978,000, a 1.8% increase from 2023.
  • The metro area population of Cape Town in 2023 was 4,890,000, a 1.85% increase from 2022.
  • The metro area population of Cape Town in 2022 was 4,801,000, a 1.93% increase from 2021.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Other Cities in South Africa
City Name Population
Johannesburg 6,445,000
Cape Town 5,064,000
Ekurhuleni 4,262,000
Ethekwini 3,301,000
Pretoria 2,955,000
Nelson Mandela Bay 1,331,000
West Rand 962,000
Soshanguve 920,000
Vereeniging 813,000
Buffalo City 757,000
Bloemfontein 619,000
Rustenburg 608,000
The Msunduzi 561,000
Witbank 524,000
Polokwane 507,000
Cape Town - Historical Population Data
Year Population Growth Rate
2025 5,064,000 1.73%
2024 4,978,000 1.80%
2023 4,890,000 1.85%
2022 4,801,000 1.93%
2021 4,710,000 1.99%
2020 4,618,000 2.08%
2019 4,524,000 2.12%
2018 4,430,000 2.59%
2017 4,318,000 2.61%
2016 4,208,000 2.63%
2015 4,100,000 2.60%
2014 3,996,000 2.62%
2013 3,894,000 2.61%
2012 3,795,000 2.62%
2011 3,698,000 2.61%
2010 3,604,000 2.62%
2009 3,512,000 2.60%
2008 3,423,000 2.61%
2007 3,336,000 2.61%
2006 3,251,000 2.62%
2005 3,168,000 2.59%
2004 3,088,000 2.63%
2003 3,009,000 2.59%
2002 2,933,000 2.62%
2001 2,858,000 2.62%
2000 2,785,000 2.62%
1999 2,714,000 2.65%
1998 2,644,000 2.60%
1997 2,577,000 2.63%
1996 2,511,000 2.62%
1995 2,447,000 2.64%
1994 2,384,000 2.58%
1993 2,324,000 2.65%
1992 2,264,000 2.63%
1991 2,206,000 2.37%
1990 2,155,000 2.28%
1989 2,107,000 2.28%
1988 2,060,000 2.28%
1987 2,014,000 2.29%
1986 1,969,000 2.29%
1985 1,925,000 3.22%
1984 1,865,000 3.78%
1983 1,797,000 3.75%
1982 1,732,000 3.71%
1981 1,670,000 3.79%
1980 1,609,000 3.74%
1979 1,551,000 3.75%
1978 1,495,000 3.75%
1977 1,441,000 3.74%
1976 1,389,000 3.73%
1975 1,339,000 3.72%
1974 1,291,000 3.78%
1973 1,244,000 3.75%
1972 1,199,000 3.72%
1971 1,156,000 3.77%
1970 1,114,000 3.44%
1969 1,077,000 3.26%
1968 1,043,000 3.37%
1967 1,009,000 3.28%
1966 977,000 3.39%
1965 945,000 3.28%
1964 915,000 3.39%
1963 885,000 3.27%
1962 857,000 3.38%
1961 829,000 3.24%
1960 803,000 2.55%
1959 783,000 2.76%
1958 762,000 2.56%
1957 743,000 2.77%
1956 723,000 2.55%
1955 705,000 2.77%
1954 686,000 2.54%
1953 669,000 2.76%
1952 651,000 2.68%
1951 634,000 2.59%
1950 618,000 0.00%