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Population density: Finland vs France compared

Updated on by Georank

Finland has a population density of 48.1 people per square mile compared to 331 people in France. Finland has 645,248 sq ft of land per person vs 100,841 sq ft in France. Finland and France rank 175th and 75th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Finland has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.84% of the population and 0.36% of the land area for France, making the population density in Finland 85.4% lower than in France.

Population density by year

Finland
France

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Finland France
2026 48.1 331
2025 48.1 330
2024 47.9 329
2023 47.6 329
2022 47.3 328
2021 47.2 326
2020 47.1 325
2019 47.1 324
2018 47 323
2017 46.9 322
2016 46.8 321
2015 46.7 320
2014 46.5 319
2013 46.4 317
2012 46.1 316
2011 45.9 314
2010 45.7 312
2009 45.5 311
2008 45.3 309
2007 45 308
2006 44.9 306
2005 44.6 304
2004 44.5 301
2003 44.3 299.1
2002 44.2 297
2001 44.1 294.9
2000 44 292.8
1999 43.9 290.7
1998 43.8 289.3
1997 43.7 288.2
1996 43.6 287.2
1995 43.4 286.1
1994 43.3 285.1
1993 43.1 284
1992 42.9 282.8
1991 42.6 281.4
1990 42.4 280
1989 42.2 278.5
1988 42.1 276.8
1987 41.9 275.2
1986 41.8 273.7
1985 41.7 272.3
1984 41.5 271
1983 41.3 269.6
1982 41 268.2
1981 40.8 267.2
1980 40.6 265.6
1979 40.5 264.2
1978 40.4 263
1977 40.3 261.8
1976 40.2 260.6
1975 40.1 259.5
1974 39.9 258.3
1973 39.7 256.6
1972 39.5 254.5
1971 39.2 252.3
1970 39.2 249.9
1969 39.3 247.7
1968 39.3 245.6
1967 39.2 243.8
1966 39 241.8
1965 38.8 239.7
1964 38.7 237.4
1963 38.5 234.9
1962 38.2 232.5
1961 37.9 230.2

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Finland increased by 7.3%, compared to a 8.17% growth in France.

In 2006, Finland ranked 163rd by population density and is 175th now. France was 67th in 2006 and ranks 75th out of 197 currently.

Population density comparison

Finland France
Population density 48.1 ppl/mi² 331 ppl/mi²
Population density rank 175/197 75/197
Population
5647947
68871753
Land area 117,360 sq mi 208,090 sq mi
Land area per capita 579,445 sq ft 84,418 sq ft
Rural population 25.5% 21.2%
Urban population 74.5% 78.8%
Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people 0% 3.05%

Share of urban population by year

Finland
France
1x
Year Urban population
Finland France
2025 74.5% 78.8%
2024 74.3% 78.8%
2023 74% 78.8%
2022 73.7% 78.8%
2021 73.4% 78.7%
2020 73.1% 78.7%
2019 72.7% 78.7%
2018 72.3% 78.7%
2017 72% 78.6%
2016 71.6% 78.6%
2015 71.3% 77.8%
2014 71% 77.4%
2013 70.7% 77.2%
2012 70.4% 77.2%
2011 70.1% 77.1%
2010 69.8% 77.1%
2009 69.5% 77.1%
2008 69.3% 77.2%
2007 69% 77.2%
2006 68.8% 77.3%
2005 68.5% 77.4%
2004 68.3% 77.5%
2003 68% 77.5%
2002 67.8% 77.3%
2001 67.5% 76.9%
2000 67.1% 76.5%
1999 66.7% 76.2%
1998 66.2% 75.9%
1997 65.7% 75.6%
1996 65.2% 75.4%
1995 64.8% 75.1%
1994 64.5% 74.8%
1993 64.3% 74.6%
1992 64.1% 74.4%
1991 64% 74.2%
1990 63.9% 74.1%
1989 63.8% 73.9%
1988 63.8% 73.8%
1987 63.7% 73.7%
1986 63.6% 73.6%
1985 63.5% 73.6%
1984 63.4% 73.5%
1983 63.3% 73.4%
1982 63.2% 73.4%
1981 63.2% 73.3%
1980 63.1% 73.2%
1979 63% 73.2%
1978 62.9% 73.2%
1977 62.8% 73.1%
1976 62.6% 73.1%
1975 62.4% 73%
1974 62.1% 72.9%
1973 61.6% 72.7%
1972 61.1% 72.3%
1971 60.7% 71.9%
1970 60.3% 71.4%
1969 59.9% 70.8%
1968 59.5% 70.2%
1967 59.1% 69.5%
1966 58.7% 68.4%
1965 58.3% 67.2%
1964 57.9% 65.9%
1963 57.4% 64.6%
1962 56.8% 63.5%
1961 56.3% 62.5%
1960 55.6% 61.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/france | CC BY

From 2005 to 2025, the share of urban population changed from 68.5% to 74.5% in Finland and from 77.4% to 78.8% in France.

Densely populated cities

Finland
City Population
Helsinki 694K
Espoo 326K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 217K
Turku 210K
Jyvaskyla 150K
Kuopio 127K
Lahti 122K
Pori 83K
France
City Population
Paris 2.1M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/france | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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