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Population density: Colombia vs Switzerland compared

Updated on by Georank team

Colombia has a population density of 126 people per square mile compared to 596 people in Switzerland. Colombia has 232,379 sq ft of land per person vs 49,353 sq ft in Switzerland. Colombia and Switzerland rank 140th and 51st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Colombia has 0.65% of the world's population and 0.74% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.11% of the population and 0.03% of the land area for Switzerland, making the population density in Colombia 78.9% lower than in Switzerland.

Population density by year

Colombia
Switzerland

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Colombia Switzerland
2026 126 596
2025 124.8 594
2024 123.5 590
2023 122.1 583
2022 120.8 575
2021 119.5 571
2020 118.2 566
2019 116.5 562
2018 114.4 558
2017 112.4 554
2016 110.7 549
2015 109.6 543
2014 108.7 537
2013 107.7 530
2012 106.7 524
2011 105.7 519
2010 104.5 513
2009 103.3 508
2008 102.1 501
2007 100.9 495
2006 99.7 491
2005 98.3 487
2004 97 484
2003 95.6 481
2002 94.1 477
2001 92.7 474
2000 91.3 471
1999 89.8 468
1998 88.2 466
1997 86.7 464
1996 85.1 463
1995 83.6 461
1994 82 458
1993 80.4 455
1992 78.8 450
1991 77.3 446
1990 75.7 440
1989 74.2 436
1988 72.7 432
1987 71.2 429
1986 69.7 426
1985 68.3 424
1984 66.9 422
1983 65.3 421
1982 63.8 419
1981 62.4 416
1980 60.9 414
1979 59.6 412
1978 58.2 412
1977 56.9 412
1976 55.7 413
1975 54.5 415
1974 53.3 416
1973 52.1 413
1972 50.9 410
1971 49.8 407
1970 48.6 405
1969 47.4 402
1968 46.1 398
1967 44.9 393
1966 43.7 388
1965 42.4 384
1964 41.2 379
1963 40 373
1962 38.7 365
1961 37.6 356

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/colombia/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Colombia increased by 26.4%, compared to a 21.6% growth in Switzerland.

In 2006, Colombia ranked 136th by population density and is 140th now. Switzerland was 44th in 2006 and ranks 51st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Colombia
Switzerland
1x
Year Urban population
Colombia Switzerland
2024 78.5% 85.5%
2023 78.3% 85.2%
2022 78% 84.9%
2021 77.8% 84.2%
2020 77.6% 82.3%
2019 77.5% 80.8%
2018 77.3% 79.3%
2017 77.2% 77.9%
2016 77.2% 76.7%
2015 77.2% 75.6%
2014 77.1% 74.7%
2013 77% 74.1%
2012 76.9% 73.8%
2011 76.8% 73.7%
2010 76.7% 73.6%
2009 76.6% 73.6%
2008 76.5% 73.5%
2007 76.3% 73.5%
2006 76.2% 73.5%
2005 76% 73.5%
2004 75.8% 73.5%
2003 75.5% 73.5%
2002 75.2% 73.4%
2001 74.8% 73.4%
2000 74.3% 73.3%
1999 73.9% 73.1%
1998 73.4% 72.9%
1997 72.9% 72.5%
1996 72.3% 72%
1995 71.8% 71.5%
1994 71.3% 71%
1993 70.9% 70.4%
1992 70.4% 69.8%
1991 70% 69.2%
1990 69.5% 68.7%
1989 69% 68%
1988 68.5% 67.3%
1987 68.1% 66.5%
1986 67.6% 65.6%
1985 67.1% 64.8%
1984 66.6% 64%
1983 66.1% 63.2%
1982 65.7% 62.4%
1981 65.2% 61.8%
1980 64.7% 61.3%
1979 64.3% 60.8%
1978 63.8% 60.4%
1977 63.2% 60.1%
1976 62.7% 59.7%
1975 62.1% 59.4%
1974 61.5% 59.1%
1973 60.8% 58.7%
1972 60% 58.3%
1971 59.1% 57.9%
1970 58.2% 57.4%
1969 57.2% 56.9%
1968 56.1% 56.3%
1967 55% 55.7%
1966 54% 55.1%
1965 53% 54.4%
1964 52% 53.7%
1963 51% 53%
1962 50.1% 52.4%
1961 49.1% 51.7%
1960 48.1% 51%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/colombia/switzerland | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 75.8% to 78.5% in Colombia and from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland.

Densely populated cities

Colombia
City Population
Bogota 8.03M
Medellin 2.53M
Cali 2.47M
Barranquilla 1.33M
Cartagena 915K
Cucuta 806K
Soacha 783K
Soledad 676K
Villavicencio 664K
Bucaramanga 615K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/colombia/switzerland | 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 (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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