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Population density: Denmark vs Switzerland compared

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a population density of 390 people per square mile compared to 596 people in Switzerland. Denmark has 77,304 sq ft of land per person vs 49,353 sq ft in Switzerland. Denmark and Switzerland rank 65th and 51st 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 0.11% of the population and 0.03% of the land area for Switzerland, making the population density in Denmark 34.6% lower than in Switzerland.

Population density by year

Denmark
Switzerland

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Denmark Switzerland
2026 390 596
2025 389 594
2024 387 590
2023 385 583
2022 382 575
2021 379 571
2020 378 566
2019 376 562
2018 375 558
2017 373 554
2016 371 549
2015 368 543
2014 365 537
2013 364 530
2012 362 524
2011 361 519
2010 359 513
2009 358 508
2008 356 501
2007 354 495
2006 352 491
2005 351 487
2004 350 484
2003 349 481
2002 348 477
2001 347 474
2000 346 471
1999 345 468
1998 343 466
1997 342 464
1996 341 463
1995 339 461
1994 337 458
1993 336 455
1992 335 450
1991 334 446
1990 333 440
1989 332 436
1988 332 432
1987 332 429
1986 332 426
1985 331 424
1984 331 422
1983 331 421
1982 331 419
1981 332 416
1980 332 414
1979 331 412
1978 330 412
1977 329 412
1976 328 413
1975 328 415
1974 327 416
1973 325 413
1972 323 410
1971 321 407
1970 319 405
1969 317 402
1968 315 398
1967 313 393
1966 311 388
1965 308 384
1964 306 379
1963 303 373
1962 301 365
1961 298.6 356

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/denmark/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Denmark increased by 10.9%, compared to a 21.6% growth in Switzerland.

In 2006, Denmark ranked 58th by population density and is 65th now. Switzerland was 44th in 2006 and ranks 51st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Denmark
Switzerland
1x
Year Urban population
Denmark Switzerland
2024 88.7% 85.5%
2023 88.6% 85.2%
2022 88.4% 84.9%
2021 88.3% 84.2%
2020 88.2% 82.3%
2019 88.2% 80.8%
2018 88.1% 79.3%
2017 88% 77.9%
2016 87.7% 76.7%
2015 87.7% 75.6%
2014 87.7% 74.7%
2013 87.5% 74.1%
2012 87.2% 73.8%
2011 87.2% 73.7%
2010 86.9% 73.6%
2009 86.8% 73.6%
2008 86.6% 73.5%
2007 86.4% 73.5%
2006 86.3% 73.5%
2005 86% 73.5%
2004 85.7% 73.5%
2003 85.4% 73.5%
2002 85.3% 73.4%
2001 85.2% 73.4%
2000 85.1% 73.3%
1999 85.1% 73.1%
1998 85.1% 72.9%
1997 85.1% 72.5%
1996 85% 72%
1995 85% 71.5%
1994 85% 71%
1993 84.9% 70.4%
1992 84.9% 69.8%
1991 84.9% 69.2%
1990 84.8% 68.7%
1989 84.8% 68%
1988 84.8% 67.3%
1987 84.8% 66.5%
1986 84.7% 65.6%
1985 84.6% 64.8%
1984 84.4% 64%
1983 84.3% 63.2%
1982 84.1% 62.4%
1981 83.9% 61.8%
1980 83.8% 61.3%
1979 83.5% 60.8%
1978 83.3% 60.4%
1977 83% 60.1%
1976 82.6% 59.7%
1975 82.2% 59.4%
1974 81.8% 59.1%
1973 81.3% 58.7%
1972 80.8% 58.3%
1971 80.3% 57.9%
1970 79.7% 57.4%
1969 79.2% 56.9%
1968 78.6% 56.3%
1967 78.1% 55.7%
1966 77.5% 55.1%
1965 76.9% 54.4%
1964 76.3% 53.7%
1963 75.7% 53%
1962 75.1% 52.4%
1961 74.5% 51.7%
1960 74% 51%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 85.7% to 88.7% in Denmark and from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland.

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
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/denmark/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 (2016–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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