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Population density: Burundi vs Tanzania compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 212.2 people in Tanzania. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 148,726 sq ft in Tanzania. Burundi and Tanzania rank 15th and 106th 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 0.84% of the population and 0.59% of the land area for Tanzania, making the population density in Burundi 600% higher than in Tanzania.

Population density by year

Burundi
Tanzania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Tanzania
2026 1,487 212.2
2025 1,452 206.3
2024 1,417 200.5
2023 1,381 194.8
2022 1,344 189.2
2021 1,308 183.7
2020 1,273 178.3
2019 1,236 173
2018 1,196 167.9
2017 1,161 162.7
2016 1,134 157.4
2015 1,114 152.1
2014 1,089 147.2
2013 1,053 142.8
2012 1,016 138.5
2011 980 134.6
2010 946 130.9
2009 902 127.6
2008 858 124.5
2007 823 121.2
2006 793 117.8
2005 765 114.6
2004 737 111.4
2003 710 108.4
2002 688 105.6
2001 669 102.9
2000 653 100.2
1999 639 97.4
1998 624 94.8
1997 612 92.3
1996 612 90.5
1995 612 88.8
1994 576 86.1
1993 573 82.8
1992 591 80.3
1991 575 78.3
1990 563 76.3
1989 552 74.4
1988 541 72.4
1987 529 70.3
1986 517 68
1985 508 65.8
1984 497 63.7
1983 485 61.6
1982 472 59.6
1981 461 57.8
1980 442 56.1
1979 424 54.4
1978 414 52.6
1977 402 50.7
1976 392 48.9
1975 383 47.2
1974 374 45.5
1973 364 43.9
1972 365 42.3
1971 365 40.9
1970 356 39.5
1969 348 38.1
1968 341 36.8
1967 333 35.7
1966 325 34.6
1965 317 33.5
1964 308 32.5
1963 299.5 31.6
1962 293.3 30.7
1961 285.9 29.8

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 80.1% growth in Tanzania.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Tanzania was 128th in 2006 and ranks 106th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Tanzania
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Tanzania
2024 24.8% 36.2%
2023 23.6% 35.5%
2022 22.3% 34.8%
2021 21.1% 34.4%
2020 19.9% 33.9%
2019 18.8% 33.3%
2018 17.7% 32.8%
2017 16.6% 32.3%
2016 15.6% 31.8%
2015 14.7% 31.2%
2014 13.8% 30.6%
2013 13% 30.1%
2012 12.2% 29.5%
2011 11.6% 28.9%
2010 11% 28.2%
2009 10.5% 27.5%
2008 10.1% 26.8%
2007 9.77% 26.1%
2006 9.46% 25.4%
2005 9.18% 24.7%
2004 8.92% 24.1%
2003 8.68% 23.5%
2002 8.45% 23%
2001 8.24% 22.6%
2000 8.04% 22.2%
1999 7.86% 21.8%
1998 7.68% 21.5%
1997 7.51% 21.1%
1996 7.34% 20.8%
1995 7.17% 20.5%
1994 7% 20.2%
1993 6.83% 19.9%
1992 6.65% 19.6%
1991 6.46% 19.3%
1990 6.27% 18.9%
1989 6.07% 18.6%
1988 5.86% 18.2%
1987 5.66% 17.8%
1986 5.46% 17.4%
1985 5.26% 17%
1984 5.07% 16.6%
1983 4.88% 16.2%
1982 4.69% 15.7%
1981 4.51% 15.3%
1980 4.34% 14.8%
1979 4.18% 14.2%
1978 4.02% 13.7%
1977 3.87% 13%
1976 3.72% 12.1%
1975 3.57% 11.2%
1974 3.42% 10.1%
1973 3.28% 9.05%
1972 3.14% 8.03%
1971 3.01% 7.08%
1970 2.88% 6.26%
1969 2.75% 5.62%
1968 2.63% 5.19%
1967 2.51% 5.04%
1966 2.4% 5%
1965 2.3% 4.97%
1964 2.2% 4.95%
1963 2.11% 4.93%
1962 2.01% 4.92%
1961 1.92% 4.9%
1960 1.84% 4.89%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 24.1% to 36.2% in Tanzania.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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 (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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