South Africa Population Density 1950-2023

Chart and table of South Africa population density from 1950 to 2023. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.
  • The current population density of South Africa in 2023 is 49.56 people per square kilometer, a 0.87% increase from 2022.
  • The population density of South Africa in 2022 was 49.13 people per square kilometer, a 0.84% increase from 2021.
  • The population density of South Africa in 2021 was 48.72 people per square kilometer, a 1% increase from 2020.
  • The population density of South Africa in 2020 was 48.23 people per square kilometer, a 1.23% increase from 2019.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Similar Countries Ranked by Population Density
Country Name 2023 Population Density
Maldives 1,736.74
Nauru 639.00
Mauritius 637.53
Lebanon 512.34
Tuvalu 379.87
Grenada 371.13
Jamaica 257.10
Marshall Islands 233.31
Dominican Republic 232.85
American Samoa 219.57
Guatemala 166.15
China 148.51
Tonga 143.70
Thailand 139.93
Jordan 126.93
Azerbaijan 120.24
Iraq 104.60
Malaysia 103.77
Costa Rica 102.00
Cuba 101.88
Albania 98.52
Dominica 97.39
Armenia 93.41
Romania 83.44
North Macedonia 81.12
Serbia 80.91
Samoa 79.47
Ecuador 70.95
Mexico 65.39
Equatorial Guinea 61.13
Bulgaria 60.25
Fiji 51.25
Iran 51.10
South Africa 49.56
Belarus 45.75
Colombia 45.62
Montenegro 45.36
Venezuela 31.62
Peru 26.73
Brazil 25.41
Algeria 19.15
Belize 17.89
Paraguay 16.87
Turkmenistan 13.35
Gabon 9.10
Russia 8.45
Kazakhstan 7.20
Botswana 4.60
Libya 3.91
Suriname 3.80
Guyana 3.79
Namibia 3.16
South Africa - Historical Population Density Data
Year Population Density Growth Rate
2023 49.56 0.87%
2022 49.13 0.84%
2021 48.72 1.00%
2020 48.23 1.23%
2019 47.65 1.30%
2018 47.03 1.23%
2017 46.46 0.39%
2016 46.28 0.98%
2015 45.83 2.10%
2014 44.89 1.59%
2013 44.19 1.37%
2012 43.59 1.34%
2011 43.02 1.27%
2010 42.48 1.20%
2009 41.97 1.20%
2008 41.48 1.14%
2007 41.01 1.02%
2006 40.60 0.97%
2005 40.21 0.95%
2004 39.83 0.94%
2003 39.46 0.93%
2002 39.10 0.91%
2001 38.74 0.89%
2000 38.40 0.97%
1999 38.03 1.12%
1998 37.61 1.25%
1997 37.15 1.40%
1996 36.64 1.54%
1995 36.08 1.66%
1994 35.49 1.75%
1993 34.88 1.83%
1992 34.26 2.08%
1991 33.56 2.59%
1990 32.71 3.13%
1989 31.72 3.41%
1988 30.67 3.53%
1987 29.63 3.56%
1986 28.61 3.33%
1985 27.69 3.01%
1984 26.88 2.83%
1983 26.14 2.72%
1982 25.45 2.61%
1981 24.80 2.61%
1980 24.17 2.67%
1979 23.54 2.70%
1978 22.92 2.73%
1977 22.31 2.72%
1976 21.72 2.72%
1975 21.15 2.80%
1974 20.57 2.85%
1973 20.00 2.89%
1972 19.44 2.90%
1971 18.89 2.96%
1970 18.35 3.06%
1969 17.80 3.11%
1968 17.27 3.13%
1967 16.74 3.14%
1966 16.23 3.14%
1965 15.74 3.14%
1964 15.26 3.11%
1963 14.80 3.08%
1962 14.36 3.02%
1961 13.94 2.84%
1960 13.55 2.63%
1959 13.20 2.52%
1958 12.88 2.49%
1957 12.57 2.48%
1956 12.26 2.43%
1955 11.97 2.37%
1954 11.69 2.32%
1953 11.43 2.28%
1952 11.17 2.24%
1951 10.93 2.16%
1950 10.70 0.00%