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Population density: Canada vs El Salvador compared

Updated on by Georank team

Canada has a population density of 12.4 people per square mile compared to 799 people in El Salvador. Canada has 2,602,997 sq ft of land per person vs 35,733 sq ft in El Salvador. Canada and El Salvador rank 189th and 33rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Canada has 0.51% of the world's population and 5.9% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.08% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for El Salvador, making the population density in Canada 98.4% lower than in El Salvador.

Population density by year

Canada
El Salvador

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Canada El Salvador
2026 12.4 799
2025 12.3 796
2024 12.2 792
2023 11.8 789
2022 11.5 785
2021 11.3 782
2020 11 779
2019 10.9 778
2018 10.7 777
2017 10.6 777
2016 10.4 775
2015 10.3 773
2014 10.2 770
2013 10.1 767
2012 10 764
2011 9.92 761
2010 9.82 759
2009 9.72 756
2008 9.6 754
2007 9.5 751
2006 9.41 750
2005 9.31 751
2004 9.23 751
2003 9.14 750
2002 9.06 748
2001 8.96 746
2000 8.86 743
1999 8.78 739
1998 8.71 735
1997 8.64 731
1996 8.55 726
1995 8.46 720
1994 8.38 714
1993 8.29 707
1992 8.2 698
1991 8.1 687
1990 8 675
1989 7.88 662
1988 7.74 649
1987 7.64 637
1986 7.54 624
1985 7.47 612
1984 7.4 600
1983 7.33 588
1982 7.26 578
1981 7.17 571
1980 7.08 568
1979 6.99 560
1978 6.92 549
1977 6.85 538
1976 6.77 526
1975 6.69 512
1974 6.59 501
1973 6.5 489
1972 6.42 478
1971 6.34 467
1970 6.16 456
1969 6.07 444
1968 5.99 432
1967 5.9 421
1966 5.79 409
1965 5.68 397
1964 5.58 387
1963 5.48 376
1962 5.38 366
1961 5.28 357

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/canada/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Canada increased by 31.8%, compared to a 6.51% growth in El Salvador.

In 2006, Canada ranked 186th by population density and is 189th now. El Salvador was 29th in 2006 and ranks 33rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Canada
El Salvador
1x
Year Urban population
Canada El Salvador
2024 82.7% 75.1%
2023 82.5% 74.6%
2022 82.4% 74.1%
2021 82.2% 73.7%
2020 82% 73.1%
2019 81.7% 72.4%
2018 81.6% 71.8%
2017 81.4% 71.1%
2016 81.3% 70.4%
2015 81.2% 69.7%
2014 81.2% 68.9%
2013 81.2% 68.1%
2012 81.2% 67.2%
2011 81.1% 66.3%
2010 81% 65.4%
2009 80.9% 64.5%
2008 80.7% 63.6%
2007 80.4% 62.8%
2006 80.2% 61.9%
2005 80% 61%
2004 79.7% 60.1%
2003 79.4% 59.2%
2002 79.1% 58.3%
2001 78.8% 57.5%
2000 78.6% 56.6%
1999 78.4% 55.7%
1998 78.3% 54.8%
1997 78.1% 54%
1996 77.9% 53.2%
1995 77.6% 52.4%
1994 77.3% 51.7%
1993 77% 50.9%
1992 76.7% 50.3%
1991 76.6% 49.6%
1990 76.6% 49%
1989 76.5% 48.3%
1988 76.5% 47.7%
1987 76.5% 47%
1986 76.5% 46.4%
1985 76.4% 45.7%
1984 76.2% 45.1%
1983 76% 44.5%
1982 75.9% 43.9%
1981 75.7% 43.4%
1980 75.7% 42.8%
1979 75.6% 42.3%
1978 75.6% 41.8%
1977 75.5% 41.4%
1976 75.5% 41%
1975 75.6% 40.6%
1974 75.7% 40.2%
1973 75.9% 40%
1972 76% 39.7%
1971 76.1% 39.5%
1970 75.9% 39.4%
1969 75.5% 39.3%
1968 75% 39.2%
1967 74.3% 39.1%
1966 73.6% 39%
1965 72.9% 38.9%
1964 72.1% 38.8%
1963 71.3% 38.7%
1962 70.4% 38.6%
1961 69.7% 38.5%
1960 69% 38.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 79.7% to 82.7% in Canada and from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador.

Densely populated cities

Canada
City Population
Toronto 2.79M
Montreal 1.8M
Calgary 1.31M
Ottawa 1.02M
Edmonton 1.01M
Winnipeg 750K
Mississauga 718K
Vancouver 662K
Brampton 656K
Hamilton 569K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/canada/el-salvador | 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. Wikidata (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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