Nicaragua vs South Africa: Population density

Nicaragua
56.7 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
South Africa
52.11 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
Nicaragua rank
148th
South Africa rank
151st

Population density over time

  • Nicaragua
  • South Africa
102030405060196119922023

How they compare

Nicaragua currently reports 56.7 people per sq. km of land area against 52.11 people per sq. km of land area in South Africa, a difference of 4.59 people per sq. km of land area.

That makes Nicaragua's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

Across all 63 years both countries report, Nicaragua has been ahead every year.

Nicaragua ranks 148th and South Africa ranks 151st of 216 countries.

Nicaragua has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nicaragua South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 17.29 people per sq. km of land area 15.8 people per sq. km of land area 1.5 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
1970s 23.13 people per sq. km of land area 20.92 people per sq. km of land area 2.21 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
1980s 30.42 people per sq. km of land area 28.44 people per sq. km of land area 1.98 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
1990s 38.06 people per sq. km of land area 36.31 people per sq. km of land area 1.75 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
2000s 44.24 people per sq. km of land area 40.65 people per sq. km of land area 3.59 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
2010s 50.76 people per sq. km of land area 46.1 people per sq. km of land area 4.67 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua
2020s 55.6 people per sq. km of land area 51.04 people per sq. km of land area 4.56 people per sq. km of land area Nicaragua

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population density, Nicaragua or South Africa?
Nicaragua, at 56.7 people per sq. km of land area against 52.11 people per sq. km of land area in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in population density between Nicaragua and South Africa?
4.59 people per sq. km of land area, with Nicaragua ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nicaragua and South Africa?
63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
How do Nicaragua and South Africa rank globally for population density?
Nicaragua ranks 148th and South Africa ranks 151st of 216 countries.
Where does this data come from?
FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nicaragua vs South Africa: Population density. Statizoid, drawing on FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-density-people-per-sq-km-of-land-area/nicaragua/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population density (people per sq. km of land area)
Unit
people per sq. km of land area
Source
FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
264 places, 15,342 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.