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Population density: Iraq vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population density of 286.5 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Iraq has 102,181 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Iraq and Rwanda rank 86th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iraq has 0.57% of the world's population and 0.29% 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 Iraq 81.7% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Iraq
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iraq Rwanda
2026 286.5 1,563
2025 280.5 1,529
2024 274.7 1,497
2023 268.9 1,465
2022 262.9 1,433
2021 257 1,402
2020 251.3 1,372
2019 245.7 1,341
2018 240.2 1,311
2017 234.7 1,281
2016 229.5 1,251
2015 224.1 1,222
2014 218.1 1,193
2013 210.5 1,165
2012 200.7 1,137
2011 191.8 1,110
2010 185.1 1,083
2009 179.2 1,056
2008 171.6 1,029
2007 168.1 1,003
2006 169.5 976
2005 168.2 951
2004 163.3 926
2003 158.7 901
2002 154 882
2001 149.2 870
2000 144.6 862
1999 140 855
1998 135.5 848
1997 131.3 814
1996 127.3 704
1995 123.3 596
1994 119.3 713
1993 113.7 838
1992 108.4 807
1991 105.2 790
1990 104.1 774
1989 102.8 754
1988 100.1 732
1987 97.8 709
1986 95.2 686
1985 92.9 663
1984 90.7 641
1983 87.9 620
1982 85.3 600
1981 82.9 580
1980 80.5 562
1979 78 545
1978 75.5 529
1977 73 513
1976 70.6 498
1975 68.4 484
1974 66.1 470
1973 63.9 456
1972 61.8 443
1971 59.7 430
1970 57.7 418
1969 55.7 405
1968 53.8 393
1967 52 381
1966 50.2 370
1965 48.6 359
1964 47 350
1963 45.4 342
1962 43.9 334
1961 42.6 326

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/iraq/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iraq increased by 69.1%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Iraq ranked 110th by population density and is 86th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iraq
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Iraq Rwanda
2024 69.9% 29.9%
2023 69.9% 28.9%
2022 69.9% 27.8%
2021 69.9% 26.1%
2020 69.9% 24.5%
2019 69.9% 23%
2018 69.9% 21.5%
2017 69.9% 20.2%
2016 69.9% 19.1%
2015 69.9% 18.2%
2014 69.7% 17.5%
2013 69.4% 17.1%
2012 69.2% 16.9%
2011 69.1% 16.9%
2010 69.1% 16.9%
2009 69% 16.9%
2008 68.9% 16.9%
2007 68.7% 16.9%
2006 68.6% 16.9%
2005 68.4% 16.9%
2004 68.2% 16.9%
2003 68.1% 16.9%
2002 67.9% 16.9%
2001 67.8% 16.5%
2000 67.6% 15.8%
1999 67.5% 14.7%
1998 67.5% 13.3%
1997 67.5% 11.8%
1996 67.6% 10.3%
1995 67.8% 8.82%
1994 68.2% 7.48%
1993 68.6% 6.4%
1992 69% 5.66%
1991 69.4% 5.36%
1990 69.7% 5.27%
1989 70% 5.2%
1988 70.2% 5.14%
1987 70.2% 5.09%
1986 70% 5.05%
1985 69.7% 5.01%
1984 69.1% 4.98%
1983 68.5% 4.95%
1982 67.7% 4.91%
1981 66.9% 4.87%
1980 66% 4.82%
1979 65.1% 4.75%
1978 64.3% 4.67%
1977 63.5% 4.55%
1976 62.7% 4.39%
1975 61.8% 4.19%
1974 60.9% 3.97%
1973 60% 3.75%
1972 59% 3.55%
1971 58% 3.37%
1970 57% 3.24%
1969 55.9% 3.14%
1968 54.8% 3.06%
1967 53.7% 3%
1966 52.5% 2.94%
1965 51.4% 2.88%
1964 50% 2.83%
1963 48.6% 2.78%
1962 47% 2.72%
1961 45.5% 2.67%
1960 44% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K
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/iraq/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 (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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