New Zealand vs South Africa: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre

New Zealand
0.0032 thousands per square kilometre
in 2023
South Africa
0.0033 thousands per square kilometre
in 2023
New Zealand rank
148th
South Africa rank
146th

Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre over time

  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
0.0010.0020.003197019962023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 0.0033 thousands per square kilometre against 0.0032 thousands per square kilometre in New Zealand, a difference of 0.0001 thousands per square kilometre.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 54 shared years of data; in 1970 it was New Zealand ahead.

New Zealand ranks 148th and South Africa ranks 146th of 215 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, New Zealand averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade New Zealand South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 0.001 thousands per square kilometre 0.0008 thousands per square kilometre 0.0002 thousands per square kilometre New Zealand
1980s 0.0013 thousands per square kilometre 0.0011 thousands per square kilometre 0.0002 thousands per square kilometre New Zealand
1990s 0.0016 thousands per square kilometre 0.0015 thousands per square kilometre 0.0001 thousands per square kilometre New Zealand
2000s 0.0019 thousands per square kilometre 0.002 thousands per square kilometre 0.0002 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
2010s 0.0025 thousands per square kilometre 0.0025 thousands per square kilometre 0 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
2020s 0.0031 thousands per square kilometre 0.0032 thousands per square kilometre 0.0001 thousands per square kilometre South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre, New Zealand or South Africa?
South Africa, at 0.0033 thousands per square kilometre against 0.0032 thousands per square kilometre in New Zealand as of 2023.
What is the difference in population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre between New Zealand and South Africa?
0.0001 thousands per square kilometre, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and South Africa?
54 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do New Zealand and South Africa rank globally for population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre?
New Zealand ranks 148th and South Africa ranks 146th of 215 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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New Zealand vs South Africa: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/population-aged-65-years-or-older-thousands-per-square-kilometre/new-zealand/south-africa/

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<a href="https://population.statizoid.com/compare/population-aged-65-years-or-older-thousands-per-square-kilometre/new-zealand/south-africa/">New Zealand vs South Africa: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per square kilometre
Unit
thousands per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
215 places, 10,529 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.