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Population density: Israel vs Japan compared

Updated on by Georank team

Israel has a population density of 1,227 people per square mile compared to 872 people in Japan. Israel has 22,414 sq ft of land per person vs 32,817 sq ft in Japan. Israel and Japan rank 21st and 28th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Israel has 0.12% of the world's population and 0.01% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.53% of the population and 0.24% of the land area for Japan, making the population density in Israel 40.8% higher than in Japan.

Population density by year

Israel
Japan

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Israel Japan
2026 1,227 872
2025 1,210 876
2024 1,194 881
2023 1,179 885
2022 1,144 889
2021 1,122 893
2020 1,103 897
2019 1,084 900
2018 1,063 901
2017 1,043 902
2016 1,023 903
2015 1,003 903
2014 983 904
2013 965 906
2012 947 907
2011 929 908
2010 912 910
2009 896 910
2008 875 910
2007 859 910
2006 844 908
2005 829 908
2004 815 908
2003 801 908
2002 786 906
2001 771 903
2000 753 901
1999 733 900
1998 715 898
1997 698 896
1996 681 894
1995 664 891
1994 646 889
1993 630 887
1992 613 884
1991 592 881
1990 558 877
1989 541 874
1988 532 871
1987 523 867
1986 515 863
1985 507 858
1984 498 853
1983 491 844
1982 482 838
1981 473 832
1980 464 826
1979 453 819
1978 442 812
1977 432 805
1976 423 797
1975 414 788
1974 404 778
1973 392 768
1972 377 757
1971 367 747
1970 356 730
1969 344 722
1968 335 713
1967 329 705
1966 315 698
1965 307 692
1964 296.2 684
1963 284.7 677
1962 274.4 671
1961 261.5 664

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/israel/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Israel increased by 45.4%, compared to a 4.07% decline in Japan.

In 2006, Israel ranked 23rd by population density and is 21st now. Japan was 19th in 2006 and ranks 28th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Israel
Japan
1x
Year Urban population
Israel Japan
2024 91.5% 92.2%
2023 91.5% 92.1%
2022 91.5% 92%
2021 91.5% 91.9%
2020 91.6% 91.8%
2019 91.6% 91.7%
2018 91.6% 91.6%
2017 91.7% 91.5%
2016 91.7% 91.5%
2015 91.7% 91.4%
2014 91.7% 91.3%
2013 91.7% 91.2%
2012 91.7% 91%
2011 91.7% 90.9%
2010 91.7% 90.6%
2009 91.7% 90.1%
2008 91.7% 89.3%
2007 91.7% 88.3%
2006 91.7% 87.1%
2005 91.6% 86%
2004 91.6% 84.4%
2003 91.5% 82.4%
2002 91.4% 80.5%
2001 91.4% 79.2%
2000 91.3% 78.6%
1999 91.2% 78.4%
1998 91.1% 78.3%
1997 91% 78.2%
1996 90.9% 78.1%
1995 90.9% 78%
1994 90.8% 77.9%
1993 90.7% 77.7%
1992 90.6% 77.6%
1991 90.5% 77.5%
1990 90.4% 77.3%
1989 90.3% 77.2%
1988 90.2% 77.1%
1987 90.1% 76.9%
1986 90% 76.8%
1985 89.9% 76.7%
1984 89.7% 76.6%
1983 89.6% 76.5%
1982 89.4% 76.3%
1981 89.1% 76.3%
1980 88.8% 76.2%
1979 88.5% 76.1%
1978 88.1% 76.1%
1977 87.7% 76%
1976 87.3% 76%
1975 86.8% 75.9%
1974 86.3% 75.4%
1973 85.8% 74.6%
1972 85.3% 73.7%
1971 84.8% 72.7%
1970 84.3% 71.9%
1969 83.7% 71.1%
1968 83.2% 70.3%
1967 82.5% 69.5%
1966 81.9% 68.7%
1965 81.2% 67.9%
1964 80.4% 67%
1963 79.7% 66.1%
1962 78.8% 65.2%
1961 78% 64.3%
1960 76.9% 63.3%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/israel/japan | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 91.6% to 91.5% in Israel and from 84.4% to 92.2% in Japan.

Densely populated cities

Israel
City Population
Jerusalem 936K
Tel Aviv 468K
Haifa 283K
Rishon LeZion 250K
Petah Tikva 236K
Netanya 217K
Beersheba 209K
Holon 194K
Bnei Brak 194K
Ramat Gan 159K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/israel/japan | 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 (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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