Quick facts
Johannesburg overview
Johannesburg (orange) and the other large cities of South Africa
Johannesburg lies in Gauteng in South Africa at 26.2°S, 28.04°E, about 1,767 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Johannesburg (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of South Africa: the next largest cities are Cape Town (4,772,846), Durban (3,338,026), Pretoria (2,112,693). Together, the three largest cities hold 26.7% of the national population.
The national capital, Pretoria, is about 53 km away; the nearest large city is Alberton, 11 km from Johannesburg.
South Africa as a whole has a live population of 65,656,172 (+1.1% a year) and ranks #24 of 238 countries — see the South Africa population page for the full statistics and the South Africa atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Johannesburg
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Alberton Gauteng | 11 km | 121,536 |
| Germiston Gauteng | 12 km | 255,863 |
| Randburg Gauteng | 13 km | 337,053 |
| Roodepoort Gauteng | 18 km | 326,416 |
| Tokoza Gauteng | 19 km | 106,000 |
| Soweto Gauteng | 20 km | 1,695,047 |
| Boksburg Gauteng | 22 km | 445,168 |
| Benoni Gauteng | 28 km | 605,344 |
Largest cities in South Africa
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | 9,418,183 |
| 2 | Cape Town | Western Cape | 4,772,846 |
| 3 | Durban | KwaZulu-Natal | 3,338,026 |
| 4 | PretoriaCapital | Gauteng | 2,112,693 |
| 5 | Soweto | Gauteng | 1,695,047 |
| 6 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | 1,050,078 |
| 7 | Soshanguve | Gauteng | 872,309 |
| 8 | Pietermaritzburg | KwaZulu-Natal | 839,327 |
| 9 | Evaton | Gauteng | 725,468 |
| 10 | Benoni | Gauteng | 605,344 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has about 9,418,183 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Johannesburg the capital of South Africa?
No. The capital of South Africa is Pretoria (2,112,693 people), about 53 km away. Johannesburg is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Johannesburg compared with the rest of South Africa?
Its 9,418,183 residents are 14.3% of the 65,656,172 people living in South Africa today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Johannesburg?
In Gauteng, South Africa, at latitude -26.2 and longitude 28.04, 1,767 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Alberton (11 km), Germiston (12 km), Randburg (13 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Johannesburg Population 2026 — South Africa. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/johannesburg/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/johannesburg/">Johannesburg Population 2026 — South Africa</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.