South Africa Population Density 1950-2024

Chart and table of South Africa population density from 1950 to 2024. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.
  • The current population density of South Africa in 2024 is 50.05 people per square kilometer, a 1% increase from 2023.
  • The population density of South Africa in 2023 was 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.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Similar Countries Ranked by Population Density
Country Name 2024 Population Density
Maldives 1,726.29
Nauru 644.20
Mauritius 638.22
Lebanon 499.43
Tuvalu 382.60
Grenada 373.20
Jamaica 257.03
Marshall Islands 235.64
Dominican Republic 234.93
American Samoa 217.72
Guatemala 168.60
China 148.46
Tonga 144.91
Thailand 140.10
Jordan 127.46
Azerbaijan 120.82
Iraq 106.94
Malaysia 104.87
Costa Rica 102.68
Cuba 101.70
Albania 98.30
Dominica 97.82
Armenia 93.41
Romania 82.29
North Macedonia 81.01
Samoa 80.62
Serbia 80.32
Ecuador 71.68
Mexico 65.87
Equatorial Guinea 62.57
Bulgaria 59.63
Fiji 51.62
Iran 51.46
South Africa 50.05
Colombia 45.84
Belarus 45.54
Montenegro 45.34
Venezuela 32.23
Peru 26.99
Brazil 25.56
Algeria 19.43
Belize 18.14
Paraguay 17.08
Turkmenistan 13.52
Gabon 9.28
Russia 8.42
Kazakhstan 7.28
Botswana 4.68
Libya 3.96
Suriname 3.84
Guyana 3.81
Namibia 3.21
South Africa - Historical Population Density Data
Year Population Density Growth Rate
2024 50.05 1.00%
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%