Population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population, total, per square kilometre was 52.66 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
52.66 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 2.5%
Rank
26th
of 47 groups
All-time high
52.66 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
11.58 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa is 52.66 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 52.66 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.58 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11.58 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 11.87 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 12.17 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 12.48 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 12.8 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 13.13 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 13.48 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 13.83 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 14.21 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 14.6 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 14.99 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 15.4 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 15.83 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 16.28 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 16.75 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 17.23 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 17.72 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 18.24 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 18.8 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 19.36 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 19.94 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 20.57 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 21.19 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 21.8 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 22.44 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 23.1 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 23.78 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 24.46 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 25.16 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 25.87 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 26.58 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 27.31 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 26.61 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 27.33 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 28.06 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 28.82 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 29.59 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 30.39 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 31.21 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 32.05 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 32.92 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 33.81 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 34.74 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 35.45 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 36.43 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 37.44 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 38.48 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 39.56 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 40.67 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 41.81 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 42.97 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 39.53 units per square kilometre | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 40.63 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 41.75 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 42.89 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 44.03 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 45.2 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 46.41 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 47.63 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 48.87 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 50.12 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 51.38 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 52.66 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.84 units per square kilometre | 11.58 units per square kilometre | 14.21 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 16.58 units per square kilometre | 14.6 units per square kilometre | 18.8 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.18 units per square kilometre | 19.36 units per square kilometre | 25.16 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.18 units per square kilometre | 25.87 units per square kilometre | 31.21 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.16 units per square kilometre | 32.05 units per square kilometre | 40.67 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.29 units per square kilometre | 39.53 units per square kilometre | 47.63 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.76 units per square kilometre | 48.87 units per square kilometre | 52.66 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 23 Netherlands 530.95 units per square kilometre compare
- 24 Korea 529.84 units per square kilometre compare
- 25 India 483.68 units per square kilometre compare
- 26 Comoros 456.95 units per square kilometre compare
- 27 Israel 455.13 units per square kilometre compare
- 28 Haiti 422.26 units per square kilometre compare
- 29 Belgium 386.3 units per square kilometre compare
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 4.27 billion kg (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that) 6.71 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that leaches) 15.1 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 67.1 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 88.91 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 4.27 billion kg (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Nitrogen fertilizer content applied 427.00 million kg (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Nitrogen fertilizer content applied 1.28 billion kg (2050)
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 137.43 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 3.56 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population, total, per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa was 52.66 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population, total, per square kilometre recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.66 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population, total, per square kilometre recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.58 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population, total, per square kilometre?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population, total, per square kilometre rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population, total, 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, total 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, total ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population, total World Population Prospects, 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, total 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.