Ireland vs South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square

Ireland
18.44 units per square kilometre
in 2023
South Africa
18.59 units per square kilometre
in 2023
Ireland rank
57th
South Africa rank
56th

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square over time

  • Ireland
  • South Africa
5101520196119922023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 18.59 units per square kilometre against 18.44 units per square kilometre in Ireland, a difference of 0.15 units per square kilometre.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was Ireland ahead.

Ireland ranks 57th and South Africa ranks 56th of 121 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Ireland South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 10.44 units per square kilometre 3.83 units per square kilometre 6.6 units per square kilometre Ireland
1970s 12.01 units per square kilometre 4.91 units per square kilometre 7.1 units per square kilometre Ireland
1980s 13.31 units per square kilometre 6.27 units per square kilometre 7.04 units per square kilometre Ireland
1990s 13.71 units per square kilometre 8.71 units per square kilometre 5 units per square kilometre Ireland
2000s 15.01 units per square kilometre 11.99 units per square kilometre 3.02 units per square kilometre Ireland
2010s 16.79 units per square kilometre 15.41 units per square kilometre 1.39 units per square kilometre Ireland
2020s 18.13 units per square kilometre 18.06 units per square kilometre 0.0666 units per square kilometre Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square, Ireland or South Africa?
South Africa, at 18.59 units per square kilometre against 18.44 units per square kilometre in Ireland as of 2023.
What is the difference in population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square between Ireland and South Africa?
0.15 units per square kilometre, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and South Africa?
63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
How do Ireland and South Africa rank globally for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square?
Ireland ranks 57th and South Africa ranks 56th of 121 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ireland vs South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-in-urban-agglomerations-of-more-than-1-million-per-square-kilometre/ireland/south-africa/

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<a href="https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-in-urban-agglomerations-of-more-than-1-million-per-square-kilometre/ireland/south-africa/">Ireland vs South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square kilometre
Unit
units per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
121 places, 7,176 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 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.