Urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre was 18.98 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
18.98 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
135th
of 215 countries
All-time high
18.98 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
7.41 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 18.98 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 18.98 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.41 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 135th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.41 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 7.61 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 7.82 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 8.05 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 8.28 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 8.53 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 8.78 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 9.05 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 9.32 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 9.59 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 9.86 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 10.14 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 10.42 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 10.71 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 11 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 11.29 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 11.59 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 11.89 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 12.2 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 12.56 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 12.96 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 13.39 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 13.82 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 14.26 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 14.67 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 15.04 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 15.35 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 15.63 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 15.88 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 16.13 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 16.36 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 16.56 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 16.81 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 17.02 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 17.15 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 17.27 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 17.32 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 17.28 units per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 17.16 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 17 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 16.86 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 16.76 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 16.64 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 16.52 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 16.39 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 16.27 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 16.17 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 16.11 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 16.09 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 16.12 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 16.23 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 16.42 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 16.65 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 16.89 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 17.2 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 17.33 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 17.42 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 17.7 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 17.97 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 18.25 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 18.53 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 18.78 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 18.98 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 18.98 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27.05 units per square kilometre, 70% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 18.98 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.51 units per square kilometre, 52% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.32 units per square kilometre | 7.41 units per square kilometre | 9.32 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.87 units per square kilometre | 9.59 units per square kilometre | 12.2 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.36 units per square kilometre | 12.56 units per square kilometre | 15.88 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.91 units per square kilometre | 16.13 units per square kilometre | 17.32 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.48 units per square kilometre | 16.09 units per square kilometre | 17 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 17 units per square kilometre | 16.12 units per square kilometre | 17.97 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.64 units per square kilometre | 18.25 units per square kilometre | 18.98 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 132 Andorra 19.23 units per square kilometre compare
- 133 Spain 19.05 units per square kilometre compare
- 134 Equatorial Guinea 19.02 units per square kilometre compare
- 136 Eritrea 18.7 units per square kilometre compare
- 137 Guam 18.08 units per square kilometre compare
- 138 Sudan 17.47 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 urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre in South Africa was 18.98 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.98 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.41 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 135th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is urban and rural population 2050, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. 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 Urban and rural population 2050, 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
Urban and rural population 2050 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.
Urban and rural population 2050 ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing 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
Urban and rural population 2050 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.