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Population density: Burundi vs Kenya compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 261.5 people in Kenya. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 110,878 sq ft in Kenya. Burundi and Kenya rank 15th and 94th 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 0.69% of the population and 0.39% of the land area for Kenya, making the population density in Burundi 468% higher than in Kenya.

Population density by year

Burundi
Kenya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Kenya
2026 1,487 261.5
2025 1,452 256.6
2024 1,417 251.6
2023 1,381 246.7
2022 1,344 241.9
2021 1,308 237.3
2020 1,273 232.8
2019 1,236 229.1
2018 1,196 225.4
2017 1,161 221.6
2016 1,134 217.6
2015 1,114 213.6
2014 1,089 209.6
2013 1,053 204.7
2012 1,016 199.7
2011 980 194.6
2010 946 189.3
2009 902 183.9
2008 858 178.4
2007 823 173.1
2006 793 167.9
2005 765 162.9
2004 737 158
2003 710 153.1
2002 688 148.5
2001 669 143.9
2000 653 139.4
1999 639 135.3
1998 624 131.5
1997 612 127.9
1996 612 124.4
1995 612 121.1
1994 576 117.7
1993 573 114.3
1992 591 111
1991 575 107.6
1990 563 104.2
1989 552 100.7
1988 541 97.2
1987 529 93.8
1986 517 90.6
1985 508 87.4
1984 497 84.3
1983 485 81.2
1982 472 78.3
1981 461 75.5
1980 442 72.9
1979 424 70.4
1978 414 68
1977 402 65.7
1976 392 63.5
1975 383 61.5
1974 374 59.5
1973 364 57.5
1972 365 55.5
1971 365 53.6
1970 356 51.7
1969 348 49.8
1968 341 47.9
1967 333 46
1966 325 44.2
1965 317 42.5
1964 308 40.8
1963 299.5 39.3
1962 293.3 37.8
1961 285.9 36.3

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 55.7% growth in Kenya.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Kenya was 111th in 2006 and ranks 94th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Kenya
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Kenya
2024 24.8% 31.9%
2023 23.6% 31.6%
2022 22.3% 31.4%
2021 21.1% 31.3%
2020 19.9% 31.2%
2019 18.8% 31.2%
2018 17.7% 31.4%
2017 16.6% 31.5%
2016 15.6% 31.7%
2015 14.7% 31.7%
2014 13.8% 31.8%
2013 13% 31.8%
2012 12.2% 31.9%
2011 11.6% 31.9%
2010 11% 31.9%
2009 10.5% 31.9%
2008 10.1% 31.4%
2007 9.77% 30.4%
2006 9.46% 29%
2005 9.18% 27.3%
2004 8.92% 25.4%
2003 8.68% 23.6%
2002 8.45% 21.9%
2001 8.24% 20.4%
2000 8.04% 19.5%
1999 7.86% 19%
1998 7.68% 18.9%
1997 7.51% 18.8%
1996 7.34% 18.7%
1995 7.17% 18.6%
1994 7% 18.5%
1993 6.83% 18.5%
1992 6.65% 18.4%
1991 6.46% 18.3%
1990 6.27% 18.2%
1989 6.07% 18.1%
1988 5.86% 17.9%
1987 5.66% 17.7%
1986 5.46% 17.5%
1985 5.26% 17.3%
1984 5.07% 17%
1983 4.88% 16.8%
1982 4.69% 16.5%
1981 4.51% 16.2%
1980 4.34% 15.8%
1979 4.18% 15.5%
1978 4.02% 15%
1977 3.87% 14.5%
1976 3.72% 13.9%
1975 3.57% 13.2%
1974 3.42% 12.5%
1973 3.28% 11.8%
1972 3.14% 11.2%
1971 3.01% 10.6%
1970 2.88% 10.1%
1969 2.75% 9.83%
1968 2.63% 9.61%
1967 2.51% 9.42%
1966 2.4% 9.26%
1965 2.3% 9.12%
1964 2.2% 8.97%
1963 2.11% 8.82%
1962 2.01% 8.63%
1961 1.92% 8.44%
1960 1.84% 8.23%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K

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/kenya | 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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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