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 235 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

020406080100015502100

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 235 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.

Population density in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population density in South Africa, 1000 to 2100.
Year people per km² Change
1000 0.2127 people per km²
1100 0.2552 people per km² +20.0%
1200 0.2978 people per km² +16.7%
1300 0.3403 people per km² +14.3%
1400 0.3828 people per km² +12.5%
1500 0.4254 people per km² +11.1%
1600 0.4963 people per km² +16.7%
1700 0.7089 people per km² +42.9%
1710 0.6955 people per km² -1.9%
1720 0.6821 people per km² -1.9%
1730 0.6688 people per km² -2.0%
1740 0.6554 people per km² -2.0%
1750 0.642 people per km² -2.0%
1760 0.6286 people per km² -2.1%
1770 0.6152 people per km² -2.1%
1780 0.6018 people per km² -2.2%
1790 0.5884 people per km² -2.2%
1800 1.19 people per km² +102.9%
1801 1.2 people per km² +0.4%
1802 1.2 people per km² +0.4%
1803 1.21 people per km² +0.4%
1804 1.21 people per km² +0.4%
1805 1.22 people per km² +0.4%
1806 1.22 people per km² +0.4%
1807 1.22 people per km² +0.4%
1808 1.23 people per km² +0.4%
1809 1.23 people per km² +0.4%
1810 1.24 people per km² +0.4%
1811 1.24 people per km² +0.4%
1812 1.25 people per km² +0.4%
1813 1.25 people per km² +0.5%
1814 1.26 people per km² +0.5%
1815 1.27 people per km² +0.5%
1816 1.27 people per km² +0.6%
1817 1.28 people per km² +0.6%
1818 1.29 people per km² +0.6%
1819 1.3 people per km² +0.6%
1820 1.31 people per km² +0.7%
1821 1.32 people per km² +1.1%
1822 1.34 people per km² +1.1%
1823 1.37 people per km² +2.2%
1824 1.4 people per km² +2.2%
1825 1.43 people per km² +2.2%
1826 1.46 people per km² +2.2%
1827 1.49 people per km² +2.2%
1828 1.53 people per km² +2.2%
1829 1.56 people per km² +2.2%
1830 1.59 people per km² +2.2%
1831 1.63 people per km² +2.2%
1832 1.67 people per km² +2.2%
1833 1.7 people per km² +2.2%
1834 1.74 people per km² +2.2%
1835 1.78 people per km² +2.2%
1836 1.82 people per km² +2.2%
1837 1.86 people per km² +2.2%
1838 1.9 people per km² +2.2%
1839 1.95 people per km² +2.2%
1840 1.99 people per km² +2.2%
1841 2.03 people per km² +2.2%
1842 2.08 people per km² +2.2%
1843 2.12 people per km² +2.2%
1844 2.17 people per km² +2.2%
1845 2.22 people per km² +2.2%
1846 2.27 people per km² +2.2%
1847 2.32 people per km² +2.2%
1848 2.37 people per km² +2.2%
1849 2.42 people per km² +2.0%
1850 2.46 people per km² +1.7%
1851 2.5 people per km² +1.6%
1852 2.53 people per km² +1.3%
1853 2.56 people per km² +1.1%
1854 2.59 people per km² +1.1%
1855 2.62 people per km² +1.1%
1856 2.64 people per km² +1.1%
1857 2.67 people per km² +1.1%
1858 2.7 people per km² +1.1%
1859 2.73 people per km² +1.1%
1860 2.76 people per km² +1.1%
1861 2.79 people per km² +1.1%
1862 2.82 people per km² +1.1%
1863 2.85 people per km² +1.1%
1864 2.88 people per km² +1.1%
1865 2.91 people per km² +1.1%
1866 2.94 people per km² +1.1%
1867 2.98 people per km² +1.1%
1868 3.01 people per km² +1.1%
1869 3.04 people per km² +1.1%
1870 3.07 people per km² +1.1%
1871 3.11 people per km² +1.1%
1872 3.14 people per km² +1.1%
1873 3.17 people per km² +1.1%
1874 3.21 people per km² +1.1%
1875 3.24 people per km² +1.1%
1876 3.28 people per km² +1.1%
1877 3.31 people per km² +1.1%
1878 3.35 people per km² +1.1%
1879 3.39 people per km² +1.1%
1880 3.42 people per km² +1.1%
1881 3.46 people per km² +1.1%
1882 3.5 people per km² +1.1%
1883 3.53 people per km² +1.1%
1884 3.57 people per km² +1.1%
1885 3.61 people per km² +1.1%
1886 3.65 people per km² +1.1%
1887 3.69 people per km² +1.1%
1888 3.73 people per km² +1.1%
1889 3.77 people per km² +1.1%
1890 3.81 people per km² +1.1%
1891 3.85 people per km² +1.1%
1892 3.89 people per km² +1.1%
1893 3.93 people per km² +1.1%
1894 3.98 people per km² +1.1%
1895 4.02 people per km² +1.1%
1896 4.06 people per km² +1.1%
1897 4.11 people per km² +1.1%
1898 4.15 people per km² +1.1%
1899 4.2 people per km² +1.2%
1900 4.26 people per km² +1.3%
1901 4.32 people per km² +1.5%
1902 4.39 people per km² +1.6%
1903 4.46 people per km² +1.7%
1904 4.54 people per km² +1.7%
1905 4.62 people per km² +1.7%
1906 4.7 people per km² +1.7%
1907 4.78 people per km² +1.7%
1908 4.86 people per km² +1.7%
1909 4.94 people per km² +1.7%
1910 5.02 people per km² +1.7%
1911 5.11 people per km² +1.7%
1912 5.19 people per km² +1.6%
1913 5.27 people per km² +1.6%
1914 5.36 people per km² +1.6%
1915 5.45 people per km² +1.6%
1916 5.53 people per km² +1.6%
1917 5.62 people per km² +1.6%
1918 5.71 people per km² +1.6%
1919 5.81 people per km² +1.7%
1920 5.91 people per km² +1.8%
1921 6.02 people per km² +1.9%
1922 6.14 people per km² +2.0%
1923 6.27 people per km² +2.1%
1924 6.4 people per km² +2.1%
1925 6.54 people per km² +2.1%
1926 6.67 people per km² +2.1%
1927 6.81 people per km² +2.1%
1928 6.96 people per km² +2.1%
1929 7.1 people per km² +2.1%
1930 7.25 people per km² +2.1%
1931 7.4 people per km² +2.1%
1932 7.55 people per km² +2.0%
1933 7.7 people per km² +2.0%
1934 7.86 people per km² +2.0%
1935 8.01 people per km² +2.0%
1936 8.18 people per km² +2.0%
1937 8.34 people per km² +2.0%
1938 8.51 people per km² +2.0%
1939 8.68 people per km² +2.0%
1940 8.85 people per km² +2.0%
1941 9.02 people per km² +2.0%
1942 9.2 people per km² +1.9%
1943 9.38 people per km² +1.9%
1944 9.56 people per km² +1.9%
1945 9.74 people per km² +1.9%
1946 9.93 people per km² +1.9%
1947 10.12 people per km² +1.9%
1948 10.31 people per km² +1.9%
1949 10.52 people per km² +2.1%
1950 10.75 people per km² +2.1%
1951 10.97 people per km² +2.1%
1952 11.21 people per km² +2.2%
1953 11.45 people per km² +2.2%
1954 11.71 people per km² +2.2%
1955 11.98 people per km² +2.3%
1956 12.27 people per km² +2.4%
1957 12.57 people per km² +2.4%
1958 12.88 people per km² +2.5%
1959 13.2 people per km² +2.5%
1960 13.55 people per km² +2.7%
1961 13.94 people per km² +2.8%
1962 14.36 people per km² +3.0%
1963 14.8 people per km² +3.1%
1964 15.26 people per km² +3.1%
1965 15.74 people per km² +3.1%
1966 16.23 people per km² +3.1%
1967 16.75 people per km² +3.2%
1968 17.28 people per km² +3.2%
1969 17.82 people per km² +3.1%
1970 18.37 people per km² +3.1%
1971 18.91 people per km² +3.0%
1972 19.46 people per km² +2.9%
1973 20.03 people per km² +2.9%
1974 20.6 people per km² +2.9%
1975 21.18 people per km² +2.8%
1976 21.76 people per km² +2.7%
1977 22.36 people per km² +2.7%
1978 22.97 people per km² +2.8%
1979 23.6 people per km² +2.7%
1980 24.33 people per km² +3.1%
1981 25.18 people per km² +3.5%
1982 26.06 people per km² +3.5%
1983 26.99 people per km² +3.6%
1984 27.94 people per km² +3.5%
1985 28.89 people per km² +3.4%
1986 29.83 people per km² +3.2%
1987 30.77 people per km² +3.2%
1988 31.72 people per km² +3.1%
1989 32.67 people per km² +3.0%
1990 33.59 people per km² +2.8%
1991 34.37 people per km² +2.3%
1992 34.99 people per km² +1.8%
1993 35.69 people per km² +2.0%
1994 36.27 people per km² +1.6%
1995 36.72 people per km² +1.2%
1996 37.2 people per km² +1.3%
1997 37.65 people per km² +1.2%
1998 38.1 people per km² +1.2%
1999 38.52 people per km² +1.1%
2000 38.88 people per km² +0.9%
2001 39.21 people per km² +0.9%
2002 39.58 people per km² +1.0%
2003 39.98 people per km² +1.0%
2004 40.39 people per km² +1.0%
2005 40.8 people per km² +1.0%
2006 41.22 people per km² +1.0%
2007 41.65 people per km² +1.1%
2008 42.14 people per km² +1.2%
2009 42.64 people per km² +1.2%
2010 43.15 people per km² +1.2%
2011 43.69 people per km² +1.2%
2012 44.34 people per km² +1.5%
2013 45.07 people per km² +1.7%
2014 45.83 people per km² +1.7%
2015 46.76 people per km² +2.0%
2016 47.2 people per km² +0.9%
2017 47.51 people per km² +0.7%
2018 48.32 people per km² +1.7%
2019 49.12 people per km² +1.7%
2020 49.92 people per km² +1.6%
2021 50.7 people per km² +1.6%
2022 51.42 people per km² +1.4%
2023 52.11 people per km² +1.3%
2024 52.76 people per km² +1.3%
2025 53.37 people per km² +1.2%
2026 53.96 people per km² +1.1%
2027 54.52 people per km² +1.1%
2028 55.09 people per km² +1.0%
2029 55.65 people per km² +1.0%
2030 56.19 people per km² +1.0%
2031 56.71 people per km² +0.9%
2032 57.23 people per km² +0.9%
2033 57.74 people per km² +0.9%
2034 58.23 people per km² +0.9%
2035 58.72 people per km² +0.8%
2036 59.2 people per km² +0.8%
2037 59.67 people per km² +0.8%
2038 60.14 people per km² +0.8%
2039 60.59 people per km² +0.7%
2040 61.03 people per km² +0.7%
2041 61.48 people per km² +0.7%
2042 61.92 people per km² +0.7%
2043 62.35 people per km² +0.7%
2044 62.79 people per km² +0.7%
2045 63.21 people per km² +0.7%
2046 63.64 people per km² +0.7%
2047 64.06 people per km² +0.7%
2048 64.48 people per km² +0.6%
2049 64.88 people per km² +0.6%
2050 65.27 people per km² +0.6%
2051 65.66 people per km² +0.6%
2052 66.04 people per km² +0.6%
2053 66.41 people per km² +0.6%
2054 66.77 people per km² +0.5%
2055 67.12 people per km² +0.5%
2056 67.47 people per km² +0.5%
2057 67.8 people per km² +0.5%
2058 68.14 people per km² +0.5%
2059 68.47 people per km² +0.5%
2060 68.79 people per km² +0.5%
2061 69.09 people per km² +0.4%
2062 69.4 people per km² +0.4%
2063 69.7 people per km² +0.4%
2064 70 people per km² +0.4%
2065 70.28 people per km² +0.4%
2066 70.56 people per km² +0.4%
2067 70.82 people per km² +0.4%
2068 71.08 people per km² +0.4%
2069 71.34 people per km² +0.4%
2070 71.6 people per km² +0.4%
2071 71.87 people per km² +0.4%
2072 72.12 people per km² +0.3%
2073 72.35 people per km² +0.3%
2074 72.58 people per km² +0.3%
2075 72.81 people per km² +0.3%
2076 73.03 people per km² +0.3%
2077 73.25 people per km² +0.3%
2078 73.48 people per km² +0.3%
2079 73.7 people per km² +0.3%
2080 73.92 people per km² +0.3%
2081 74.14 people per km² +0.3%
2082 74.36 people per km² +0.3%
2083 74.58 people per km² +0.3%
2084 74.79 people per km² +0.3%
2085 74.98 people per km² +0.3%
2086 75.18 people per km² +0.3%
2087 75.38 people per km² +0.3%
2088 75.58 people per km² +0.3%
2089 75.78 people per km² +0.3%
2090 75.97 people per km² +0.3%
2091 76.17 people per km² +0.3%
2092 76.36 people per km² +0.3%
2093 76.55 people per km² +0.2%
2094 76.73 people per km² +0.2%
2095 76.91 people per km² +0.2%
2096 77.08 people per km² +0.2%
2097 77.24 people per km² +0.2%
2098 77.4 people per km² +0.2%
2099 77.57 people per km² +0.2%
2100 77.75 people per km² +0.2%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 77.75 people per km² is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 67.23 people per km², 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 77.75 people per km² is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 156.3 people per km², 50% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Population density in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1800 +102.9% 0.5884 people per km² 1.19 people per km²
1700 +42.9% 0.4963 people per km² 0.7089 people per km²

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 137 Panama 79.6 people per km² compare
  2. 138 Djibouti 79.45 people per km² compare
  3. 139 Eswatini 77.96 people per km² compare
  4. 141 Ecuador 76.87 people per km² compare
  5. 142 Ireland 76.73 people per km² compare
  6. 143 Myanmar 76.09 people per km² compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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 235 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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Population density in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-density/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population density
Unit
people per km²
Source
HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
235 places, 68,610 data points, 1000–2100
Last refreshed

Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.