Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa

South Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre was 3.39 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
3.39 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
146th
of 215 countries
All-time high
3.39 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
0.4708 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023

Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023

0123196119922023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.

Analysis

In 2023, population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 3.39 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 42.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 3.39 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.4708 units per square kilometre, in 1961.

That places South Africa 146th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961 to 2023.
Year units per square kilometre Change
1961 0.4708 units per square kilometre
1962 0.4842 units per square kilometre +2.8%
1963 0.4998 units per square kilometre +3.2%
1964 0.5175 units per square kilometre +3.5%
1965 0.5372 units per square kilometre +3.8%
1966 0.5585 units per square kilometre +4.0%
1967 0.5816 units per square kilometre +4.1%
1968 0.606 units per square kilometre +4.2%
1969 0.6314 units per square kilometre +4.2%
1970 0.6574 units per square kilometre +4.1%
1971 0.683 units per square kilometre +3.9%
1972 0.7083 units per square kilometre +3.7%
1973 0.7338 units per square kilometre +3.6%
1974 0.7595 units per square kilometre +3.5%
1975 0.7855 units per square kilometre +3.4%
1976 0.8117 units per square kilometre +3.3%
1977 0.8384 units per square kilometre +3.3%
1978 0.8658 units per square kilometre +3.3%
1979 0.8937 units per square kilometre +3.2%
1980 0.9257 units per square kilometre +3.6%
1981 0.9634 units per square kilometre +4.1%
1982 1 units per square kilometre +4.3%
1983 1.05 units per square kilometre +4.5%
1984 1.1 units per square kilometre +4.7%
1985 1.15 units per square kilometre +4.3%
1986 1.19 units per square kilometre +3.7%
1987 1.23 units per square kilometre +3.4%
1988 1.27 units per square kilometre +3.1%
1989 1.3 units per square kilometre +2.6%
1990 1.33 units per square kilometre +2.2%
1991 1.36 units per square kilometre +2.2%
1992 1.4 units per square kilometre +2.9%
1993 1.42 units per square kilometre +2.1%
1994 1.47 units per square kilometre +3.1%
1995 1.54 units per square kilometre +4.8%
1996 1.61 units per square kilometre +4.8%
1997 1.69 units per square kilometre +4.7%
1998 1.75 units per square kilometre +3.6%
1999 1.8 units per square kilometre +3.0%
2000 1.85 units per square kilometre +2.5%
2001 1.89 units per square kilometre +2.4%
2002 1.93 units per square kilometre +2.4%
2003 1.98 units per square kilometre +2.4%
2004 2.03 units per square kilometre +2.5%
2005 2.08 units per square kilometre +2.5%
2006 2.12 units per square kilometre +2.2%
2007 2.17 units per square kilometre +2.0%
2008 2.21 units per square kilometre +1.8%
2009 2.24 units per square kilometre +1.4%
2010 2.26 units per square kilometre +1.2%
2011 2.29 units per square kilometre +1.1%
2012 2.33 units per square kilometre +1.7%
2013 2.38 units per square kilometre +2.4%
2014 2.44 units per square kilometre +2.5%
2015 2.51 units per square kilometre +2.8%
2016 2.58 units per square kilometre +2.9%
2017 2.67 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2018 2.79 units per square kilometre +4.4%
2019 2.92 units per square kilometre +4.6%
2020 3.05 units per square kilometre +4.4%
2021 3.16 units per square kilometre +3.6%
2022 3.27 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2023 3.39 units per square kilometre +3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0.543 units per square kilometre 0.4708 units per square kilometre 0.6314 units per square kilometre 9
1970s 0.7737 units per square kilometre 0.6574 units per square kilometre 0.8937 units per square kilometre 10
1980s 1.12 units per square kilometre 0.9257 units per square kilometre 1.3 units per square kilometre 10
1990s 1.54 units per square kilometre 1.33 units per square kilometre 1.8 units per square kilometre 10
2000s 2.05 units per square kilometre 1.85 units per square kilometre 2.24 units per square kilometre 10
2010s 2.52 units per square kilometre 2.26 units per square kilometre 2.92 units per square kilometre 10
2020s 3.22 units per square kilometre 3.05 units per square kilometre 3.39 units per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 143 Chile 3.62 units per square kilometre compare
  2. 144 Ethiopia 3.62 units per square kilometre compare
  3. 145 Iraq 3.53 units per square kilometre compare
  4. 147 Senegal 3.37 units per square kilometre compare
  5. 148 New Zealand 3.32 units per square kilometre compare
  6. 149 Fiji 3.21 units per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 263 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa?
Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa was 3.39 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.39 units per square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4708 units per square kilometre in 1961.
How does South Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre?
South Africa ranks 146th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
Is population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/population-ages-65-and-above-total-per-square-kilometre/south-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Population ages 65 and above, total 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 ages 65 and above, total ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

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

Indicator
Population ages 65 and above, total, per square kilometre
Unit
units per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
263 places, 15,281 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Population ages 65 and above, total 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.