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Population density: Bangladesh vs Malawi compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bangladesh has a population density of 3,544 people per square mile compared to 626 people in Malawi. Bangladesh has 9,152 sq ft of land per person vs 58,893 sq ft in Malawi. Bangladesh and Malawi rank 7th and 48th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Bangladesh has 2.14% of the world's population and 0.09% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.27% of the population and 0.06% of the land area for Malawi, making the population density in Bangladesh 466% higher than in Malawi.

Population density by year

Bangladesh
Malawi

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Bangladesh Malawi
2026 3,544 626
2025 3,501 610
2024 3,458 595
2023 3,417 580
2022 3,368 565
2021 3,336 551
2020 3,309 537
2019 3,281 523
2018 3,254 509
2017 3,227 496
2016 3,200 482
2015 3,171 469
2014 3,143 457
2013 3,115 444
2012 3,085 432
2011 3,056 419
2010 3,028 407
2009 3,002 395
2008 2,974 384
2007 2,945 373
2006 2,913 363
2005 2,879 353
2004 2,843 343
2003 2,805 335
2002 2,764 326
2001 2,722 318
2000 2,677 311
1999 2,629 303
1998 2,579 296.5
1997 2,531 290.2
1996 2,484 284.4
1995 2,439 278.8
1994 2,394 279.2
1993 2,350 282.5
1992 2,307 278.4
1991 2,264 270.4
1990 2,221 262.2
1989 2,177 252.1
1988 2,133 240.5
1987 2,088 227.8
1986 2,042 217.2
1985 1,995 209.3
1984 1,946 201.4
1983 1,897 193.7
1982 1,847 186.2
1981 1,797 179
1980 1,751 172.1
1979 1,710 165.6
1978 1,669 159.6
1977 1,629 154.3
1976 1,589 149.5
1975 1,549 145.3
1974 1,509 141.2
1973 1,467 137.5
1972 1,425 133.9
1971 1,398 130.5
1970 1,374 127.3
1969 1,339 124.2
1968 1,301 121.2
1967 1,264 118.2
1966 1,227 115.3
1965 1,192 112.5
1964 1,158 109.8
1963 1,124 107.2
1962 1,092 104.6
1961 1,061 102.1

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bangladesh/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Bangladesh increased by 21.6%, compared to a 72.7% growth in Malawi.

In 2006, Bangladesh ranked 6th by population density and is 7th now. Malawi was 56th in 2006 and ranks 48th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Bangladesh
Malawi
1x
Year Urban population
Bangladesh Malawi
2024 32.7% 17.3%
2023 32.2% 17%
2022 31.7% 16.7%
2021 31.4% 16.5%
2020 31.1% 16.3%
2019 30.8% 16.1%
2018 30.5% 16%
2017 30.2% 16%
2016 29.9% 15.9%
2015 29.5% 15.8%
2014 29.2% 15.8%
2013 28.8% 15.7%
2012 28.5% 15.6%
2011 28.1% 15.6%
2010 27.7% 15.5%
2009 27.3% 15.4%
2008 26.9% 15.3%
2007 26.4% 15.2%
2006 25.9% 15.2%
2005 25.5% 15.1%
2004 25% 15%
2003 24.6% 15%
2002 24.1% 14.9%
2001 23.7% 14.8%
2000 23.3% 14.7%
1999 23% 14.6%
1998 22.6% 14.4%
1997 22.3% 14.2%
1996 22% 14%
1995 21.7% 13.6%
1994 21.3% 13.3%
1993 21% 12.9%
1992 20.6% 12.4%
1991 20.3% 12%
1990 19.9% 11.6%
1989 19.4% 11.2%
1988 19% 10.9%
1987 18.6% 10.6%
1986 18.1% 10.4%
1985 17.6% 10.1%
1984 17.1% 9.93%
1983 16.6% 9.73%
1982 16% 9.54%
1981 15.4% 9.34%
1980 14.7% 9.13%
1979 13.8% 8.92%
1978 12.7% 8.68%
1977 11.6% 8.42%
1976 10.6% 8.11%
1975 9.63% 7.76%
1974 8.96% 7.36%
1973 8.49% 6.95%
1972 8.09% 6.53%
1971 7.72% 6.12%
1970 7.38% 5.73%
1969 7.07% 5.38%
1968 6.79% 5.08%
1967 6.53% 4.84%
1966 6.29% 4.69%
1965 6.07% 4.57%
1964 5.85% 4.45%
1963 5.66% 4.34%
1962 5.47% 4.24%
1961 5.28% 4.14%
1960 5.11% 4.04%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bangladesh/malawi | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 25% to 32.7% in Bangladesh and from 15% to 17.3% in Malawi.

Densely populated cities

Bangladesh
City Population
Dhaka 16.8M
Chittagong 2.58M
Narayanganj 968K
Khulna 929K
Sylhet 480K
Rajshahi 448K
Bogra 401K
Barisal 328K
Rangpur 294K
Brahmanbaria 268K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bangladesh/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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