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Population density: Jamaica vs Kenya compared

Updated on by Georank team

Jamaica has a population density of 678 people per square mile compared to 261.5 people in Kenya. Jamaica has 41,673 sq ft of land per person vs 110,878 sq ft in Kenya. Jamaica and Kenya rank 43rd and 94th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Jamaica has 0.03% of the world's population and 0.007% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.69% of the population and 0.39% of the land area for Kenya, making the population density in Jamaica 159.2% higher than in Kenya.

Population density by year

Jamaica
Kenya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Jamaica Kenya
2026 678 261.5
2025 679 256.6
2024 679 251.6
2023 679 246.7
2022 679 241.9
2021 679 237.3
2020 677 232.8
2019 675 229.1
2018 674 225.4
2017 673 221.6
2016 672 217.6
2015 670 213.6
2014 668 209.6
2013 666 204.7
2012 663 199.7
2011 660 194.6
2010 657 189.3
2009 655 183.9
2008 652 178.4
2007 649 173.1
2006 646 167.9
2005 643 162.9
2004 639 158
2003 635 153.1
2002 631 148.5
2001 628 143.9
2000 624 139.4
1999 619 135.3
1998 615 131.5
1997 609 127.9
1996 604 124.4
1995 598 121.1
1994 592 117.7
1993 586 114.3
1992 580 111
1991 574 107.6
1990 569 104.2
1989 565 100.7
1988 561 97.2
1987 557 93.8
1986 553 90.6
1985 548 87.4
1984 542 84.3
1983 534 81.2
1982 527 78.3
1981 520 75.5
1980 513 72.9
1979 507 70.4
1978 501 68
1977 495 65.7
1976 489 63.5
1975 483 61.5
1974 476 59.5
1973 469 57.5
1972 462 55.5
1971 455 53.6
1970 449 51.7
1969 444 49.8
1968 439 47.9
1967 434 46
1966 428 44.2
1965 423 42.5
1964 417 40.8
1963 412 39.3
1962 406 37.8
1961 400 36.3

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/jamaica/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Jamaica increased by 4.96%, compared to a 55.7% growth in Kenya.

In 2006, Jamaica ranked 36th by population density and is 43rd now. Kenya was 111th in 2006 and ranks 94th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Jamaica
Kenya
1x
Year Urban population
Jamaica Kenya
2024 58.9% 31.9%
2023 58.5% 31.6%
2022 58% 31.4%
2021 57.5% 31.3%
2020 57.1% 31.2%
2019 56.7% 31.2%
2018 56.3% 31.4%
2017 55.9% 31.5%
2016 55.5% 31.7%
2015 55.2% 31.7%
2014 54.9% 31.8%
2013 54.5% 31.8%
2012 54.2% 31.9%
2011 54% 31.9%
2010 53.8% 31.9%
2009 53.6% 31.9%
2008 53.4% 31.4%
2007 53.2% 30.4%
2006 53% 29%
2005 52.8% 27.3%
2004 52.6% 25.4%
2003 52.4% 23.6%
2002 52.1% 21.9%
2001 51.9% 20.4%
2000 51.7% 19.5%
1999 51.5% 19%
1998 51.3% 18.9%
1997 51% 18.8%
1996 50.8% 18.7%
1995 50.6% 18.6%
1994 50.3% 18.5%
1993 50.1% 18.5%
1992 49.9% 18.4%
1991 49.7% 18.3%
1990 49.4% 18.2%
1989 49.3% 18.1%
1988 49.1% 17.9%
1987 48.9% 17.7%
1986 48.7% 17.5%
1985 48.5% 17.3%
1984 48.3% 17%
1983 48.1% 16.8%
1982 47.8% 16.5%
1981 47.5% 16.2%
1980 47.2% 15.8%
1979 46.8% 15.5%
1978 46.3% 15%
1977 45.8% 14.5%
1976 45.3% 13.9%
1975 44.8% 13.2%
1974 44.2% 12.5%
1973 43.5% 11.8%
1972 42.9% 11.2%
1971 42.2% 10.6%
1970 41.4% 10.1%
1969 40.6% 9.83%
1968 39.6% 9.61%
1967 38.4% 9.42%
1966 37.2% 9.26%
1965 35.8% 9.12%
1964 34.5% 8.97%
1963 33.2% 8.82%
1962 31.9% 8.63%
1961 30.7% 8.44%
1960 29.7% 8.23%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/jamaica/kenya | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 52.6% to 58.9% in Jamaica and from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya.

Densely populated cities

Jamaica
City Population
Kingston 938K
Spanish Town 131K
Montego Bay 124K
Half Way Tree 96.5K
May Pen 61.5K
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K

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/jamaica/kenya | 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 (1999–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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