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Population density: Ethiopia vs Kiribati compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a population density of 319 people per square mile compared to 443 people in Kiribati. Ethiopia has 90,009 sq ft of land per person vs 64,895 sq ft in Kiribati. Ethiopia and Kiribati rank 78th and 61st 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 0.002% of the population and 0.0005% of the land area for Kiribati, making the population density in Ethiopia 28% lower than in Kiribati.

Population density by year

Ethiopia
Kiribati

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ethiopia Kiribati
2026 319 443
2025 311 437
2024 303 430
2023 295.4 424
2022 287.8 417
2021 280.3 410
2020 272.9 403
2019 265.6 396
2018 258.6 390
2017 251.7 385
2016 244.9 379
2015 238.4 374
2014 232.1 369
2013 225.9 364
2012 219.8 359
2011 213.8 354
2010 207.8 348
2009 202 340
2008 196.3 333
2007 190.7 326
2006 185.2 320
2005 179.8 313
2004 174.6 307
2003 191.2 301
2002 185.5 295
2001 180 288.8
2000 174.6 283.3
1999 169.3 278.6
1998 164.1 273.9
1997 159 269.1
1996 154 264.2
1995 149 259.7
1994 144 255.9
1993 139.1 252.1
1992 - 248.3
1991 - 244.2
1990 - 239.4
1989 - 233.9
1988 - 228.4
1987 - 223
1986 - 217.6
1985 - 212.6
1984 - 208.6
1983 - 205.2
1982 - 201.9
1981 - 198.6
1980 - 195.5
1979 - 192.4
1978 - 191.4
1977 - 192.7
1976 - 194
1975 - 195
1974 - 195.7
1973 - 194.5
1972 - 191.1
1971 - 187.5
1970 - 183.9
1969 - 180.2
1968 - 177.6
1967 - 175.9
1966 - 174
1965 - 170.9
1964 - 166.6
1963 - 162.4
1962 - 158.4
1961 - 154.5

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/kiribati | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ethiopia increased by 72.2%, compared to a 38.5% growth in Kiribati.

In 2006, Ethiopia ranked 101st by population density and is 78th now. Kiribati was 65th in 2006 and ranks 61st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ethiopia
Kiribati
1x
Year Urban population
Ethiopia Kiribati
2024 23.6% 62.5%
2023 23.1% 61.5%
2022 22.7% 60.6%
2021 22.1% 59.6%
2020 21.6% 58.4%
2019 21.2% 56.3%
2018 20.8% 54.5%
2017 20.3% 53%
2016 19.9% 51.8%
2015 19.5% 51%
2014 19% 50.4%
2013 18.6% 50%
2012 18.2% 49.6%
2011 17.9% 49.1%
2010 17.5% 48.5%
2009 17.2% 47.4%
2008 16.8% 45.9%
2007 16.1% 44.6%
2006 16.2% 43.7%
2005 16% 43.5%
2004 15.8% 43.5%
2003 15.5% 43.5%
2002 15.3% 43.5%
2001 15.1% 43.5%
2000 14.9% 43.3%
1999 14.7% 42.3%
1998 14.5% 40.5%
1997 14.3% 38.6%
1996 14.1% 37.1%
1995 13.9% 36.3%
1994 13.7% 36%
1993 13.5% 35.7%
1992 13.3% 35.5%
1991 13% 35.3%
1990 12.8% 35%
1989 12.5% 34.7%
1988 12.2% 34.4%
1987 11.9% 34.1%
1986 11.7% 33.8%
1985 11.4% 33.5%
1984 11.2% 33.3%
1983 11% 33.1%
1982 10.8% 32.9%
1981 10.6% 32.7%
1980 10.4% 32.4%
1979 10.2% 32.1%
1978 9.98% 31.6%
1977 9.79% 30.5%
1976 9.61% 29%
1975 9.42% 27.4%
1974 9.24% 26.1%
1973 9.07% 25.5%
1972 8.9% 25.1%
1971 8.73% 24.8%
1970 8.57% 24.5%
1969 8.41% 24.2%
1968 8.25% 23.7%
1967 8.1% 22.9%
1966 7.95% 21.9%
1965 7.8% 20.7%
1964 7.66% 19.5%
1963 7.52% 18.2%
1962 7.38% 17%
1961 7.24% 16%
1960 7.11% 15.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia and from 43.5% to 62.5% in Kiribati.

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

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/kiribati | 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 (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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