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Population density: Egypt vs Nigeria compared

Updated on by Georank team

Egypt has a population density of 313 people per square mile compared to 690 people in Nigeria. Egypt has 93,325 sq ft of land per person vs 42,734 sq ft in Nigeria. Egypt and Nigeria rank 79th and 41st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Egypt has 1.43% of the world's population and 0.67% of all countries' land area, compared to 2.86% of the population and 0.61% of the land area for Nigeria, making the population density in Egypt 54.6% lower than in Nigeria.

Population density by year

Egypt
Nigeria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Egypt Nigeria
2026 313 690
2025 308 676
2024 303 662
2023 298 648
2022 293 635
2021 288.7 621
2020 284.4 609
2019 279.8 596
2018 275 583
2017 269.8 569
2016 264.5 556
2015 259.1 542
2014 253.8 529
2013 248 515
2012 242.4 501
2011 237 487
2010 232.1 474
2009 227.7 461
2008 223.4 448
2007 219.3 436
2006 215.2 424
2005 211 412
2004 206.8 401
2003 202.6 390
2002 198.4 380
2001 194.2 369
2000 190.2 359
1999 186.1 350
1998 182 341
1997 178 332
1996 174.4 323
1995 170.8 315
1994 167.3 307
1993 163.7 298.9
1992 160 291.1
1991 156.2 283.6
1990 151.9 276.2
1989 147.6 268.8
1988 143.6 261.7
1987 139.7 254.8
1986 135.8 248.1
1985 132 241.4
1984 128.1 234.7
1983 124.3 228.7
1982 120.7 222.9
1981 117.5 216.3
1980 114.4 209.8
1979 111.4 203.3
1978 108.7 197.1
1977 106 191.2
1976 103.5 185.6
1975 101.1 180.3
1974 98.8 175.4
1973 96.5 170.9
1972 94.3 166.6
1971 92.2 162.7
1970 90.1 158.9
1969 88 155.4
1968 85.9 151.9
1967 83.8 148.7
1966 81.7 145.6
1965 79.7 142.4
1964 77.7 139.4
1963 75.7 136.4
1962 73.7 133.6
1961 71.8 130.8

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/egypt/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Egypt increased by 45.4%, compared to a 62.7% growth in Nigeria.

In 2006, Egypt ranked 90th by population density and is 79th now. Nigeria was 53rd in 2006 and ranks 41st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Egypt
Nigeria
1x
Year Urban population
Egypt Nigeria
2024 42.8% 63%
2023 42.7% 62.2%
2022 42.6% 61.4%
2021 42.6% 60.6%
2020 42.5% 59.8%
2019 42.5% 59%
2018 42.5% 58.2%
2017 42.4% 57.3%
2016 42.5% 56.5%
2015 42.6% 55.7%
2014 42.7% 54.9%
2013 42.8% 54.1%
2012 42.8% 53.3%
2011 42.9% 52.5%
2010 42.9% 51.7%
2009 42.9% 50.9%
2008 43% 50.1%
2007 43% 49.2%
2006 43% 48.4%
2005 43% 47.6%
2004 42.9% 46.7%
2003 42.9% 45.8%
2002 42.8% 45%
2001 42.8% 44.1%
2000 42.7% 43.3%
1999 42.7% 42.4%
1998 42.7% 41.6%
1997 42.6% 40.8%
1996 42.6% 40%
1995 42.7% 39.1%
1994 42.8% 38.3%
1993 43% 37.5%
1992 43.2% 36.7%
1991 43.4% 36%
1990 43.6% 35.2%
1989 43.7% 34.4%
1988 43.9% 33.6%
1987 44% 32.8%
1986 44% 32.1%
1985 44% 31.3%
1984 44% 30.5%
1983 43.9% 29.7%
1982 43.9% 28.9%
1981 43.9% 28.2%
1980 43.9% 27.4%
1979 43.9% 26.7%
1978 43.8% 25.9%
1977 43.8% 25.2%
1976 43.8% 24.4%
1975 43.7% 23.7%
1974 43.5% 23%
1973 43.4% 22.3%
1972 43.1% 21.6%
1971 42.9% 20.9%
1970 42.6% 20.2%
1969 42.3% 19.6%
1968 41.9% 18.9%
1967 41.6% 18.3%
1966 41.2% 17.7%
1965 40.8% 17.1%
1964 40.3% 16.5%
1963 39.7% 15.9%
1962 39% 15.4%
1961 38.4% 14.8%
1960 37.8% 14.2%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/egypt/nigeria | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 42.9% to 42.8% in Egypt and from 46.7% to 63% in Nigeria.

Densely populated cities

Egypt
City Population
Cairo 9.8M
Alexandria 5.36M
Giza 4.46M
Shubra El Kheima 1.03M
Port Said 792K
Suez 716K
Mansoura 622K
Helwan 619K
El Mahalla El Kubra 593K
Asyut 562K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/egypt/nigeria | 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 (2006–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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