Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates in South Africa

South Africa: Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates was 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
0.0498 Persons per square kilometre
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
112th
of 167 countries
All-time high
0.0498 Persons per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
0.0329 Persons per square kilometre
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates in South Africa, 1990–2023

00.010.020.030.040.051990200620231990: 0.033 Persons per square kilometre1991: 0.034 Persons per square kilometre1992: 0.034 Persons per square kilometre1993: 0.035 Persons per square kilometre1994: 0.036 Persons per square kilometre1995: 0.036 Persons per square kilometre1996: 0.037 Persons per square kilometre1997: 0.037 Persons per square kilometre1998: 0.038 Persons per square kilometre1999: 0.038 Persons per square kilometre2000: 0.039 Persons per square kilometre2001: 0.039 Persons per square kilometre2002: 0.039 Persons per square kilometre2003: 0.04 Persons per square kilometre2004: 0.04 Persons per square kilometre2005: 0.04 Persons per square kilometre2006: 0.041 Persons per square kilometre2007: 0.041 Persons per square kilometre2008: 0.042 Persons per square kilometre2009: 0.042 Persons per square kilometre2010: 0.043 Persons per square kilometre2011: 0.043 Persons per square kilometre2012: 0.044 Persons per square kilometre2013: 0.044 Persons per square kilometre2014: 0.045 Persons per square kilometre2015: 0.046 Persons per square kilometre2016: 0.047 Persons per square kilometre2017: 0.047 Persons per square kilometre2018: 0.047 Persons per square kilometre2019: 0.048 Persons per square kilometre2020: 0.048 Persons per square kilometre2021: 0.049 Persons per square kilometre2022: 0.049 Persons per square kilometre2023: 0.05 Persons per square kilometre

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in Persons per square kilometre.

Analysis

The most recent figure for africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates in South Africa is 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates in South Africa peaked at 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0329 Persons per square kilometre, in 1990.

South Africa ranks 112th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.0358 Persons per square kilometre 0.0329 Persons per square kilometre 0.0382 Persons per square kilometre 10
2000s 0.0403 Persons per square kilometre 0.0386 Persons per square kilometre 0.0422 Persons per square kilometre 10
2010s 0.0454 Persons per square kilometre 0.0427 Persons per square kilometre 0.0479 Persons per square kilometre 10
2020s 0.0492 Persons per square kilometre 0.0485 Persons per square kilometre 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 109 Liberia 0.0563 Persons per square kilometre compare
  2. 110 Iran 0.055 Persons per square kilometre compare
  3. 111 Georgia 0.0537 Persons per square kilometre compare
  4. 113 Djibouti 0.049 Persons per square kilometre compare
  5. 114 Colombia 0.0469 Persons per square kilometre compare
  6. 115 Belarus 0.0468 Persons per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates in South Africa?
Africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates in South Africa was 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.0498 Persons per square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0329 Persons per square kilometre in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates?
South Africa ranks 112th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
Is africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 05 - demographic estimates rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates — Population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/africa-s-development-dynamics-afdd-table-05-demographic-estimates-population-per-square/south-africa/

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<a href="https://population.statizoid.com/stat/africa-s-development-dynamics-afdd-table-05-demographic-estimates-population-per-square/south-africa/">Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates — Population 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.

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates — Population ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates — Population, per square kilometre
Unit
Persons per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
168 places, 5,582 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates — Population 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.