Population density — all countries

Population density — Southern Africa

Population density in Southern Africa in 2023 — 27.2 per km². Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 277%.

2023 27.2 per km² +1.38% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 27.2 per km²2023
Period minimum 7.2 per km²1961

Trend over time

1961–2023 · people per km²

Population density — Southern Africa, 1961–2023010203019611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 7.2 per km²1963: 7.7 per km²1965: 8.1 per km²1967: 8.6 per km²1969: 9.2 per km²1971: 9.7 per km²1973: 10.3 per km²1975: 10.9 per km²1977: 11.6 per km²1979: 12.2 per km²1981: 13 per km²1983: 14 per km²1985: 14.9 per km²1987: 15.9 per km²1989: 16.9 per km²1991: 17.8 per km²1993: 18.5 per km²1995: 19.1 per km²1997: 19.6 per km²1999: 20.1 per km²2001: 20.4 per km²2003: 20.8 per km²2005: 21.3 per km²2007: 21.7 per km²2009: 22.2 per km²2011: 22.8 per km²2013: 23.5 per km²2015: 24.4 per km²2017: 24.8 per km²2019: 25.6 per km²2021: 26.5 per km²2023: 27.2 per km²
Change over the period: +20 (+276.99%) Average annual rate: 2.16 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 27.2 per km²
World 62.1 per km²
Population density — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year per km² Change Change, %
2023 27.2 +0.4 +1.38%
2022 26.9 +0.4 +1.47%
2021 26.5 +0.4 +1.59%
2020 26.1 +0.4 +1.66%
2019 25.6 +0.4 +1.67%
2018 25.2 +0.4 +1.7%
2017 24.8 +0.2 +0.78%
2016 24.6 +0.3 +1.03%
2015 24.4 +0.5 +1.98%
2014 23.9 +0.4 +1.67%
2013 23.5 +0.4 +1.66%
2012 23.1 +0.3 +1.49%
2011 22.8 +0.3 +1.26%
2010 22.5 +0.3 +1.21%
2009 22.2 +0.3 +1.21%
2008 21.9 +0.3 +1.17%
2007 21.7 +0.2 +1.07%
2006 21.5 +0.2 +1%
2005 21.3 +0.2 +0.97%
2004 21 +0.2 +0.98%
2003 20.8 +0.2 +0.98%
2002 20.6 +0.2 +0.96%
2001 20.4 +0.2 +0.91%
2000 20.3 +0.2 +0.97%
1999 20.1 +0.2 +1.14%
1998 19.8 +0.2 +1.27%
1997 19.6 +0.2 +1.28%
1996 19.3 +0.3 +1.39%
1995 19.1 +0.2 +1.29%
1994 18.8 +0.3 +1.67%
1993 18.5 +0.4 +2.07%
1992 18.1 +0.3 +1.92%
1991 17.8 +0.4 +2.37%
1990 17.4 +0.5 +2.91%
1989 16.9 +0.5 +3.07%
1988 16.4 +0.5 +3.1%
1987 15.9 +0.5 +3.15%
1986 15.4 +0.5 +3.24%
1985 14.9 +0.5 +3.37%
1984 14.5 +0.5 +3.47%
1983 14 +0.5 +3.5%
1982 13.5 +0.5 +3.46%
1981 13 +0.4 +3.37%
1980 12.6 +0.4 +3.08%
1979 12.2 +0.3 +2.82%
1978 11.9 +0.3 +2.84%
1977 11.6 +0.3 +2.82%
1976 11.3 +0.3 +2.84%
1975 10.9 +0.3 +2.91%
1974 10.6 +0.3 +2.95%
1973 10.3 +0.3 +2.97%
1972 10 +0.3 +2.96%
1971 9.7 +0.3 +2.97%
1970 9.5 +0.3 +3.03%
1969 9.2 +0.3 +3.08%
1968 8.9 +0.3 +3.1%
1967 8.6 +0.3 +3.09%
1966 8.4 +0.2 +3.06%
1965 8.1 +0.2 +3.04%
1964 7.9 +0.2 +3.04%
1963 7.7 +0.2 +3.02%
1962 7.4 +0.2 +2.96%
1961 7.2

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.