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Population density: El Salvador vs Iran compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population density of 799 people per square mile compared to 148.9 people in Iran. El Salvador has 35,733 sq ft of land per person vs 193,748 sq ft in Iran. El Salvador and Iran rank 33rd and 134th 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 1.13% of the population and 1.09% of the land area for Iran, making the population density in El Salvador 437% higher than in Iran.

Population density by year

El Salvador
Iran

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
El Salvador Iran
2026 799 148.9
2025 796 147.6
2024 792 146.2
2023 789 144.6
2022 785 142.9
2021 782 141.2
2020 779 140
2019 778 139
2018 777 137.5
2017 777 135.7
2016 775 133.3
2015 773 131.4
2014 770 129.6
2013 767 127.9
2012 764 126.2
2011 761 124.6
2010 759 123.1
2009 756 121.6
2008 754 120.1
2007 751 118.6
2006 750 116.7
2005 751 114.2
2004 751 111.7
2003 750 109.4
2002 748 108.1
2001 746 107.3
2000 743 105.6
1999 739 104.1
1998 735 102.6
1997 731 101.2
1996 726 100
1995 720 98.9
1994 714 97.8
1993 707 97.6
1992 698 97.3
1991 687 95.4
1990 675 92.8
1989 662 90.2
1988 649 87.6
1987 637 84.8
1986 624 81.8
1985 612 78.8
1984 600 76
1983 588 73.2
1982 578 70.4
1981 571 66.8
1980 568 63.4
1979 560 61.1
1978 549 59
1977 538 57.1
1976 526 55.4
1975 512 53.8
1974 501 52.2
1973 489 50.6
1972 478 49.2
1971 467 47.8
1970 456 46.3
1969 444 45
1968 432 43.6
1967 421 42.3
1966 409 41.1
1965 397 39.8
1964 387 38.6
1963 376 37.4
1962 366 36.3
1961 357 35.2

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in El Salvador increased by 6.51%, compared to a 27.6% growth in Iran.

In 2006, El Salvador ranked 29th by population density and is 33rd now. Iran was 130th in 2006 and ranks 134th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

El Salvador
Iran
1x
Year Urban population
El Salvador Iran
2024 75.1% 77%
2023 74.6% 76.7%
2022 74.1% 76.3%
2021 73.7% 76%
2020 73.1% 75.6%
2019 72.4% 75.2%
2018 71.8% 74.8%
2017 71.1% 74.4%
2016 70.4% 73.9%
2015 69.7% 73.4%
2014 68.9% 72.8%
2013 68.1% 72.3%
2012 67.2% 71.8%
2011 66.3% 71.2%
2010 65.4% 70.6%
2009 64.5% 70%
2008 63.6% 69.4%
2007 62.8% 68.8%
2006 61.9% 68.3%
2005 61% 67.9%
2004 60.1% 67.3%
2003 59.2% 66.6%
2002 58.3% 65.9%
2001 57.5% 65.2%
2000 56.6% 64.5%
1999 55.7% 63.7%
1998 54.8% 62.9%
1997 54% 62.1%
1996 53.2% 61.1%
1995 52.4% 60.4%
1994 51.7% 59.6%
1993 50.9% 58.7%
1992 50.3% 57.9%
1991 49.6% 56.9%
1990 49% 56.5%
1989 48.3% 55.9%
1988 47.7% 55.4%
1987 47% 54.8%
1986 46.4% 54.2%
1985 45.7% 53.6%
1984 45.1% 52.8%
1983 44.5% 52.1%
1982 43.9% 51.4%
1981 43.4% 50.7%
1980 42.8% 49.9%
1979 42.3% 49.2%
1978 41.8% 48.5%
1977 41.4% 47.8%
1976 41% 46.8%
1975 40.6% 46.1%
1974 40.2% 45.2%
1973 40% 44.3%
1972 39.7% 43.3%
1971 39.5% 42.4%
1970 39.4% 41.5%
1969 39.3% 40.6%
1968 39.2% 39.7%
1967 39.1% 38.9%
1966 39% 37.7%
1965 38.9% 37.1%
1964 38.8% 36.6%
1963 38.7% 35.9%
1962 38.6% 35.3%
1961 38.5% 34.6%
1960 38.4% 34%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador and from 67.3% to 77% in Iran.

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
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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 (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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