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Population density: Ethiopia vs Vietnam compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a population density of 319 people per square mile compared to 845 people in Vietnam. Ethiopia has 90,009 sq ft of land per person vs 35,354 sq ft in Vietnam. Ethiopia and Vietnam rank 78th and 30th 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 1.24% of the population and 0.21% of the land area for Vietnam, making the population density in Ethiopia 62.2% lower than in Vietnam.

Population density by year

Ethiopia
Vietnam

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ethiopia Vietnam
2026 319 845
2025 311 840
2024 303 835
2023 295.4 829
2022 287.8 824
2021 280.3 818
2020 272.9 810
2019 265.6 803
2018 258.6 795
2017 251.7 787
2016 244.9 777
2015 238.4 767
2014 232.1 758
2013 225.9 749
2012 219.8 740
2011 213.8 731
2010 207.8 723
2009 202 716
2008 196.3 705
2007 190.7 693
2006 185.2 680
2005 179.8 671
2004 174.6 671
2003 191.2 665
2002 185.5 657
2001 180 649
2000 174.6 642
1999 169.3 607
1998 164.1 599
1997 159 591
1996 154 582
1995 149 573
1994 144 564
1993 139.1 554
1992 - 543
1991 - 532
1990 - 521
1989 - 510
1988 - 500
1987 - 490
1986 - 480
1985 - 470
1984 - 459
1983 - 448
1982 - 438
1981 - 428
1980 - 418
1979 - 409
1978 - 400
1977 - 390
1976 - 379
1975 - 370
1974 - 361
1973 - 353
1972 - 346
1971 - 338
1970 - 330
1969 - 323
1968 - 316
1967 - 309
1966 - 303
1965 - 295.4
1964 - 288.1
1963 - 280.5
1962 - 272.8
1961 - 265.8

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ethiopia increased by 72.2%, compared to a 24.1% growth in Vietnam.

In 2006, Ethiopia ranked 101st by population density and is 78th now. Vietnam was 33rd in 2006 and ranks 30th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ethiopia
Vietnam
1x
Year Urban population
Ethiopia Vietnam
2024 23.6% 38.5%
2023 23.1% 38.1%
2022 22.7% 37.5%
2021 22.1% 36.7%
2020 21.6% 35.6%
2019 21.2% 34.6%
2018 20.8% 33.9%
2017 20.3% 33.4%
2016 19.9% 32.8%
2015 19.5% 32.4%
2014 19% 31.9%
2013 18.6% 31.5%
2012 18.2% 31.1%
2011 17.9% 30.7%
2010 17.5% 30.3%
2009 17.2% 29.8%
2008 16.8% 29.2%
2007 16.1% 28.6%
2006 16.2% 28%
2005 16% 27.4%
2004 15.8% 26.8%
2003 15.5% 26.2%
2002 15.3% 25.6%
2001 15.1% 24.9%
2000 14.9% 24.4%
1999 14.7% 23.8%
1998 14.5% 23.3%
1997 14.3% 22.7%
1996 14.1% 22.1%
1995 13.9% 21.5%
1994 13.7% 20.9%
1993 13.5% 20.3%
1992 13.3% 19.8%
1991 13% 19.4%
1990 12.8% 19.2%
1989 12.5% 19.1%
1988 12.2% 19%
1987 11.9% 19.1%
1986 11.7% 19.1%
1985 11.4% 19.1%
1984 11.2% 19.1%
1983 11% 19.1%
1982 10.8% 19.1%
1981 10.6% 19.1%
1980 10.4% 19.2%
1979 10.2% 19.2%
1978 9.98% 19.2%
1977 9.79% 19.6%
1976 9.61% 20.4%
1975 9.42% 20.6%
1974 9.24% 20.5%
1973 9.07% 20.5%
1972 8.9% 20.6%
1971 8.73% 20.7%
1970 8.57% 20.7%
1969 8.41% 20.6%
1968 8.25% 20.1%
1967 8.1% 19.3%
1966 7.95% 18.4%
1965 7.8% 17.5%
1964 7.66% 16.9%
1963 7.52% 16.5%
1962 7.38% 16.1%
1961 7.24% 15.7%
1960 7.11% 15.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia and from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam.

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
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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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