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Population density: Burkina Faso vs Malaysia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burkina Faso has a population density of 233 people per square mile compared to 287 people in Malaysia. Burkina Faso has 125,334 sq ft of land per person vs 100,140 sq ft in Malaysia. Burkina Faso and Malaysia rank 99th and 85th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burkina Faso has 0.29% of the world's population and 0.18% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.44% of the population and 0.22% of the land area for Malaysia, making the population density in Burkina Faso 18.8% lower than in Malaysia.

Population density by year

Burkina Faso
Malaysia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burkina Faso Malaysia
2026 233 287
2025 228 283.7
2024 222.9 280.3
2023 218 276.9
2022 213.1 273.5
2021 208.2 270.3
2020 203.3 267.2
2019 198.4 263.6
2018 193.5 259.4
2017 188.3 255.1
2016 183 250.6
2015 177.8 246.2
2014 172.6 242
2013 167.5 237.9
2012 162.6 233.8
2011 157.7 229.9
2010 153.1 225.9
2009 148.7 221.7
2008 144.4 217.3
2007 140.3 212.8
2006 136.1 208.3
2005 131.9 203.7
2004 127.8 199.1
2003 123.8 194.6
2002 120 190
2001 116.4 185.5
2000 112.9 181.1
1999 109.6 176.9
1998 106.4 172.7
1997 103.5 168.5
1996 100.9 164.4
1995 98.3 160.3
1994 95.8 156.2
1993 93.4 152.3
1992 91.2 148.5
1991 88.9 144.6
1990 86.7 140.6
1989 84.5 136.5
1988 82.2 132.4
1987 80.1 128.3
1986 77.9 124.2
1985 75.7 120.2
1984 73.6 116.3
1983 71.5 112.6
1982 69.5 109
1981 67.6 105.6
1980 65.8 102.3
1979 64 99.5
1978 62.4 97.2
1977 60.9 94.9
1976 59.5 92.6
1975 58.2 90.4
1974 57 88.3
1973 56 86.2
1972 55 84.2
1971 54 82.2
1970 53.1 80.2
1969 52.2 78.4
1968 51.3 76.7
1967 50.4 74.9
1966 49.6 73.2
1965 48.8 71.4
1964 48 69.6
1963 47.3 67.8
1962 46.6 66.1
1961 45.9 64.4

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/burkina-faso/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burkina Faso increased by 71.2%, compared to a 37.8% growth in Malaysia.

In 2006, Burkina Faso ranked 121st by population density and is 99th now. Malaysia was 92nd in 2006 and ranks 85th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burkina Faso
Malaysia
1x
Year Urban population
Burkina Faso Malaysia
2024 28.3% 76.9%
2023 27.8% 76.4%
2022 27.3% 76%
2021 26.8% 75.5%
2020 26.4% 75.1%
2019 26.1% 74.8%
2018 26.1% 74.6%
2017 26% 74.2%
2016 25.8% 73.9%
2015 25.6% 73.4%
2014 25.4% 73%
2013 25.1% 72.5%
2012 24.8% 72%
2011 24.5% 71.4%
2010 24.1% 70.9%
2009 23.7% 70.2%
2008 23.4% 69.5%
2007 23% 68.8%
2006 22.6% 67.9%
2005 22% 67%
2004 21.3% 66.1%
2003 20.6% 65.1%
2002 19.7% 64.1%
2001 18.9% 63%
2000 18% 62%
1999 17.2% 60.9%
1998 16.4% 59.7%
1997 15.8% 58.5%
1996 15.3% 57.2%
1995 14.9% 55.9%
1994 14.5% 54.6%
1993 14.2% 53.2%
1992 13.8% 51.9%
1991 13.5% 50.5%
1990 13.2% 49%
1989 12.9% 47.4%
1988 12.6% 45.8%
1987 12.3% 44%
1986 11.9% 42.3%
1985 11.5% 40.6%
1984 10.9% 39%
1983 10.4% 37.5%
1982 9.72% 36.2%
1981 9.06% 35.1%
1980 8.42% 34.2%
1979 7.81% 33.6%
1978 7.28% 33%
1977 6.85% 32.4%
1976 6.54% 31.9%
1975 6.38% 31.4%
1974 6.29% 30.9%
1973 6.2% 30.5%
1972 6.1% 30.1%
1971 6% 29.8%
1970 5.91% 29.4%
1969 5.81% 29.1%
1968 5.72% 28.8%
1967 5.63% 28.5%
1966 5.54% 28.1%
1965 5.45% 27.8%
1964 5.37% 27.5%
1963 5.28% 27.2%
1962 5.2% 26.8%
1961 5.12% 26.5%
1960 5.04% 26.1%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/burkina-faso/malaysia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 21.3% to 28.3% in Burkina Faso and from 66.1% to 76.9% in Malaysia.

Densely populated cities

Burkina Faso
City Population
Ouagadougou 2.45M
Bobo-Dioulasso 904K
Koudougou 160K
Ouahigouya 125K
Fada N'gourma 73.2K
Dedougou 63.6K
Leo 51.7K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/burkina-faso/malaysia | 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 (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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