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Population density: Madagascar vs Nauru compared

Updated on by Georank team

Madagascar has a population density of 149.3 people per square mile compared to 1,568 people in Nauru. Madagascar has 197,766 sq ft of land per person vs 18,920 sq ft in Nauru. Madagascar and Nauru rank 133rd and 12th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Madagascar has 0.39% of the world's population and 0.39% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.0001% of the population and 0.00001% of the land area for Nauru, making the population density in Madagascar 90.5% lower than in Nauru.

Population density by year

Madagascar
Nauru

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Madagascar Nauru
2026 149.3 1,568
2025 145.8 1,558
2024 142.3 1,547
2023 138.9 1,538
2022 135.5 1,528
2021 132.2 1,516
2020 128.9 1,508
2019 125.6 1,501
2018 122.4 1,486
2017 119.3 1,466
2016 116.2 1,444
2015 113.2 1,419
2014 110.2 1,391
2013 107.3 1,362
2012 104.4 1,330
2011 101.6 1,308
2010 98.8 1,301
2009 96 1,297
2008 93.2 1,296
2007 90.5 1,298
2006 87.9 1,299
2005 85.3 1,301
2004 82.9 1,303
2003 80.5 1,303
2002 78.2 1,306
2001 75.9 1,312
2000 73.6 1,317
1999 71.3 1,319
1998 69 1,321
1997 66.8 1,321
1996 64.6 1,319
1995 62.6 1,316
1994 60.6 1,313
1993 58.8 1,308
1992 57 1,298
1991 55.3 1,276
1990 53.7 1,246
1989 52.1 1,216
1988 50.6 1,187
1987 49.2 1,159
1986 47.8 1,132
1985 46.5 1,107
1984 45.1 1,085
1983 43.8 1,064
1982 42.6 1,041
1981 41.3 1,015
1980 40.1 991
1979 38.9 967
1978 37.7 945
1977 36.6 928
1976 35.5 915
1975 34.5 905
1974 33.4 897
1973 32.5 889
1972 31.5 882
1971 30.6 876
1970 29.7 869
1969 28.9 852
1968 28.1 819
1967 27.3 794
1966 26.6 783
1965 25.9 755
1964 25.3 714
1963 24.6 677
1962 24 645
1961 23.4 618

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/madagascar/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Madagascar increased by 69.9%, compared to a 20.6% growth in Nauru.

In 2006, Madagascar ranked 144th by population density and is 133rd now. Nauru was 13th in 2006 and ranks 12th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Madagascar
Nauru
1x
Year Urban population
Madagascar Nauru
2024 32.4% 100%
2023 32% 100%
2022 31.5% 100%
2021 31.1% 100%
2020 30.7% 100%
2019 30.3% 100%
2018 29.9% 100%
2017 29.7% 100%
2016 29.4% 100%
2015 29.2% 100%
2014 28.9% 100%
2013 28.7% 100%
2012 28.4% 100%
2011 28.1% 100%
2010 27.9% 100%
2009 27.6% 100%
2008 27.3% 100%
2007 27% 100%
2006 26.8% 100%
2005 26.5% 100%
2004 26.2% 100%
2003 25.9% 100%
2002 25.6% 100%
2001 25.3% 100%
2000 25% 100%
1999 24.7% 100%
1998 24.4% 100%
1997 24.1% 100%
1996 23.8% 100%
1995 23.5% 100%
1994 23.2% 100%
1993 22.9% 100%
1992 22.5% 100%
1991 22.2% 100%
1990 21.9% 100%
1989 21.6% 100%
1988 21.3% 100%
1987 20.9% 100%
1986 20.6% 100%
1985 20.3% 100%
1984 19.9% 100%
1983 19.6% 100%
1982 19.2% 100%
1981 18.9% 100%
1980 18.5% 100%
1979 18.1% 100%
1978 17.7% 100%
1977 17.3% 100%
1976 16.9% 100%
1975 16.5% 100%
1974 16.1% 100%
1973 15.6% 100%
1972 15% 100%
1971 14.5% 100%
1970 14.1% 100%
1969 13.7% 100%
1968 13.4% 100%
1967 13.1% 100%
1966 12.7% 100%
1965 12.4% 100%
1964 12.1% 100%
1963 11.8% 100%
1962 11.5% 100%
1961 11.2% 100%
1960 10.8% 100%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/madagascar/nauru | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 26.2% to 32.4% in Madagascar and from 100% to 100% in Nauru.

Densely populated cities

Madagascar
City Population
Antananarivo 1.28M
Antsirabe 265K
Toamasina 225K
Toliara 169K

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/madagascar/nauru | 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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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