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Quick answerDurban is a city in South Africa, with 4,239,901 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 4.1 million people in 2022. It is best known for the Golden Mile beachfront and the Busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa. Its official languages include Afrikaans, English and 10 others, and its currency is the South African rand.
Durban is South Africa's third largest city and the busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa, with about 4.2 million people in the eThekwini metropolitan municipality (2022 census). It sits on the warm Indian Ocean coast of KwaZulu-Natal, famous for its Golden Mile beaches.
Key facts
| Country | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 4,239,901 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 4,130,000 (2022) · Durban urban agglomeration (UN World Urbanization Prospects, 2020) |
| Time zone | Africa/Johannesburg |
| Language | Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu, South African Sign Language |
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR, R) |
| Coordinates | 29.8833° S, 31.05° E |
Overview
Durban is the largest city of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa's third largest city, on the warm Indian Ocean coast. The eThekwini metropolitan municipality, which includes Durban and its surrounding towns, had 4,239,901 residents in the 2022 census, while the urban agglomeration held about 4,130,000 people in the United Nations estimate for 2020. The city is South Africa's main port and the busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa.
Durban began in 1824 as a trading post at the Bay of Natal and was named after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, governor of the Cape Colony. From 1860, indentured workers arrived from India to work the sugar cane fields, and Durban grew into the home of one of the largest Indian communities outside India, whose food, above all the bunny chow, is part of the city's identity.
Today Durban is known for its subtropical climate and its Golden Mile, the beachfront promenade that runs past hotels, surf spots and the uShaka Marine World aquarium. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 football World Cup, stands over the city, and the Durban Botanic Gardens are among the oldest in Africa.
What Durban is known for
- Golden Mile beachfront
- Busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa
- Indian community and bunny chow
- uShaka Marine World
- Warm subtropical climate
- Moses Mabhida Stadium
Landmarks
- Golden Mile
- uShaka Marine World
- Moses Mabhida Stadium
- Durban Botanic Gardens
- Umgeni River Bird Park
- Durban City Hall
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Durban?
The eThekwini metropolitan municipality, which includes Durban, had 4,239,901 people in the 2022 census, according to Statistics South Africa. The urban agglomeration held about 4,130,000 people in the United Nations estimate for 2020. The municipality covers a wider area than the built-up city itself.
Where is Durban and what is it known for?
Durban is on the east coast of South Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal, on the Indian Ocean. It is the country's third largest city and its busiest port, known for its warm subtropical climate, the Golden Mile beachfront, uShaka Marine World and one of the largest Indian communities outside India.
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Keep exploring
- South Africa — the country Durban is in
- Johannesburg — another city in South Africa
- Cape Town — another city in South Africa
- Pretoria — another city in South Africa
- All cities in South Africa
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Durban
- City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), citing Statistics South Africa 2022 census
- UN World Urbanization Prospects, via Wikipedia — Urban areas in Africa by population
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.