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Population density: Ireland vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population density of 207 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Ireland has 139,236 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Ireland and Rwanda rank 111th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ireland has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.05% 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 Ireland 86.8% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Ireland
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ireland Rwanda
2026 207 1,563
2025 205 1,529
2024 202.9 1,497
2023 199.7 1,465
2022 196 1,433
2021 192.1 1,402
2020 189.5 1,372
2019 187.1 1,341
2018 184.1 1,311
2017 181.5 1,281
2016 179.1 1,251
2015 176.8 1,222
2014 175.1 1,193
2013 173.8 1,165
2012 172.9 1,137
2011 172.2 1,110
2010 171.4 1,083
2009 170.5 1,056
2008 168.8 1,029
2007 165.4 1,003
2006 160.7 976
2005 156.4 951
2004 153 926
2003 150.3 901
2002 147.8 882
2001 145.4 870
2000 143.1 862
1999 141.2 855
1998 139.6 848
1997 138.1 814
1996 136.8 704
1995 135.7 596
1994 135 713
1993 134.5 838
1992 133.8 807
1991 132.9 790
1990 132.1 774
1989 132 754
1988 132.5 732
1987 133.1 709
1986 133.1 686
1985 133 663
1984 132.8 641
1983 132 620
1982 131.1 600
1981 129.8 580
1980 128.3 562
1979 126.8 545
1978 125.2 529
1977 123.4 513
1976 121.7 498
1975 119.9 484
1974 118 470
1973 116 456
1972 114.2 443
1971 112.5 430
1970 111.2 418
1969 110.3 405
1968 109.6 393
1967 109.1 381
1966 108.6 370
1965 108.2 359
1964 107.8 350
1963 107.2 342
1962 106.6 334
1961 106.2 326

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/ireland/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ireland increased by 28.8%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Ireland ranked 115th by population density and is 111th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ireland
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Ireland Rwanda
2024 64.3% 29.9%
2023 64.1% 28.9%
2022 63.9% 27.8%
2021 63.7% 26.1%
2020 63.5% 24.5%
2019 63.3% 23%
2018 63.1% 21.5%
2017 62.9% 20.2%
2016 62.7% 19.1%
2015 62.6% 18.2%
2014 62.5% 17.5%
2013 62.4% 17.1%
2012 62.3% 16.9%
2011 62.1% 16.9%
2010 61.9% 16.9%
2009 61.6% 16.9%
2008 61.4% 16.9%
2007 61.1% 16.9%
2006 60.8% 16.9%
2005 60.5% 16.9%
2004 60.2% 16.9%
2003 59.9% 16.9%
2002 59.6% 16.9%
2001 59.4% 16.5%
2000 59.1% 15.8%
1999 58.9% 14.7%
1998 58.6% 13.3%
1997 58.4% 11.8%
1996 58.2% 10.3%
1995 57.9% 8.82%
1994 57.7% 7.48%
1993 57.5% 6.4%
1992 57.2% 5.66%
1991 57.1% 5.36%
1990 56.9% 5.27%
1989 56.8% 5.2%
1988 56.7% 5.14%
1987 56.6% 5.09%
1986 56.4% 5.05%
1985 56.3% 5.01%
1984 56.1% 4.98%
1983 56% 4.95%
1982 55.8% 4.91%
1981 55.7% 4.87%
1980 55.4% 4.82%
1979 55.2% 4.75%
1978 54.9% 4.67%
1977 54.6% 4.55%
1976 54.3% 4.39%
1975 53.9% 4.19%
1974 53.6% 3.97%
1973 53.2% 3.75%
1972 52.8% 3.55%
1971 52.3% 3.37%
1970 51.8% 3.24%
1969 51.3% 3.14%
1968 50.7% 3.06%
1967 50% 3%
1966 49.3% 2.94%
1965 48.6% 2.88%
1964 47.8% 2.83%
1963 46.9% 2.78%
1962 46.1% 2.72%
1961 45.4% 2.67%
1960 44.9% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.2% to 64.3% in Ireland and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
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/ireland/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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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