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Cape Town, South Africa

Major city Β· Population 4.8M

Cape Town is the 2nd largest city in South Africa with a population of approximately 4,772,846 people as of 2026. This makes it the 60th largest city in the world, accounting for 7.56% of South Africa's total population of 63.1M. Cape Town is classified as a major city and operates in the Africa/Johannesburg timezone.

Population

4,772,846

Global Rank

#60

Country Rank

#2

% of South Africa

7.56%

Cape Town on the Map

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South Africa at a Glance

Country Population

63,100,945

Capital

Pretoria

Region

Southern Africa

Major Cities

75

GDP per Capita

$6,267

Life Expectancy

66.1 years

Urban Population

63.7%

Growth Rate

0.01%

Other Major Cities in South Africa

Johannesburg
9.4M
Durban
3.3M
Pretoria
2.1M
Soweto
1.7M
Gqeberha
1.1M
Soshanguve
872K
Pietermaritzburg
839K
Evaton
725K
Benoni
605K
Bloemfontein
557K

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities to Cape Town with over 100,000 people

Cities closest to Cape Town by distance
CityPopulationDistance
Athlone237,4149 km
Somerset West225,28941 km
Paarl236,91055 km
Worcester127,597100 km
George188,580373 km
Kariega291,052645 km
Gqeberha1,050,078663 km
Queenstown118,599820 km

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cape Town?

The population of Cape Town, South Africa is approximately 4,772,846 people, making it the 60th largest city in the world and the 2nd largest in South Africa.

Is Cape Town the capital of South Africa?

No, the capital of South Africa is Pretoria. Cape Town is the 2nd largest city in the country.

What timezone is Cape Town in?

Cape Town is in the Africa/Johannesburg timezone.