Population density in South Africa in 2023 — 52.1 per km². Ranked 150 in the world out of 215. Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 273.9%.
1961–2023 · people per km²
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | per km² | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 52.1 | +0.7 | +1.34% |
| 2022 | 51.4 | +0.7 | +1.42% |
| 2021 | 50.7 | +0.8 | +1.55% |
| 2020 | 49.9 | +0.8 | +1.64% |
| 2019 | 49.1 | +0.8 | +1.66% |
| 2018 | 48.3 | +0.8 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 47.5 | +0.3 | +0.66% |
| 2016 | 47.2 | +0.4 | +0.94% |
| 2015 | 46.8 | +0.9 | +2.03% |
| 2014 | 45.8 | +0.8 | +1.68% |
| 2013 | 45.1 | +0.7 | +1.67% |
| 2012 | 44.3 | +0.6 | +1.49% |
| 2011 | 43.7 | +0.5 | +1.24% |
| 2010 | 43.1 | +0.5 | +1.19% |
| 2009 | 42.6 | +0.5 | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 42.1 | +0.5 | +1.16% |
| 2007 | 41.7 | +0.4 | +1.06% |
| 2006 | 41.2 | +0.4 | +1.03% |
| 2005 | 40.8 | +0.4 | +1.02% |
| 2004 | 40.4 | +0.4 | +1.01% |
| 2003 | 40 | +0.4 | +1% |
| 2002 | 39.6 | +0.4 | +0.95% |
| 2001 | 39.2 | +0.3 | +0.86% |
| 2000 | 38.9 | +0.4 | +0.92% |
| 1999 | 38.5 | +0.4 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 38.1 | +0.5 | +1.22% |
| 1997 | 37.6 | +0.4 | +1.21% |
| 1996 | 37.2 | +0.5 | +1.31% |
| 1995 | 36.7 | +0.4 | +1.22% |
| 1994 | 36.3 | +0.6 | +1.63% |
| 1993 | 35.7 | +0.7 | +2.01% |
| 1992 | 35 | +0.6 | +1.81% |
| 1991 | 34.4 | +0.8 | +2.31% |
| 1990 | 33.6 | +0.9 | +2.82% |
| 1989 | 32.7 | +0.9 | +2.98% |
| 1988 | 31.7 | +1 | +3.09% |
| 1987 | 30.8 | +0.9 | +3.17% |
| 1986 | 29.8 | +0.9 | +3.25% |
| 1985 | 28.9 | +0.9 | +3.39% |
| 1984 | 27.9 | +1 | +3.52% |
| 1983 | 27 | +0.9 | +3.56% |
| 1982 | 26.1 | +0.9 | +3.52% |
| 1981 | 25.2 | +0.8 | +3.46% |
| 1980 | 24.3 | +0.7 | +3.09% |
| 1979 | 23.6 | +0.6 | +2.74% |
| 1978 | 23 | +0.6 | +2.77% |
| 1977 | 22.4 | +0.6 | +2.74% |
| 1976 | 21.8 | +0.6 | +2.74% |
| 1975 | 21.2 | +0.6 | +2.81% |
| 1974 | 20.6 | +0.6 | +2.86% |
| 1973 | 20 | +0.6 | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 19.5 | +0.6 | +2.91% |
| 1971 | 18.9 | +0.5 | +2.97% |
| 1970 | 18.4 | +0.5 | +3.08% |
| 1969 | 17.8 | +0.5 | +3.14% |
| 1968 | 17.3 | +0.5 | +3.17% |
| 1967 | 16.7 | +0.5 | +3.17% |
| 1966 | 16.2 | +0.5 | +3.15% |
| 1965 | 15.7 | +0.5 | +3.12% |
| 1964 | 15.3 | +0.5 | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 14.8 | +0.4 | +3.08% |
| 1962 | 14.4 | +0.4 | +3.02% |
| 1961 | 13.9 | — | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
Population divided by the land area of the country (excluding inland water bodies). Average density says little about actual settlement: in countries with vast deserts or tundra almost the whole population lives on a small part of the territory, so the average figure comes out an order of magnitude below the actual density of the settled areas.
Important: The aggregate is weighted by land area: it is the whole population of the group over its whole area. It cannot be an average of country densities — otherwise Monaco would weigh as much as Russia.
Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.
The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.
Environment Surface areaThe full area of a country — land together with inland water bodies.
Demography PopulationResident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.
Demography Urban population shareWhat part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.
