Population density in South Africa
South Africa: Population density was 77.75 people per km² in 2100. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2100)
77.75 people per km²
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
140th
of 234 countries
All-time high
77.75 people per km²
in 2100
All-time low
0.2127 people per km²
in 1000
Years of data
318
1000–2100
Population density in South Africa, 1000–2100
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per km².
Analysis
South Africa recorded 77.75 people per km² for population density in 2100. That is the highest value across all 318 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in South Africa peaked at 77.75 people per km² in 2100 and was at its lowest, 0.2127 people per km², in 1000.
That places South Africa 140th out of 234 countries with data for 2100, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.2127 people per km² | 0.2127 people per km² | 0.2127 people per km² | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.2552 people per km² | 0.2552 people per km² | 0.2552 people per km² | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.2978 people per km² | 0.2978 people per km² | 0.2978 people per km² | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.3403 people per km² | 0.3403 people per km² | 0.3403 people per km² | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.3828 people per km² | 0.3828 people per km² | 0.3828 people per km² | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.4254 people per km² | 0.4254 people per km² | 0.4254 people per km² | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4963 people per km² | 0.4963 people per km² | 0.4963 people per km² | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.7089 people per km² | 0.7089 people per km² | 0.7089 people per km² | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.6955 people per km² | 0.6955 people per km² | 0.6955 people per km² | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.6821 people per km² | 0.6821 people per km² | 0.6821 people per km² | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.6688 people per km² | 0.6688 people per km² | 0.6688 people per km² | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.6554 people per km² | 0.6554 people per km² | 0.6554 people per km² | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.642 people per km² | 0.642 people per km² | 0.642 people per km² | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.6286 people per km² | 0.6286 people per km² | 0.6286 people per km² | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.6152 people per km² | 0.6152 people per km² | 0.6152 people per km² | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.6018 people per km² | 0.6018 people per km² | 0.6018 people per km² | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.5884 people per km² | 0.5884 people per km² | 0.5884 people per km² | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.21 people per km² | 1.19 people per km² | 1.23 people per km² | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.27 people per km² | 1.24 people per km² | 1.3 people per km² | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.42 people per km² | 1.31 people per km² | 1.56 people per km² | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.76 people per km² | 1.59 people per km² | 1.95 people per km² | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.2 people per km² | 1.99 people per km² | 2.42 people per km² | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.6 people per km² | 2.46 people per km² | 2.73 people per km² | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.9 people per km² | 2.76 people per km² | 3.04 people per km² | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.23 people per km² | 3.07 people per km² | 3.39 people per km² | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.59 people per km² | 3.42 people per km² | 3.77 people per km² | 10 |
| 1890s | 4 people per km² | 3.81 people per km² | 4.2 people per km² | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.59 people per km² | 4.26 people per km² | 4.94 people per km² | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.41 people per km² | 5.02 people per km² | 5.81 people per km² | 10 |
| 1920s | 6.48 people per km² | 5.91 people per km² | 7.1 people per km² | 10 |
| 1930s | 7.95 people per km² | 7.25 people per km² | 8.68 people per km² | 10 |
| 1940s | 9.66 people per km² | 8.85 people per km² | 10.52 people per km² | 10 |
| 1950s | 11.9 people per km² | 10.75 people per km² | 13.2 people per km² | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.57 people per km² | 13.55 people per km² | 17.82 people per km² | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.92 people per km² | 18.37 people per km² | 23.6 people per km² | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.44 people per km² | 24.33 people per km² | 32.67 people per km² | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.31 people per km² | 33.59 people per km² | 38.52 people per km² | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.65 people per km² | 38.88 people per km² | 42.64 people per km² | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.1 people per km² | 43.15 people per km² | 49.12 people per km² | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.95 people per km² | 49.92 people per km² | 55.65 people per km² | 10 |
| 2030s | 58.44 people per km² | 56.19 people per km² | 60.59 people per km² | 10 |
| 2040s | 62.98 people per km² | 61.03 people per km² | 64.88 people per km² | 10 |
| 2050s | 66.91 people per km² | 65.27 people per km² | 68.47 people per km² | 10 |
| 2060s | 70.11 people per km² | 68.79 people per km² | 71.34 people per km² | 10 |
| 2070s | 72.68 people per km² | 71.6 people per km² | 73.7 people per km² | 10 |
| 2080s | 74.87 people per km² | 73.92 people per km² | 75.78 people per km² | 10 |
| 2090s | 76.8 people per km² | 75.97 people per km² | 77.57 people per km² | 10 |
| 2100s | 77.75 people per km² | 77.75 people per km² | 77.75 people per km² | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in South Africa?
- Population density in South Africa was 77.75 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population density recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 77.75 people per km² in 2100.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2127 people per km² in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for population density?
- South Africa ranks 140th out of 234 countries with data for 2100.
- Is population density rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.