Skip to content

Population density: Cyprus vs South Africa compared

Updated on by Georank team

Cyprus has a population density of 388 people per square mile compared to 139.8 people in South Africa. Cyprus has 73,243 sq ft of land per person vs 205,338 sq ft in South Africa. Cyprus and South Africa rank 66th and 135th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Cyprus has 0.02% of the world's population and 0.006% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.79% of the population and 0.81% of the land area for South Africa, making the population density in Cyprus 177.3% higher than in South Africa.

Population density by year

Cyprus
South Africa

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Cyprus South Africa
2026 388 139.8
2025 384 138.3
2024 381 136.7
2023 377 135
2022 373 133.2
2021 369 131.3
2020 365 129.3
2019 361 127.2
2018 356 125.1
2017 352 123.1
2016 347 122.3
2015 342 121.1
2014 337 118.7
2013 332 116.7
2012 327 114.8
2011 321 113.1
2010 316 111.8
2009 311 110.4
2008 306 109.1
2007 301 107.9
2006 295.6 106.7
2005 290.4 105.7
2004 285.3 104.6
2003 280.2 103.5
2002 275.1 102.5
2001 270.2 101.6
2000 265.6 100.7
1999 261 99.8
1998 256.3 98.7
1997 251.6 97.5
1996 246.7 96.3
1995 241.8 95.1
1994 236.8 94
1993 231.5 92.4
1992 227.1 90.6
1991 223.9 89
1990 221 87
1989 217.9 84.6
1988 214.8 82.2
1987 211.6 79.7
1986 208.3 77.2
1985 205 74.8
1984 201.6 72.4
1983 198.2 69.9
1982 195.2 67.5
1981 193.1 65.2
1980 191.5 63
1979 189.9 61.1
1978 188.4 59.5
1977 187 57.9
1976 185.6 56.4
1975 184.8 54.9
1974 185.9 53.4
1973 186.7 51.9
1972 185.3 50.4
1971 183.3 49
1970 181.5 47.6
1969 179.7 46.1
1968 178 44.7
1967 176.4 43.4
1966 174.7 42
1965 173.2 40.8
1964 171.7 39.5
1963 170.2 38.3
1962 168.6 37.2
1961 166.9 36.1

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/cyprus/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Cyprus increased by 31.2%, compared to a 31% growth in South Africa.

In 2006, Cyprus ranked 69th by population density and is 66th now. South Africa was 134th in 2006 and ranks 135th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Cyprus
South Africa
1x
Year Urban population
Cyprus South Africa
2024 66.7% 63.7%
2023 66.7% 63.6%
2022 66.7% 63.5%
2021 66.7% 63.5%
2020 66.7% 63.4%
2019 66.8% 63.4%
2018 66.8% 63.4%
2017 66.9% 63.3%
2016 67% 63.3%
2015 67% 63.2%
2014 67.1% 63.1%
2013 67.2% 63.1%
2012 67.3% 63%
2011 67.4% 62.9%
2010 67.5% 62.6%
2009 67.7% 62.3%
2008 67.9% 61.8%
2007 68.1% 61.2%
2006 68.3% 60.5%
2005 68.4% 59.8%
2004 68.6% 59.1%
2003 68.7% 58.4%
2002 68.8% 57.7%
2001 68.8% 57%
2000 68.8% 56.3%
1999 68.7% 55.4%
1998 68.6% 54.7%
1997 68.5% 54%
1996 68.3% 53.6%
1995 68.2% 53.3%
1994 68% 53.1%
1993 67.8% 52.9%
1992 67.6% 52.7%
1991 67.4% 52.4%
1990 67.1% 52%
1989 66.8% 51.4%
1988 66.5% 50.7%
1987 66.1% 50.1%
1986 65.7% 49.6%
1985 65.2% 49.2%
1984 64.6% 49%
1983 64% 48.8%
1982 63.3% 48.6%
1981 62.4% 48.5%
1980 61.1% 48.4%
1979 59.5% 48.3%
1978 57.6% 48.2%
1977 55.5% 48.2%
1976 53.3% 48.1%
1975 50.4% 48.1%
1974 46.1% 48%
1973 42.7% 48%
1972 41.5% 47.9%
1971 40.7% 47.8%
1970 40.1% 47.8%
1969 39.6% 47.7%
1968 39.2% 47.6%
1967 38.9% 47.5%
1966 38.7% 47.5%
1965 38.4% 47.4%
1964 38% 47.3%
1963 37.6% 47.1%
1962 37.1% 47%
1961 36.4% 46.9%
1960 35.3% 46.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/cyprus/south-africa | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.6% to 66.7% in Cyprus and from 59.1% to 63.7% in South Africa.

Densely populated cities

Cyprus
City Population
Limassol 108K
Larnaca 59.2K
Nicosia 56.8K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/cyprus/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.