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Population density: Finland vs Malaysia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a population density of 48 people per square mile compared to 287 people in Malaysia. Finland has 648,293 sq ft of land per person vs 100,140 sq ft in Malaysia. Finland and Malaysia rank 175th and 85th 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 0.44% of the population and 0.22% of the land area for Malaysia, making the population density in Finland 83.3% lower than in Malaysia.

Population density by year

Finland
Malaysia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Finland Malaysia
2026 48 287
2025 48 283.7
2024 47.9 280.3
2023 47.6 276.9
2022 47.3 273.5
2021 47.2 270.3
2020 47.1 267.2
2019 47.1 263.6
2018 47 259.4
2017 46.9 255.1
2016 46.8 250.6
2015 46.7 246.2
2014 46.5 242
2013 46.4 237.9
2012 46.1 233.8
2011 45.9 229.9
2010 45.7 225.9
2009 45.5 221.7
2008 45.3 217.3
2007 45 212.8
2006 44.9 208.3
2005 44.6 203.7
2004 44.5 199.1
2003 44.3 194.6
2002 44.2 190
2001 44.1 185.5
2000 44 181.1
1999 43.9 176.9
1998 43.8 172.7
1997 43.7 168.5
1996 43.6 164.4
1995 43.4 160.3
1994 43.3 156.2
1993 43.1 152.3
1992 42.9 148.5
1991 42.6 144.6
1990 42.4 140.6
1989 42.2 136.5
1988 42.1 132.4
1987 41.9 128.3
1986 41.8 124.2
1985 41.7 120.2
1984 41.5 116.3
1983 41.3 112.6
1982 41 109
1981 40.8 105.6
1980 40.6 102.3
1979 40.5 99.5
1978 40.4 97.2
1977 40.3 94.9
1976 40.2 92.6
1975 40.1 90.4
1974 39.9 88.3
1973 39.7 86.2
1972 39.5 84.2
1971 39.2 82.2
1970 39.2 80.2
1969 39.3 78.4
1968 39.3 76.7
1967 39.2 74.9
1966 39 73.2
1965 38.8 71.4
1964 38.7 69.6
1963 38.5 67.8
1962 38.2 66.1
1961 37.9 64.4

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/finland/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Finland increased by 7%, compared to a 37.8% growth in Malaysia.

In 2006, Finland ranked 163rd by population density and is 175th now. Malaysia was 92nd in 2006 and ranks 85th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Finland
Malaysia
1x
Year Urban population
Finland Malaysia
2024 74.3% 76.9%
2023 74% 76.4%
2022 73.7% 76%
2021 73.4% 75.5%
2020 73.1% 75.1%
2019 72.7% 74.8%
2018 72.3% 74.6%
2017 72% 74.2%
2016 71.6% 73.9%
2015 71.3% 73.4%
2014 71% 73%
2013 70.7% 72.5%
2012 70.4% 72%
2011 70.1% 71.4%
2010 69.8% 70.9%
2009 69.5% 70.2%
2008 69.3% 69.5%
2007 69% 68.8%
2006 68.8% 67.9%
2005 68.5% 67%
2004 68.3% 66.1%
2003 68% 65.1%
2002 67.8% 64.1%
2001 67.5% 63%
2000 67.1% 62%
1999 66.7% 60.9%
1998 66.2% 59.7%
1997 65.7% 58.5%
1996 65.2% 57.2%
1995 64.8% 55.9%
1994 64.5% 54.6%
1993 64.3% 53.2%
1992 64.1% 51.9%
1991 64% 50.5%
1990 63.9% 49%
1989 63.8% 47.4%
1988 63.8% 45.8%
1987 63.7% 44%
1986 63.6% 42.3%
1985 63.5% 40.6%
1984 63.4% 39%
1983 63.3% 37.5%
1982 63.2% 36.2%
1981 63.2% 35.1%
1980 63.1% 34.2%
1979 63% 33.6%
1978 62.9% 33%
1977 62.8% 32.4%
1976 62.6% 31.9%
1975 62.4% 31.4%
1974 62.1% 30.9%
1973 61.6% 30.5%
1972 61.1% 30.1%
1971 60.7% 29.8%
1970 60.3% 29.4%
1969 59.9% 29.1%
1968 59.5% 28.8%
1967 59.1% 28.5%
1966 58.7% 28.1%
1965 58.3% 27.8%
1964 57.9% 27.5%
1963 57.4% 27.2%
1962 56.8% 26.8%
1961 56.3% 26.5%
1960 55.6% 26.1%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.3% to 74.3% in Finland and from 66.1% to 76.9% in Malaysia.

Densely populated cities

Finland
City Population
Helsinki 687K
Espoo 315K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 215K
Turku 206K
Jyvaskyla 148K
Kuopio 124K
Lahti 121K
Pori 83.2K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/finland/malaysia | 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 (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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