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Population density: Japan vs Uruguay compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population density of 872 people per square mile compared to 50.1 people in Uruguay. Japan has 32,817 sq ft of land per person vs 560,081 sq ft in Uruguay. Japan and Uruguay rank 28th and 173rd 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 0.04% of the population and 0.12% of the land area for Uruguay, making the population density in Japan 1,641% higher than in Uruguay.

Population density by year

Japan
Uruguay

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Japan Uruguay
2026 872 50.1
2025 876 50.1
2024 881 50.1
2023 885 50.1
2022 889 50.2
2021 893 50.3
2020 897 50.3
2019 900 50.3
2018 901 50.2
2017 902 50.1
2016 903 50
2015 903 49.8
2014 904 49.7
2013 906 49.5
2012 907 49.4
2011 908 49.2
2010 910 49.1
2009 910 49
2008 910 48.9
2007 910 48.8
2006 908 48.7
2005 908 48.6
2004 908 48.6
2003 908 48.6
2002 906 48.5
2001 903 48.5
2000 901 48.3
1999 900 48.2
1998 898 47.9
1997 896 47.7
1996 894 47.4
1995 891 47.2
1994 889 47
1993 887 46.7
1992 884 46.5
1991 881 46.2
1990 877 45.9
1989 874 45.7
1988 871 45.4
1987 867 45.1
1986 863 44.9
1985 858 44.6
1984 853 44.4
1983 844 44.2
1982 838 44
1981 832 43.9
1980 826 43.7
1979 819 43.5
1978 812 43.3
1977 805 43.1
1976 797 42.8
1975 788 42.5
1974 778 42.2
1973 768 42
1972 757 41.8
1971 747 41.5
1970 730 41.3
1969 722 41
1968 713 40.8
1967 705 40.4
1966 698 40.1
1965 692 39.7
1964 684 39.3
1963 677 38.8
1962 671 38.4
1961 664 37.9

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/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Japan decreased by 4.07%, compared to a 2.84% growth in Uruguay.

In 2006, Japan ranked 19th by population density and is 28th now. Uruguay was 158th in 2006 and ranks 173rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Japan
Uruguay
1x
Year Urban population
Japan Uruguay
2024 92.2% 95.6%
2023 92.1% 95.5%
2022 92% 95.5%
2021 91.9% 95.4%
2020 91.8% 95.4%
2019 91.7% 95.3%
2018 91.6% 95.3%
2017 91.5% 95.2%
2016 91.5% 95.2%
2015 91.4% 95.1%
2014 91.3% 95%
2013 91.2% 94.9%
2012 91% 94.8%
2011 90.9% 94.6%
2010 90.6% 94.3%
2009 90.1% 93.9%
2008 89.3% 93.5%
2007 88.3% 93%
2006 87.1% 92.5%
2005 86% 92.1%
2004 84.4% 91.8%
2003 82.4% 91.6%
2002 80.5% 91.5%
2001 79.2% 91.4%
2000 78.6% 91.3%
1999 78.4% 91.2%
1998 78.3% 91.1%
1997 78.2% 91%
1996 78.1% 90.8%
1995 78% 90.6%
1994 77.9% 90.4%
1993 77.7% 90.1%
1992 77.6% 89.8%
1991 77.5% 89.4%
1990 77.3% 89.1%
1989 77.2% 88.7%
1988 77.1% 88.3%
1987 76.9% 88%
1986 76.8% 87.6%
1985 76.7% 87.2%
1984 76.6% 86.8%
1983 76.5% 86.4%
1982 76.3% 85.9%
1981 76.3% 85.5%
1980 76.2% 85%
1979 76.1% 84.5%
1978 76.1% 84.1%
1977 76% 83.7%
1976 76% 83.3%
1975 75.9% 83%
1974 75.4% 82.8%
1973 74.6% 82.6%
1972 73.7% 82.3%
1971 72.7% 82.2%
1970 71.9% 82%
1969 71.1% 81.8%
1968 70.3% 81.6%
1967 69.5% 81.5%
1966 68.7% 81.3%
1965 67.9% 81.1%
1964 67% 81%
1963 66.1% 80.8%
1962 65.2% 80.6%
1961 64.3% 80.4%
1960 63.3% 80.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 84.4% to 92.2% in Japan and from 91.8% to 95.6% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 125K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 76.4K
Tacuarembo 54.8K
Melo 51.8K

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/uruguay | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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