Johannesburg

Johannesburg (Africa)
Population: 10,377,937
GDP: 19,823 USD
Functional Urban Area: 3,795 km2
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Context

Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, is governed by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, established in 2000 through the amalgamation of 11 local authorities. As part of Gauteng Province, it forms the core of the Gauteng City-Region, a large megacity that also includes Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital and Ekurhuleni. Collaborative efforts across the region focus on urban planning and infrastructure development in the country’s economic hub.

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Key findings

Johannesburg urban area boasts a greenness index of 0.3, a 27% improvement since 1985. This index measures vegetation health and density on a scale from 0 to 1, reflecting Johannesburg’s efforts to increase urban vegetation. Air quality has also improved, with particle pollution levels decreasing by 20% since 2000 and NO₂ levels decreasing by 3%. Both metrics are well below the regional averages—highlighting the city’s focus on addressing environmental challenges—but further efforts are needed to meet World Health Organisation targets.

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Indicators at a glance

Explore Johannesburg’s strengths in:

  • Resilience,
  • Inclusion,
  • Governance and
  • Innovation.

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