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Population density: Serbia vs South Africa compared

Updated on by Georank team

Serbia has a population density of 200 people per square mile compared to 139.8 people in South Africa. Serbia has 144,629 sq ft of land per person vs 205,338 sq ft in South Africa. Serbia and South Africa rank 116th and 135th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Serbia has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.06% 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 Serbia 43% higher than in South Africa.

Population density by year

Serbia
South Africa

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Serbia South Africa
2026 200 139.8
2025 201.5 138.3
2024 202.9 136.7
2023 204 135
2022 205.3 133.2
2021 210.5 131.3
2020 212.5 129.3
2019 205.7 127.2
2018 206.8 125.1
2017 207.9 123.1
2016 209 122.3
2015 210.1 121.1
2014 211.2 118.7
2013 212.2 116.7
2012 213.3 114.8
2011 214.3 113.1
2010 215.9 111.8
2009 216.8 110.4
2008 217.7 109.1
2007 218.6 107.9
2006 219.5 106.7
2005 - 105.7
2004 - 104.6
2003 - 103.5
2002 - 102.5
2001 - 101.6
2000 - 100.7
1999 - 99.8
1998 - 98.7
1997 - 97.5
1996 - 96.3
1995 - 95.1
1994 - 94
1993 - 92.4
1992 - 90.6
1991 - 89
1990 - 87
1989 - 84.6
1988 - 82.2
1987 - 79.7
1986 - 77.2
1985 - 74.8
1984 - 72.4
1983 - 69.9
1982 - 67.5
1981 - 65.2
1980 - 63
1979 - 61.1
1978 - 59.5
1977 - 57.9
1976 - 56.4
1975 - 54.9
1974 - 53.4
1973 - 51.9
1972 - 50.4
1971 - 49
1970 - 47.6
1969 - 46.1
1968 - 44.7
1967 - 43.4
1966 - 42
1965 - 40.8
1964 - 39.5
1963 - 38.3
1962 - 37.2
1961 - 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/serbia/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Serbia decreased by 8.86%, compared to a 31% growth in South Africa.

In 2006, Serbia ranked 87th by population density and is 116th now. South Africa was 134th in 2006 and ranks 135th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Serbia
South Africa
1x
Year Urban population
Serbia South Africa
2024 62.4% 63.7%
2023 62.1% 63.6%
2022 61.9% 63.5%
2021 61.4% 63.5%
2020 61.2% 63.4%
2019 61% 63.4%
2018 60.8% 63.4%
2017 60.6% 63.3%
2016 60.4% 63.3%
2015 60.1% 63.2%
2014 59.9% 63.1%
2013 59.6% 63.1%
2012 59.3% 63%
2011 59.4% 62.9%
2010 59.4% 62.6%
2009 59.2% 62.3%
2008 58.9% 61.8%
2007 58.6% 61.2%
2006 58.2% 60.5%
2005 57.8% 59.8%
2004 57.3% 59.1%
2003 56.9% 58.4%
2002 56.5% 57.7%
2001 56% 57%
2000 55.6% 56.3%
1999 55.1% 55.4%
1998 54.6% 54.7%
1997 54% 54%
1996 53.5% 53.6%
1995 52.9% 53.3%
1994 52.4% 53.1%
1993 51.8% 52.9%
1992 51.3% 52.7%
1991 50.8% 52.4%
1990 50.4% 52%
1989 49.9% 51.4%
1988 49.5% 50.7%
1987 49.2% 50.1%
1986 48.8% 49.6%
1985 48.4% 49.2%
1984 48% 49%
1983 47.6% 48.8%
1982 47.2% 48.6%
1981 46.7% 48.5%
1980 46.2% 48.4%
1979 45.7% 48.3%
1978 45.2% 48.2%
1977 44.7% 48.2%
1976 44.1% 48.1%
1975 43.5% 48.1%
1974 42.9% 48%
1973 42.2% 48%
1972 41.5% 47.9%
1971 40.8% 47.8%
1970 40% 47.8%
1969 39.1% 47.7%
1968 38% 47.6%
1967 36.9% 47.5%
1966 35.8% 47.5%
1965 34.6% 47.4%
1964 33.4% 47.3%
1963 32.2% 47.1%
1962 31.1% 47%
1961 30.1% 46.9%
1960 29.1% 46.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.3% to 62.4% in Serbia and from 59.1% to 63.7% in South Africa.

Densely populated cities

Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K
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/serbia/south-africa | CC BY

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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. Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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