Population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Population, female, per square kilometre was 26.76 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
26.76 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
149th
of 215 countries
All-time high
26.76 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
6.8 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa is 26.76 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 26.76 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.8 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 149th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.8 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 7.02 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 7.25 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 7.49 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 7.74 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 8 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 8.27 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 8.55 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 8.83 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 9.11 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 9.39 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 9.65 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 9.92 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 10.2 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 10.47 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 10.75 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 11.04 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 11.33 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 11.63 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 11.98 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 12.41 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 12.85 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 13.32 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 13.79 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 14.26 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 14.71 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 15.15 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 15.61 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 16.06 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 16.5 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 16.88 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 17.31 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 17.51 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 17.91 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 18.63 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 19.26 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 19.74 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 19.98 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 20.21 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 20.4 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 20.57 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 20.75 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 20.93 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 21.11 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 21.3 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 21.49 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 21.69 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 21.91 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 22.15 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 22.39 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 22.64 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 22.95 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 23.31 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 23.66 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 24.07 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 24.3 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 24.51 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 24.9 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 25.3 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 25.7 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 26.09 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 26.44 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 26.76 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 26.76 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.82 units per square kilometre, 62% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 26.76 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.77 units per square kilometre, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.77 units per square kilometre | 6.8 units per square kilometre | 8.83 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.35 units per square kilometre | 9.11 units per square kilometre | 11.63 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.01 units per square kilometre | 11.98 units per square kilometre | 16.06 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.39 units per square kilometre | 16.5 units per square kilometre | 20.21 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.23 units per square kilometre | 20.4 units per square kilometre | 22.15 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.8 units per square kilometre | 22.39 units per square kilometre | 25.3 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.25 units per square kilometre | 25.7 units per square kilometre | 26.76 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 146 Liberia 28.57 units per square kilometre compare
- 147 Georgia 28.55 units per square kilometre compare
- 148 Iran 27.46 units per square kilometre compare
- 150 Madagascar 26.73 units per square kilometre compare
- 151 Fiji 25.48 units per square kilometre compare
- 152 Djibouti 25.08 units per square kilometre compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Population, female, per square kilometre in South Africa was 26.76 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population, female, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.76 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population, female, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for population, female, per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 149th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population, female, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population, female, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population, female 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, female ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population, female World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Population, female 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.