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Population density: Dominican Republic vs El Salvador compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Dominican Republic has a population density of 624 people per square mile compared to 799 people in El Salvador. The Dominican Republic has 45,844 sq ft of land per person vs 35,733 sq ft in El Salvador. The Dominican Republic and El Salvador rank 49th and 33rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Dominican Republic has 0.14% of the world's population and 0.03% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.08% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for El Salvador, making the population density in the Dominican Republic 21.9% lower than in El Salvador.

Population density by year

Dominican Republic
El Salvador

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Dominican Republic El Salvador
2026 624 799
2025 619 796
2024 614 792
2023 609 789
2022 603 785
2021 598 782
2020 592 779
2019 585 778
2018 578 777
2017 572 777
2016 566 775
2015 559 773
2014 553 770
2013 547 767
2012 540 764
2011 533 761
2010 526 759
2009 520 756
2008 513 754
2007 507 751
2006 501 750
2005 495 751
2004 488 751
2003 481 750
2002 475 748
2001 468 746
2000 460 743
1999 453 739
1998 446 735
1997 438 731
1996 431 726
1995 423 720
1994 415 714
1993 407 707
1992 399 698
1991 391 687
1990 383 675
1989 375 662
1988 368 649
1987 360 637
1986 352 624
1985 345 612
1984 337 600
1983 330 588
1982 322 578
1981 315 571
1980 307 568
1979 299.7 560
1978 292.3 549
1977 285 538
1976 277.7 526
1975 270.6 512
1974 263.5 501
1973 256.4 489
1972 249.4 478
1971 242.6 467
1970 235.9 456
1969 229.3 444
1968 222.9 432
1967 216.5 421
1966 210.3 409
1965 204.2 397
1964 198.3 387
1963 192.4 376
1962 186.6 366
1961 180.8 357

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/dominican-republic/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Dominican Republic increased by 24.6%, compared to a 6.51% growth in El Salvador.

In 2006, the Dominican Republic ranked 43rd by population density and is 49th now. El Salvador was 29th in 2006 and ranks 33rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Dominican Republic
El Salvador
1x
Year Urban population
Dominican Republic El Salvador
2024 72.4% 75.1%
2023 72.4% 74.6%
2022 72.4% 74.1%
2021 72.9% 73.7%
2020 73.3% 73.1%
2019 73.5% 72.4%
2018 73.8% 71.8%
2017 73.9% 71.1%
2016 74.1% 70.4%
2015 74.1% 69.7%
2014 74.2% 68.9%
2013 74.2% 68.1%
2012 74.2% 67.2%
2011 74.2% 66.3%
2010 74.2% 65.4%
2009 73.6% 64.5%
2008 72.5% 63.6%
2007 71% 62.8%
2006 69.3% 61.9%
2005 67.6% 61%
2004 65.9% 60.1%
2003 64.4% 59.2%
2002 63.3% 58.3%
2001 62.3% 57.5%
2000 61.3% 56.6%
1999 60.4% 55.7%
1998 59.5% 54.8%
1997 58.6% 54%
1996 57.8% 53.2%
1995 57.1% 52.4%
1994 56.5% 51.7%
1993 56% 50.9%
1992 55.6% 50.3%
1991 55.3% 49.6%
1990 55% 49%
1989 54.7% 48.3%
1988 54.4% 47.7%
1987 54.2% 47%
1986 54% 46.4%
1985 53.7% 45.7%
1984 53.4% 45.1%
1983 53.1% 44.5%
1982 52.6% 43.9%
1981 52.1% 43.4%
1980 51.5% 42.8%
1979 50.7% 42.3%
1978 49.7% 41.8%
1977 48.6% 41.4%
1976 47.5% 41%
1975 46.3% 40.6%
1974 45% 40.2%
1973 43.8% 40%
1972 42.6% 39.7%
1971 41.4% 39.5%
1970 40.2% 39.4%
1969 39.2% 39.3%
1968 38.1% 39.2%
1967 37.1% 39.1%
1966 36% 39%
1965 34.9% 38.9%
1964 33.9% 38.8%
1963 32.9% 38.7%
1962 31.9% 38.6%
1961 31% 38.5%
1960 30.2% 38.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/dominican-republic/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 65.9% to 72.4% in the Dominican Republic and from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador.

Densely populated cities

Dominican Republic
City Population
Santo Domingo 2.2M
Santiago de los Caballeros 1.34M
Puerto Plata 338K
La Vega 282K
Higuey 251K
San Cristobal 233K
San Pedro de Macoris 217K
San Francisco de Macoris 188K
San Juan de la Maguana 169K
Bonao 158K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/dominican-republic/el-salvador | 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 (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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