Population density — all countries

Population density — South America

Population density in South America in 2023 — 24.9 per km². Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 184%.

2023 24.9 per km² +0.59% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 24.9 per km²2023
Period minimum 8.8 per km²1961

Trend over time

1961–2023 · people per km²

Population density — South America, 1961–202351015202519611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 8.8 per km²1963: 9.3 per km²1965: 9.8 per km²1967: 10.3 per km²1969: 10.8 per km²1971: 11.3 per km²1973: 11.8 per km²1975: 12.4 per km²1977: 12.9 per km²1979: 13.5 per km²1981: 14.1 per km²1983: 14.8 per km²1985: 15.4 per km²1987: 16 per km²1989: 16.7 per km²1991: 17.3 per km²1993: 17.9 per km²1995: 18.5 per km²1997: 19.1 per km²1999: 19.7 per km²2001: 20.3 per km²2003: 20.8 per km²2005: 21.3 per km²2007: 21.8 per km²2009: 22.3 per km²2011: 22.7 per km²2013: 23.1 per km²2015: 23.6 per km²2017: 24 per km²2019: 24.4 per km²2021: 24.6 per km²2023: 24.9 per km²
Change over the period: +16.1 (+183.96%) Average annual rate: 1.7 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 24.9 per km²
World 62.1 per km²
Population density — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year per km² Change Change, %
2023 24.9 +0.1 +0.59%
2022 24.7 +0.1 +0.51%
2021 24.6 +0.1 +0.5%
2020 24.5 +0.1 +0.55%
2019 24.4 +0.2 +0.74%
2018 24.2 +0.2 +0.81%
2017 24 +0.2 +0.88%
2016 23.8 +0.2 +0.92%
2015 23.6 +0.2 +0.94%
2014 23.3 +0.2 +0.95%
2013 23.1 +0.2 +0.94%
2012 22.9 +0.2 +0.96%
2011 22.7 +0.2 +0.97%
2010 22.5 +0.2 +0.98%
2009 22.3 +0.2 +1.01%
2008 22 +0.2 +1.05%
2007 21.8 +0.2 +1.09%
2006 21.6 +0.2 +1.14%
2005 21.3 +0.2 +1.18%
2004 21.1 +0.3 +1.21%
2003 20.8 +0.3 +1.26%
2002 20.6 +0.3 +1.32%
2001 20.3 +0.3 +1.38%
2000 20 +0.3 +1.45%
1999 19.7 +0.3 +1.53%
1998 19.4 +0.3 +1.74%
1997 19.1 +0.3 +1.58%
1996 18.8 +0.3 +1.62%
1995 18.5 +0.3 +1.66%
1994 18.2 +0.3 +1.69%
1993 17.9 +0.3 +1.74%
1992 17.6 +0.3 +1.78%
1991 17.3 +0.3 +1.82%
1990 17 +0.3 +1.89%
1989 16.7 +0.3 +1.93%
1988 16.4 +0.3 +1.97%
1987 16 +0.3 +2.01%
1986 15.7 +0.3 +2.06%
1985 15.4 +0.3 +2.12%
1984 15.1 +0.3 +2.17%
1983 14.8 +0.3 +2.2%
1982 14.4 +0.3 +2.22%
1981 14.1 +0.3 +2.25%
1980 13.8 +0.3 +2.26%
1979 13.5 +0.3 +2.27%
1978 13.2 +0.3 +2.28%
1977 12.9 +0.3 +2.27%
1976 12.6 +0.3 +2.26%
1975 12.4 +0.3 +2.27%
1974 12.1 +0.3 +2.3%
1973 11.8 +0.3 +2.32%
1972 11.5 +0.3 +2.33%
1971 11.3 +0.3 +2.34%
1970 11 +0.3 +2.37%
1969 10.8 +0.3 +2.42%
1968 10.5 +0.3 +2.47%
1967 10.3 +0.3 +2.52%
1966 10 +0.3 +2.58%
1965 9.8 +0.3 +2.64%
1964 9.5 +0.2 +2.7%
1963 9.3 +0.2 +2.74%
1962 9 +0.2 +2.76%
1961 8.8

About the indicator

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.