Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa
South Africa: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square was 18.59 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa is 18.59 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa peaked at 18.59 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.41 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places South Africa 56th out of 121 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.41 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 3.51 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 3.61 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 3.71 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 3.82 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 3.93 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 4.05 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 4.17 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 4.29 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 4.41 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 4.51 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 4.62 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 4.73 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 4.84 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 4.95 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 5.07 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 5.19 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 5.32 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 5.44 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 5.58 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 5.71 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 5.85 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 6 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 6.14 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 6.31 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 6.49 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 6.69 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 6.88 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 7.09 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 7.3 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 7.54 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 7.84 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 8.16 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 8.5 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 8.85 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 9.22 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 9.56 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 9.89 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 10.24 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 10.6 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 10.97 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 11.27 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 11.54 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 11.83 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 12.12 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 12.42 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 12.73 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 13.05 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 13.38 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 13.71 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 14.06 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 14.42 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 14.79 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 15.17 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 15.57 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 15.97 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 16.39 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 16.82 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 17.18 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 17.54 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 17.89 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 18.24 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 18.59 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.83 units per square kilometre | 3.41 units per square kilometre | 4.29 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.91 units per square kilometre | 4.41 units per square kilometre | 5.44 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.27 units per square kilometre | 5.58 units per square kilometre | 7.09 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.71 units per square kilometre | 7.3 units per square kilometre | 10.24 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.99 units per square kilometre | 10.6 units per square kilometre | 13.38 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.41 units per square kilometre | 13.71 units per square kilometre | 17.18 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.06 units per square kilometre | 17.54 units per square kilometre | 18.59 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 53 Hungary 19.48 units per square kilometre compare
- 54 Uganda 19.18 units per square kilometre compare
- 55 Morocco 18.95 units per square kilometre compare
- 57 Ireland 18.44 units per square kilometre compare
- 58 Sierra Leone 18.14 units per square kilometre compare
- 59 Cameroon 18.13 units per square kilometre compare
More urban development data for South Africa
- Population in the largest city 15.6% (2025)
- Population density 52.11 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 23.36 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3607 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in largest city 6.44 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 8.05 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 750.74 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in South Africa was 18.59 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.59 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.41 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 121 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
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.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
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.