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Population density: Burundi vs Somalia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 83.9 people in Somalia. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 361,073 sq ft in Somalia. Burundi and Somalia rank 15th and 152nd 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 0.23% of the population and 0.42% of the land area for Somalia, making the population density in Burundi 1,672% higher than in Somalia.

Population density by year

Burundi
Somalia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Somalia
2026 1,487 83.9
2025 1,452 81.2
2024 1,417 78.5
2023 1,381 75.8
2022 1,344 73.5
2021 1,308 71.3
2020 1,273 68.7
2019 1,236 66.2
2018 1,196 63.8
2017 1,161 61.6
2016 1,134 59.2
2015 1,114 57
2014 1,089 55.1
2013 1,053 53.1
2012 1,016 51.4
2011 980 51
2010 946 50.6
2009 902 49.4
2008 858 48.2
2007 823 46.7
2006 793 45.3
2005 765 43.9
2004 737 42.4
2003 710 40.9
2002 688 39.4
2001 669 38
2000 653 36.5
1999 639 35.1
1998 624 33.7
1997 612 32.3
1996 612 31.2
1995 612 30.1
1994 576 29
1993 573 27.6
1992 591 26.8
1991 575 28.1
1990 563 29.2
1989 552 29.4
1988 541 29.9
1987 529 29.8
1986 517 28.8
1985 508 27.6
1984 497 26.5
1983 485 25.6
1982 472 24.8
1981 461 24.7
1980 442 24.5
1979 424 22.5
1978 414 19.9
1977 402 18.5
1976 392 18
1975 383 17.6
1974 374 17.1
1973 364 16.7
1972 365 16.3
1971 365 15.8
1970 356 15.4
1969 348 15
1968 341 14.6
1967 333 14.3
1966 325 13.9
1965 317 13.5
1964 308 13.2
1963 299.5 12.8
1962 293.3 12.5
1961 285.9 12.2

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 85.2% growth in Somalia.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Somalia was 162nd in 2006 and ranks 152nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Somalia
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Somalia
2024 24.8% 54.6%
2023 23.6% 54.1%
2022 22.3% 53.5%
2021 21.1% 52.9%
2020 19.9% 52.3%
2019 18.8% 51.6%
2018 17.7% 51%
2017 16.6% 48.4%
2016 15.6% 45.9%
2015 14.7% 43.9%
2014 13.8% 42.4%
2013 13% 41.3%
2012 12.2% 40.3%
2011 11.6% 39.4%
2010 11% 38.6%
2009 10.5% 37.8%
2008 10.1% 37.2%
2007 9.77% 36.6%
2006 9.46% 36%
2005 9.18% 35.5%
2004 8.92% 35%
2003 8.68% 34.5%
2002 8.45% 34%
2001 8.24% 33.5%
2000 8.04% 33.1%
1999 7.86% 32.6%
1998 7.68% 32.2%
1997 7.51% 31.8%
1996 7.34% 31.4%
1995 7.17% 31.1%
1994 7% 30.7%
1993 6.83% 30.4%
1992 6.65% 30%
1991 6.46% 29.7%
1990 6.27% 29.4%
1989 6.07% 29.1%
1988 5.86% 28.8%
1987 5.66% 28.5%
1986 5.46% 28.2%
1985 5.26% 28%
1984 5.07% 27.7%
1983 4.88% 27.5%
1982 4.69% 27.3%
1981 4.51% 27.1%
1980 4.34% 26.8%
1979 4.18% 26.6%
1978 4.02% 26.4%
1977 3.87% 26.1%
1976 3.72% 25.8%
1975 3.57% 25.5%
1974 3.42% 25.2%
1973 3.28% 24.8%
1972 3.14% 24.3%
1971 3.01% 23.8%
1970 2.88% 23.2%
1969 2.75% 22.7%
1968 2.63% 22.1%
1967 2.51% 21.5%
1966 2.4% 20.9%
1965 2.3% 20.3%
1964 2.2% 19.7%
1963 2.11% 19.2%
1962 2.01% 18.7%
1961 1.92% 18.2%
1960 1.84% 17.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 35% to 54.6% in Somalia.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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 (2013–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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