In 2023, there were around 8,129 inhabitants per square kilometer living in Singapore. In comparison, there were approximately two inhabitants per square kilometer living in Mongolia that year.

Monaco led the ranking for countries with the highest population density in 2024, with nearly 26,000 residents per square kilometer. The Special Administrative Region Macao came in second, followed by Singapore. The world’s second smallest country Monaco is the world’s second smallest country, with an area of about two square kilometers, and its population only numbers around 40,000. It is a constitutional monarchy located by the Mediterranean Sea, and while Monaco is not part of the European Union, it does participate in some EU policies. The country is perhaps most famous for the Monte Carlo casino and for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix, the world's most prestigious Formula One race. The global population Globally, the population density per square kilometer stands at about 60 inhabitants, and Asia is the most densely populated region in the world. The global population is increasing rapidly, so population density is only expected to increase as well. In 1950, for example, the global population stood at about 2.54 billion people, and it reached over eight billion during 2023.

India's total population reached nearly 1.43 billion people as of 2023, making the country by far the most populous throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Contrastingly, Micronesia had a total population of around 115 thousand people in the same year. The demographics of APAC Asia-Pacific, made up of many different countries and regions, is the most populated region across the globe. Being home to a significant number of megacities, and with the population ever-increasing, the region is unsurprisingly expected to have the largest urban population by 2050. However, as of 2021, the majority of Asia-Pacific countries had rural populations greater than 50 percent.  Population densities Despite China being the most populated country across the region, it fell in the middle of Asia-Pacific regions in terms of population density. On the other hand, Macao, Singapore, and Hong Kong all had the highest population densities across the Asia-Pacific region. These three Asia-Pacific regions also ranked among the top four densest populations worldwide.   

In 2022, the estimated population density of China was around 150.42 people per square kilometer. That year, China's population size declined for the first time in decades. Although China is the most populous country in the world, its overall population density is not much higher than the average population density in Asia. Uneven population distribution China is one of the largest countries in terms of land area, and its population density figures vary dramatically from region to region. Overall, the coastal regions in the East and Southeast have the highest population densities, as they belong to the more economically developed regions of the country. These coastal regions also have a higher urbanization rate. On the contrary, the regions in the West are covered with mountain landscapes which are not suitable for the development of big cities. Populous cities in China Several Chinese cities rank among the most populous cities in the world. According to estimates, Beijing and Shanghai will rank among the top ten megacities in the world by 2030. Both cities are also the largest Chinese cities in terms of land area. The previous colonial regions, Macao and Hong Kong, are two of the most densely populated cities in the world.

In 2023, the population density of Vietnam was around 303 people per square kilometer of land area. In that year, Vietnam's total population reached approximately 100.3 million. The country is among those with the highest population density in the Asia Pacific region, ranking 11th in 2020. Population density in Vietnam In comparison, Vietnam’s population density is roughly twice as much as China and Indonesia. The average population density in the world is at 59 inhabitants per square kilometer. The largest population within the country can be found in the Red River Delta and the Mekong River Delta. The most populated city is Ho Chi Minh City with roughly nine million inhabitants. Population growth in Vietnam Vietnam’s total population was forecast to surpass 100 million by 2050. Traditionally, Vietnamese families had an average of six children, while today, the birth rate is at two children per woman. This is due to an improving economy and higher living standards. In 2020, the population growth in Vietnam reached 0.90 percent, down from about three percent in the 1960s.

Monaco led the ranking for countries with the highest population density in 2021, with nearly 25,000 residents per square kilometer. The Special Administrative Region Macao came in second, followed by Singapore. The world’s smallest country by area, the Holy See, came in 13th with close to 1,200 people per square kilometer.

The world’s second smallest country

Monaco is the world’s second smallest country, with an area of about two square kilometers, and its population only numbers around 40,000. It is a constitutional monarchy located by the Mediterranean Sea, and while Monaco is not part of the European Union, it does participate in some EU policies. The country is perhaps most famous for the Monte Carlo casino and for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious Formula One race in the world.

The global population

Globally, the population density per square kilometer stands at about 60 inhabitants, and Asia is the most densely populated region in the world. The global population is increasing rapidly, so population density is only expected to increase as well. In 1950, for example, the global population stood at about 2.54 billion people, and is expected to pass eight billions during 2023.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2024, the country counted over 232.6 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 132 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 116 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranks seventh, while Mauritius has the highest population density on the whole African continent. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, the population increase peaks at over three percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. However, African cities are currently growing at larger rates. Indeed, most of the fastest-growing cities in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gwagwalada, in Nigeria, and Kabinda, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked first worldwide. By 2035, instead, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria.

The population density in Bangladesh reached its highest in 2020, amounting to approximately 1.27 thousand people per square kilometer. The South Asian country was the tenth most densely populated country in the world in 2019. Within the Asia Pacific region, Bangladesh’s population density was only exceeded by Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives. Overall, Asia had the highest population density in the world in 2018.

Population growth in Bangladesh

In 1971, Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan. Bangladesh’s birth rate and mortality rate had declined significantly in the past years with a life expectancy of 72.59 years in 2019. In general, the population in Bangladesh had been growing at a slow pace, slightly fluctuating around an annual rate of one percent. This growth was forecasted to continue, although it was estimated to halve by 2040. As of today, Dhaka is the largest city in Bangladesh.

Population density explained

According to the source, “population density is the mid-year population divided by land area in square kilometers.” Further, “population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents.” Bangladesh’s population reached an estimated number of 164.69 million inhabitants in 2020. In 2018, the country’s land area amounted 130.2 thousand square kilometers.

Whereas the population is expected to decrease somewhat until 2100 in Asia, Europe, and South America, it is predicted to grow significantly in Africa. While there were 1.5 billion inhabitants on the continent at the beginning of 2024, the number of inhabitants is expected to reach 3.8 billion by 2100. In total, the global population is expected to reach nearly 10.4 billion by 2100. Worldwide population In the United States, the total population is expected to steadily increase over the next couple of years. In 2024, Asia held over half of the global population and is expected to have the highest number of people living in urban areas in 2050. Asia is home to the two most populous countries, India and China, both with a population of over one billion people. However, the small country of Monaco had the highest population density worldwide in 2021. Effects of overpopulation Alongside the growing worldwide population, there are negative effects of overpopulation. The increasing population puts a higher pressure on existing resources and contributes to pollution. As the population grows, the demand for food grows, which requires more water, which in turn takes away from the freshwater available. Concurrently, food needs to be transported through different mechanisms, which contributes to air pollution. Not every resource is renewable, meaning the world is using up limited resources that will eventually run out. Furthermore, more species will become extinct which harms the ecosystem and food chain. Overpopulation was considered to be one of the most important environmental issues worldwide in 2020.

The population density in France was 123.27 people per square kilometer (47.24 per square mile) in 2021. This number has been slowly increasing for the past ten years. Higher population density is associated with urbanization, but not necessarily economic growth.

Comparative densities

France’s population density is higher than the European average. In fact, it is higher than any region except Asia, as well as the total world population density. This is likely due to the number of large cities in France. The country has one of the largest urban populations in the world. This shapes the French economic and social landscapes; the cities become more expensive, but they also bring more economic opportunities. These opportunites attract people both from the French countryside and other countries who hope to benefit from such jobs.

A tale of two countries

For those who can afford it, Paris can be a cosmopolitan paradise. However, with the average price of a rental apartment twice that of most other French cities, few can afford to live in the richest parts of the city. This stark difference in costs implies that average annual wages should have a similar difference between cities. While this is not a perfectly even cause and effect, it gives some explanation for the increasing population density of France.

In 2023, it was estimated that approximately 87 percent of the Indonesian population were Muslim, accounting for the highest share of Muslims in any Southeast Asian country. Indonesia also has the world's largest Muslim population, with an estimated 229 million Muslims.

Demographics of Indonesia

The total population of Indonesia was estimated to reach around 290 million in 2028. The median age of the population in the country was at an all-time high in 2020 and was projected to increase continuously until the end of the century. In 2020, the population density in Indonesia reached its highest value recorded at about 145.7 people per square kilometer.

Shopping behavior during Ramadan in Indonesia

Nearly all Muslims in Indonesia celebrated Ramadan in 2022. During the month of Ramadan, 60 percent of Indonesian users utilized online applications to order food. Many Indonesians planned to shop online or offline during Ramadan, with around 76 percent of online users planning to purchase fashion wear and accessories. Shopee was the most used app for shopping purposes during that period.

The world's population first reached one billion people in 1803, and reach eight billion in 2023, and will peak at almost 11 billion by the end of the century. Although it took thousands of years to reach one billion people, it did so at the beginning of a phenomenon known as the demographic transition; from this point onwards, population growth has skyrocketed, and since the 1960s the population has increased by one billion people every 12 to 15 years. The demographic transition sees a sharp drop in mortality due to factors such as vaccination, sanitation, and improved food supply; the population boom that follows is due to increased survival rates among children and higher life expectancy among the general population; and fertility then drops in response to this population growth. Regional differences The demographic transition is a global phenomenon, but it has taken place at different times across the world. The industrialized countries of Europe and North America were the first to go through this process, followed by some states in the Western Pacific. Latin America's population then began growing at the turn of the 20th century, but the most significant period of global population growth occurred as Asia progressed in the late-1900s. As of the early 21st century, almost two thirds of the world's population live in Asia, although this is set to change significantly in the coming decades. Future growth The growth of Africa's population, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, will have the largest impact on global demographics in this century. From 2000 to 2100, it is expected that Africa's population will have increased by a factor of almost five. It overtook Europe in size in the late 1990s, and overtook the Americas a decade later. In contrast to Africa, Europe's population is now in decline, as birth rates are consistently below death rates in many countries, especially in the south and east, resulting in natural population decline. Similarly, the population of the Americas and Asia are expected to go into decline in the second half of this century, and only Oceania's population will still be growing alongside Africa. By 2100, the world's population will have over three billion more than today, with the vast majority of this concentrated in Africa. Demographers predict that climate change is exacerbating many of the challenges that currently hinder progress in Africa, such as political and food instability; if Africa's transition is prolonged, then it may result in further population growth that would place a strain on the region's resources, however, curbing this growth earlier would alleviate some of the pressure created by climate change.

The earliest point where scientists can make reasonable estimates for the population of global regions is around 10,000 years before the Common Era (or 12,000 years ago). Estimates suggest that Asia has consistently been the most populated continent, and the least populated continent has generally been Oceania (although it was more heavily populated than areas such as North America in very early years). Population growth was very slow, but an increase can be observed between most of the given time periods. There were, however, dips in population due to pandemics, the most notable of these being the impact of plague in Eurasia in the 14th century, and the impact of European contact with the indigenous populations of the Americas after 1492, where it took almost four centuries for the population of Latin America to return to its pre-1500 level. The world's population first reached one billion people in 1803, which also coincided with a spike in population growth, due to the onset of the demographic transition. This wave of growth first spread across the most industrially developed countries in the 19th century, and the correlation between demographic development and industrial or economic maturity continued until today, with Africa being the final major region to begin its transition in the late-1900s.

This graph shows the population of the U.S. by race and ethnic group from 2000 to 2023. In 2023, there were around 21.39 million people of Asian origin living in the United States. A ranking of the most spoken languages across the world can be accessed here. U.S. populationCurrently, the white population makes up the vast majority of the United States’ population, accounting for some 252.07 million people in 2023. This ethnicity group contributes to the highest share of the population in every region, but is especially noticeable in the Midwestern region. The Black or African American resident population totaled 45.76 million people in the same year. The overall population in the United States is expected to increase annually from 2022, with the 320.92 million people in 2015 expected to rise to 341.69 million people by 2027. Thus, population densities have also increased, totaling 36.3 inhabitants per square kilometer as of 2021. Despite being one of the most populous countries in the world, following China and India, the United States is not even among the top 150 most densely populated countries due to its large land mass. Monaco is the most densely populated country in the world and has a population density of 24,621.5 inhabitants per square kilometer as of 2021. As population numbers in the U.S. continues to grow, the Hispanic population has also seen a similar trend from 35.7 million inhabitants in the country in 2000 to some 62.65 million inhabitants in 2021. This growing population group is a significant source of population growth in the country due to both high immigration and birth rates. The United States is one of the most racially diverse countries in the world.

In 2022, the density of account breaches in Australia amounted to 133 per 1,000 population, the highest density across the Asia-Pacific region that year. However, this marked a significant decrease from the previous year, when Australia ranked second across APAC with an account breach density of 378 per 1,000 population.

In 2022, Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims worldwide with around 241.5 million. This was followed with around 225.6 million Muslims in Pakistan and 211.16 million Muslims in India.

In 2023, the total population of the Philippines was at approximately 111.91 million inhabitants. For the foreseeable future, the Filipino population is expected to increase slightly, despite a current overall downward trend in population growth. The dwindling Filipino population For now, the population figures in the Philippines still show a steady increase and the country is still one of the most densely populated countries in the Asia-Pacific region, however, all signs point to a decline in the number of inhabitants in the long run: Just like the population growth rate, the country’s fertility rate, for example, has also been decreasing for years now, while the death rate has been increasing simultaneously.   Poor healthcare to blame One of the reasons for the downward trend is the aging population; fewer babies are born each year, while life expectancy at birth has been steady over the years. Another reason is poor healthcare in the country: The Philippines have a high tuberculosis incidence rate, a highly infectious disease, and are among the countries with a high probability of death from noncommunicable diseases as well.

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in Malaysia from 2013 to 2023. Urbanization means the share of urban population in the total population of a country. In 2023, 78.72 percent of Malaysia's total population lived in urban areas and cities. Urban areas in Malaysia Malaysia is currently one of the most urbanized countries of East Asia, and also one of the most rapidly urbanized regions around the world; over the last ten years, the urban population in Malaysia has increased from around 66 percent in 2004 to 74 percent in 2014. This growth is expected to continue, as people from rural areas migrate to urban areas due to the economy and employment continuing to shift from agriculture to industry and services. At present, the largest city in terms of population is Kuala Lumpur, which is home to around 1.31 million inhabitants - which is still relatively small, considering that the entire population of Malaysia amounts to around 31 million. Malaysia is also home to a number of smaller urban areas, and there are three other urban areas with more than 500,000 inhabitants. Urban areas in Malaysia, notably Kuala Lumpur, are less dense than is common for urban areas in East Asia. This means that dealing with and limiting sprawl will be a challenge. As the urban transformation continues, there is still a chance to find a balance between urban and rural settlements in an equitable, compact and sustainable manner.

As of 2018, the demographic group of 30 to 34-year-olds in the Emirate of Dubai was above 572 thousand people. Considering that the total population of the Emirate of Dubai was estimated to be around 2.8 million people in 2020, the above-mentioned age bracket is a substantial share of Dubai’s society.

  In the context of the United Arab Emirates  

Dubai is the most populous region in the United Arab Emirates, followed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi the United Arab Emirates was the second largest country amongst the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with almost ten million people, behind Saudi Arabia with a population thrice the size. The United Arab Emirates has about 6.4 million male and 2.9 million female inhabitants altogether.

 Expats and Emirati   

When discussing the demographic composition of this region, the gender imbalance is not the only demographic skewness experienced in the United Arab Emirates, particularly in its Dubai region. Additionally, foreign workers and expatriates significantly outnumber the indigenous population. Only an estimated 1.1 million people in the United Arab Emirates are nationals of their country. The majority of the expatriate’s hail from the subcontinent. In terms of the working population of the United Arab Emirates, 68 percent of men and 66 percent of women in the labor force are from Asia.

 Outlook   

The population density of the UAE is continuing to grow, though the urban population growth of the UAE had slowed down considerably.