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Population density: Burundi vs Ethiopia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 319 people in Ethiopia. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 90,009 sq ft in Ethiopia. Burundi and Ethiopia rank 15th and 78th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% 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 Burundi 366% higher than in Ethiopia.

Population density by year

Burundi
Ethiopia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Ethiopia
2026 1,487 319
2025 1,452 311
2024 1,417 303
2023 1,381 295.4
2022 1,344 287.8
2021 1,308 280.3
2020 1,273 272.9
2019 1,236 265.6
2018 1,196 258.6
2017 1,161 251.7
2016 1,134 244.9
2015 1,114 238.4
2014 1,089 232.1
2013 1,053 225.9
2012 1,016 219.8
2011 980 213.8
2010 946 207.8
2009 902 202
2008 858 196.3
2007 823 190.7
2006 793 185.2
2005 765 179.8
2004 737 174.6
2003 710 191.2
2002 688 185.5
2001 669 180
2000 653 174.6
1999 639 169.3
1998 624 164.1
1997 612 159
1996 612 154
1995 612 149
1994 576 144
1993 573 139.1
1992 591 -
1991 575 -
1990 563 -
1989 552 -
1988 541 -
1987 529 -
1986 517 -
1985 508 -
1984 497 -
1983 485 -
1982 472 -
1981 461 -
1980 442 -
1979 424 -
1978 414 -
1977 402 -
1976 392 -
1975 383 -
1974 374 -
1973 364 -
1972 365 -
1971 365 -
1970 356 -
1969 348 -
1968 341 -
1967 333 -
1966 325 -
1965 317 -
1964 308 -
1963 299.5 -
1962 293.3 -
1961 285.9 -

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/burundi/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 72.2% growth in Ethiopia.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Ethiopia was 101st in 2006 and ranks 78th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Ethiopia
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Ethiopia
2024 24.8% 23.6%
2023 23.6% 23.1%
2022 22.3% 22.7%
2021 21.1% 22.1%
2020 19.9% 21.6%
2019 18.8% 21.2%
2018 17.7% 20.8%
2017 16.6% 20.3%
2016 15.6% 19.9%
2015 14.7% 19.5%
2014 13.8% 19%
2013 13% 18.6%
2012 12.2% 18.2%
2011 11.6% 17.9%
2010 11% 17.5%
2009 10.5% 17.2%
2008 10.1% 16.8%
2007 9.77% 16.1%
2006 9.46% 16.2%
2005 9.18% 16%
2004 8.92% 15.8%
2003 8.68% 15.5%
2002 8.45% 15.3%
2001 8.24% 15.1%
2000 8.04% 14.9%
1999 7.86% 14.7%
1998 7.68% 14.5%
1997 7.51% 14.3%
1996 7.34% 14.1%
1995 7.17% 13.9%
1994 7% 13.7%
1993 6.83% 13.5%
1992 6.65% 13.3%
1991 6.46% 13%
1990 6.27% 12.8%
1989 6.07% 12.5%
1988 5.86% 12.2%
1987 5.66% 11.9%
1986 5.46% 11.7%
1985 5.26% 11.4%
1984 5.07% 11.2%
1983 4.88% 11%
1982 4.69% 10.8%
1981 4.51% 10.6%
1980 4.34% 10.4%
1979 4.18% 10.2%
1978 4.02% 9.98%
1977 3.87% 9.79%
1976 3.72% 9.61%
1975 3.57% 9.42%
1974 3.42% 9.24%
1973 3.28% 9.07%
1972 3.14% 8.9%
1971 3.01% 8.73%
1970 2.88% 8.57%
1969 2.75% 8.41%
1968 2.63% 8.25%
1967 2.51% 8.1%
1966 2.4% 7.95%
1965 2.3% 7.8%
1964 2.2% 7.66%
1963 2.11% 7.52%
1962 2.01% 7.38%
1961 1.92% 7.24%
1960 1.84% 7.11%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
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/burundi/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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