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Population density: India vs Norway compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 40.3 people in Norway. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 744,100 sq ft in Norway. India and Norway rank 19th and 182nd 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 0.07% of the population and 0.24% of the land area for Norway, making the population density in India 3,094% higher than in Norway.

Population density by year

India
Norway

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Norway
2026 1,287 40.3
2025 1,275 40
2024 1,264 39.6
2023 1,253 39.2
2022 1,242 38.8
2021 1,232 38.5
2020 1,222 38.2
2019 1,210 37.9
2018 1,197 37.7
2017 1,184 37.4
2016 1,171 37.1
2015 1,157 36.8
2014 1,143 36.4
2013 1,129 36
2012 1,114 35.6
2011 1,099 35.1
2010 1,083 34.7
2009 1,068 34.2
2008 1,052 33.8
2007 1,037 33.4
2006 1,022 33
2005 1,006 32.8
2004 990 32.6
2003 973 32.4
2002 956 32.2
2001 939 32
2000 922 31.8
1999 904 31.6
1998 887 31.4
1997 870 31.2
1996 853 31.1
1995 837 30.9
1994 820 30.8
1993 803 30.6
1992 787 30.4
1991 770 30.2
1990 753 30.1
1989 737 30
1988 721 29.8
1987 705 29.7
1986 689 29.6
1985 673 29.4
1984 658 29.4
1983 642 29.3
1982 627 29.2
1981 613 29.1
1980 599 29
1979 585 28.9
1978 571 28.8
1977 558 28.7
1976 545 28.5
1975 533 28.4
1974 520 28.3
1973 508 28.1
1972 497 27.9
1971 486 27.7
1970 476 27.5
1969 465 27.3
1968 455 27.1
1967 446 26.8
1966 436 26.6
1965 427 26.4
1964 417 26.2
1963 408 26
1962 398 25.8
1961 389 25.6

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 21.9% growth in Norway.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Norway was 171st in 2006 and ranks 182nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Norway
1x
Year Urban population
India Norway
2024 35.4% 83.3%
2023 35.1% 83.1%
2022 34.8% 83%
2021 34.4% 82.9%
2020 34.1% 82.7%
2019 33.8% 82.5%
2018 33.5% 82.2%
2017 33.2% 82%
2016 32.9% 81.7%
2015 32.5% 81.2%
2014 32.2% 80.6%
2013 31.9% 80%
2012 31.6% 79.5%
2011 31.3% 79.3%
2010 30.9% 79.2%
2009 30.5% 79.1%
2008 30.1% 78.8%
2007 29.8% 78.4%
2006 29.4% 78.1%
2005 29.1% 77.8%
2004 28.8% 77.6%
2003 28.5% 77.3%
2002 28.2% 76.8%
2001 27.9% 76.4%
2000 27.6% 76.1%
1999 27.4% 75.8%
1998 27.2% 75.3%
1997 27% 74.7%
1996 26.8% 74.2%
1995 26.6% 73.9%
1994 26.4% 73.7%
1993 26.2% 73.2%
1992 26% 72.6%
1991 25.8% 72.2%
1990 25.6% 71.9%
1989 25.4% 71.7%
1988 25.2% 71.6%
1987 25% 71.5%
1986 24.8% 71.4%
1985 24.7% 71.3%
1984 24.5% 71.2%
1983 24.3% 71.1%
1982 24% 71%
1981 23.8% 70.8%
1980 23.5% 70.6%
1979 23.2% 70.4%
1978 22.8% 70.1%
1977 22.4% 69.7%
1976 21.9% 69.3%
1975 21.5% 68.9%
1974 21% 68.3%
1973 20.6% 67.7%
1972 20.3% 67.1%
1971 20% 66.4%
1970 19.7% 65.6%
1969 19.5% 64.4%
1968 19.2% 62.6%
1967 19% 60.5%
1966 18.8% 58.2%
1965 18.6% 55.9%
1964 18.4% 53.6%
1963 18.3% 51.6%
1962 18.1% 50.1%
1961 18% 49%
1960 17.9% 48.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 77.6% to 83.3% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/india/norway | 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 (2011–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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