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Population density: Greece vs Switzerland compared

Updated on by Georank team

Greece has a population density of 204.6 people per square mile compared to 596 people in Switzerland. Greece has 136,507 sq ft of land per person vs 49,353 sq ft in Switzerland. Greece and Switzerland rank 114th and 51st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Greece has 0.13% of the world's population and 0.09% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.11% of the population and 0.03% of the land area for Switzerland, making the population density in Greece 65.7% lower than in Switzerland.

Population density by year

Greece
Switzerland

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Greece Switzerland
2026 204.6 596
2025 205.4 594
2024 209.1 590
2023 209.1 583
2022 209.7 575
2021 212.4 571
2020 215 566
2019 215.4 562
2018 215.7 558
2017 216.1 554
2016 216.5 549
2015 217.4 543
2014 218.9 537
2013 220.3 530
2012 221.9 524
2011 223.1 519
2010 223.5 513
2009 223.2 508
2008 222.6 501
2007 222 495
2006 221.4 491
2005 220.8 487
2004 220.1 484
2003 219.6 481
2002 219.1 477
2001 218.3 474
2000 217.1 471
1999 216.2 468
1998 215.4 466
1997 214.2 464
1996 213.2 463
1995 212.2 461
1994 211.2 458
1993 210.2 455
1992 208.9 450
1991 207.4 446
1990 204.9 440
1989 202.7 436
1988 201.7 432
1987 200.9 429
1986 200.3 426
1985 199.6 424
1984 198.8 422
1983 197.8 421
1982 196.7 419
1981 195.5 416
1980 193.7 414
1979 191.9 412
1978 189.5 412
1977 187 412
1976 184.6 413
1975 181.8 415
1974 180.1 416
1973 179.4 413
1972 178.6 410
1971 177.4 407
1970 176.7 405
1969 176.3 402
1968 175.6 398
1967 174.5 393
1966 173.1 388
1965 171.8 384
1964 171 379
1963 170.4 373
1962 169.8 365
1961 168.7 356

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/greece/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Greece decreased by 7.61%, compared to a 21.6% growth in Switzerland.

In 2006, Greece ranked 86th by population density and is 114th now. Switzerland was 44th in 2006 and ranks 51st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Greece
Switzerland
1x
Year Urban population
Greece Switzerland
2024 79% 85.5%
2023 78.8% 85.2%
2022 78.6% 84.9%
2021 78.4% 84.2%
2020 78.3% 82.3%
2019 78.2% 80.8%
2018 78% 79.3%
2017 77.9% 77.9%
2016 77.7% 76.7%
2015 77.5% 75.6%
2014 77.3% 74.7%
2013 77.1% 74.1%
2012 76.9% 73.8%
2011 76.6% 73.7%
2010 76.4% 73.6%
2009 76% 73.6%
2008 75.6% 73.5%
2007 75.2% 73.5%
2006 74.7% 73.5%
2005 74.3% 73.5%
2004 73.8% 73.5%
2003 73.4% 73.5%
2002 73.1% 73.4%
2001 72.8% 73.4%
2000 72.7% 73.3%
1999 72.5% 73.1%
1998 72.4% 72.9%
1997 72.3% 72.5%
1996 72.2% 72%
1995 72.1% 71.5%
1994 72% 71%
1993 71.9% 70.4%
1992 71.8% 69.8%
1991 71.6% 69.2%
1990 71.5% 68.7%
1989 71.3% 68%
1988 71.2% 67.3%
1987 71% 66.5%
1986 70.9% 65.6%
1985 70.7% 64.8%
1984 70.5% 64%
1983 70.3% 63.2%
1982 70% 62.4%
1981 69.8% 61.8%
1980 69.5% 61.3%
1979 69.1% 60.8%
1978 68.7% 60.4%
1977 68.3% 60.1%
1976 67.8% 59.7%
1975 67.3% 59.4%
1974 66.8% 59.1%
1973 66.2% 58.7%
1972 65.6% 58.3%
1971 65% 57.9%
1970 64.3% 57.4%
1969 63.5% 56.9%
1968 62.6% 56.3%
1967 61.7% 55.7%
1966 60.7% 55.1%
1965 59.7% 54.4%
1964 58.7% 53.7%
1963 57.8% 53%
1962 57% 52.4%
1961 56.4% 51.7%
1960 55.8% 51%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/greece/switzerland | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 73.8% to 79% in Greece and from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland.

Densely populated cities

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/greece/switzerland | 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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