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Population density: El Salvador vs Ethiopia compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population density of 799 people per square mile compared to 319 people in Ethiopia. El Salvador has 35,733 sq ft of land per person vs 90,009 sq ft in Ethiopia. El Salvador and Ethiopia rank 33rd and 78th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. El Salvador has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.01% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.62% of the population and 0.76% of the land area for Ethiopia, making the population density in El Salvador 150.5% higher than in Ethiopia.

Population density by year

El Salvador
Ethiopia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
El Salvador Ethiopia
2026 799 319
2025 796 311
2024 792 303
2023 789 295.4
2022 785 287.8
2021 782 280.3
2020 779 272.9
2019 778 265.6
2018 777 258.6
2017 777 251.7
2016 775 244.9
2015 773 238.4
2014 770 232.1
2013 767 225.9
2012 764 219.8
2011 761 213.8
2010 759 207.8
2009 756 202
2008 754 196.3
2007 751 190.7
2006 750 185.2
2005 751 179.8
2004 751 174.6
2003 750 191.2
2002 748 185.5
2001 746 180
2000 743 174.6
1999 739 169.3
1998 735 164.1
1997 731 159
1996 726 154
1995 720 149
1994 714 144
1993 707 139.1
1992 698 -
1991 687 -
1990 675 -
1989 662 -
1988 649 -
1987 637 -
1986 624 -
1985 612 -
1984 600 -
1983 588 -
1982 578 -
1981 571 -
1980 568 -
1979 560 -
1978 549 -
1977 538 -
1976 526 -
1975 512 -
1974 501 -
1973 489 -
1972 478 -
1971 467 -
1970 456 -
1969 444 -
1968 432 -
1967 421 -
1966 409 -
1965 397 -
1964 387 -
1963 376 -
1962 366 -
1961 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/el-salvador/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in El Salvador increased by 6.51%, compared to a 72.2% growth in Ethiopia.

In 2006, El Salvador ranked 29th by population density and is 33rd now. Ethiopia was 101st in 2006 and ranks 78th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

El Salvador
Ethiopia
1x
Year Urban population
El Salvador Ethiopia
2024 75.1% 23.6%
2023 74.6% 23.1%
2022 74.1% 22.7%
2021 73.7% 22.1%
2020 73.1% 21.6%
2019 72.4% 21.2%
2018 71.8% 20.8%
2017 71.1% 20.3%
2016 70.4% 19.9%
2015 69.7% 19.5%
2014 68.9% 19%
2013 68.1% 18.6%
2012 67.2% 18.2%
2011 66.3% 17.9%
2010 65.4% 17.5%
2009 64.5% 17.2%
2008 63.6% 16.8%
2007 62.8% 16.1%
2006 61.9% 16.2%
2005 61% 16%
2004 60.1% 15.8%
2003 59.2% 15.5%
2002 58.3% 15.3%
2001 57.5% 15.1%
2000 56.6% 14.9%
1999 55.7% 14.7%
1998 54.8% 14.5%
1997 54% 14.3%
1996 53.2% 14.1%
1995 52.4% 13.9%
1994 51.7% 13.7%
1993 50.9% 13.5%
1992 50.3% 13.3%
1991 49.6% 13%
1990 49% 12.8%
1989 48.3% 12.5%
1988 47.7% 12.2%
1987 47% 11.9%
1986 46.4% 11.7%
1985 45.7% 11.4%
1984 45.1% 11.2%
1983 44.5% 11%
1982 43.9% 10.8%
1981 43.4% 10.6%
1980 42.8% 10.4%
1979 42.3% 10.2%
1978 41.8% 9.98%
1977 41.4% 9.79%
1976 41% 9.61%
1975 40.6% 9.42%
1974 40.2% 9.24%
1973 40% 9.07%
1972 39.7% 8.9%
1971 39.5% 8.73%
1970 39.4% 8.57%
1969 39.3% 8.41%
1968 39.2% 8.25%
1967 39.1% 8.1%
1966 39% 7.95%
1965 38.9% 7.8%
1964 38.8% 7.66%
1963 38.7% 7.52%
1962 38.6% 7.38%
1961 38.5% 7.24%
1960 38.4% 7.11%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador and from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia.

Densely populated cities

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/el-salvador/ethiopia | 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 (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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