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Population density: Canada vs India compared

Updated on by Georank team

Canada has a population density of 12.4 people per square mile compared to 1,287 people in India. Canada has 2,602,997 sq ft of land per person vs 24,387 sq ft in India. Canada and India rank 189th and 19th 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 17.9% of the population and 2% of the land area for India, making the population density in Canada 99% lower than in India.

Population density by year

Canada
India

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Canada India
2026 12.4 1,287
2025 12.3 1,275
2024 12.2 1,264
2023 11.8 1,253
2022 11.5 1,242
2021 11.3 1,232
2020 11 1,222
2019 10.9 1,210
2018 10.7 1,197
2017 10.6 1,184
2016 10.4 1,171
2015 10.3 1,157
2014 10.2 1,143
2013 10.1 1,129
2012 10 1,114
2011 9.92 1,099
2010 9.82 1,083
2009 9.72 1,068
2008 9.6 1,052
2007 9.5 1,037
2006 9.41 1,022
2005 9.31 1,006
2004 9.23 990
2003 9.14 973
2002 9.06 956
2001 8.96 939
2000 8.86 922
1999 8.78 904
1998 8.71 887
1997 8.64 870
1996 8.55 853
1995 8.46 837
1994 8.38 820
1993 8.29 803
1992 8.2 787
1991 8.1 770
1990 8 753
1989 7.88 737
1988 7.74 721
1987 7.64 705
1986 7.54 689
1985 7.47 673
1984 7.4 658
1983 7.33 642
1982 7.26 627
1981 7.17 613
1980 7.08 599
1979 6.99 585
1978 6.92 571
1977 6.85 558
1976 6.77 545
1975 6.69 533
1974 6.59 520
1973 6.5 508
1972 6.42 497
1971 6.34 486
1970 6.16 476
1969 6.07 465
1968 5.99 455
1967 5.9 446
1966 5.79 436
1965 5.68 427
1964 5.58 417
1963 5.48 408
1962 5.38 398
1961 5.28 389

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/india | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Canada increased by 31.8%, compared to a 25.9% growth in India.

In 2006, Canada ranked 186th by population density and is 189th now. India was 17th in 2006 and ranks 19th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Canada
India
1x
Year Urban population
Canada India
2024 82.7% 35.4%
2023 82.5% 35.1%
2022 82.4% 34.8%
2021 82.2% 34.4%
2020 82% 34.1%
2019 81.7% 33.8%
2018 81.6% 33.5%
2017 81.4% 33.2%
2016 81.3% 32.9%
2015 81.2% 32.5%
2014 81.2% 32.2%
2013 81.2% 31.9%
2012 81.2% 31.6%
2011 81.1% 31.3%
2010 81% 30.9%
2009 80.9% 30.5%
2008 80.7% 30.1%
2007 80.4% 29.8%
2006 80.2% 29.4%
2005 80% 29.1%
2004 79.7% 28.8%
2003 79.4% 28.5%
2002 79.1% 28.2%
2001 78.8% 27.9%
2000 78.6% 27.6%
1999 78.4% 27.4%
1998 78.3% 27.2%
1997 78.1% 27%
1996 77.9% 26.8%
1995 77.6% 26.6%
1994 77.3% 26.4%
1993 77% 26.2%
1992 76.7% 26%
1991 76.6% 25.8%
1990 76.6% 25.6%
1989 76.5% 25.4%
1988 76.5% 25.2%
1987 76.5% 25%
1986 76.5% 24.8%
1985 76.4% 24.7%
1984 76.2% 24.5%
1983 76% 24.3%
1982 75.9% 24%
1981 75.7% 23.8%
1980 75.7% 23.5%
1979 75.6% 23.2%
1978 75.6% 22.8%
1977 75.5% 22.4%
1976 75.5% 21.9%
1975 75.6% 21.5%
1974 75.7% 21%
1973 75.9% 20.6%
1972 76% 20.3%
1971 76.1% 20%
1970 75.9% 19.7%
1969 75.5% 19.5%
1968 75% 19.2%
1967 74.3% 19%
1966 73.6% 18.8%
1965 72.9% 18.6%
1964 72.1% 18.4%
1963 71.3% 18.3%
1962 70.4% 18.1%
1961 69.7% 18%
1960 69% 17.9%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/india | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 79.7% to 82.7% in Canada and from 28.8% to 35.4% in India.

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
India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M

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/india | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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