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Population density: Burundi vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. Burundi and Zambia rank 15th and 157th 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 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in Burundi 1,794% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

Burundi
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Zambia
2026 1,487 78.5
2025 1,452 76.4
2024 1,417 74.3
2023 1,381 72.2
2022 1,344 70.2
2021 1,308 68.3
2020 1,273 66.4
2019 1,236 64.5
2018 1,196 62.6
2017 1,161 60.8
2016 1,134 58.9
2015 1,114 57.1
2014 1,089 55.4
2013 1,053 53.7
2012 1,016 52
2011 980 50.3
2010 946 48.7
2009 902 47
2008 858 45.4
2007 823 43.8
2006 793 42.3
2005 765 40.8
2004 737 39.5
2003 710 38.3
2002 688 37.1
2001 669 36
2000 653 34.9
1999 639 33.9
1998 624 33
1997 612 32.2
1996 612 31.4
1995 612 30.6
1994 576 29.9
1993 573 29.2
1992 591 28.5
1991 575 27.8
1990 563 27.1
1989 552 26.4
1988 541 25.8
1987 529 25.1
1986 517 24.3
1985 508 23.6
1984 497 22.9
1983 485 22.2
1982 472 21.5
1981 461 20.8
1980 442 20.2
1979 424 19.6
1978 414 19
1977 402 18.5
1976 392 17.9
1975 383 17.4
1974 374 16.9
1973 364 16.4
1972 365 15.9
1971 365 15.5
1970 356 15.1
1969 348 14.6
1968 341 14.2
1967 333 13.7
1966 325 13.3
1965 317 12.9
1964 308 12.5
1963 299.5 12.1
1962 293.3 11.7
1961 285.9 11.3

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Zambia
2024 24.8% 45.5%
2023 23.6% 45%
2022 22.3% 44.6%
2021 21.1% 44.2%
2020 19.9% 43.9%
2019 18.8% 43.5%
2018 17.7% 43.1%
2017 16.6% 42.7%
2016 15.6% 42.3%
2015 14.7% 42%
2014 13.8% 41.6%
2013 13% 41.2%
2012 12.2% 40.8%
2011 11.6% 40.4%
2010 11% 40%
2009 10.5% 39.5%
2008 10.1% 39%
2007 9.77% 38.4%
2006 9.46% 37.8%
2005 9.18% 37.3%
2004 8.92% 36.8%
2003 8.68% 36.4%
2002 8.45% 36.1%
2001 8.24% 35.9%
2000 8.04% 35.9%
1999 7.86% 36.2%
1998 7.68% 36.7%
1997 7.51% 37.4%
1996 7.34% 38%
1995 7.17% 38.4%
1994 7% 38.7%
1993 6.83% 38.9%
1992 6.65% 39.1%
1991 6.46% 39.3%
1990 6.27% 39.4%
1989 6.07% 39.5%
1988 5.86% 39.5%
1987 5.66% 39.6%
1986 5.46% 39.7%
1985 5.26% 39.7%
1984 5.07% 39.8%
1983 4.88% 39.8%
1982 4.69% 39.9%
1981 4.51% 39.9%
1980 4.34% 39.9%
1979 4.18% 39.7%
1978 4.02% 39.3%
1977 3.87% 38.6%
1976 3.72% 37.8%
1975 3.57% 36.8%
1974 3.42% 35.6%
1973 3.28% 34.4%
1972 3.14% 33.2%
1971 3.01% 31.9%
1970 2.88% 30.7%
1969 2.75% 29.4%
1968 2.63% 28%
1967 2.51% 26.4%
1966 2.4% 24.6%
1965 2.3% 22.9%
1964 2.2% 21.3%
1963 2.11% 20.1%
1962 2.01% 19.1%
1961 1.92% 18.1%
1960 1.84% 17.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K

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/zambia | 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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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