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Population density: Liberia vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has a population density of 157.4 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Liberia has 213,577 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Liberia and Rwanda rank 130th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Liberia has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.06% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Liberia 89.9% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Liberia
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Liberia Rwanda
2026 157.4 1,563
2025 154.2 1,529
2024 150.9 1,497
2023 147.7 1,465
2022 144.5 1,433
2021 141.4 1,402
2020 138.5 1,372
2019 135.6 1,341
2018 133 1,311
2017 130.4 1,281
2016 127.9 1,251
2015 125.3 1,222
2014 122.7 1,193
2013 120.2 1,165
2012 117.6 1,137
2011 113.5 1,110
2010 109.1 1,083
2009 106 1,056
2008 102.7 1,029
2007 98.7 1,003
2006 93.9 976
2005 88.8 951
2004 84.9 926
2003 83.9 901
2002 83.2 882
2001 81.1 870
2000 78.7 862
1999 75.9 855
1998 71.8 848
1997 64.9 814
1996 60 704
1995 58.3 596
1994 57.8 713
1993 58 838
1992 55.7 807
1991 52.6 790
1990 59.8 774
1989 67.7 754
1988 65.8 732
1987 63.9 709
1986 62.1 686
1985 60.2 663
1984 58.4 641
1983 56.7 620
1982 55 600
1981 53.4 580
1980 51.9 562
1979 50.4 545
1978 48.9 529
1977 47.5 513
1976 46.2 498
1975 44.9 484
1974 43.7 470
1973 42.6 456
1972 41.5 443
1971 40.4 430
1970 39.4 418
1969 38.4 405
1968 37.5 393
1967 36.5 381
1966 35.6 370
1965 34.7 359
1964 33.8 350
1963 33 342
1962 32.2 334
1961 31.4 326

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/liberia/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Liberia increased by 67.6%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Liberia ranked 140th by population density and is 130th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Liberia
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Liberia Rwanda
2024 55.5% 29.9%
2023 55% 28.9%
2022 54.5% 27.8%
2021 53.9% 26.1%
2020 53.4% 24.5%
2019 52.9% 23%
2018 52.3% 21.5%
2017 51.8% 20.2%
2016 51.3% 19.1%
2015 50.7% 18.2%
2014 50.2% 17.5%
2013 49.7% 17.1%
2012 49.2% 16.9%
2011 48.7% 16.9%
2010 48.1% 16.9%
2009 47.6% 16.9%
2008 47.1% 16.9%
2007 46.6% 16.9%
2006 46.2% 16.9%
2005 45.9% 16.9%
2004 45.4% 16.9%
2003 45% 16.9%
2002 44.6% 16.9%
2001 44.2% 16.5%
2000 43.8% 15.8%
1999 43.4% 14.7%
1998 43.2% 13.3%
1997 43% 11.8%
1996 43% 10.3%
1995 44.5% 8.82%
1994 48.3% 7.48%
1993 52.7% 6.4%
1992 56.4% 5.66%
1991 58% 5.36%
1990 43.3% 5.27%
1989 41.9% 5.2%
1988 41.3% 5.14%
1987 40.7% 5.09%
1986 36.7% 5.05%
1985 39.5% 5.01%
1984 39.1% 4.98%
1983 38.5% 4.95%
1982 37.7% 4.91%
1981 36.8% 4.87%
1980 35.8% 4.82%
1979 34.8% 4.75%
1978 33.7% 4.67%
1977 32.6% 4.55%
1976 31.5% 4.39%
1975 30.5% 4.19%
1974 29.5% 3.97%
1973 28.6% 3.75%
1972 27.8% 3.55%
1971 26.9% 3.37%
1970 26.1% 3.24%
1969 25.3% 3.14%
1968 24.5% 3.06%
1967 23.7% 3%
1966 22.9% 2.94%
1965 22.1% 2.88%
1964 21.4% 2.83%
1963 20.6% 2.78%
1962 19.9% 2.72%
1961 19.2% 2.67%
1960 18.6% 2.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/liberia/rwanda | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 45.4% to 55.5% in Liberia and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/liberia/rwanda | 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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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