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Population density: Belgium vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population density of 1,011 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Belgium has 27,855 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Belgium and Rwanda rank 24th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Belgium 35.3% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Belgium
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium Rwanda
2026 1,011 1,563
2025 1,009 1,529
2024 1,007 1,497
2023 1,001 1,465
2022 992 1,433
2021 984 1,402
2020 980 1,372
2019 976 1,341
2018 971 1,311
2017 971 1,281
2016 968 1,251
2015 963 1,222
2014 957 1,193
2013 953 1,165
2012 948 1,137
2011 943 1,110
2010 930 1,083
2009 922 1,056
2008 914 1,029
2007 907 1,003
2006 901 976
2005 895 951
2004 890 926
2003 886 901
2002 882 882
2001 878 870
2000 875 862
1999 - 855
1998 - 848
1997 - 814
1996 - 704
1995 - 596
1994 - 713
1993 - 838
1992 - 807
1991 - 790
1990 - 774
1989 - 754
1988 - 732
1987 - 709
1986 - 686
1985 - 663
1984 - 641
1983 - 620
1982 - 600
1981 - 580
1980 - 562
1979 - 545
1978 - 529
1977 - 513
1976 - 498
1975 - 484
1974 - 470
1973 - 456
1972 - 443
1971 - 430
1970 - 418
1969 - 405
1968 - 393
1967 - 381
1966 - 370
1965 - 359
1964 - 350
1963 - 342
1962 - 334
1961 - 326

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.2%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium Rwanda
2024 87.6% 29.9%
2023 87.6% 28.9%
2022 87.5% 27.8%
2021 87.4% 26.1%
2020 87.3% 24.5%
2019 87.1% 23%
2018 86.9% 21.5%
2017 86.7% 20.2%
2016 86.5% 19.1%
2015 86.2% 18.2%
2014 86% 17.5%
2013 85.7% 17.1%
2012 85.5% 16.9%
2011 85.2% 16.9%
2010 85% 16.9%
2009 84.7% 16.9%
2008 84.4% 16.9%
2007 84.1% 16.9%
2006 83.9% 16.9%
2005 83.6% 16.9%
2004 83.3% 16.9%
2003 83% 16.9%
2002 82.7% 16.9%
2001 82.3% 16.5%
2000 82% 15.8%
1999 81.7% 14.7%
1998 81.4% 13.3%
1997 81% 11.8%
1996 80.7% 10.3%
1995 80.3% 8.82%
1994 80% 7.48%
1993 79.6% 6.4%
1992 79.3% 5.66%
1991 78.9% 5.36%
1990 78.6% 5.27%
1989 78.2% 5.2%
1988 77.8% 5.14%
1987 77.4% 5.09%
1986 77.1% 5.05%
1985 76.7% 5.01%
1984 76.3% 4.98%
1983 75.9% 4.95%
1982 75.5% 4.91%
1981 75.1% 4.87%
1980 74.7% 4.82%
1979 74.3% 4.75%
1978 73.9% 4.67%
1977 73.5% 4.55%
1976 73.1% 4.39%
1975 72.7% 4.19%
1974 72.3% 3.97%
1973 71.9% 3.75%
1972 71.5% 3.55%
1971 71.1% 3.37%
1970 70.6% 3.24%
1969 70.2% 3.14%
1968 69.6% 3.06%
1967 69.1% 3%
1966 68.6% 2.94%
1965 68% 2.88%
1964 67.5% 2.83%
1963 67% 2.78%
1962 66.6% 2.72%
1961 66.2% 2.67%
1960 65.9% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 83.3% to 87.6% in Belgium and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/rwanda | 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 (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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