What is the most densely populated country?
Population density is a key demographic measure that shows how concentrated a population is within a given area by calculating the population size per unit of land area. It provides insights into settlement patterns, resource use, and potential social and environmental pressures. Governments, city planners, economists, and business leaders often compare population density across cities, regions, and countries because it influences a wide range of issues, including housing, infrastructure, transport systems, and economic productivity.
At the national level, population density is calculated by dividing a country’s total population by its total land area and expressed in people per square kilometre. Several organizations, including the World Bank, United Nations, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), provide population density data for select countries and economies.
The 10 most densely populated countries
According to the World Bank, the European island nation of Monaco is the most densely populated country. In 2023, its population reached 38,956 people, living in a total area of just two square kilometres, giving it a population density of 18,692 people per square kilometre.
Monaco is more than twice as densely populated as Singapore (8,241 people per square kilometre). Meanwhile, Singapore is more than 4 times as densely populated as Bahrain, the next country in the top ten. The table below shows the 10 most densely populated countries in the world. In addition to Monaco, Singapore, and Bahrain, the ten most densely populated countries include:
Monaco (18,692 people/km²)
Singapore (8,241 people/km²)
Bahrain (1,971 people/km²)
Maldives (1,765 people/km²)
Malta (1,727 people/km²)
Bangladesh (1,319 people/km²)
Barbados (656 people/km²)
Mauritius (625 people/km²)
Nauru (593 people/km²)
Rwanda (566 people/km²)
Each country in the top 10 is also among the smallest by land area, and all except Bahrain and Bangladesh are island nations.
The 10 least densely populated countries
Many of the least populated countries share a common trait: large swathes of infertile land and extreme climates. In Canada, the northern part of the country is covered in tundra, and daily temperatures are extremely cold. Countries like Australia, Libya, Mongolia, and Namibia have large deserts where extreme heat and minimal rainfall make it difficult to support large population centres.
Mauritania (4.87 people/km²)
Canada (4.55 people/km²)
Botswana (4.37 people/km²)
Libya (4.15 people/km²)
Suriname (3.91 people/km²)
Guyana (3.91 people/km²)
Iceland (3.82 people/km²)
Namibia (3.59 people/km²)
Australia (3.46 people/km²)
Mongolia (2.23 people/km²)
The full list of countries by population density
