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Population density: Denmark vs Sweden compared

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a population density of 390 people per square mile compared to 67.8 people in Sweden. Denmark has 77,304 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. Denmark and Sweden rank 65th and 163rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Denmark has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.03% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, making the population density in Denmark 475% higher than in Sweden.

Population density by year

Denmark
Sweden

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Denmark Sweden
2026 390 67.8
2025 389 67.5
2024 387 67.2
2023 385 67
2022 382 66.7
2021 379 66.2
2020 378 65.8
2019 376 65.4
2018 375 64.7
2017 373 64
2016 371 63.1
2015 368 62.3
2014 365 61.7
2013 364 61
2012 362 60.5
2011 361 60.1
2010 359 59.6
2009 358 59.1
2008 356 58.6
2007 354 58.2
2006 352 57.7
2005 351 57.4
2004 350 57.2
2003 349 57
2002 348 56.7
2001 347 56.6
2000 346 56.4
1999 345 56.3
1998 343 56.3
1997 342 56.2
1996 341 56.2
1995 339 56.1
1994 337 55.8
1993 336 55.4
1992 335 55.1
1991 334 54.8
1990 333 54.4
1989 332 54
1988 332 53.6
1987 332 53.4
1986 332 53.2
1985 331 53.1
1984 331 53
1983 331 53
1982 331 52.9
1981 332 52.9
1980 332 52.8
1979 331 52.7
1978 330 52.6
1977 329 52.5
1976 328 52.3
1975 328 52.1
1974 327 51.9
1973 325 51.7
1972 323 51.6
1971 321 51.5
1970 319 51.1
1969 317 50.7
1968 315 50.3
1967 313 50
1966 311 49.6
1965 308 49.2
1964 306 48.7
1963 303 48.4
1962 301 48.1
1961 298.6 47.8

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/denmark/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Denmark increased by 10.9%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.

In 2006, Denmark ranked 58th by population density and is 65th now. Sweden was 155th in 2006 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Denmark
Sweden
1x
Year Urban population
Denmark Sweden
2024 88.7% 88.9%
2023 88.6% 88.6%
2022 88.4% 88.4%
2021 88.3% 88.2%
2020 88.2% 87.9%
2019 88.2% 87.7%
2018 88.1% 87.5%
2017 88% 87.2%
2016 87.7% 87%
2015 87.7% 86.6%
2014 87.7% 86.3%
2013 87.5% 85.9%
2012 87.2% 85.6%
2011 87.2% 85.4%
2010 86.9% 85.1%
2009 86.8% 84.9%
2008 86.6% 84.8%
2007 86.4% 84.6%
2006 86.3% 84.5%
2005 86% 84.4%
2004 85.7% 84.3%
2003 85.4% 84.2%
2002 85.3% 84.1%
2001 85.2% 84.1%
2000 85.1% 84%
1999 85.1% 84%
1998 85.1% 84%
1997 85.1% 84%
1996 85% 83.9%
1995 85% 83.9%
1994 85% 83.8%
1993 84.9% 83.7%
1992 84.9% 83.6%
1991 84.9% 83.5%
1990 84.8% 83.4%
1989 84.8% 83.3%
1988 84.8% 83.2%
1987 84.8% 83.2%
1986 84.7% 83.1%
1985 84.6% 83.1%
1984 84.4% 83.1%
1983 84.3% 83.1%
1982 84.1% 83.1%
1981 83.9% 83.1%
1980 83.8% 83.1%
1979 83.5% 83.1%
1978 83.3% 83%
1977 83% 82.9%
1976 82.6% 82.8%
1975 82.2% 82.7%
1974 81.8% 82.5%
1973 81.3% 82.3%
1972 80.8% 82%
1971 80.3% 81.7%
1970 79.7% 81.2%
1969 79.2% 80.6%
1968 78.6% 79.8%
1967 78.1% 78.9%
1966 77.5% 78%
1965 76.9% 77.1%
1964 76.3% 76.2%
1963 75.7% 75.3%
1962 75.1% 74.3%
1961 74.5% 73.4%
1960 74% 72.5%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/denmark/sweden | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 85.7% to 88.7% in Denmark and from 84.3% to 88.9% in Sweden.

Densely populated cities

Denmark
City Population
Copenhagen 667K
Aarhus 291K
Odense 185K
Aalborg 122K
Frederiksberg 106K
Gentofte 75.8K
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.5K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/denmark/sweden | 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 (2017–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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