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Population density: Germany vs United Kingdom compared

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a population density of 612 people per square mile compared to 750 people in the United Kingdom. Germany has 46,087 sq ft of land per person vs 37,705 sq ft in the United Kingdom. Germany and the United Kingdom rank 50th and 35th 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 0.85% of the population and 0.16% of the land area for the United Kingdom, making the population density in Germany 18.4% lower than in the United Kingdom.

Population density by year

Germany
United Kingdom

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Germany United Kingdom
2026 612 750
2025 617 746
2024 619 741
2023 617 733
2022 617 724
2021 617 717
2020 616 715
2019 616 713
2018 615 710
2017 613 706
2016 610 702
2015 606 697
2014 601 692
2013 599 687
2012 598 682
2011 596 677
2010 608 672
2009 608 667
2008 610 662
2007 611 656
2006 612 651
2005 612 647
2004 613 642
2003 613 639
2002 612 636
2001 611 633
2000 610 630
1999 609 628
1998 609 626
1997 609 624
1996 608 623
1995 606 621
1994 604 619
1993 602 618
1992 598 616
1991 594 615
1990 589 613
1989 584 611
1988 580 609
1987 577 608
1986 577 607
1985 576 605
1984 578 604
1983 580 603
1982 581 603
1981 582 603
1980 581 603
1979 580 602
1978 579 602
1977 580 602
1976 581 602
1975 584 602
1974 586 602
1973 586 602
1972 584 600
1971 581 598
1970 580 596
1969 578 594
1968 573 591
1967 571 588
1966 568 585
1965 564 582
1964 559 578
1963 554 574
1962 549 570
1961 544 565

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/germany/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Germany increased by 0.04%, compared to a 15.1% growth in the United Kingdom.

In 2006, Germany ranked 37th by population density and is 50th now. The United Kingdom was 35th in 2006 and still ranks 35th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Germany
United Kingdom
1x
Year Urban population
Germany United Kingdom
2024 82% 83.2%
2023 81.9% 83.2%
2022 81.8% 83.1%
2021 81.6% 83%
2020 81.5% 82.9%
2019 81.3% 82.7%
2018 81.1% 82.4%
2017 81% 82.2%
2016 80.8% 82%
2015 80.7% 81.8%
2014 80.6% 81.6%
2013 80.5% 81.5%
2012 80.4% 81.3%
2011 80.3% 81.1%
2010 80.3% 81%
2009 80.3% 80.9%
2008 80.2% 80.8%
2007 80.2% 80.6%
2006 80.2% 80.5%
2005 80.2% 80.4%
2004 80.2% 80.3%
2003 80.1% 80.2%
2002 80.1% 80.1%
2001 80.1% 80%
2000 80.1% 79.8%
1999 80.1% 79.6%
1998 80.1% 79.4%
1997 80.1% 79.1%
1996 80.1% 78.9%
1995 80% 78.7%
1994 80% 78.4%
1993 80% 78.3%
1992 80% 78.2%
1991 80% 78.1%
1990 80% 78.1%
1989 80% 78.1%
1988 80% 78.2%
1987 80% 78.3%
1986 80% 78.3%
1985 80% 78.4%
1984 80% 78.5%
1983 80% 78.5%
1982 79.9% 78.6%
1981 79.9% 78.6%
1980 79.9% 78.6%
1979 79.9% 78.5%
1978 79.9% 78.3%
1977 79.9% 78.1%
1976 79.8% 77.8%
1975 79.8% 77.5%
1974 79.8% 77.3%
1973 79.8% 77.1%
1972 79.7% 77%
1971 79.7% 76.9%
1970 79.7% 76.9%
1969 79.6% 77%
1968 79.4% 77.1%
1967 79.1% 77.2%
1966 78.7% 77.4%
1965 78.3% 77.6%
1964 77.7% 77.8%
1963 77.2% 78%
1962 76.7% 78.2%
1961 76.2% 78.4%
1960 75.7% 78.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80.2% to 82% in Germany and from 80.3% to 83.2% in the United Kingdom.

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
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/germany/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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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