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Population density: El Salvador vs Kenya compared

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has a population density of 799 people per square mile compared to 261.5 people in Kenya. El Salvador has 35,733 sq ft of land per person vs 110,878 sq ft in Kenya. El Salvador and Kenya rank 33rd and 94th 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 0.69% of the population and 0.39% of the land area for Kenya, making the population density in El Salvador 205.6% higher than in Kenya.

Population density by year

El Salvador
Kenya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
El Salvador Kenya
2026 799 261.5
2025 796 256.6
2024 792 251.6
2023 789 246.7
2022 785 241.9
2021 782 237.3
2020 779 232.8
2019 778 229.1
2018 777 225.4
2017 777 221.6
2016 775 217.6
2015 773 213.6
2014 770 209.6
2013 767 204.7
2012 764 199.7
2011 761 194.6
2010 759 189.3
2009 756 183.9
2008 754 178.4
2007 751 173.1
2006 750 167.9
2005 751 162.9
2004 751 158
2003 750 153.1
2002 748 148.5
2001 746 143.9
2000 743 139.4
1999 739 135.3
1998 735 131.5
1997 731 127.9
1996 726 124.4
1995 720 121.1
1994 714 117.7
1993 707 114.3
1992 698 111
1991 687 107.6
1990 675 104.2
1989 662 100.7
1988 649 97.2
1987 637 93.8
1986 624 90.6
1985 612 87.4
1984 600 84.3
1983 588 81.2
1982 578 78.3
1981 571 75.5
1980 568 72.9
1979 560 70.4
1978 549 68
1977 538 65.7
1976 526 63.5
1975 512 61.5
1974 501 59.5
1973 489 57.5
1972 478 55.5
1971 467 53.6
1970 456 51.7
1969 444 49.8
1968 432 47.9
1967 421 46
1966 409 44.2
1965 397 42.5
1964 387 40.8
1963 376 39.3
1962 366 37.8
1961 357 36.3

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in El Salvador increased by 6.51%, compared to a 55.7% growth in Kenya.

In 2006, El Salvador ranked 29th by population density and is 33rd now. Kenya was 111th in 2006 and ranks 94th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

El Salvador
Kenya
1x
Year Urban population
El Salvador Kenya
2024 75.1% 31.9%
2023 74.6% 31.6%
2022 74.1% 31.4%
2021 73.7% 31.3%
2020 73.1% 31.2%
2019 72.4% 31.2%
2018 71.8% 31.4%
2017 71.1% 31.5%
2016 70.4% 31.7%
2015 69.7% 31.7%
2014 68.9% 31.8%
2013 68.1% 31.8%
2012 67.2% 31.9%
2011 66.3% 31.9%
2010 65.4% 31.9%
2009 64.5% 31.9%
2008 63.6% 31.4%
2007 62.8% 30.4%
2006 61.9% 29%
2005 61% 27.3%
2004 60.1% 25.4%
2003 59.2% 23.6%
2002 58.3% 21.9%
2001 57.5% 20.4%
2000 56.6% 19.5%
1999 55.7% 19%
1998 54.8% 18.9%
1997 54% 18.8%
1996 53.2% 18.7%
1995 52.4% 18.6%
1994 51.7% 18.5%
1993 50.9% 18.5%
1992 50.3% 18.4%
1991 49.6% 18.3%
1990 49% 18.2%
1989 48.3% 18.1%
1988 47.7% 17.9%
1987 47% 17.7%
1986 46.4% 17.5%
1985 45.7% 17.3%
1984 45.1% 17%
1983 44.5% 16.8%
1982 43.9% 16.5%
1981 43.4% 16.2%
1980 42.8% 15.8%
1979 42.3% 15.5%
1978 41.8% 15%
1977 41.4% 14.5%
1976 41% 13.9%
1975 40.6% 13.2%
1974 40.2% 12.5%
1973 40% 11.8%
1972 39.7% 11.2%
1971 39.5% 10.6%
1970 39.4% 10.1%
1969 39.3% 9.83%
1968 39.2% 9.61%
1967 39.1% 9.42%
1966 39% 9.26%
1965 38.9% 9.12%
1964 38.8% 8.97%
1963 38.7% 8.82%
1962 38.6% 8.63%
1961 38.5% 8.44%
1960 38.4% 8.23%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador and from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya.

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
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K

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/kenya | 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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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