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Population density: Gabon vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Gabon has a population density of 26.6 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Gabon has 1,134,777 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Gabon and Rwanda rank 184th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Gabon has 0.03% of the world's population and 0.17% 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 Gabon 98.3% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Gabon
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gabon Rwanda
2026 26.6 1,563
2025 26.1 1,529
2024 25.5 1,497
2023 25 1,465
2022 24.4 1,433
2021 23.9 1,402
2020 23.3 1,372
2019 22.8 1,341
2018 22.2 1,311
2017 21.7 1,281
2016 21.1 1,251
2015 20.5 1,222
2014 19.9 1,193
2013 19.2 1,165
2012 18.6 1,137
2011 17.9 1,110
2010 17.3 1,083
2009 16.7 1,056
2008 16.2 1,029
2007 15.6 1,003
2006 15.2 976
2005 14.7 951
2004 14.3 926
2003 13.9 901
2002 13.5 882
2001 13.2 870
2000 12.8 862
1999 12.5 855
1998 12.2 848
1997 11.9 814
1996 11.6 704
1995 11.3 596
1994 11 713
1993 10.7 838
1992 10.4 807
1991 10.2 790
1990 9.89 774
1989 9.62 754
1988 9.36 732
1987 9.1 709
1986 8.85 686
1985 8.61 663
1984 8.38 641
1983 8.15 620
1982 7.93 600
1981 7.72 580
1980 7.52 562
1979 7.33 545
1978 7.15 529
1977 6.98 513
1976 6.81 498
1975 6.66 484
1974 6.51 470
1973 6.37 456
1972 6.24 443
1971 6.11 430
1970 5.99 418
1969 5.86 405
1968 5.75 393
1967 5.66 381
1966 5.57 370
1965 5.49 359
1964 5.41 350
1963 5.34 342
1962 5.27 334
1961 5.21 326

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/gabon/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Gabon increased by 75.6%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Gabon ranked 184th by population density and is 184th still. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gabon
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Gabon Rwanda
2024 91.9% 29.9%
2023 91.6% 28.9%
2022 91.2% 27.8%
2021 90.8% 26.1%
2020 90.3% 24.5%
2019 89.9% 23%
2018 89.5% 21.5%
2017 89% 20.2%
2016 88.5% 19.1%
2015 88.1% 18.2%
2014 87.6% 17.5%
2013 87.1% 17.1%
2012 86.9% 16.9%
2011 86.6% 16.9%
2010 86.2% 16.9%
2009 85.7% 16.9%
2008 85.2% 16.9%
2007 84.7% 16.9%
2006 84.1% 16.9%
2005 83.4% 16.9%
2004 82.7% 16.9%
2003 82% 16.9%
2002 81.2% 16.9%
2001 80.4% 16.5%
2000 79.6% 15.8%
1999 78.7% 14.7%
1998 77.8% 13.3%
1997 76.9% 11.8%
1996 75.9% 10.3%
1995 75% 8.82%
1994 74% 7.48%
1993 73% 6.4%
1992 71.9% 5.66%
1991 70.7% 5.36%
1990 69.3% 5.27%
1989 67.8% 5.2%
1988 66.4% 5.14%
1987 65% 5.09%
1986 63.7% 5.05%
1985 62.5% 5.01%
1984 61.2% 4.98%
1983 59.9% 4.95%
1982 58.5% 4.91%
1981 57% 4.87%
1980 55.2% 4.82%
1979 53.2% 4.75%
1978 51.1% 4.67%
1977 48.8% 4.55%
1976 46.4% 4.39%
1975 43.9% 4.19%
1974 41.4% 3.97%
1973 38.9% 3.75%
1972 36.5% 3.55%
1971 34.2% 3.37%
1970 32% 3.24%
1969 29.8% 3.14%
1968 27.4% 3.06%
1967 24.9% 3%
1966 22.4% 2.94%
1965 20% 2.88%
1964 17.7% 2.83%
1963 15.8% 2.78%
1962 14.2% 2.72%
1961 13.1% 2.67%
1960 12.6% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 82.7% to 91.9% in Gabon and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Gabon
City Population
Libreville 899K
Port-Gentil 155K
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/gabon/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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