- Largest Ethnic Group
- Zulu
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: worldpopulationreview.com, en.wikipedia.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Durban's foreign-born population is very low (1%), so expat integration tends to happen through local community participation rather than large established expatriate enclaves.
- The tech sector is young but expanding, with government and educational support creating opportunities for international professionals in software, fintech, and digital innovation.
- Port logistics and automotive manufacturing dominate employment; tech jobs are primarily concentrated in software development and digital services rather than hardware/manufacturing roles.
- There is not a huge established expat community like in Johannesburg, which can mean both fewer expat infrastructure services but also easier integration with the general local population.
- The city's young demographic (median age ~28) supports a growing startup ecosystem, particularly in fintech and digital solutions.
City Population
- Year
- 2025
- City Proper
- 595061
- Metropolitan Area
- 3301000
- Notes
- Metropolitan area (eThekwini Municipality) figure represents 2025 estimate; city proper reflects 2011 census baseline
Foreign Born Note
2016 Community Survey; majority from Southern Africa region, followed by UK and Europe
Primary Languages
Primary Languages
- English (nearly 50% first language speakers)
- Zulu (largest home language, widely spoken)
- Afrikaans
- Xhosa
Largest Ethnic Group
Zulu
Other Notable Groups
Other Notable Groups
- Indian/Asian descent
- British descent
Business Tech Presence
- Expat Business Presence
- Small but growing expat community; not dominant compared to Johannesburg/Cape Town; South Africans noted as friendly to newcomers; gated communities popular among expatriates
Tech Sector
- Status
- Growing hub
- Enablers
- Young skilled workforce; local university IT programs producing graduates; government tech parks and innovation hubs; strong internet infrastructure
Sectors
- Software development
- Web and mobile app development
- Fintech (e.g., iKhokha)
- Digital marketing and design
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud computing
- E-commerce solutions
Major Business Sectors
- Port/Logistics (60% of South Africa's container traffic)
- Automotive manufacturing (Africa's premier hub with Toyota and major suppliers)
- Financial services
- Manufacturing (chemicals, plastics, textiles)
- Tourism and hospitality
- Healthcare
- Agri-processing and renewable energy (via Dube Trade Port)
Educational Institutions
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) - ranked top 600 globally; hosts K-RITH (tuberculosis/HIV research)
- Durban University of Technology (DUT) - technical institution; ~27,000 students; one of five African tech institutions offering doctorates
Foreign Born Percentage
1
Racial Ethnic Composition
- Other Percent
- 0.93
- White Percent
- 15.3
- Coloured Percent
- 8.6
- Indian Asian Percent
- 24
- Black African Percent
- 51.1
- Census Year
- 2011
- Notes
- Most recent official census data
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Durban
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.