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.

Mogadishu in Somalia led the ranking of cities with the highest population density in 2023, with 33,244 residents per square kilometer. When it comes to countries, Monaco is the most populated state worldwide.

As of July 2022, Monaco is the country with the highest population density worldwide with an estimated population of nearly 24,500 per square kilometer. However, by 2050, it is expected to be overtaken by the Special Administrative Region of Macao.

Census data reveals that population density varies noticeably from area to area. Small area census data do a better job depicting where the crowded neighborhoods are. In this map, the yellow areas of highest density range from 30,000 to 150,000 persons per square kilometer. In those areas, if the people were spread out evenly across the area, there would be just 4 to 9 meters between them. Very high density areas exceed 7,000 persons per square kilometer. High density areas exceed 5,200 persons per square kilometer. The last categories break at 3,330 persons per square kilometer, and 1,500 persons per square kilometer.This dataset is comprised of multiple sources. All of the demographic data are from Michael Bauer Research with the exception of the following countries:Australia: Esri Australia and MapData ServicesCanada: Esri Canada and EnvironicsFrance: Esri FranceGermany: Esri Germany and NexigaIndia: Esri India and IndicusJapan: Esri JapanSouth Korea: Esri Korea and OPENmateSpain: Esri España and AISUnited States: Esri Demographics

In 2023, Washington, D.C. had the highest population density in the United States, with 11,130.69 people per square mile. As a whole, there were about 94.83 residents per square mile in the U.S., and Alaska was the state with the lowest population density, with 1.29 residents per square mile. The problem of population density Simply put, population density is the population of a country divided by the area of the country. While this can be an interesting measure of how many people live in a country and how large the country is, it does not account for the degree of urbanization, or the share of people who live in urban centers. For example, Russia is the largest country in the world and has a comparatively low population, so its population density is very low. However, much of the country is uninhabited, so cities in Russia are much more densely populated than the rest of the country. Urbanization in the United States While the United States is not very densely populated compared to other countries, its population density has increased significantly over the past few decades. The degree of urbanization has also increased, and well over half of the population lives in urban centers.

The average for 2021 based on 27 countries was 187 people per square km. The highest value was in Malta: 1620 people per square km and the lowest value was in Finland: 18 people per square km. The indicator is available from 1961 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

As of 2021, Asia was the most densely populated region of the world with nearly 150 inhabitants per square kilometer, whereas Oceania's population density was just over five inhabitants per square kilometer. Worldwide, the population density was 60 people per square kilometer.

This map features the World Population Density Estimate 2016 layer for the Caribbean region. The advantage population density affords over raw counts is the ability to compare levels of persons per square kilometer anywhere in the world. Esri calculated density by converting the the World Population Estimate 2016 layer to polygons, then added an attribute for geodesic area, which allowed density to be derived, and that was converted back to raster. A population density raster is better to use for mapping and visualization than a raster of raw population counts because raster cells are square and do not account for area. For instance, compare a cell with 185 people in northern Quito, Ecuador, on the equator to a cell with 185 people in Edmonton, Canada at 53.5 degrees north latitude. This is difficult because the area of the cell in Edmonton is only 35.5% of the area of a cell in Quito. The cell in Edmonton represents a density of 9,810 persons per square kilometer, while the cell in Quito only represents a density of 3,485 persons per square kilometer. Dataset SummaryEach cell in this layer has an integer value with the estimated number of people per square kilometer likely to live in the geographic region represented by that cell. Esri additionally produced several additional layers: World Population Estimate 2016: this layer contains estimates of the count of people living within the the area represented by the cell. World Population Estimate Confidence 2016: the confidence level (1-5) per cell for the probability of people being located and estimated correctly. World Settlement Score 2016: the dasymetric likelihood surface used to create this layer by apportioning population from census polygons to the settlement score raster.To use this layer in analysis, there are several properties or geoprocessing environment settings that should be used:Coordinate system: WGS_1984. This service and its underlying data are WGS_1984. We do this because projecting population count data actually will change the populations due to resampling and either collapsing or splitting cells to fit into another coordinate system. Cell Size: 0.0013474728 degrees (approximately 150-meters) at the equator. No Data: -1Bit Depth: 32-bit signedThis layer has query, identify, pixel, and export image functions enabled, and is restricted to a maximum analysis size of 30,000 x 30,000 pixels - an area about the size of Africa.Frye, C. et al., (2018). Using Classified and Unclassified Land Cover Data to Estimate the Footprint of Human Settlement. Data Science Journal. 17, p.20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2018-020.What can you do with this layer?This layer is primarily intended for cartography and visualization, but may also be useful for analysis, particularly for estimating where people living above specified densities. There are two processing templates defined for this layer: the default, "World Population Estimated 2016 Density Classes" uses a classification, described above, to show locations of levels of rural and urban populations, and should be used for cartography and visualization; and "None," which provides access to the unclassified density values, and should be used for analysis. The breaks for the classes are at the following levels of persons per square kilometer:100 - Rural (3.2% [0.7%] of all people live at this density or lower) 400 - Settled (13.3% [4.1%] of all people live at this density or lower)1,908 - Urban (59.4% [81.1%] of all people live at this density or higher)16,978 - Heavy Urban (13.0% [24.2%] of all people live at this density or higher)26,331 - Extreme Urban (7.8% [15.4%] of all people live at this density or higher) Values over 50,000 are likely to be erroneous due to spatial inaccuracies in source boundary dataNote the above class breaks were derived from Esri's 2015 estimate, which have been maintained for the sake of comparison. The 2015 percentages are in gray brackets []. The differences are mostly due to improvements in the model and source data. While improvements in the source data will continue, it is hoped the 2017 estimate will produce percentages that shift less.For analysis, Esri recommends using the Zonal Statistics tool or the Zonal Statistics to Table tool where you provide input zones as either polygons, or raster data, and the tool will summarize the average, highest, or lowest density within those zones.

Chart and table of World population density from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Morocco MA: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 80.080 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 79.043 Person/sq km for 2016. Morocco MA: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 54.719 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.080 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 28.477 Person/sq km in 1961. Morocco MA: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Morocco – Table MA.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

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.

With 3.5 persons per square kilometre, Canada is one of the countries with the lowest population densities in the world. Census metropolitan areas (CMAs) with the highest population densities—Toronto (866), Montréal (854), Vancouver (735), Kitchener (546), Hamilton (505), and Victoria (475)—were located close to United States border.

Canada, with 3.33 people per square kilometre, has one of the lowest population densities in the world. In 2001, most of Canada's population of 30,007,094 lived within 200 kilometres of the United States (along Canada's south). In fact, the inhabitants of our three biggest cities -- Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver -- can drive to the border in less than two hours. Thousands of kilometres to the north, our polar region -- the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut -- is relatively empty, embracing 41% of our land mass but only 0.3% of our population. An inset map shows in greater detail the Windsor-Québec Corridor where a high concentration of Canadians live.

Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 205.859 Person/sq km in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 206.118 Person/sq km for 2016. Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 192.689 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 206.667 Person/sq km in 2014 and a record low of 171.828 Person/sq km in 1961. Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

The world population data sourced from Meta Data for Good is some of the most accurate population density data in the world. The data is accumulated using highly accurate technology to identify buildings from satellite imagery and can be viewed at up to 30-meter resolution. This building data is combined with publicly available census data to create the most accurate population estimates. This data is used by a wide range of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations, for example, to examine trends in urbanization and climate migration or discover the impact of a natural disaster on a region. This can help to inform aid distribution to reach communities most in need. There is both country and region-specific data available. The data also includes demographic estimates in addition to the population density information. This population data can be accessed via the Humanitarian Data Exchange website.

This dataset contains estimates of the number of persons per square kilometer consistent with national censuses and population registers. There is one image for each modeled year. General Documentation The Gridded Population of World Version 4 (GPWv4), Revision 11 models the distribution of global human population for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 on 30 arc-second (approximately 1 km) grid cells. Population is distributed to cells using proportional allocation of population from census and administrative units. Population input data are collected at the most detailed spatial resolution available from the results of the 2010 round of censuses, which occurred between 2005 and 2014. The input data are extrapolated to produce population estimates for each modeled year.

Mauritius had the highest population density level in Africa as of 2023, with nearly 630 inhabitants per square kilometer. The country has also one of the smallest territories on the continent, which contributes to the high density. As a matter of fact, the majority of African countries with the largest concentration of people per square kilometer have the smallest geographical area as well. The exception is Nigeria, which ranks among the largest territorial countries in Africa and is very densely populated at the same time. After all, Nigeria has also the largest population on the continent.

Country Population (Admin0) using aggregated Facebook high resolution population density data (https://data.humdata.org/organization/facebook).The world population data sourced from Facebook Data for Good is some of the most accurate population density data in the world. The data is accumulated using highly accurate technology to identify buildings from satellite imagery and can be viewed at up to 30-meter resolution. This building data is combined with publicly available census data to create the most accurate population estimates. This data is used by a wide range of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations, for example, to examine trends in urbanization and climate migration or discover the impact of a natural disaster on a region. This can help to inform aid distribution to reach communities most in need. There is both country and region-specific data available. The data also includes demographic estimates in addition to the population density information. This population data can be accessed via the Humanitarian Data Exchange website.

EN.POP.DNST. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. The World Bank’s ESG Data Draft dataset provides information on 17 key sustainability themes spanning environmental, social, and governance categories.

Costa Rica CR: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 100.939 Person/sq km in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 100.335 Person/sq km for 2020. Costa Rica CR: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 63.443 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2021, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.939 Person/sq km in 2021 and a record low of 27.343 Person/sq km in 1961. Costa Rica CR: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.;Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.;Weighted average;