The big advantage for one of South Africa’s emigration hotspots
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for South African expats, and its lack of people is a significant advantage.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 206,730 South African-born people lived in Australia in 2022 – an increase from 167,630 in 2012.
New World Wealth said that one of Australia’s major strengths is its low population density.
Following population growth, many countries in the world have high population densities, with the UK – the home of South Africa’s largest diaspora – having 277 people per square kilometre.
Despite having a population of over 26 million, Australia only has a population density of 3 people per square kilometre – far below the worldwide average of 60.
This is a major boost for a country as there is a large amount of land and resources per capita.
There are also ecological benefits for the low population density.
“Having a sparse population means there are more wild open spaces, improving the quality of life for locals and giving wildlife the opportunity to thrive, which boosts eco-tourism opportunities”, New World Wealth said.
“Notably, over 20% of Australia is protected by national parks, making it one of the most ecologically friendly countries on Earth.”
On the other side of the coin, nations with high population densities often rely on other nations for resources.
Increased populations also lead to over-fishing in nearby oceans, resulting in food insecurity, whilst viruses can also spread more easily in densely populated areas.
There are also environmental issues, such as increased plastic and other waste, greater demand for electricity resulting in higher CO2 emissions and river systems being affected by sewage and other waste.
High population densities also affect other animals due to deforestation, maltreatment in artificial warehouse-type environments, and the limited space for nature reserves and wild spaces.
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