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Durban

#100 largest metro areaAfrica

In South Africa

Metro population
3,158,000
0.038% of world population
Archive estimate
Annual growth
+0.85%
About 74 people a day
Archive estimate
Density
1,378/km²
2,292 km² metro area
City proper
3,338,026
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNames

About Durban

With a city-proper population of 3,338,026 and a metropolitan area of 3,158,000, Durban ranks among South Africa's largest urban centers. The city sits at just 21 meters elevation on Africa's eastern coast and maintains an annual growth rate of 0.9%. Founded in 1835, it has developed as a densely populated hub with 1,378 people per km². King Shaka International Airport (DUR) and Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) serve the region's transportation needs.

This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.

Key Facts

Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
World rank
#100 of 140
Share of country
4.9%
Founded
1835
Elevation
21 m
Coordinates
-29.858, 31.029

Airports

Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.

  • King Shaka International AirportDUR

    28 km from the city centre

  • Pietermaritzburg AirportPZB

    65 km from the city centre

Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.

Compared with the World's Largest Cities

Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.

  1. Tokyo37.4M
  2. Delhi32.9M
  3. Shanghai29.2M
  4. São Paulo22.6M
  5. Dhaka22.5M
  6. Mexico City22.3M
  7. Cairo22.2M
  8. Mumbai21.7M
  9. Beijing21.5M
  10. Osaka19M
  11. New York18.9M
  12. Karachi17.1M
  13. Kinshasa17.1M
  14. Chongqing16.9M
  15. Lagos15.9M
  16. Durban3.16M
Metro populations are archive estimates; boundaries differ between national statistical agencies.
Durban compared with the fifteen largest metropolitan areas
NameMetro population
Tokyo37.4M
Delhi32.9M
Shanghai29.2M
São Paulo22.6M
Dhaka22.5M
Mexico City22.3M
Cairo22.2M
Mumbai21.7M
Beijing21.5M
Osaka19M
New York18.9M
Karachi17.1M
Kinshasa17.1M
Chongqing16.9M
Lagos15.9M
Durban3.16M

Population Trend in South Africa

No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.

020M40M60M80M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
This is South Africa's national population, not Durban's. The legacy city series this page previously carried was generated by scaling the current figure, so it has been dropped rather than presented as history. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
South Africa population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
195013,038,491
196016,440,172
197022,279,984
198029,518,857
199040,746,268
200047,159,719
201052,344,051
202060,562,381
203068,161,359
204074,035,624
205079,177,328
206083,443,514
207086,857,023
208089,674,092
209092,160,724
210094,314,448

Other Major Cities in South Africa

2 more cities in our dataset.

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.

Durban Population FAQ

What is the population of Durban?

Durban's metropolitan area has about 3,158,000 people, making it the 100th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.

What is the difference between Durban's city and metro population?

About 3,338,026 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 3,158,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.

Is Durban growing or shrinking?

Durban is growing at +0.85% a year.

What share of South Africa's population lives in Durban?

Durban's metro area holds about 4.9% of South Africa's total population.

How densely populated is Durban?

Durban has roughly 1,378 people per km² across a metro area of about 2,292 km².

Which airports serve Durban?

The nearest major airports are King Shaka International Airport (DUR), Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB).

Which country is Durban in?

Durban is in South Africa, in Africa.

Explore More Cities

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