Population density in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Population density was 50.51 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population density in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2023, population density in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 50.51 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 50.51 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.04 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12.04 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 12.36 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 12.7 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 13.06 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 13.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 13.82 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 14.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 14.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 15.06 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 15.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 15.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 16.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 16.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 17.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 17.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 18.46 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 18.99 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 19.57 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 20.19 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 20.8 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 21.46 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 22.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 22.86 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 23.57 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 24.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 25.02 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 25.78 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 26.54 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 27.31 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 28.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 28.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 29.66 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 27.74 people per sq. km of land area | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 28.49 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 29.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 30.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 30.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 31.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 32.45 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 33.3 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 34.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 35.08 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 36.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 36.53 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 37.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 38.53 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 39.58 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 40.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 41.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 42.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 44.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 37.7 people per sq. km of land area | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 38.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 39.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 40.89 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 41.98 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 43.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 44.29 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 45.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 46.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 49.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 50.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | 12.04 people per sq. km of land area | 15.06 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 17.73 people per sq. km of land area | 15.5 people per sq. km of land area | 20.19 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.98 people per sq. km of land area | 20.8 people per sq. km of land area | 27.31 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.7 people per sq. km of land area | 27.74 people per sq. km of land area | 32.45 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.32 people per sq. km of land area | 33.3 people per sq. km of land area | 41.8 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.91 people per sq. km of land area | 37.7 people per sq. km of land area | 45.5 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.63 people per sq. km of land area | 46.74 people per sq. km of land area | 50.51 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 27 Israel 455.13 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 28 Haiti 422.26 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 29 Belgium 386.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 30 Philippines 385.32 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 31 Puerto Rico 361.19 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 32 Sri Lanka 356.24 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 33 Curaçao 348.32 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population in the largest city 28.5% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 25.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Population density in Africa Eastern and Southern was 50.51 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 50.51 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.04 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for population density?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.