Skip to content

Population density: India vs Vietnam compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 845 people in Vietnam. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 35,354 sq ft in Vietnam. India and Vietnam rank 19th and 30th 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 1.24% of the population and 0.21% of the land area for Vietnam, making the population density in India 52.3% higher than in Vietnam.

Population density by year

India
Vietnam

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Vietnam
2026 1,287 845
2025 1,275 840
2024 1,264 835
2023 1,253 829
2022 1,242 824
2021 1,232 818
2020 1,222 810
2019 1,210 803
2018 1,197 795
2017 1,184 787
2016 1,171 777
2015 1,157 767
2014 1,143 758
2013 1,129 749
2012 1,114 740
2011 1,099 731
2010 1,083 723
2009 1,068 716
2008 1,052 705
2007 1,037 693
2006 1,022 680
2005 1,006 671
2004 990 671
2003 973 665
2002 956 657
2001 939 649
2000 922 642
1999 904 607
1998 887 599
1997 870 591
1996 853 582
1995 837 573
1994 820 564
1993 803 554
1992 787 543
1991 770 532
1990 753 521
1989 737 510
1988 721 500
1987 705 490
1986 689 480
1985 673 470
1984 658 459
1983 642 448
1982 627 438
1981 613 428
1980 599 418
1979 585 409
1978 571 400
1977 558 390
1976 545 379
1975 533 370
1974 520 361
1973 508 353
1972 497 346
1971 486 338
1970 476 330
1969 465 323
1968 455 316
1967 446 309
1966 436 303
1965 427 295.4
1964 417 288.1
1963 408 280.5
1962 398 272.8
1961 389 265.8

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 24.1% growth in Vietnam.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Vietnam was 33rd in 2006 and ranks 30th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Vietnam
1x
Year Urban population
India Vietnam
2024 35.4% 38.5%
2023 35.1% 38.1%
2022 34.8% 37.5%
2021 34.4% 36.7%
2020 34.1% 35.6%
2019 33.8% 34.6%
2018 33.5% 33.9%
2017 33.2% 33.4%
2016 32.9% 32.8%
2015 32.5% 32.4%
2014 32.2% 31.9%
2013 31.9% 31.5%
2012 31.6% 31.1%
2011 31.3% 30.7%
2010 30.9% 30.3%
2009 30.5% 29.8%
2008 30.1% 29.2%
2007 29.8% 28.6%
2006 29.4% 28%
2005 29.1% 27.4%
2004 28.8% 26.8%
2003 28.5% 26.2%
2002 28.2% 25.6%
2001 27.9% 24.9%
2000 27.6% 24.4%
1999 27.4% 23.8%
1998 27.2% 23.3%
1997 27% 22.7%
1996 26.8% 22.1%
1995 26.6% 21.5%
1994 26.4% 20.9%
1993 26.2% 20.3%
1992 26% 19.8%
1991 25.8% 19.4%
1990 25.6% 19.2%
1989 25.4% 19.1%
1988 25.2% 19%
1987 25% 19.1%
1986 24.8% 19.1%
1985 24.7% 19.1%
1984 24.5% 19.1%
1983 24.3% 19.1%
1982 24% 19.1%
1981 23.8% 19.1%
1980 23.5% 19.2%
1979 23.2% 19.2%
1978 22.8% 19.2%
1977 22.4% 19.6%
1976 21.9% 20.4%
1975 21.5% 20.6%
1974 21% 20.5%
1973 20.6% 20.5%
1972 20.3% 20.6%
1971 20% 20.7%
1970 19.7% 20.7%
1969 19.5% 20.6%
1968 19.2% 20.1%
1967 19% 19.3%
1966 18.8% 18.4%
1965 18.6% 17.5%
1964 18.4% 16.9%
1963 18.3% 16.5%
1962 18.1% 16.1%
1961 18% 15.7%
1960 17.9% 15.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam.

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
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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 (2011–2024, 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.