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Land area — all countries

Land area — South Africa

Land area in South Africa in 2023 — 1,213,090 km². Ranked 24 in the world out of 215. Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 0%.

2023 1.21M km² +0% vs 2022
World rank 24of 215
Period maximum 1.21M km²1961
Period minimum 1.21M km²1961

Trend over time

1961–2023 · km²

Land area — South Africa, 1961–20231M1.1M1.2M1.3M1.4M19611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 1,213,090 km²1963: 1,213,090 km²1965: 1,213,090 km²1967: 1,213,090 km²1969: 1,213,090 km²1971: 1,213,090 km²1973: 1,213,090 km²1975: 1,213,090 km²1977: 1,213,090 km²1979: 1,213,090 km²1981: 1,213,090 km²1983: 1,213,090 km²1985: 1,213,090 km²1987: 1,213,090 km²1989: 1,213,090 km²1991: 1,213,090 km²1993: 1,213,090 km²1995: 1,213,090 km²1997: 1,213,090 km²1999: 1,213,090 km²2001: 1,213,090 km²2003: 1,213,090 km²2005: 1,213,090 km²2007: 1,213,090 km²2009: 1,213,090 km²2011: 1,213,090 km²2013: 1,213,090 km²2015: 1,213,090 km²2017: 1,213,090 km²2019: 1,213,090 km²2021: 1,213,090 km²2023: 1,213,090 km²
Change over the period: +0 (+0%) Average annual rate: 0 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South Africa 1.21M km²
World 130M km²
Sub-Saharan Africa 23.9M km²
Southern Africa computed 2.65M km²
Upper-middle-income countries computed 40.85M km²
Land area — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 1.21M +0 +0%
2022 1.21M +0 +0%
2021 1.21M +0 +0%
2020 1.21M +0 +0%
2019 1.21M +0 +0%
2018 1.21M +0 +0%
2017 1.21M +0 +0%
2016 1.21M +0 +0%
2015 1.21M +0 +0%
2014 1.21M +0 +0%
2013 1.21M +0 +0%
2012 1.21M +0 +0%
2011 1.21M +0 +0%
2010 1.21M +0 +0%
2009 1.21M +0 +0%
2008 1.21M +0 +0%
2007 1.21M +0 +0%
2006 1.21M +0 +0%
2005 1.21M +0 +0%
2004 1.21M +0 +0%
2003 1.21M +0 +0%
2002 1.21M +0 +0%
2001 1.21M +0 +0%
2000 1.21M +0 +0%
1999 1.21M +0 +0%
1998 1.21M +0 +0%
1997 1.21M +0 +0%
1996 1.21M +0 +0%
1995 1.21M +0 +0%
1994 1.21M +0 +0%
1993 1.21M +0 +0%
1992 1.21M +0 +0%
1991 1.21M +0 +0%
1990 1.21M +0 +0%
1989 1.21M +0 +0%
1988 1.21M +0 +0%
1987 1.21M +0 +0%
1986 1.21M +0 +0%
1985 1.21M +0 +0%
1984 1.21M +0 +0%
1983 1.21M +0 +0%
1982 1.21M +0 +0%
1981 1.21M +0 +0%
1980 1.21M +0 +0%
1979 1.21M +0 +0%
1978 1.21M +0 +0%
1977 1.21M +0 +0%
1976 1.21M +0 +0%
1975 1.21M +0 +0%
1974 1.21M +0 +0%
1973 1.21M +0 +0%
1972 1.21M +0 +0%
1971 1.21M +0 +0%
1970 1.21M +0 +0%
1969 1.21M +0 +0%
1968 1.21M +0 +0%
1967 1.21M +0 +0%
1966 1.21M +0 +0%
1965 1.21M +0 +0%
1964 1.21M +0 +0%
1963 1.21M +0 +0%
1962 1.21M +0 +0%
1961 1.21M — —

Southern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

ZA South Africa 1.21M NA Namibia 823,290 BW Botswana 566,730 LS Lesotho 30,360 SZ Eswatini 17,200
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Land area: the entire territory of a country excluding inland water bodies, major rivers and coastal waters. This is the figure the World Bank uses to calculate the shares of forest, agricultural and arable land, so it is needed not only in itself but also as a denominator. It differs from surface area by the area of inland waters — for most countries the gap stays within a percent, but for Canada, Finland or Kazakhstan it is noticeable.

Important: Not to be confused with surface area, which includes inland waters. The indicator changes only when borders change, so the series is nearly constant.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for South Africa

Environment Surface area

The full area of a country — land together with inland water bodies.

South Africa by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

South Africa by year Agriculture Agricultural land

How much land is taken up by arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

South Africa by year Demography Population density

How many people there are per square kilometer of a country's territory.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa