South Africa Population Density 1950-2020
NOTE: All data from 2020 and beyond are UN projections and DO NOT include any impacts of the COVID-19 virus.
Chart and table of South Africa population density from 1950 to 2020. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.
- The current population density of South Africa in 2020 is 48.65 people per square kilometer, a 1.28% increase from 2019.
- The population density of South Africa in 2019 was 48.03 people per square kilometer, a 1.33% increase from 2018.
- The population density of South Africa in 2018 was 47.41 people per square kilometer, a 1.37% increase from 2017.
- The population density of South Africa in 2017 was 46.76 people per square kilometer, a 1.43% increase from 2016.
| Similar Countries Ranked by Population Density | |
|---|---|
| Country Name | 2020 Population Density |
| Maldives | 1,801.81 |
| Lebanon | 653.15 |
| Mauritius | 623.42 |
| Nauru | 541.20 |
| Tuvalu | 393.07 |
| Grenada | 330.95 |
| Marshall Islands | 328.83 |
| American Samoa | 275.96 |
| Jamaica | 269.44 |
| Dominican Republic | 222.89 |
| Guatemala | 164.53 |
| China | 150.51 |
| Tonga | 140.93 |
| Thailand | 136.03 |
| Azerbaijan | 117.08 |
| Jordan | 114.23 |
| Turkey | 107.39 |
| Cuba | 103.08 |
| Albania | 100.10 |
| Costa Rica | 99.69 |
| Armenia | 99.64 |
| Serbia | 98.88 |
| Malaysia | 97.98 |
| Dominica | 95.98 |
| Iraq | 92.45 |
| North Macedonia | 81.03 |
| Romania | 80.70 |
| Samoa | 69.86 |
| Ecuador | 68.82 |
| Mexico | 65.64 |
| Bulgaria | 62.60 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 50.02 |
| Fiji | 49.07 |
| South Africa | 48.65 |
| Iran | 48.13 |
| Belarus | 45.52 |
| Montenegro | 45.48 |
| Colombia | 44.57 |
| Venezuela | 31.18 |
| Peru | 25.65 |
| Brazil | 24.96 |
| Algeria | 18.41 |
| Paraguay | 17.54 |
| Belize | 17.31 |
| Turkmenistan | 12.36 |
| Russia | 8.54 |
| Gabon | 8.32 |
| Kazakhstan | 6.89 |
| Botswana | 4.04 |
| Libya | 3.91 |
| Guyana | 3.66 |
| Suriname | 3.58 |
| Namibia | 3.08 |
| South Africa - Historical Population Density Data | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Population Density | Growth Rate |
| 2020 | 48.65 | 1.28% |
| 2019 | 48.03 | 1.33% |
| 2018 | 47.41 | 1.37% |
| 2017 | 46.76 | 1.43% |
| 2016 | 46.11 | 1.48% |
| 2015 | 45.43 | 1.54% |
| 2014 | 44.74 | 1.60% |
| 2013 | 44.04 | 1.62% |
| 2012 | 43.34 | 1.59% |
| 2011 | 42.66 | 1.54% |
| 2010 | 42.01 | 1.47% |
| 2009 | 41.41 | 1.40% |
| 2008 | 40.83 | 1.34% |
| 2007 | 40.29 | 1.30% |
| 2006 | 39.78 | 1.27% |
| 2005 | 39.28 | 1.25% |
| 2004 | 38.79 | 1.23% |
| 2003 | 38.32 | 1.23% |
| 2002 | 37.86 | 1.27% |
| 2001 | 37.38 | 1.34% |
| 2000 | 36.89 | 1.42% |
| 1999 | 36.37 | 1.50% |
| 1998 | 35.83 | 1.62% |
| 1997 | 35.26 | 1.77% |
| 1996 | 34.65 | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 33.99 | 2.15% |
| 1994 | 33.27 | 2.35% |
| 1993 | 32.51 | 2.49% |
| 1992 | 31.72 | 2.53% |
| 1991 | 30.94 | 2.50% |
| 1990 | 30.19 | 2.42% |
| 1989 | 29.47 | 2.36% |
| 1988 | 28.79 | 2.34% |
| 1987 | 28.13 | 2.39% |
| 1986 | 27.48 | 2.50% |
| 1985 | 26.81 | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 26.12 | 2.74% |
| 1983 | 25.42 | 2.80% |
| 1982 | 24.73 | 2.79% |
| 1981 | 24.06 | 2.72% |
| 1980 | 23.42 | 2.62% |
| 1979 | 22.83 | 2.54% |
| 1978 | 22.26 | 2.49% |
| 1977 | 21.72 | 2.49% |
| 1976 | 21.19 | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 20.67 | 2.62% |
| 1974 | 20.14 | 2.67% |
| 1973 | 19.62 | 2.71% |
| 1972 | 19.10 | 2.72% |
| 1971 | 18.59 | 2.70% |
| 1970 | 18.10 | 2.67% |
| 1969 | 17.63 | 2.65% |
| 1968 | 17.18 | 2.62% |
| 1967 | 16.74 | 2.61% |
| 1966 | 16.31 | 2.60% |
| 1965 | 15.90 | 2.59% |
| 1964 | 15.50 | 2.57% |
| 1963 | 15.11 | 2.55% |
| 1962 | 14.74 | 2.52% |
| 1961 | 14.38 | 2.48% |
| 1960 | 14.03 | 2.45% |
| 1959 | 13.69 | 2.41% |
| 1958 | 13.37 | 2.37% |
| 1957 | 13.06 | 2.34% |
| 1956 | 12.76 | 2.31% |
| 1955 | 12.47 | 2.28% |
| 1954 | 12.20 | 2.25% |
| 1953 | 11.93 | 2.22% |
| 1952 | 11.67 | 2.19% |
| 1951 | 11.42 | 2.15% |
| 1950 | 11.18 | 0.00% |
