Rural population density in South Africa
South Africa: Rural population density was 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
43rd
of 53 countries
All-time high
159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
All-time low
79.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population density in South Africa is 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in South Africa peaked at 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011 and was at its lowest, 79.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in South Africa, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 79.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 81.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 82.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 84.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 85.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 87.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 88.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 90.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 91.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 93.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 94.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 96.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 98.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 100.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 102.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 103.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 106.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 108.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 111.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 114.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 117.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 120.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 122.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 125.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 128.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 127.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 130.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 131.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 131.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 131.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 132.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 130.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 129.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 130.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 131.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 131.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 133.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 134.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 135.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 137.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 139.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 140.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 141.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 144.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 145.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 152.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 152.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 150.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 151.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 153.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 85.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 79.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 91.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 101.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 93.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 111.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 124.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 114.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 131.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 132.35 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 129.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 135.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 145.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 137.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 152.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 156.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 153.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 40 Namibia 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 41 Morocco 174.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 42 Gambia 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 44 Cameroon 154.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 45 Togo 151.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 46 Central African Republic 151.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Production, per capita 0.002 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, annual growth rate -0.3469 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in South Africa?
- Rural population density in South Africa was 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for rural population density?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.