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Population density: Ghana vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ghana has a population density of 407 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Ghana has 74,579 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Ghana and Rwanda rank 63rd and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ghana has 0.42% of the world's population and 0.15% 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 Ghana 74% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Ghana
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ghana Rwanda
2026 407 1,563
2025 399 1,529
2024 392 1,497
2023 385 1,465
2022 377 1,433
2021 370 1,402
2020 363 1,372
2019 356 1,341
2018 349 1,311
2017 342 1,281
2016 334 1,251
2015 327 1,222
2014 319 1,193
2013 312 1,165
2012 304 1,137
2011 297 1,110
2010 290 1,083
2009 283 1,056
2008 276 1,029
2007 269.1 1,003
2006 262.3 976
2005 255.5 951
2004 248.9 926
2003 242.4 901
2002 236 882
2001 229.6 870
2000 223.5 862
1999 218 855
1998 212.7 848
1997 207.6 814
1996 202.7 704
1995 198 596
1994 193.4 713
1993 188.8 838
1992 184.2 807
1991 179.7 790
1990 175.2 774
1989 170.8 754
1988 166.6 732
1987 162.6 709
1986 159 686
1985 155.5 663
1984 152.2 641
1983 148.3 620
1982 143.9 600
1981 139.8 580
1980 135.9 562
1979 132 545
1978 128 529
1977 124.2 513
1976 120.6 498
1975 117.2 484
1974 113.8 470
1973 110.6 456
1972 107.4 443
1971 104.4 430
1970 101.6 418
1969 98.9 405
1968 96.5 393
1967 94.2 381
1966 91.9 370
1965 89.7 359
1964 87.6 350
1963 85.5 342
1962 83.5 334
1961 81.5 326

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/ghana/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ghana increased by 55%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Ghana ranked 78th by population density and is 63rd now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ghana
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Ghana Rwanda
2024 58.4% 29.9%
2023 57.8% 28.9%
2022 57.3% 27.8%
2021 56.7% 26.1%
2020 56.2% 24.5%
2019 55.7% 23%
2018 55.2% 21.5%
2017 54.7% 20.2%
2016 54.2% 19.1%
2015 53.6% 18.2%
2014 53.1% 17.5%
2013 52.5% 17.1%
2012 51.9% 16.9%
2011 51.3% 16.9%
2010 50.7% 16.9%
2009 50.1% 16.9%
2008 49.5% 16.9%
2007 48.8% 16.9%
2006 48.1% 16.9%
2005 47.5% 16.9%
2004 46.8% 16.9%
2003 46.1% 16.9%
2002 45.3% 16.9%
2001 44.6% 16.5%
2000 43.9% 15.8%
1999 43.2% 14.7%
1998 42.5% 13.3%
1997 41.6% 11.8%
1996 40.8% 10.3%
1995 40% 8.82%
1994 39.1% 7.48%
1993 38.2% 6.4%
1992 37.4% 5.66%
1991 36.5% 5.36%
1990 35.7% 5.27%
1989 35% 5.2%
1988 34.3% 5.14%
1987 33.6% 5.09%
1986 33% 5.05%
1985 32.5% 5.01%
1984 32.1% 4.98%
1983 31.8% 4.95%
1982 31.5% 4.91%
1981 31.2% 4.87%
1980 31% 4.82%
1979 30.8% 4.75%
1978 30.7% 4.67%
1977 30.5% 4.55%
1976 30.3% 4.39%
1975 30.1% 4.19%
1974 30% 3.97%
1973 29.8% 3.75%
1972 29.5% 3.55%
1971 29.3% 3.37%
1970 29% 3.24%
1969 28.6% 3.14%
1968 28.2% 3.06%
1967 27.7% 3%
1966 27.2% 2.94%
1965 26.6% 2.88%
1964 26% 2.83%
1963 25.3% 2.78%
1962 24.6% 2.72%
1961 23.9% 2.67%
1960 23.3% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 46.8% to 58.4% in Ghana and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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