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Population density: Germany vs Sweden compared

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a population density of 612 people per square mile compared to 67.8 people in Sweden. Germany has 46,087 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. Germany and Sweden rank 50th and 163rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Germany has 1.03% of the world's population and 0.23% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, making the population density in Germany 802% higher than in Sweden.

Population density by year

Germany
Sweden

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Germany Sweden
2026 612 67.8
2025 617 67.5
2024 619 67.2
2023 617 67
2022 617 66.7
2021 617 66.2
2020 616 65.8
2019 616 65.4
2018 615 64.7
2017 613 64
2016 610 63.1
2015 606 62.3
2014 601 61.7
2013 599 61
2012 598 60.5
2011 596 60.1
2010 608 59.6
2009 608 59.1
2008 610 58.6
2007 611 58.2
2006 612 57.7
2005 612 57.4
2004 613 57.2
2003 613 57
2002 612 56.7
2001 611 56.6
2000 610 56.4
1999 609 56.3
1998 609 56.3
1997 609 56.2
1996 608 56.2
1995 606 56.1
1994 604 55.8
1993 602 55.4
1992 598 55.1
1991 594 54.8
1990 589 54.4
1989 584 54
1988 580 53.6
1987 577 53.4
1986 577 53.2
1985 576 53.1
1984 578 53
1983 580 53
1982 581 52.9
1981 582 52.9
1980 581 52.8
1979 580 52.7
1978 579 52.6
1977 580 52.5
1976 581 52.3
1975 584 52.1
1974 586 51.9
1973 586 51.7
1972 584 51.6
1971 581 51.5
1970 580 51.1
1969 578 50.7
1968 573 50.3
1967 571 50
1966 568 49.6
1965 564 49.2
1964 559 48.7
1963 554 48.4
1962 549 48.1
1961 544 47.8

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/germany/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Germany increased by 0.04%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.

In 2006, Germany ranked 37th by population density and is 50th now. Sweden was 155th in 2006 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Germany
Sweden
1x
Year Urban population
Germany Sweden
2024 82% 88.9%
2023 81.9% 88.6%
2022 81.8% 88.4%
2021 81.6% 88.2%
2020 81.5% 87.9%
2019 81.3% 87.7%
2018 81.1% 87.5%
2017 81% 87.2%
2016 80.8% 87%
2015 80.7% 86.6%
2014 80.6% 86.3%
2013 80.5% 85.9%
2012 80.4% 85.6%
2011 80.3% 85.4%
2010 80.3% 85.1%
2009 80.3% 84.9%
2008 80.2% 84.8%
2007 80.2% 84.6%
2006 80.2% 84.5%
2005 80.2% 84.4%
2004 80.2% 84.3%
2003 80.1% 84.2%
2002 80.1% 84.1%
2001 80.1% 84.1%
2000 80.1% 84%
1999 80.1% 84%
1998 80.1% 84%
1997 80.1% 84%
1996 80.1% 83.9%
1995 80% 83.9%
1994 80% 83.8%
1993 80% 83.7%
1992 80% 83.6%
1991 80% 83.5%
1990 80% 83.4%
1989 80% 83.3%
1988 80% 83.2%
1987 80% 83.2%
1986 80% 83.1%
1985 80% 83.1%
1984 80% 83.1%
1983 80% 83.1%
1982 79.9% 83.1%
1981 79.9% 83.1%
1980 79.9% 83.1%
1979 79.9% 83.1%
1978 79.9% 83%
1977 79.9% 82.9%
1976 79.8% 82.8%
1975 79.8% 82.7%
1974 79.8% 82.5%
1973 79.8% 82.3%
1972 79.7% 82%
1971 79.7% 81.7%
1970 79.7% 81.2%
1969 79.6% 80.6%
1968 79.4% 79.8%
1967 79.1% 78.9%
1966 78.7% 78%
1965 78.3% 77.1%
1964 77.7% 76.2%
1963 77.2% 75.3%
1962 76.7% 74.3%
1961 76.2% 73.4%
1960 75.7% 72.5%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/germany/sweden | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80.2% to 82% in Germany and from 84.3% to 88.9% in Sweden.

Densely populated cities

Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/germany/sweden | 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 (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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