Quick facts
Soweto overview
Soweto (orange) and the other large cities of South Africa
Soweto lies in Gauteng in South Africa at 26.27°S, 27.86°E, about 1,632 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Johannesburg (UTC+2).
It is smaller than Pretoria (2,112,693) and larger than Gqeberha (1,050,078). The largest city in South Africa is Johannesburg with 9,418,183 people; the capital, Pretoria, has 2,112,693.
The national capital, Pretoria, is about 67 km away; the nearest large city is Roodepoort, 12 km from Soweto.
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 Soweto
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Roodepoort Gauteng | 12 km | 326,416 |
| Randfontein Gauteng | 18 km | 133,654 |
| Johannesburg Gauteng | 20 km | 9,418,183 |
| Westonaria Gauteng | 22 km | 156,831 |
| Krugersdorp Gauteng | 22 km | 378,821 |
| Randburg Gauteng | 24 km | 337,053 |
| Alberton Gauteng | 26 km | 121,536 |
| Tokoza Gauteng | 29 km | 106,000 |
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 Soweto?
Soweto has about 1,695,047 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Soweto the capital of South Africa?
No. The capital of South Africa is Pretoria (2,112,693 people), about 67 km away. Soweto is the 5th largest city of the country.
How big is Soweto compared with the rest of South Africa?
Its 1,695,047 residents are 2.6% of the 65,656,172 people living in South Africa today. Johannesburg is larger with 9,418,183 people.
Where is Soweto?
In Gauteng, South Africa, at latitude -26.27 and longitude 27.86, 1,632 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Roodepoort (12 km), Randfontein (18 km), Johannesburg (20 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Soweto Population 2026 — South Africa. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/soweto/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/soweto/">Soweto 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.