Population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Population by income level, per square kilometre was 52.11 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
52.11 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
150th
of 215 countries
All-time high
52.11 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
13.94 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 52.11 units per square kilometre for population by income level, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 52.11 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13.94 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places South Africa 150th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 13.94 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 14.36 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 14.8 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 15.26 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 15.74 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 16.23 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 16.75 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 17.28 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 17.82 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 18.37 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 18.91 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 19.46 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 20.03 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 20.6 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 21.18 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 21.76 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 22.36 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 22.97 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 23.6 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 24.33 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 25.18 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 26.06 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 26.99 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 27.94 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 28.89 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 29.83 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 30.77 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 31.72 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 32.67 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 33.59 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 34.37 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 34.99 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 35.69 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 36.27 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 36.72 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 37.2 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 37.65 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 38.1 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 38.52 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 38.88 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 39.21 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 39.58 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 39.98 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 40.39 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 40.8 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 41.22 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 41.65 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 42.14 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 42.64 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 43.15 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 43.69 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 44.34 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 45.07 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 45.83 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 46.76 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 47.2 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 47.51 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 48.32 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 49.12 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 49.92 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 50.7 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 51.42 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 52.11 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.11 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 83.39 units per square kilometre, 62% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.11 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.7 units per square kilometre, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.8 units per square kilometre | 13.94 units per square kilometre | 17.82 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 20.92 units per square kilometre | 18.37 units per square kilometre | 23.6 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.44 units per square kilometre | 24.33 units per square kilometre | 32.67 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.31 units per square kilometre | 33.59 units per square kilometre | 38.52 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.65 units per square kilometre | 38.88 units per square kilometre | 42.64 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.1 units per square kilometre | 43.15 units per square kilometre | 49.12 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.04 units per square kilometre | 49.92 units per square kilometre | 52.11 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 147 Iran 55.85 units per square kilometre compare
- 148 Madagascar 53.62 units per square kilometre compare
- 149 Georgia 53.47 units per square kilometre compare
- 151 Fiji 50.58 units per square kilometre compare
- 152 Djibouti 49.74 units per square kilometre compare
- 153 Turks and Caicos Islands 48.63 units per square kilometre compare
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Population by income level, per square kilometre in South Africa was 52.11 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population by income level, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.11 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by income level, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.94 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for population by income level, per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by income level, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. 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 Population by income level, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population by income level 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.
Population by income level ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population by income level United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Population by income level 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.