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Population density: India vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. India and Rwanda rank 19th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in India 17.7% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

India
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Rwanda
2026 1,287 1,563
2025 1,275 1,529
2024 1,264 1,497
2023 1,253 1,465
2022 1,242 1,433
2021 1,232 1,402
2020 1,222 1,372
2019 1,210 1,341
2018 1,197 1,311
2017 1,184 1,281
2016 1,171 1,251
2015 1,157 1,222
2014 1,143 1,193
2013 1,129 1,165
2012 1,114 1,137
2011 1,099 1,110
2010 1,083 1,083
2009 1,068 1,056
2008 1,052 1,029
2007 1,037 1,003
2006 1,022 976
2005 1,006 951
2004 990 926
2003 973 901
2002 956 882
2001 939 870
2000 922 862
1999 904 855
1998 887 848
1997 870 814
1996 853 704
1995 837 596
1994 820 713
1993 803 838
1992 787 807
1991 770 790
1990 753 774
1989 737 754
1988 721 732
1987 705 709
1986 689 686
1985 673 663
1984 658 641
1983 642 620
1982 627 600
1981 613 580
1980 599 562
1979 585 545
1978 571 529
1977 558 513
1976 545 498
1975 533 484
1974 520 470
1973 508 456
1972 497 443
1971 486 430
1970 476 418
1969 465 405
1968 455 393
1967 446 381
1966 436 370
1965 427 359
1964 417 350
1963 408 342
1962 398 334
1961 389 326

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/india/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
India Rwanda
2024 35.4% 29.9%
2023 35.1% 28.9%
2022 34.8% 27.8%
2021 34.4% 26.1%
2020 34.1% 24.5%
2019 33.8% 23%
2018 33.5% 21.5%
2017 33.2% 20.2%
2016 32.9% 19.1%
2015 32.5% 18.2%
2014 32.2% 17.5%
2013 31.9% 17.1%
2012 31.6% 16.9%
2011 31.3% 16.9%
2010 30.9% 16.9%
2009 30.5% 16.9%
2008 30.1% 16.9%
2007 29.8% 16.9%
2006 29.4% 16.9%
2005 29.1% 16.9%
2004 28.8% 16.9%
2003 28.5% 16.9%
2002 28.2% 16.9%
2001 27.9% 16.5%
2000 27.6% 15.8%
1999 27.4% 14.7%
1998 27.2% 13.3%
1997 27% 11.8%
1996 26.8% 10.3%
1995 26.6% 8.82%
1994 26.4% 7.48%
1993 26.2% 6.4%
1992 26% 5.66%
1991 25.8% 5.36%
1990 25.6% 5.27%
1989 25.4% 5.2%
1988 25.2% 5.14%
1987 25% 5.09%
1986 24.8% 5.05%
1985 24.7% 5.01%
1984 24.5% 4.98%
1983 24.3% 4.95%
1982 24% 4.91%
1981 23.8% 4.87%
1980 23.5% 4.82%
1979 23.2% 4.75%
1978 22.8% 4.67%
1977 22.4% 4.55%
1976 21.9% 4.39%
1975 21.5% 4.19%
1974 21% 3.97%
1973 20.6% 3.75%
1972 20.3% 3.55%
1971 20% 3.37%
1970 19.7% 3.24%
1969 19.5% 3.14%
1968 19.2% 3.06%
1967 19% 3%
1966 18.8% 2.94%
1965 18.6% 2.88%
1964 18.4% 2.83%
1963 18.3% 2.78%
1962 18.1% 2.72%
1961 18% 2.67%
1960 17.9% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

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
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/india/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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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