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Population density: Mexico vs Portugal compared

Updated on by Georank team

Mexico has a population density of 177.3 people per square mile compared to 302 people in Portugal. Mexico has 162,251 sq ft of land per person vs 92,822 sq ft in Portugal. Mexico and Portugal rank 124th and 81st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Mexico has 1.61% of the world's population and 1.31% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.13% of the population and 0.06% of the land area for Portugal, making the population density in Mexico 41.2% lower than in Portugal.

Population density by year

Mexico
Portugal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Mexico Portugal
2026 177.3 302
2025 175.8 302
2024 174.4 302
2023 172.9 299.1
2022 171.4 295
2021 170.1 293
2020 168.9 291.1
2019 167.6 290.8
2018 166 290.8
2017 164.4 291.2
2016 162.9 291.9
2015 161.3 292.9
2014 159.6 294.1
2013 157.7 295.7
2012 155.6 297.3
2011 153.5 298.5
2010 151.4 299
2009 149.2 298.8
2008 147.1 299
2007 144.9 298.5
2006 142.9 297.9
2005 141 297.4
2004 139.1 296.8
2003 137.2 296
2002 135.3 294.9
2001 133.4 293.3
2000 131.4 291.3
1999 129.4 289.2
1998 127.3 287.6
1997 125.3 286.1
1996 123.2 284.9
1995 121.1 283.8
1994 118.9 282.8
1993 116.8 282.1
1992 114.6 281.7
1991 112.5 281.9
1990 110.3 282.6
1989 108.2 283.2
1988 106.2 283.6
1987 104.1 283.9
1986 102 284
1985 100 283.7
1984 97.9 283
1983 95.9 281.9
1982 93.8 280.6
1981 91.8 278.9
1980 89.7 276.4
1979 87.5 273.5
1978 85.2 270.6
1977 83 267.7
1976 80.8 264.8
1975 78.6 257.4
1974 76.4 247.8
1973 74.2 244.4
1972 72 244.3
1971 69.8 244.7
1970 67.7 245.7
1969 65.6 247.9
1968 63.5 250.1
1967 61.5 251.2
1966 59.5 252.8
1965 57.5 254.7
1964 55.7 255.8
1963 53.9 255.6
1962 52.1 254.6
1961 50.5 252.8

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/mexico/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Mexico increased by 24%, compared to a 1.23% growth in Portugal.

In 2006, Mexico ranked 120th by population density and is 124th now. Portugal was 68th in 2006 and ranks 81st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Mexico
Portugal
1x
Year Urban population
Mexico Portugal
2024 79.8% 61.3%
2023 79.5% 61.2%
2022 79.2% 61.1%
2021 78.9% 61.1%
2020 78.7% 61.1%
2019 78.4% 61.1%
2018 78% 61.1%
2017 77.7% 61.1%
2016 77.4% 61.1%
2015 77.2% 61.1%
2014 77% 61.1%
2013 76.8% 61.1%
2012 76.7% 61.1%
2011 76.6% 61.1%
2010 76.5% 61.1%
2009 76.5% 60.8%
2008 76.5% 60.4%
2007 76.5% 59.7%
2006 76.5% 59%
2005 76.5% 58.2%
2004 76.3% 57.4%
2003 76% 56.6%
2002 75.7% 55.8%
2001 75.3% 55.1%
2000 74.9% 54.4%
1999 74.6% 53.7%
1998 74.3% 53.1%
1997 74% 52.4%
1996 73.6% 51.7%
1995 73.3% 51%
1994 73% 50.3%
1993 72.6% 49.7%
1992 72.2% 49%
1991 71.9% 48.4%
1990 71.5% 47.7%
1989 71% 47.1%
1988 70.6% 46.5%
1987 70.1% 45.8%
1986 69.6% 45.2%
1985 69.1% 44.5%
1984 68.6% 43.9%
1983 68.1% 43.2%
1982 67.5% 42.6%
1981 66.9% 41.9%
1980 66.3% 41.3%
1979 65.7% 40.6%
1978 65% 40%
1977 64.3% 39.3%
1976 63.6% 38.7%
1975 62.9% 38.1%
1974 62.1% 37.5%
1973 61.4% 36.9%
1972 60.6% 36.3%
1971 59.8% 35.8%
1970 59% 35.2%
1969 58.2% 34.7%
1968 57.4% 34.2%
1967 56.6% 33.7%
1966 55.8% 33.2%
1965 55% 32.7%
1964 54.1% 32.3%
1963 53.3% 31.9%
1962 52.4% 31.5%
1961 51.6% 31.2%
1960 50.7% 30.8%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/mexico/portugal | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 76.3% to 79.8% in Mexico and from 57.4% to 61.3% in Portugal.

Densely populated cities

Mexico
City Population
Mexico 9.21M
Tijuana 1.96M
Ecatepec de Morelos 1.93M
Leon 1.58M
Puebla 1.43M
Guadalajara 1.39M
Ciudad Juarez 1.32M
Zapopan 1.26M
Monterrey 1.14M
Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl 1.07M
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/mexico/portugal | 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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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