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Population density: China vs Cuba compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population density of 387 people per square mile compared to 271.8 people in Cuba. China has 73,316 sq ft of land per person vs 107,724 sq ft in Cuba. China and Cuba rank 67th and 90th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. China has 17.3% of the world's population and 6.3% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.14% of the population and 0.07% of the land area for Cuba, making the population density in China 42.3% higher than in Cuba.

Population density by year

China
Cuba

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
China Cuba
2026 387 271.8
2025 388 272.9
2024 389 274
2023 389 275
2022 390 276
2021 390 277.5
2020 389 278.9
2019 388 279.5
2018 387 280.1
2017 385 280.7
2016 383 280.4
2015 381 280.5
2014 378 281
2013 376 280.8
2012 374 274.5
2011 371 273.9
2010 369 274.9
2009 367 274.8
2008 365 274.8
2007 364 274.7
2006 362 274.5
2005 360 274
2004 358 273.5
2003 355 272.9
2002 353 272.1
2001 351 268.7
2000 348 267.9
1999 346 267
1998 343 266.1
1997 339 265.2
1996 336 264.4
1995 332 263.5
1994 329 262.5
1993 325 261.4
1992 321 260.1
1991 317 258.5
1990 313 256.4
1989 309 254
1988 304 251.6
1987 299.1 249.2
1986 294.3 247
1985 290 244.9
1984 286 242.9
1983 282.3 240.9
1982 278.3 239
1981 274.2 237.5
1980 270.7 236.4
1979 267.3 235.4
1978 263.8 234.2
1977 260.3 232.7
1976 256.8 230.8
1975 252.8 228.6
1974 248.4 226.1
1973 243.3 223.2
1972 237.8 220
1971 232 216.5
1970 225.8 212.8
1969 219.6 209
1968 213.7 205.2
1967 208.2 201.4
1966 202.9 197.6
1965 197.3 193.7
1964 192.7 189.7
1963 188.2 185.7
1962 183.7 181.9
1961 182.2 178.1

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/china/cuba | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in China increased by 6.98%, compared to a 0.96% decline in Cuba.

In 2006, China ranked 57th by population density and is 67th now. Cuba was 76th in 2006 and ranks 90th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

China
Cuba
1x
Year Urban population
China Cuba
2024 65.9% 77.2%
2023 65.5% 77.1%
2022 65.2% 77.1%
2021 64.7% 77.1%
2020 63.5% 77.1%
2019 62.7% 77.1%
2018 61.5% 77%
2017 60.2% 77%
2016 58.8% 76.9%
2015 57.3% 76.9%
2014 55.8% 76.8%
2013 54.5% 76.8%
2012 53.1% 76.8%
2011 51.8% 76.7%
2010 49.2% 76.6%
2009 48.3% 76.5%
2008 47% 76.4%
2007 45.9% 76.2%
2006 44.3% 76.1%
2005 43% 76%
2004 41.8% 75.9%
2003 40.5% 75.9%
2002 39.1% 75.9%
2001 37.7% 75.9%
2000 36.4% 75.6%
1999 34.8% 75.4%
1998 33.4% 75.3%
1997 31.9% 75.1%
1996 30.5% 74.8%
1995 29% 74.6%
1994 28.5% 74.5%
1993 28% 74.5%
1992 27.5% 74.4%
1991 26.9% 74.1%
1990 26.2% 73.7%
1989 26.2% 73.3%
1988 25.8% 72.7%
1987 25.3% 72.1%
1986 24.5% 71.6%
1985 23.7% 71.1%
1984 23% 70.8%
1983 21.6% 70.3%
1982 20.6% 69.5%
1981 20.2% 68.9%
1980 19.4% 68.4%
1979 19% 67.7%
1978 17.9% 66.9%
1977 17.6% 65.9%
1976 17.4% 64.9%
1975 17.3% 63.9%
1974 17.2% 63%
1973 17.2% 62.1%
1972 17.1% 61.3%
1971 17.3% 60.7%
1970 17.4% 60.3%
1969 17.5% 59.9%
1968 17.6% 59.6%
1967 17.7% 59.4%
1966 17.9% 59.1%
1965 18% 58.8%
1964 18.3% 58.6%
1963 16.8% 58.3%
1962 17.3% 58.1%
1961 19.3% 57.9%
1960 19.7% 57.7%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/cuba | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 41.8% to 65.9% in China and from 75.9% to 77.2% in Cuba.

Densely populated cities

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K

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/china/cuba | 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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