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Population density: Belgium vs El Salvador compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population density of 1,011 people per square mile compared to 799 people in El Salvador. Belgium has 27,855 sq ft of land per person vs 35,733 sq ft in El Salvador. Belgium and El Salvador rank 24th and 33rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Belgium has 0.15% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.08% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for El Salvador, making the population density in Belgium 26.5% higher than in El Salvador.

Population density by year

Belgium
El Salvador

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium El Salvador
2026 1,011 799
2025 1,009 796
2024 1,007 792
2023 1,001 789
2022 992 785
2021 984 782
2020 980 779
2019 976 778
2018 971 777
2017 971 777
2016 968 775
2015 963 773
2014 957 770
2013 953 767
2012 948 764
2011 943 761
2010 930 759
2009 922 756
2008 914 754
2007 907 751
2006 901 750
2005 895 751
2004 890 751
2003 886 750
2002 882 748
2001 878 746
2000 875 743
1999 - 739
1998 - 735
1997 - 731
1996 - 726
1995 - 720
1994 - 714
1993 - 707
1992 - 698
1991 - 687
1990 - 675
1989 - 662
1988 - 649
1987 - 637
1986 - 624
1985 - 612
1984 - 600
1983 - 588
1982 - 578
1981 - 571
1980 - 568
1979 - 560
1978 - 549
1977 - 538
1976 - 526
1975 - 512
1974 - 501
1973 - 489
1972 - 478
1971 - 467
1970 - 456
1969 - 444
1968 - 432
1967 - 421
1966 - 409
1965 - 397
1964 - 387
1963 - 376
1962 - 366
1961 - 357

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/belgium/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.2%, compared to a 6.51% growth in El Salvador.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. El Salvador was 29th in 2006 and ranks 33rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
El Salvador
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium El Salvador
2024 87.6% 75.1%
2023 87.6% 74.6%
2022 87.5% 74.1%
2021 87.4% 73.7%
2020 87.3% 73.1%
2019 87.1% 72.4%
2018 86.9% 71.8%
2017 86.7% 71.1%
2016 86.5% 70.4%
2015 86.2% 69.7%
2014 86% 68.9%
2013 85.7% 68.1%
2012 85.5% 67.2%
2011 85.2% 66.3%
2010 85% 65.4%
2009 84.7% 64.5%
2008 84.4% 63.6%
2007 84.1% 62.8%
2006 83.9% 61.9%
2005 83.6% 61%
2004 83.3% 60.1%
2003 83% 59.2%
2002 82.7% 58.3%
2001 82.3% 57.5%
2000 82% 56.6%
1999 81.7% 55.7%
1998 81.4% 54.8%
1997 81% 54%
1996 80.7% 53.2%
1995 80.3% 52.4%
1994 80% 51.7%
1993 79.6% 50.9%
1992 79.3% 50.3%
1991 78.9% 49.6%
1990 78.6% 49%
1989 78.2% 48.3%
1988 77.8% 47.7%
1987 77.4% 47%
1986 77.1% 46.4%
1985 76.7% 45.7%
1984 76.3% 45.1%
1983 75.9% 44.5%
1982 75.5% 43.9%
1981 75.1% 43.4%
1980 74.7% 42.8%
1979 74.3% 42.3%
1978 73.9% 41.8%
1977 73.5% 41.4%
1976 73.1% 41%
1975 72.7% 40.6%
1974 72.3% 40.2%
1973 71.9% 40%
1972 71.5% 39.7%
1971 71.1% 39.5%
1970 70.6% 39.4%
1969 70.2% 39.3%
1968 69.6% 39.2%
1967 69.1% 39.1%
1966 68.6% 39%
1965 68% 38.9%
1964 67.5% 38.8%
1963 67% 38.7%
1962 66.6% 38.6%
1961 66.2% 38.5%
1960 65.9% 38.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 83.3% to 87.6% in Belgium and from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador.

Densely populated cities

Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/belgium/el-salvador | 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. Wikidata (2020–2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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