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Population density: Mexico vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Mexico has a population density of 177.3 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Mexico has 162,251 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Mexico and Rwanda rank 124th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Mexico 88.7% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Mexico
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Mexico Rwanda
2026 177.3 1,563
2025 175.8 1,529
2024 174.4 1,497
2023 172.9 1,465
2022 171.4 1,433
2021 170.1 1,402
2020 168.9 1,372
2019 167.6 1,341
2018 166 1,311
2017 164.4 1,281
2016 162.9 1,251
2015 161.3 1,222
2014 159.6 1,193
2013 157.7 1,165
2012 155.6 1,137
2011 153.5 1,110
2010 151.4 1,083
2009 149.2 1,056
2008 147.1 1,029
2007 144.9 1,003
2006 142.9 976
2005 141 951
2004 139.1 926
2003 137.2 901
2002 135.3 882
2001 133.4 870
2000 131.4 862
1999 129.4 855
1998 127.3 848
1997 125.3 814
1996 123.2 704
1995 121.1 596
1994 118.9 713
1993 116.8 838
1992 114.6 807
1991 112.5 790
1990 110.3 774
1989 108.2 754
1988 106.2 732
1987 104.1 709
1986 102 686
1985 100 663
1984 97.9 641
1983 95.9 620
1982 93.8 600
1981 91.8 580
1980 89.7 562
1979 87.5 545
1978 85.2 529
1977 83 513
1976 80.8 498
1975 78.6 484
1974 76.4 470
1973 74.2 456
1972 72 443
1971 69.8 430
1970 67.7 418
1969 65.6 405
1968 63.5 393
1967 61.5 381
1966 59.5 370
1965 57.5 359
1964 55.7 350
1963 53.9 342
1962 52.1 334
1961 50.5 326

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/mexico/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Mexico increased by 24%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Mexico ranked 120th by population density and is 124th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Mexico
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Mexico Rwanda
2024 79.8% 29.9%
2023 79.5% 28.9%
2022 79.2% 27.8%
2021 78.9% 26.1%
2020 78.7% 24.5%
2019 78.4% 23%
2018 78% 21.5%
2017 77.7% 20.2%
2016 77.4% 19.1%
2015 77.2% 18.2%
2014 77% 17.5%
2013 76.8% 17.1%
2012 76.7% 16.9%
2011 76.6% 16.9%
2010 76.5% 16.9%
2009 76.5% 16.9%
2008 76.5% 16.9%
2007 76.5% 16.9%
2006 76.5% 16.9%
2005 76.5% 16.9%
2004 76.3% 16.9%
2003 76% 16.9%
2002 75.7% 16.9%
2001 75.3% 16.5%
2000 74.9% 15.8%
1999 74.6% 14.7%
1998 74.3% 13.3%
1997 74% 11.8%
1996 73.6% 10.3%
1995 73.3% 8.82%
1994 73% 7.48%
1993 72.6% 6.4%
1992 72.2% 5.66%
1991 71.9% 5.36%
1990 71.5% 5.27%
1989 71% 5.2%
1988 70.6% 5.14%
1987 70.1% 5.09%
1986 69.6% 5.05%
1985 69.1% 5.01%
1984 68.6% 4.98%
1983 68.1% 4.95%
1982 67.5% 4.91%
1981 66.9% 4.87%
1980 66.3% 4.82%
1979 65.7% 4.75%
1978 65% 4.67%
1977 64.3% 4.55%
1976 63.6% 4.39%
1975 62.9% 4.19%
1974 62.1% 3.97%
1973 61.4% 3.75%
1972 60.6% 3.55%
1971 59.8% 3.37%
1970 59% 3.24%
1969 58.2% 3.14%
1968 57.4% 3.06%
1967 56.6% 3%
1966 55.8% 2.94%
1965 55% 2.88%
1964 54.1% 2.83%
1963 53.3% 2.78%
1962 52.4% 2.72%
1961 51.6% 2.67%
1960 50.7% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 76.3% to 79.8% in Mexico and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

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
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/mexico/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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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