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Population density: Japan vs Marshall Islands compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population density of 872 people per square mile compared to 504 people in the Marshall Islands. Japan has 32,817 sq ft of land per person vs 52,011 sq ft in the Marshall Islands. Japan and the Marshall Islands rank 28th and 56th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Japan has 1.53% of the world's population and 0.24% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.0005% of the population and 0.0001% of the land area for the Marshall Islands, making the population density in Japan 72.8% higher than in the Marshall Islands.

Population density by year

Japan
Marshall Islands

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Japan Marshall Islands
2026 872 504
2025 876 522
2024 881 540
2023 885 559
2022 889 577
2021 893 595
2020 897 614
2019 900 633
2018 901 652
2017 902 669
2016 903 686
2015 903 702
2014 904 717
2013 906 729
2012 907 740
2011 908 747
2010 910 749
2009 910 748
2008 910 749
2007 910 749
2006 908 748
2005 908 747
2004 908 745
2003 908 743
2002 906 740
2001 903 736
2000 901 730
1999 900 722
1998 898 715
1997 896 709
1996 894 702
1995 891 694
1994 889 687
1993 887 678
1992 884 667
1991 881 656
1990 877 -
1989 874 -
1988 871 -
1987 867 -
1986 863 -
1985 858 -
1984 853 -
1983 844 -
1982 838 -
1981 832 -
1980 826 -
1979 819 -
1978 812 -
1977 805 -
1976 797 -
1975 788 -
1974 778 -
1973 768 -
1972 757 -
1971 747 -
1970 730 -
1969 722 -
1968 713 -
1967 705 -
1966 698 -
1965 692 -
1964 684 -
1963 677 -
1962 671 -
1961 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/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Japan decreased by 4.07%, compared to a 32.6% decline in the Marshall Islands.

In 2006, Japan ranked 19th by population density and is 28th now. The Marshall Islands was 30th in 2006 and ranks 56th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Japan
Marshall Islands
1x
Year Urban population
Japan Marshall Islands
2024 92.2% 78.7%
2023 92.1% 78.4%
2022 92% 78%
2021 91.9% 77.6%
2020 91.8% 77.3%
2019 91.7% 76.9%
2018 91.6% 76.6%
2017 91.5% 76.2%
2016 91.5% 75.9%
2015 91.4% 75.5%
2014 91.3% 75.1%
2013 91.2% 74.7%
2012 91% 74.3%
2011 90.9% 73.9%
2010 90.6% 73.4%
2009 90.1% 72.9%
2008 89.3% 72.4%
2007 88.3% 71.8%
2006 87.1% 71.2%
2005 86% 70.6%
2004 84.4% 70.1%
2003 82.4% 69.5%
2002 80.5% 69%
2001 79.2% 68.6%
2000 78.6% 68.3%
1999 78.4% 68%
1998 78.3% 67.9%
1997 78.2% 67.7%
1996 78.1% 67.6%
1995 78% 67.5%
1994 77.9% 67.5%
1993 77.7% 67.4%
1992 77.6% 67.3%
1991 77.5% 67.2%
1990 77.3% 67.1%
1989 77.2% 66.9%
1988 77.1% 66.7%
1987 76.9% 66.1%
1986 76.8% 65.1%
1985 76.7% 64%
1984 76.6% 62.8%
1983 76.5% 61.6%
1982 76.3% 60.6%
1981 76.3% 59.9%
1980 76.2% 59.7%
1979 76.1% 59.8%
1978 76.1% 60.1%
1977 76% 60.5%
1976 76% 60.9%
1975 75.9% 61.2%
1974 75.4% 61.5%
1973 74.6% 61.3%
1972 73.7% 59.9%
1971 72.7% 57.4%
1970 71.9% 54.3%
1969 71.1% 51%
1968 70.3% 47.9%
1967 69.5% 45.6%
1966 68.7% 43.8%
1965 67.9% 42.1%
1964 67% 40.4%
1963 66.1% 38.8%
1962 65.2% 37.4%
1961 64.3% 36%
1960 63.3% 34.8%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 84.4% to 92.2% in Japan and from 70.1% to 78.7% in the Marshall Islands.

Densely populated cities

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/japan/marshall-islands | 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 (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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