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Population density: Belgium vs Ethiopia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population density of 1,011 people per square mile compared to 319 people in Ethiopia. Belgium has 27,855 sq ft of land per person vs 90,009 sq ft in Ethiopia. Belgium and Ethiopia rank 24th and 78th 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 1.62% of the population and 0.76% of the land area for Ethiopia, making the population density in Belgium 216.9% higher than in Ethiopia.

Population density by year

Belgium
Ethiopia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium Ethiopia
2026 1,011 319
2025 1,009 311
2024 1,007 303
2023 1,001 295.4
2022 992 287.8
2021 984 280.3
2020 980 272.9
2019 976 265.6
2018 971 258.6
2017 971 251.7
2016 968 244.9
2015 963 238.4
2014 957 232.1
2013 953 225.9
2012 948 219.8
2011 943 213.8
2010 930 207.8
2009 922 202
2008 914 196.3
2007 907 190.7
2006 901 185.2
2005 895 179.8
2004 890 174.6
2003 886 191.2
2002 882 185.5
2001 878 180
2000 875 174.6
1999 - 169.3
1998 - 164.1
1997 - 159
1996 - 154
1995 - 149
1994 - 144
1993 - 139.1

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1993–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.2%, compared to a 72.2% growth in Ethiopia.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. Ethiopia was 101st in 2006 and ranks 78th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
Ethiopia
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium Ethiopia
2024 87.6% 23.6%
2023 87.6% 23.1%
2022 87.5% 22.7%
2021 87.4% 22.1%
2020 87.3% 21.6%
2019 87.1% 21.2%
2018 86.9% 20.8%
2017 86.7% 20.3%
2016 86.5% 19.9%
2015 86.2% 19.5%
2014 86% 19%
2013 85.7% 18.6%
2012 85.5% 18.2%
2011 85.2% 17.9%
2010 85% 17.5%
2009 84.7% 17.2%
2008 84.4% 16.8%
2007 84.1% 16.1%
2006 83.9% 16.2%
2005 83.6% 16%
2004 83.3% 15.8%
2003 83% 15.5%
2002 82.7% 15.3%
2001 82.3% 15.1%
2000 82% 14.9%
1999 81.7% 14.7%
1998 81.4% 14.5%
1997 81% 14.3%
1996 80.7% 14.1%
1995 80.3% 13.9%
1994 80% 13.7%
1993 79.6% 13.5%
1992 79.3% 13.3%
1991 78.9% 13%
1990 78.6% 12.8%
1989 78.2% 12.5%
1988 77.8% 12.2%
1987 77.4% 11.9%
1986 77.1% 11.7%
1985 76.7% 11.4%
1984 76.3% 11.2%
1983 75.9% 11%
1982 75.5% 10.8%
1981 75.1% 10.6%
1980 74.7% 10.4%
1979 74.3% 10.2%
1978 73.9% 9.98%
1977 73.5% 9.79%
1976 73.1% 9.61%
1975 72.7% 9.42%
1974 72.3% 9.24%
1973 71.9% 9.07%
1972 71.5% 8.9%
1971 71.1% 8.73%
1970 70.6% 8.57%
1969 70.2% 8.41%
1968 69.6% 8.25%
1967 69.1% 8.1%
1966 68.6% 7.95%
1965 68% 7.8%
1964 67.5% 7.66%
1963 67% 7.52%
1962 66.6% 7.38%
1961 66.2% 7.24%
1960 65.9% 7.11%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 83.3% to 87.6% in Belgium and from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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 (2007–2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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