Rural-urban appraisal of the prevalence and factors of depression status in South Africa

•The study examines the spatial and rural-urban prevalence and factors of depression status in South Africa.•The urban areas had more of low depression compared to the rural areas.•Low depression status showed spatial variations across the Provinces and the Districts.•Higher educational levels, higher incomes, and being non-Black were associated with lower depression status in both urban and rural areas.