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Population density: Iceland vs Nepal compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population density of 10.2 people per square mile compared to 535 people in Nepal. Iceland has 2,868,586 sq ft of land per person vs 53,430 sq ft in Nepal. Iceland and Nepal rank 194th and 54th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iceland has 0.005% of the world's population and 0.07% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.36% of the population and 0.1% of the land area for Nepal, making the population density in Iceland 98.1% lower than in Nepal.

Population density by year

Iceland
Nepal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iceland Nepal
2026 10.2 535
2025 10.1 535
2024 9.93 536
2023 9.91 537
2022 9.81 537
2021 9.57 533
2020 9.41 523
2019 9.26 513
2018 9.06 507
2017 8.87 506
2016 8.67 505
2015 8.55 503
2014 8.46 500
2013 8.36 498
2012 8.29 497
2011 8.24 496
2010 8.22 494
2009 8.23 491
2008 8.2 488
2007 8.05 484
2006 7.85 480
2005 7.67 475
2004 7.55 470
2003 7.48 464
2002 7.43 458
2001 7.36 451
2000 7.27 443
1999 7.17 437
1998 7.08 429
1997 7 421
1996 6.95 412
1995 6.91 403
1994 6.87 393
1993 6.81 384
1992 6.74 373
1991 6.66 363
1990 6.58 354
1989 6.53 345
1988 6.45 338
1987 6.35 331
1986 6.28 324
1985 6.24 317
1984 6.19 309
1983 6.12 302
1982 6.04 295.2
1981 5.96 288.4
1980 5.89 281.7
1979 5.83 275.1
1978 5.78 268.8
1977 5.73 262.6
1976 5.69 256.8
1975 5.63 251.2
1974 5.56 245.7
1973 5.49 240.4
1972 5.4 235.3
1971 5.32 230.2
1970 5.28 225.2
1969 5.25 220.4
1968 5.21 215.6
1967 5.13 211.1
1966 5.05 206.6
1965 4.97 202.4
1964 4.88 198.3
1963 4.8 194.3
1962 4.71 190.6
1961 4.63 186.9

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/iceland/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iceland increased by 29.7%, compared to a 11.4% growth in Nepal.

In 2006, Iceland ranked 190th by population density and is 194th now. Nepal was 45th in 2006 and ranks 54th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iceland
Nepal
1x
Year Urban population
Iceland Nepal
2024 94.2% 66.8%
2023 94.2% 66.5%
2022 94.2% 66.3%
2021 94.2% 66.1%
2020 94.1% 66.1%
2019 94% 66%
2018 93.9% 65.8%
2017 93.8% 65.6%
2016 93.8% 65.3%
2015 93.7% 65%
2014 93.6% 64.6%
2013 93.6% 64.1%
2012 93.5% 63.7%
2011 93.4% 63.1%
2010 93.5% 62%
2009 93.4% 59.9%
2008 93.1% 56.9%
2007 92.4% 53.4%
2006 92.2% 49.5%
2005 92.4% 45.5%
2004 92.4% 41.6%
2003 92.3% 38%
2002 92.2% 35%
2001 92% 32.8%
2000 92% 31.1%
1999 91.8% 29.5%
1998 91.7% 28%
1997 92% 26.6%
1996 91.8% 25.3%
1995 91.6% 24.1%
1994 91.4% 23%
1993 91.3% 22%
1992 91.1% 21.2%
1991 90.9% 20.4%
1990 90.6% 19.8%
1989 90.4% 19.2%
1988 90.1% 18.7%
1987 89.8% 18.3%
1986 89.6% 17.9%
1985 89.3% 17.5%
1984 89.1% 17.1%
1983 88.9% 16.6%
1982 88.6% 16.1%
1981 88.3% 15.5%
1980 88.1% 14.6%
1979 87.9% 13.4%
1978 87.7% 12%
1977 87.4% 10.5%
1976 87.2% 8.99%
1975 86.9% 7.51%
1974 86.5% 6.18%
1973 86.2% 5.09%
1972 85.7% 4.33%
1971 85.3% 4%
1970 85% 3.93%
1969 84.8% 3.87%
1968 84.4% 3.82%
1967 83.9% 3.78%
1966 83.5% 3.75%
1965 83.2% 3.72%
1964 82.7% 3.69%
1963 82% 3.66%
1962 81.5% 3.62%
1961 81% 3.57%
1960 80.4% 3.51%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/iceland/nepal | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 92.4% to 94.2% in Iceland and from 41.6% to 66.8% in Nepal.

Densely populated cities

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/iceland/nepal | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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