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Population density: Ethiopia vs Jamaica compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a population density of 319 people per square mile compared to 678 people in Jamaica. Ethiopia has 90,009 sq ft of land per person vs 41,673 sq ft in Jamaica. Ethiopia and Jamaica rank 78th and 43rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ethiopia has 1.62% of the world's population and 0.76% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.03% of the population and 0.007% of the land area for Jamaica, making the population density in Ethiopia 53% lower than in Jamaica.

Population density by year

Ethiopia
Jamaica

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ethiopia Jamaica
2026 319 678
2025 311 679
2024 303 679
2023 295.4 679
2022 287.8 679
2021 280.3 679
2020 272.9 677
2019 265.6 675
2018 258.6 674
2017 251.7 673
2016 244.9 672
2015 238.4 670
2014 232.1 668
2013 225.9 666
2012 219.8 663
2011 213.8 660
2010 207.8 657
2009 202 655
2008 196.3 652
2007 190.7 649
2006 185.2 646
2005 179.8 643
2004 174.6 639
2003 191.2 635
2002 185.5 631
2001 180 628
2000 174.6 624
1999 169.3 619
1998 164.1 615
1997 159 609
1996 154 604
1995 149 598
1994 144 592
1993 139.1 586
1992 - 580
1991 - 574
1990 - 569
1989 - 565
1988 - 561
1987 - 557
1986 - 553
1985 - 548
1984 - 542
1983 - 534
1982 - 527
1981 - 520
1980 - 513
1979 - 507
1978 - 501
1977 - 495
1976 - 489
1975 - 483
1974 - 476
1973 - 469
1972 - 462
1971 - 455
1970 - 449
1969 - 444
1968 - 439
1967 - 434
1966 - 428
1965 - 423
1964 - 417
1963 - 412
1962 - 406
1961 - 400

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/ethiopia/jamaica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ethiopia increased by 72.2%, compared to a 4.96% growth in Jamaica.

In 2006, Ethiopia ranked 101st by population density and is 78th now. Jamaica was 36th in 2006 and ranks 43rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ethiopia
Jamaica
1x
Year Urban population
Ethiopia Jamaica
2024 23.6% 58.9%
2023 23.1% 58.5%
2022 22.7% 58%
2021 22.1% 57.5%
2020 21.6% 57.1%
2019 21.2% 56.7%
2018 20.8% 56.3%
2017 20.3% 55.9%
2016 19.9% 55.5%
2015 19.5% 55.2%
2014 19% 54.9%
2013 18.6% 54.5%
2012 18.2% 54.2%
2011 17.9% 54%
2010 17.5% 53.8%
2009 17.2% 53.6%
2008 16.8% 53.4%
2007 16.1% 53.2%
2006 16.2% 53%
2005 16% 52.8%
2004 15.8% 52.6%
2003 15.5% 52.4%
2002 15.3% 52.1%
2001 15.1% 51.9%
2000 14.9% 51.7%
1999 14.7% 51.5%
1998 14.5% 51.3%
1997 14.3% 51%
1996 14.1% 50.8%
1995 13.9% 50.6%
1994 13.7% 50.3%
1993 13.5% 50.1%
1992 13.3% 49.9%
1991 13% 49.7%
1990 12.8% 49.4%
1989 12.5% 49.3%
1988 12.2% 49.1%
1987 11.9% 48.9%
1986 11.7% 48.7%
1985 11.4% 48.5%
1984 11.2% 48.3%
1983 11% 48.1%
1982 10.8% 47.8%
1981 10.6% 47.5%
1980 10.4% 47.2%
1979 10.2% 46.8%
1978 9.98% 46.3%
1977 9.79% 45.8%
1976 9.61% 45.3%
1975 9.42% 44.8%
1974 9.24% 44.2%
1973 9.07% 43.5%
1972 8.9% 42.9%
1971 8.73% 42.2%
1970 8.57% 41.4%
1969 8.41% 40.6%
1968 8.25% 39.6%
1967 8.1% 38.4%
1966 7.95% 37.2%
1965 7.8% 35.8%
1964 7.66% 34.5%
1963 7.52% 33.2%
1962 7.38% 31.9%
1961 7.24% 30.7%
1960 7.11% 29.7%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/ethiopia/jamaica | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia and from 52.6% to 58.9% in Jamaica.

Densely populated cities

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
Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
Half Way Tree 96.5K
May Pen 61.5K

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/ethiopia/jamaica | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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