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Population density: Finland vs United Kingdom compared

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a population density of 48 people per square mile compared to 750 people in the United Kingdom. Finland has 648,293 sq ft of land per person vs 37,705 sq ft in the United Kingdom. Finland and the United Kingdom rank 175th and 35th 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 0.85% of the population and 0.16% of the land area for the United Kingdom, making the population density in Finland 93.6% lower than in the United Kingdom.

Population density by year

Finland
United Kingdom

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Finland United Kingdom
2026 48 750
2025 48 746
2024 47.9 741
2023 47.6 733
2022 47.3 724
2021 47.2 717
2020 47.1 715
2019 47.1 713
2018 47 710
2017 46.9 706
2016 46.8 702
2015 46.7 697
2014 46.5 692
2013 46.4 687
2012 46.1 682
2011 45.9 677
2010 45.7 672
2009 45.5 667
2008 45.3 662
2007 45 656
2006 44.9 651
2005 44.6 647
2004 44.5 642
2003 44.3 639
2002 44.2 636
2001 44.1 633
2000 44 630
1999 43.9 628
1998 43.8 626
1997 43.7 624
1996 43.6 623
1995 43.4 621
1994 43.3 619
1993 43.1 618
1992 42.9 616
1991 42.6 615
1990 42.4 613
1989 42.2 611
1988 42.1 609
1987 41.9 608
1986 41.8 607
1985 41.7 605
1984 41.5 604
1983 41.3 603
1982 41 603
1981 40.8 603
1980 40.6 603
1979 40.5 602
1978 40.4 602
1977 40.3 602
1976 40.2 602
1975 40.1 602
1974 39.9 602
1973 39.7 602
1972 39.5 600
1971 39.2 598
1970 39.2 596
1969 39.3 594
1968 39.3 591
1967 39.2 588
1966 39 585
1965 38.8 582
1964 38.7 578
1963 38.5 574
1962 38.2 570
1961 37.9 565

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Finland increased by 7%, compared to a 15.1% growth in the United Kingdom.

In 2006, Finland ranked 163rd by population density and is 175th now. The United Kingdom was 35th in 2006 and still ranks 35th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Finland
United Kingdom
1x
Year Urban population
Finland United Kingdom
2024 74.3% 83.2%
2023 74% 83.2%
2022 73.7% 83.1%
2021 73.4% 83%
2020 73.1% 82.9%
2019 72.7% 82.7%
2018 72.3% 82.4%
2017 72% 82.2%
2016 71.6% 82%
2015 71.3% 81.8%
2014 71% 81.6%
2013 70.7% 81.5%
2012 70.4% 81.3%
2011 70.1% 81.1%
2010 69.8% 81%
2009 69.5% 80.9%
2008 69.3% 80.8%
2007 69% 80.6%
2006 68.8% 80.5%
2005 68.5% 80.4%
2004 68.3% 80.3%
2003 68% 80.2%
2002 67.8% 80.1%
2001 67.5% 80%
2000 67.1% 79.8%
1999 66.7% 79.6%
1998 66.2% 79.4%
1997 65.7% 79.1%
1996 65.2% 78.9%
1995 64.8% 78.7%
1994 64.5% 78.4%
1993 64.3% 78.3%
1992 64.1% 78.2%
1991 64% 78.1%
1990 63.9% 78.1%
1989 63.8% 78.1%
1988 63.8% 78.2%
1987 63.7% 78.3%
1986 63.6% 78.3%
1985 63.5% 78.4%
1984 63.4% 78.5%
1983 63.3% 78.5%
1982 63.2% 78.6%
1981 63.2% 78.6%
1980 63.1% 78.6%
1979 63% 78.5%
1978 62.9% 78.3%
1977 62.8% 78.1%
1976 62.6% 77.8%
1975 62.4% 77.5%
1974 62.1% 77.3%
1973 61.6% 77.1%
1972 61.1% 77%
1971 60.7% 76.9%
1970 60.3% 76.9%
1969 59.9% 77%
1968 59.5% 77.1%
1967 59.1% 77.2%
1966 58.7% 77.4%
1965 58.3% 77.6%
1964 57.9% 77.8%
1963 57.4% 78%
1962 56.8% 78.2%
1961 56.3% 78.4%
1960 55.6% 78.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.3% to 74.3% in Finland and from 80.3% to 83.2% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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 (2011–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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