Pietermaritzburg's 2026 population is now estimated at 568,925. In 1950, the population of Pietermaritzburg was 89,712. Pietermaritzburg has grown by 8,046 in the last year, which represents a 1.43% 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 Pietermaritzburg, which typically includes Pietermaritzburg's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 6,559,190 | 1.78% |
| Cape Town | 5,147,500 | 1.66% |
| Durban | 3,343,940 | 1.3% |
| 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% |
| 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% |