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Population density: Japan vs Romania compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population density of 872 people per square mile compared to 212.1 people in Romania. Japan has 32,817 sq ft of land per person vs 134,690 sq ft in Romania. Japan and Romania rank 28th and 107th 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 0.23% of the population and 0.15% of the land area for Romania, making the population density in Japan 311% higher than in Romania.

Population density by year

Japan
Romania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Japan Romania
2026 872 212.1
2025 876 213.3
2024 881 214.5
2023 885 214.6
2022 889 214.4
2021 893 215.3
2020 897 216.9
2019 900 218.1
2018 901 219.2
2017 902 220.5
2016 903 221.8
2015 903 223.1
2014 904 224.1
2013 906 225
2012 907 225.9
2011 908 226.7
2010 910 227.9
2009 910 229.3
2008 910 231.4
2007 910 235.3
2006 908 238.7
2005 908 240.1
2004 908 241.6
2003 908 243
2002 906 244.8
2001 903 249.5
2000 901 253
1999 900 253.5
1998 898 253.9
1997 896 254.5
1996 894 255.2
1995 891 256
1994 889 256.5
1993 887 256.9
1992 884 257.3
1991 881 259.6
1990 877 262
1989 874 261.6
1988 871 259.3
1987 867 258
1986 863 256.8
1985 858 255.6
1984 853 254.6
1983 844 253.7
1982 838 252.7
1981 832 251.3
1980 826 249.7
1979 819 248.4
1978 812 246.8
1977 805 244.6
1976 797 242.3
1975 788 239.4
1974 778 236.5
1973 768 234.3
1972 757 232.3
1971 747 230.1
1970 730 227.7
1969 722 225
1968 713 222.6
1967 705 219.6
1966 698 216.1
1965 692 214
1964 684 212.7
1963 677 211.4
1962 671 210
1961 664 208.6

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Japan decreased by 4.07%, compared to a 11.1% decline in Romania.

In 2006, Japan ranked 19th by population density and is 28th now. Romania was 81st in 2006 and ranks 107th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Japan
Romania
1x
Year Urban population
Japan Romania
2024 92.2% 52.2%
2023 92.1% 52.2%
2022 92% 52.2%
2021 91.9% 52.2%
2020 91.8% 52.6%
2019 91.7% 52.9%
2018 91.6% 53.1%
2017 91.5% 53.4%
2016 91.5% 53.6%
2015 91.4% 53.7%
2014 91.3% 53.8%
2013 91.2% 53.9%
2012 91% 54%
2011 90.9% 54%
2010 90.6% 53.9%
2009 90.1% 53.8%
2008 89.3% 53.6%
2007 88.3% 53.4%
2006 87.1% 53.3%
2005 86% 53.1%
2004 84.4% 52.9%
2003 82.4% 52.8%
2002 80.5% 52.7%
2001 79.2% 52.8%
2000 78.6% 52.9%
1999 78.4% 53%
1998 78.3% 53.2%
1997 78.2% 53.4%
1996 78.1% 53.7%
1995 78% 53.9%
1994 77.9% 54.1%
1993 77.7% 54.2%
1992 77.6% 54.3%
1991 77.5% 54.3%
1990 77.3% 54.2%
1989 77.2% 54%
1988 77.1% 53.8%
1987 76.9% 53.4%
1986 76.8% 53%
1985 76.7% 52.5%
1984 76.6% 52%
1983 76.5% 51.5%
1982 76.3% 50.9%
1981 76.3% 50.3%
1980 76.2% 49.7%
1979 76.1% 49%
1978 76.1% 48.4%
1977 76% 47.8%
1976 76% 47.2%
1975 75.9% 46.5%
1974 75.4% 45.7%
1973 74.6% 44.8%
1972 73.7% 43.9%
1971 72.7% 43%
1970 71.9% 42%
1969 71.1% 41.1%
1968 70.3% 40.2%
1967 69.5% 39.3%
1966 68.7% 38.5%
1965 67.9% 37.7%
1964 67% 37%
1963 66.1% 36.3%
1962 65.2% 35.7%
1961 64.3% 35%
1960 63.3% 34.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 84.4% to 92.2% in Japan and from 52.9% to 52.2% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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 (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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