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Population density: India vs South Sudan compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 51 people in South Sudan. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 580,697 sq ft in South Sudan. India and South Sudan rank 19th and 171st 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 0.15% of the population and 0.42% of the land area for South Sudan, making the population density in India 2,424% higher than in South Sudan.

Population density by year

India
South Sudan

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India South Sudan
2026 1,287 51
2025 1,275 50
2024 1,264 49
2023 1,253 47.1
2022 1,242 45.2
2021 1,232 44.5
2020 1,222 43.8
2019 1,210 42.7
2018 1,197 41.5
2017 1,184 42
2016 1,171 44.4
2015 1,157 45.5
2014 1,143 46
2013 1,129 45.8
2012 1,114 44.1
2011 1,099 -
2010 1,083 -
2009 1,068 -
2008 1,052 -
2007 1,037 -
2006 1,022 -
2005 1,006 -
2004 990 -
2003 973 -
2002 956 -
2001 939 -
2000 922 -
1999 904 -
1998 887 -
1997 870 -
1996 853 -
1995 837 -
1994 820 -
1993 803 -
1992 787 -
1991 770 -
1990 753 -
1989 737 -
1988 721 -
1987 705 -
1986 689 -
1985 673 -
1984 658 -
1983 642 -
1982 627 -
1981 613 -
1980 599 -
1979 585 -
1978 571 -
1977 558 -
1976 545 -
1975 533 -
1974 520 -
1973 508 -
1972 497 -
1971 486 -
1970 476 -
1969 465 -
1968 455 -
1967 446 -
1966 436 -
1965 427 -
1964 417 -
1963 408 -
1962 398 -
1961 389 -

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2012 to 2026, population density in India increased by 15.5%, compared to a 15.6% growth in South Sudan.

In 2012, India ranked 18th by population density and is 19th now. South Sudan was 169th in 2012 and ranks 171st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
South Sudan
1x
Year Urban population
India South Sudan
2024 35.4% 21.4%
2023 35.1% 21.1%
2022 34.8% 20.8%
2021 34.4% 20.5%
2020 34.1% 20.2%
2019 33.8% 19.9%
2018 33.5% 19.6%
2017 33.2% 19.3%
2016 32.9% 19.1%
2015 32.5% 18.8%
2014 32.2% 18.5%
2013 31.9% 18.3%
2012 31.6% 18%
2011 31.3% 17.8%
2010 30.9% 17.5%
2009 30.5% 17.3%
2008 30.1% 17%
2007 29.8% 17%
2006 29.4% 17%
2005 29.1% 16.9%
2004 28.8% 16.8%
2003 28.5% 16.6%
2002 28.2% 16.4%
2001 27.9% 16.3%
2000 27.6% 16%
1999 27.4% 15.8%
1998 27.2% 15.6%
1997 27% 15.3%
1996 26.8% 15%
1995 26.6% 14.7%
1994 26.4% 14.5%
1993 26.2% 14.2%
1992 26% 13.8%
1991 25.8% 13.3%
1990 25.6% 12.6%
1989 25.4% 11.9%
1988 25.2% 11.2%
1987 25% 10.4%
1986 24.8% 9.73%
1985 24.7% 9.15%
1984 24.5% 8.73%
1983 24.3% 8.52%
1982 24% 8.49%
1981 23.8% 8.49%
1980 23.5% 8.49%
1979 23.2% 8.49%
1978 22.8% 8.49%
1977 22.4% 8.49%
1976 21.9% 8.49%
1975 21.5% 8.5%
1974 21% 8.5%
1973 20.6% 8.5%
1972 20.3% 8.51%
1971 20% 8.51%
1970 19.7% 8.52%
1969 19.5% 8.53%
1968 19.2% 8.54%
1967 19% 8.55%
1966 18.8% 8.56%
1965 18.6% 8.57%
1964 18.4% 8.58%
1963 18.3% 8.6%
1962 18.1% 8.62%
1961 18% 8.64%
1960 17.9% 8.66%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 16.8% to 21.4% in South Sudan.

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
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | 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 (2008–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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