Skip to content

Population density: India vs Kenya compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 261.5 people in Kenya. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 110,878 sq ft in Kenya. India and Kenya rank 19th and 94th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.69% of the population and 0.39% of the land area for Kenya, making the population density in India 392% higher than in Kenya.

Population density by year

India
Kenya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Kenya
2026 1,287 261.5
2025 1,275 256.6
2024 1,264 251.6
2023 1,253 246.7
2022 1,242 241.9
2021 1,232 237.3
2020 1,222 232.8
2019 1,210 229.1
2018 1,197 225.4
2017 1,184 221.6
2016 1,171 217.6
2015 1,157 213.6
2014 1,143 209.6
2013 1,129 204.7
2012 1,114 199.7
2011 1,099 194.6
2010 1,083 189.3
2009 1,068 183.9
2008 1,052 178.4
2007 1,037 173.1
2006 1,022 167.9
2005 1,006 162.9
2004 990 158
2003 973 153.1
2002 956 148.5
2001 939 143.9
2000 922 139.4
1999 904 135.3
1998 887 131.5
1997 870 127.9
1996 853 124.4
1995 837 121.1
1994 820 117.7
1993 803 114.3
1992 787 111
1991 770 107.6
1990 753 104.2
1989 737 100.7
1988 721 97.2
1987 705 93.8
1986 689 90.6
1985 673 87.4
1984 658 84.3
1983 642 81.2
1982 627 78.3
1981 613 75.5
1980 599 72.9
1979 585 70.4
1978 571 68
1977 558 65.7
1976 545 63.5
1975 533 61.5
1974 520 59.5
1973 508 57.5
1972 497 55.5
1971 486 53.6
1970 476 51.7
1969 465 49.8
1968 455 47.9
1967 446 46
1966 436 44.2
1965 427 42.5
1964 417 40.8
1963 408 39.3
1962 398 37.8
1961 389 36.3

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/india/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 55.7% growth in Kenya.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Kenya was 111th in 2006 and ranks 94th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Kenya
1x
Year Urban population
India Kenya
2024 35.4% 31.9%
2023 35.1% 31.6%
2022 34.8% 31.4%
2021 34.4% 31.3%
2020 34.1% 31.2%
2019 33.8% 31.2%
2018 33.5% 31.4%
2017 33.2% 31.5%
2016 32.9% 31.7%
2015 32.5% 31.7%
2014 32.2% 31.8%
2013 31.9% 31.8%
2012 31.6% 31.9%
2011 31.3% 31.9%
2010 30.9% 31.9%
2009 30.5% 31.9%
2008 30.1% 31.4%
2007 29.8% 30.4%
2006 29.4% 29%
2005 29.1% 27.3%
2004 28.8% 25.4%
2003 28.5% 23.6%
2002 28.2% 21.9%
2001 27.9% 20.4%
2000 27.6% 19.5%
1999 27.4% 19%
1998 27.2% 18.9%
1997 27% 18.8%
1996 26.8% 18.7%
1995 26.6% 18.6%
1994 26.4% 18.5%
1993 26.2% 18.5%
1992 26% 18.4%
1991 25.8% 18.3%
1990 25.6% 18.2%
1989 25.4% 18.1%
1988 25.2% 17.9%
1987 25% 17.7%
1986 24.8% 17.5%
1985 24.7% 17.3%
1984 24.5% 17%
1983 24.3% 16.8%
1982 24% 16.5%
1981 23.8% 16.2%
1980 23.5% 15.8%
1979 23.2% 15.5%
1978 22.8% 15%
1977 22.4% 14.5%
1976 21.9% 13.9%
1975 21.5% 13.2%
1974 21% 12.5%
1973 20.6% 11.8%
1972 20.3% 11.2%
1971 20% 10.6%
1970 19.7% 10.1%
1969 19.5% 9.83%
1968 19.2% 9.61%
1967 19% 9.42%
1966 18.8% 9.26%
1965 18.6% 9.12%
1964 18.4% 8.97%
1963 18.3% 8.82%
1962 18.1% 8.63%
1961 18% 8.44%
1960 17.9% 8.23%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/kenya | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K

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/india/kenya | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.