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Population density: India vs Sweden compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 67.8 people in Sweden. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. India and Sweden rank 19th and 163rd 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 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, making the population density in India 1,796% higher than in Sweden.

Population density by year

India
Sweden

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Sweden
2026 1,287 67.8
2025 1,275 67.5
2024 1,264 67.2
2023 1,253 67
2022 1,242 66.7
2021 1,232 66.2
2020 1,222 65.8
2019 1,210 65.4
2018 1,197 64.7
2017 1,184 64
2016 1,171 63.1
2015 1,157 62.3
2014 1,143 61.7
2013 1,129 61
2012 1,114 60.5
2011 1,099 60.1
2010 1,083 59.6
2009 1,068 59.1
2008 1,052 58.6
2007 1,037 58.2
2006 1,022 57.7
2005 1,006 57.4
2004 990 57.2
2003 973 57
2002 956 56.7
2001 939 56.6
2000 922 56.4
1999 904 56.3
1998 887 56.3
1997 870 56.2
1996 853 56.2
1995 837 56.1
1994 820 55.8
1993 803 55.4
1992 787 55.1
1991 770 54.8
1990 753 54.4
1989 737 54
1988 721 53.6
1987 705 53.4
1986 689 53.2
1985 673 53.1
1984 658 53
1983 642 53
1982 627 52.9
1981 613 52.9
1980 599 52.8
1979 585 52.7
1978 571 52.6
1977 558 52.5
1976 545 52.3
1975 533 52.1
1974 520 51.9
1973 508 51.7
1972 497 51.6
1971 486 51.5
1970 476 51.1
1969 465 50.7
1968 455 50.3
1967 446 50
1966 436 49.6
1965 427 49.2
1964 417 48.7
1963 408 48.4
1962 398 48.1
1961 389 47.8

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Sweden was 155th in 2006 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Sweden
1x
Year Urban population
India Sweden
2024 35.4% 88.9%
2023 35.1% 88.6%
2022 34.8% 88.4%
2021 34.4% 88.2%
2020 34.1% 87.9%
2019 33.8% 87.7%
2018 33.5% 87.5%
2017 33.2% 87.2%
2016 32.9% 87%
2015 32.5% 86.6%
2014 32.2% 86.3%
2013 31.9% 85.9%
2012 31.6% 85.6%
2011 31.3% 85.4%
2010 30.9% 85.1%
2009 30.5% 84.9%
2008 30.1% 84.8%
2007 29.8% 84.6%
2006 29.4% 84.5%
2005 29.1% 84.4%
2004 28.8% 84.3%
2003 28.5% 84.2%
2002 28.2% 84.1%
2001 27.9% 84.1%
2000 27.6% 84%
1999 27.4% 84%
1998 27.2% 84%
1997 27% 84%
1996 26.8% 83.9%
1995 26.6% 83.9%
1994 26.4% 83.8%
1993 26.2% 83.7%
1992 26% 83.6%
1991 25.8% 83.5%
1990 25.6% 83.4%
1989 25.4% 83.3%
1988 25.2% 83.2%
1987 25% 83.2%
1986 24.8% 83.1%
1985 24.7% 83.1%
1984 24.5% 83.1%
1983 24.3% 83.1%
1982 24% 83.1%
1981 23.8% 83.1%
1980 23.5% 83.1%
1979 23.2% 83.1%
1978 22.8% 83%
1977 22.4% 82.9%
1976 21.9% 82.8%
1975 21.5% 82.7%
1974 21% 82.5%
1973 20.6% 82.3%
1972 20.3% 82%
1971 20% 81.7%
1970 19.7% 81.2%
1969 19.5% 80.6%
1968 19.2% 79.8%
1967 19% 78.9%
1966 18.8% 78%
1965 18.6% 77.1%
1964 18.4% 76.2%
1963 18.3% 75.3%
1962 18.1% 74.3%
1961 18% 73.4%
1960 17.9% 72.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 84.3% to 88.9% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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