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Population density: Germany vs United States compared

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a population density of 612 people per square mile compared to 97.3 people in the United States. Germany has 46,087 sq ft of land per person vs 309,474 sq ft in the United States. Germany and the United States rank 50th and 149th 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 4.21% of the population and 6.14% of the land area for the United States, making the population density in Germany 529% higher than in the United States.

Population density by year

Germany
United States

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Germany United States
2026 612 97.3
2025 617 96.8
2024 619 96.3
2023 617 94.8
2022 617 94.4
2021 617 94
2020 616 93.9
2019 616 93
2018 615 92.5
2017 613 92.1
2016 610 91.5
2015 606 90.8
2014 601 90.1
2013 599 89.5
2012 598 88.9
2011 596 88.2
2010 608 87.6
2009 608 86.9
2008 610 86.1
2007 611 85.2
2006 612 84.3
2005 612 83.5
2004 613 82.8
2003 613 82
2002 612 81.3
2001 611 80.6
2000 610 79.8
1999 609 79
1998 609 78.1
1997 609 77.2
1996 608 76.3
1995 606 75.4
1994 604 74.5
1993 602 73.6
1992 598 72.6
1991 594 71.7
1990 589 70.7
1989 584 69.8
1988 580 69.1
1987 577 68.5
1986 577 67.9
1985 576 67.3
1984 578 66.7
1983 580 66.1
1982 581 65.5
1981 582 64.9
1980 581 64.1
1979 580 63.6
1978 579 62.9
1977 580 62.3
1976 581 61.7
1975 584 61.1
1974 586 60.5
1973 586 59.9
1972 584 59.4
1971 581 58.7
1970 580 58
1969 578 57.3
1968 573 56.8
1967 571 56.2
1966 568 55.6
1965 564 54.9
1964 559 54.3
1963 554 53.5
1962 549 52.7
1961 544 51.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

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

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Germany increased by 0.04%, compared to a 15.3% growth in the United States.

In 2006, Germany ranked 37th by population density and is 50th now. The United States was 146th in 2006 and ranks 149th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Germany
United States
1x
Year Urban population
Germany United States
2024 82% 80.1%
2023 81.9% 80.1%
2022 81.8% 80%
2021 81.6% 80%
2020 81.5% 80%
2019 81.3% 80.1%
2018 81.1% 80.3%
2017 81% 80.4%
2016 80.8% 80.5%
2015 80.7% 80.6%
2014 80.6% 80.6%
2013 80.5% 80.7%
2012 80.4% 80.7%
2011 80.3% 80.7%
2010 80.3% 80.7%
2009 80.3% 80.7%
2008 80.2% 80.6%
2007 80.2% 80.5%
2006 80.2% 80.4%
2005 80.2% 80.2%
2004 80.2% 80%
2003 80.1% 79.8%
2002 80.1% 79.5%
2001 80.1% 79.3%
2000 80.1% 79.1%
1999 80.1% 78.8%
1998 80.1% 78.5%
1997 80.1% 78.1%
1996 80.1% 77.7%
1995 80% 77.2%
1994 80% 76.7%
1993 80% 76.3%
1992 80% 75.9%
1991 80% 75.5%
1990 80% 75.3%
1989 80% 75.1%
1988 80% 74.8%
1987 80% 74.7%
1986 80% 74.5%
1985 80% 74.3%
1984 80% 74.2%
1983 80% 74%
1982 79.9% 73.9%
1981 79.9% 73.8%
1980 79.9% 73.8%
1979 79.9% 73.7%
1978 79.9% 73.7%
1977 79.9% 73.7%
1976 79.8% 73.6%
1975 79.8% 73.6%
1974 79.8% 73.6%
1973 79.8% 73.6%
1972 79.7% 73.6%
1971 79.7% 73.5%
1970 79.7% 73.5%
1969 79.6% 73.4%
1968 79.4% 73.2%
1967 79.1% 73%
1966 78.7% 72.7%
1965 78.3% 72.3%
1964 77.7% 71.9%
1963 77.2% 71.4%
1962 76.7% 70.9%
1961 76.2% 70.4%
1960 75.7% 70%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80.2% to 82% in Germany and from 80% to 80.1% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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 (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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