Population (UN estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Population (UN estimates and projections), per square kilometre was 0.0385 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population (UN estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 0.0385 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 0.0385 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0209 units per square kilometre, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 121st of 186 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.
Population (UN estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0209 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1991 | 0.0215 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0218 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 0.0224 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 0.0228 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 0.023 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 0.0232 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 0.0236 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 0.0242 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 0.0248 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 0.0253 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 0.0259 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.0265 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.0271 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 0.0276 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0281 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 0.0286 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 0.0291 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 0.0295 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 0.03 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 0.0305 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 0.031 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 0.0315 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 0.0321 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 0.0328 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 0.0335 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0338 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0341 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.0349 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 0.0356 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 0.0364 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0372 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 0.0379 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 0.0385 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0385 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0602 units per square kilometre, 64% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0385 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0412 units per square kilometre, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0228 units per square kilometre | 0.0209 units per square kilometre | 0.0248 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0278 units per square kilometre | 0.0253 units per square kilometre | 0.03 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.033 units per square kilometre | 0.0305 units per square kilometre | 0.0356 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0375 units per square kilometre | 0.0364 units per square kilometre | 0.0385 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 118 Equatorial Guinea 0.0412 units per square kilometre compare
- 119 Nicaragua 0.0401 units per square kilometre compare
- 120 Lithuania 0.0388 units per square kilometre compare
- 122 Montenegro 0.0385 units per square kilometre compare
- 123 Colombia 0.0374 units per square kilometre compare
- 124 Belarus 0.0374 units per square kilometre compare
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre in South Africa was 0.0385 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0385 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0209 units per square kilometre in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population (un estimates and projections), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. 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 (UN estimates and projections), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Population (UN estimates and projections) 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 (UN estimates and projections) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population International Labour Organization
- 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 (UN estimates and projections) 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.