Madagascar vs South Africa: Total population (thousands), per square kilometre

Madagascar
0.053 thousands per square kilometre
in 2023
South Africa
0.0518 thousands per square kilometre
in 2023
Madagascar rank
149th
South Africa rank
150th

Total population (thousands), per square kilometre over time

  • Madagascar
  • South Africa
0.010.020.030.040.05197019962023

How they compare

Madagascar currently reports 0.053 thousands per square kilometre against 0.0518 thousands per square kilometre in South Africa, a difference of 0.0012 thousands per square kilometre.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 54 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.

Madagascar ranks 149th and South Africa ranks 150th of 215 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Madagascar averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade Madagascar South Africa Difference Ahead
1970s 0.013 thousands per square kilometre 0.0206 thousands per square kilometre 0.0077 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
1980s 0.0175 thousands per square kilometre 0.028 thousands per square kilometre 0.0105 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
1990s 0.0235 thousands per square kilometre 0.036 thousands per square kilometre 0.0125 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
2000s 0.0321 thousands per square kilometre 0.0404 thousands per square kilometre 0.0083 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
2010s 0.0426 thousands per square kilometre 0.0458 thousands per square kilometre 0.0031 thousands per square kilometre South Africa
2020s 0.051 thousands per square kilometre 0.0507 thousands per square kilometre 0.0004 thousands per square kilometre Madagascar

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher total population (thousands), per square kilometre, Madagascar or South Africa?
Madagascar, at 0.053 thousands per square kilometre against 0.0518 thousands per square kilometre in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in total population (thousands), per square kilometre between Madagascar and South Africa?
0.0012 thousands per square kilometre, with Madagascar ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Madagascar and South Africa?
54 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do Madagascar and South Africa rank globally for total population (thousands), per square kilometre?
Madagascar ranks 149th and South Africa ranks 150th of 215 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Total population (thousands), per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Madagascar vs South Africa: Total population (thousands), per square kilometre. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/total-population-thousands-per-square-kilometre/madagascar/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Total population (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

Total population (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.