Durban's 2026 population is now estimated at 3,343,940. In 1950, the population of Durban was 483,990. Durban has grown by 42,850 in the last year, which represents a 1.3% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Durban, which typically includes Durban's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Durban is a South African city found in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the largest city in the province by population and has one of the most populous urban areas in the country. The city is most known for being the home of the busiest port in South Africa. It is also a major hub for manufacturing, as well as a tourist hotspot because of its sunny climate, beautiful beaches, unique culture, and various attractions. The city’s population is just over 595,000. The metro area has a population of over 3.8 million.
Durban covers a total area of over 87 square miles (225 square kilometers), with a population density of 6,800 people residing per square mile (2,600 per square mile).
Almost half of the residents of Durban speak English as their first language. Other languages spoken in this city include Zulu, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.
In terms of race, over 51% of residents are Black African. Nearly one-quarter of the population is Indian or Asian, while 15.3% are White, and 8.6% are designated as Coloured. The largest ethnic group are the Zulus.
Sixty-eight percent of the city’s residents are under age 19, while 68% are working age.
The city in the past several decades has seen significant growth, although it has slowed to just over 1% in recent years. A population boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s led to the development of shanty towns. Today, many of these have been demolished as the government has developed low-income housing. Growth is expected to continue for Durban, although crime rates have recently begun to rise again after declining in the 2000s. Whether the increase in crime will continue and whether or not it will affect future population growth remains unseen.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 6,559,190 | 1.78% |
| Cape Town | 5,147,500 | 1.66% |
| Pretoria | 3,015,320 | 2.03% |
| Port Elizabeth | 1,349,290 | 1.41% |
| Vereeniging | 823,757 | 1.33% |
| Bloemfontein | 628,850 | 1.62% |
| Rustenburg | 621,905 | 2.3% |
| Pietermaritzburg | 568,925 | 1.44% |
| Witbank | 534,248 | 2.03% |
| Polokwane | 518,547 | 2.28% |
| East London | 295,644 | 1.02% |
| Newcastle | 291,484 | 1% |
| Uitenhage | 242,924 | 1.02% |
| Kimberley | 225,155 | 1.02% |
| Welkom | 211,014 | 1.01% |
| Paarl | 197,735 | 1.03% |
| Klerksdorp | 189,496 | 1.01% |
| Botshabelo | 181,712 | 1% |
| Middelburg | 163,809 | 1.06% |
| Middelburg | 163,809 | 1.06% |
| George | 157,397 | 1.03% |
| Carletonville | 149,065 | 0.99% |
| Potchefstroom | 148,804 | 1.02% |
| Mthatha | 137,589 | 1.03% |
| Sasolburg | 113,368 | 1.03% |
| Queenstown | 98,988 | 1.02% |
| Kroonstad | 97,780 | 1.01% |
| Worcester | 97,075 | 1.02% |
| Orkney | 91,854 | 1.01% |
| Thohoyandou | 89,427 | 1% |
| Standerton | 84,383 | 1.03% |
| Ermelo | 83,735 | 1.05% |
| Stellenbosch | 80,316 | 1.03% |
| Bethlehem | 76,015 | 1.01% |
| Mokopane | 75,516 | 1.04% |
| Heidelberg | 71,661 | 1.04% |
| Atlantis | 69,055 | 1.02% |
| Upington | 67,581 | 1.02% |
| Grahamstown | 67,264 | 1.01% |
| Virginia | 66,208 | 0.99% |
| Mossel Bay | 65,887 | 1.02% |
| Brits | 65,113 | 1.04% |
| Mahikeng | 64,359 | 1.02% |
| Stilfontein | 63,836 | 1% |
| Mpumalanga | 62,406 | 1% |
| Oudtshoorn | 61,508 | 1.01% |
| Bethal | 60,780 | 1.05% |
| Thaba Nchu | 60,696 | 0.99% |
| Nelspruit | 58,670 | 1.08% |
| Phuthaditjhaba | 56,251 | 1.01% |
| Delmas | 52,125 | 1.04% |
| Kokstad | 51,540 | 1.07% |
| Richards Bay | 50,533 | 1.03% |
| Knysna | 50,029 | 1.03% |
| Barberton | 48,505 | 1.04% |
| Ekangala | 48,492 | 1.03% |
| Parys | 48,169 | 1.01% |
| Vryheid | 47,365 | 1.03% |
| Hermanus | 46,856 | 1.05% |
| Vryburg | 46,639 | 1.03% |
| Bothaville | 46,029 | 0.99% |
| Lichtenburg | 45,449 | 1.05% |
| Mondlo | 44,981 | 1.02% |
| Butterworth | 44,308 | 1% |
| Modimolle | 41,988 | 1.02% |
| Lydenburg | 41,403 | 1.06% |
| Schweizer-Reneke | 41,227 | 1.02% |
| Fochville | 38,491 | 1.01% |
| Vredenburg | 38,382 | 1.04% |
| Port Shepstone | 37,089 | 1.04% |
| Siyabuswa | 36,882 | 1.01% |
| Cradock | 36,671 | 1.02% |
| Malmesbury | 35,897 | 1.05% |
| Graaff-Reinet | 35,672 | 1.01% |
| Aliwal North | 35,153 | 1.02% |
| Dundee | 34,924 | 1.02% |
| Bronkhorstspruit | 34,395 | 1.04% |
| Beaufort West | 34,085 | 1.01% |
| Wolmaransstad | 33,492 | 1.04% |
| Plettenberg Bay | 31,822 | 1.06% |
| Viljoenskroon | 31,468 | 1.02% |
| Grabouw | 31,291 | 1.04% |
| Nigel | 30,276 | 1.01% |
| Postmasburg | 30,089 | 1.04% |
| De Aar | 29,989 | 1.01% |
| Thabazimbi | 28,846 | 1.08% |
| Cullinan | 28,451 | 1.03% |
| Whittlesea | 28,248 | 0.99% |
| Saldanha | 28,142 | 1.03% |
| Bloemhof | 27,904 | 1.02% |
| Harrismith | 27,869 | 1.01% |
| Robertson | 27,714 | 1.03% |
| Empangeni | 27,606 | 1.08% |
| Heilbron | 27,407 | 1.01% |
| Howick | 27,087 | 1.05% |
| Wesselsbron | 26,808 | 1% |
| Margate | 26,786 | 1.05% |
| Ulundi | 26,538 | 1.01% |
| Balfour | 25,969 | 1.03% |
| Port Alfred | 25,858 | 1.02% |
| Ladybrand | 25,816 | 1.02% |
| Mpophomeni | 25,732 | 1.02% |
| Fort Beaufort | 25,668 | 1.01% |
| Senekal | 25,543 | 1.01% |
| Louis Trichardt | 25,359 | 1.05% |
| Stutterheim | 24,672 | 1.01% |
| Volksrust | 24,281 | 1.02% |
| Ceres | 23,873 | 1.01% |
| Theunissen | 23,513 | 1% |
| Jan Kempdorp | 23,003 | 1.04% |
| Hendrina | 22,786 | 1.05% |
| Warrenton | 22,588 | 1.06% |
| Christiana | 20,882 | 1.02% |
| Reitz | 20,183 | 1.01% |
| Barkly West | 20,105 | 1.04% |
| Koster | 19,498 | 1.06% |
| Deneysville | 19,478 | 1.02% |
| Allanridge | 19,337 | 1% |
| Greytown | 19,313 | 1.02% |
| Somerset East | 18,824 | 1.01% |
| Vredendal | 18,170 | 1.02% |
| Vrede | 17,689 | 1% |
| Clocolan | 17,602 | 1.01% |
| Glencoe | 17,548 | 1.02% |
| Swellendam | 17,522 | 1.03% |
| Villiers | 17,315 | 0.99% |
| Colesberg | 16,870 | 1.03% |
| Riversdale | 16,177 | 1.02% |
| Hoopstad | 16,033 | 1.03% |
| Burgersdorp | 15,991 | 1.02% |
| Zeerust | 15,987 | 1.02% |
| Zastron | 15,607 | 1.04% |
| Bredasdorp | 15,524 | 1.02% |
| Marquard | 15,502 | 1.02% |
| Kriel | 15,237 | 1.03% |
| Montagu | 15,176 | 1.04% |
| Ritchie | 14,850 | 1.03% |
| Elliot | 14,376 | 1% |
| Phalaborwa | 13,108 | 1% |