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Population density: Finland vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a population density of 48 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Finland has 648,293 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Finland and Rwanda rank 175th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Finland 96.9% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Finland
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Finland Rwanda
2026 48 1,563
2025 48 1,529
2024 47.9 1,497
2023 47.6 1,465
2022 47.3 1,433
2021 47.2 1,402
2020 47.1 1,372
2019 47.1 1,341
2018 47 1,311
2017 46.9 1,281
2016 46.8 1,251
2015 46.7 1,222
2014 46.5 1,193
2013 46.4 1,165
2012 46.1 1,137
2011 45.9 1,110
2010 45.7 1,083
2009 45.5 1,056
2008 45.3 1,029
2007 45 1,003
2006 44.9 976
2005 44.6 951
2004 44.5 926
2003 44.3 901
2002 44.2 882
2001 44.1 870
2000 44 862
1999 43.9 855
1998 43.8 848
1997 43.7 814
1996 43.6 704
1995 43.4 596
1994 43.3 713
1993 43.1 838
1992 42.9 807
1991 42.6 790
1990 42.4 774
1989 42.2 754
1988 42.1 732
1987 41.9 709
1986 41.8 686
1985 41.7 663
1984 41.5 641
1983 41.3 620
1982 41 600
1981 40.8 580
1980 40.6 562
1979 40.5 545
1978 40.4 529
1977 40.3 513
1976 40.2 498
1975 40.1 484
1974 39.9 470
1973 39.7 456
1972 39.5 443
1971 39.2 430
1970 39.2 418
1969 39.3 405
1968 39.3 393
1967 39.2 381
1966 39 370
1965 38.8 359
1964 38.7 350
1963 38.5 342
1962 38.2 334
1961 37.9 326

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Finland increased by 7%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Finland ranked 163rd by population density and is 175th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Finland
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Finland Rwanda
2024 74.3% 29.9%
2023 74% 28.9%
2022 73.7% 27.8%
2021 73.4% 26.1%
2020 73.1% 24.5%
2019 72.7% 23%
2018 72.3% 21.5%
2017 72% 20.2%
2016 71.6% 19.1%
2015 71.3% 18.2%
2014 71% 17.5%
2013 70.7% 17.1%
2012 70.4% 16.9%
2011 70.1% 16.9%
2010 69.8% 16.9%
2009 69.5% 16.9%
2008 69.3% 16.9%
2007 69% 16.9%
2006 68.8% 16.9%
2005 68.5% 16.9%
2004 68.3% 16.9%
2003 68% 16.9%
2002 67.8% 16.9%
2001 67.5% 16.5%
2000 67.1% 15.8%
1999 66.7% 14.7%
1998 66.2% 13.3%
1997 65.7% 11.8%
1996 65.2% 10.3%
1995 64.8% 8.82%
1994 64.5% 7.48%
1993 64.3% 6.4%
1992 64.1% 5.66%
1991 64% 5.36%
1990 63.9% 5.27%
1989 63.8% 5.2%
1988 63.8% 5.14%
1987 63.7% 5.09%
1986 63.6% 5.05%
1985 63.5% 5.01%
1984 63.4% 4.98%
1983 63.3% 4.95%
1982 63.2% 4.91%
1981 63.2% 4.87%
1980 63.1% 4.82%
1979 63% 4.75%
1978 62.9% 4.67%
1977 62.8% 4.55%
1976 62.6% 4.39%
1975 62.4% 4.19%
1974 62.1% 3.97%
1973 61.6% 3.75%
1972 61.1% 3.55%
1971 60.7% 3.37%
1970 60.3% 3.24%
1969 59.9% 3.14%
1968 59.5% 3.06%
1967 59.1% 3%
1966 58.7% 2.94%
1965 58.3% 2.88%
1964 57.9% 2.83%
1963 57.4% 2.78%
1962 56.8% 2.72%
1961 56.3% 2.67%
1960 55.6% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.3% to 74.3% in Finland and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/rwanda | 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 (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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