South Africa Population Density 1950-2025

Chart and table of South Africa population density from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.
  • The current population density of South Africa in 2025 is 50.59 people per square kilometer, a 1.07% increase from 2024.
  • The population density of South Africa in 2024 was 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.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Similar Countries Ranked by Population Density
Country Name 2025 Population Density
Maldives 1,717.41
Mauritius 649.33
Nauru 648.95
Lebanon 487.81
Tuvalu 385.50
Grenada 375.16
Jamaica 256.89
Marshall Islands 237.88
Dominican Republic 236.95
American Samoa 215.81
Guatemala 171.15
China 148.95
Tonga 146.13
Thailand 140.23
Jordan 128.10
Azerbaijan 121.36
Iraq 109.30
Malaysia 105.95
Costa Rica 103.33
Cuba 101.50
Dominica 98.25
Albania 98.14
Armenia 93.38
Samoa 81.77
Romania 81.48
North Macedonia 81.00
Serbia 79.86
Ecuador 72.41
Mexico 66.33
Equatorial Guinea 64.01
Bulgaria 59.15
Fiji 52.00
Iran 51.81
South Africa 50.59
Colombia 46.08
Belarus 45.34
Montenegro 45.30
Venezuela 32.81
Peru 27.25
Brazil 25.69
Algeria 19.70
Belize 18.39
Paraguay 17.29
Turkmenistan 13.68
Gabon 9.46
Russia 8.39
Kazakhstan 7.36
Botswana 4.75
Libya 4.00
Suriname 3.87
Guyana 3.84
Namibia 3.26
South Africa - Historical Population Density Data
Year Population Density Growth Rate
2025 50.59 1.07%
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%