South Africa has a population density of 139.8 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. South Africa has 205,338 sq ft of land per person and ranks 135th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
South Africa has 0.79% of the world's population and 0.81% of the total land area of all countries.
South Africa population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 139.8 | 135 |
| 2025 | 138.3 | 135 |
| 2024 | 136.7 | 136 |
| 2023 | 135 | 136 |
| 2022 | 133.2 | 136 |
| 2021 | 131.3 | 136 |
| 2020 | 129.3 | 136 |
| 2019 | 127.2 | 136 |
| 2018 | 125.1 | 136 |
| 2017 | 123.1 | 136 |
| 2016 | 122.3 | 136 |
| 2015 | 121.1 | 136 |
| 2014 | 118.7 | 139 |
| 2013 | 116.7 | 139 |
| 2012 | 114.8 | 138 |
| 2011 | 113.1 | 137 |
| 2010 | 111.8 | 134 |
| 2009 | 110.4 | 133 |
| 2008 | 109.1 | 133 |
| 2007 | 107.9 | 134 |
| 2006 | 106.7 | 134 |
| 2005 | 105.7 | 132 |
| 2004 | 104.6 | 132 |
| 2003 | 103.5 | 132 |
| 2002 | 102.5 | 131 |
| 2001 | 101.6 | 131 |
| 2000 | 100.7 | 130 |
| 1999 | 99.8 | 128 |
| 1998 | 98.7 | 129 |
| 1997 | 97.5 | 129 |
| 1996 | 96.3 | 128 |
| 1995 | 95.1 | 127 |
| 1994 | 94 | 127 |
| 1993 | 92.4 | 126 |
| 1992 | 90.6 | 124 |
| 1991 | 89 | 108 |
| 1990 | 87 | 107 |
| 1989 | 84.6 | 107 |
| 1988 | 82.2 | 108 |
| 1987 | 79.7 | 109 |
| 1986 | 77.2 | 109 |
| 1985 | 74.8 | 109 |
| 1984 | 72.4 | 109 |
| 1983 | 69.9 | 109 |
| 1982 | 67.5 | 109 |
| 1981 | 65.2 | 109 |
| 1980 | 63 | 109 |
| 1979 | 61.1 | 108 |
| 1978 | 59.5 | 108 |
| 1977 | 57.9 | 108 |
| 1976 | 56.4 | 108 |
| 1975 | 54.9 | 108 |
| 1974 | 53.4 | 107 |
| 1973 | 51.9 | 109 |
| 1972 | 50.4 | 109 |
| 1971 | 49 | 109 |
| 1970 | 47.6 | 109 |
| 1969 | 46.1 | 108 |
| 1968 | 44.7 | 108 |
| 1967 | 43.4 | 108 |
| 1966 | 42 | 108 |
| 1965 | 40.8 | 109 |
| 1964 | 39.5 | 109 |
| 1963 | 38.3 | 111 |
| 1962 | 37.2 | 112 |
| 1961 | 36.1 | 112 |
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/south-africa | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in South Africa has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 31%. South Africa ranked 134th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 135th today.
Density metrics
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 135/197 |
| Population |
65683993
|
24/197 |
| Land area | 468,377 sq mi | 24/197 |
| Land area per capita | 204,002 sq ft | 62/197 |
| Rural population | 36.3% | 99/195 |
| Urban population | 63.7% | 97/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 15% | 62/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63.7% | 97 |
| 2023 | 63.6% | 96 |
| 2022 | 63.5% | 94 |
| 2021 | 63.5% | 94 |
| 2020 | 63.4% | 94 |
| 2019 | 63.4% | 92 |
| 2018 | 63.4% | 92 |
| 2017 | 63.3% | 91 |
| 2016 | 63.3% | 90 |
| 2015 | 63.2% | 90 |
| 2014 | 63.1% | 89 |
| 2013 | 63.1% | 88 |
| 2012 | 63% | 88 |
| 2011 | 62.9% | 86 |
| 2010 | 62.6% | 86 |
| 2009 | 62.3% | 86 |
| 2008 | 61.8% | 87 |
| 2007 | 61.2% | 87 |
| 2006 | 60.5% | 88 |
| 2005 | 59.8% | 88 |
| 2004 | 59.1% | 89 |
| 2003 | 58.4% | 90 |
| 2002 | 57.7% | 91 |
| 2001 | 57% | 91 |
| 2000 | 56.3% | 91 |
| 1999 | 55.4% | 95 |
| 1998 | 54.7% | 96 |
| 1997 | 54% | 96 |
| 1996 | 53.6% | 96 |
| 1995 | 53.3% | 96 |
| 1994 | 53.1% | 95 |
| 1993 | 52.9% | 94 |
| 1992 | 52.7% | 95 |
| 1991 | 52.4% | 94 |
| 1990 | 52% | 93 |
| 1989 | 51.4% | 91 |
| 1988 | 50.7% | 92 |
| 1987 | 50.1% | 92 |
| 1986 | 49.6% | 92 |
| 1985 | 49.2% | 94 |
| 1984 | 49% | 93 |
| 1983 | 48.8% | 93 |
| 1982 | 48.6% | 93 |
| 1981 | 48.5% | 89 |
| 1980 | 48.4% | 89 |
| 1979 | 48.3% | 88 |
| 1978 | 48.2% | 88 |
| 1977 | 48.2% | 86 |
| 1976 | 48.1% | 82 |
| 1975 | 48.1% | 79 |
| 1974 | 48% | 77 |
| 1973 | 48% | 77 |
| 1972 | 47.9% | 75 |
| 1971 | 47.8% | 74 |
| 1970 | 47.8% | 71 |
| 1969 | 47.7% | 69 |
| 1968 | 47.6% | 69 |
| 1967 | 47.5% | 67 |
| 1966 | 47.5% | 66 |
| 1965 | 47.4% | 65 |
| 1964 | 47.3% | 64 |
| 1963 | 47.1% | 60 |
| 1962 | 47% | 59 |
| 1961 | 46.9% | 56 |
| 1960 | 46.7% | 55 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/south-africa | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in South Africa from 1960 to 2024: 46.7% lived in urban areas in 1960, 56.3% in 2000, and 63.7% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
|
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
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/south-africa | CC BY
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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) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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