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Population density: Nauru vs Samoa compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nauru has a population density of 1,568 people per square mile compared to 205.5 people in Samoa. Nauru has 18,920 sq ft of land per person vs 140,314 sq ft in Samoa. Nauru and Samoa rank 12th and 112th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Nauru has 0.0001% of the world's population and 0.00001% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.003% of the population and 0.002% of the land area for Samoa, making the population density in Nauru 663% higher than in Samoa.

Population density by year

Nauru
Samoa

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nauru Samoa
2026 1,568 205.5
2025 1,558 204.4
2024 1,547 203.1
2023 1,538 201.9
2022 1,528 200.5
2021 1,516 199.2
2020 1,508 197.5
2019 1,501 195.4
2018 1,486 193.4
2017 1,466 191.4
2016 1,444 186.2
2015 1,419 184.7
2014 1,391 183.1
2013 1,362 181.5
2012 1,330 179.8
2011 1,308 178.2
2010 1,301 176.7
2009 1,297 175.3
2008 1,296 174
2007 1,298 172.7
2006 1,299 171.8
2005 1,301 171.1
2004 1,303 170.5
2003 1,303 169.7
2002 1,306 168.8
2001 1,312 167.6
2000 1,317 166.3
1999 1,319 165
1998 1,321 163.7
1997 1,321 162.5
1996 1,319 161.1
1995 1,316 159.8
1994 1,313 158.5
1993 1,308 157.2
1992 1,298 155.9
1991 1,276 155
1990 1,246 154.7
1989 1,216 154.5
1988 1,187 154.1
1987 1,159 153.4
1986 1,132 152.9
1985 1,107 152.7
1984 1,085 152.7
1983 1,064 152.6
1982 1,041 152.4
1981 1,015 151.6
1980 991 150.4
1979 967 149.1
1978 945 147.7
1977 928 146.2
1976 915 143.8
1975 905 140.3
1974 897 136.8
1973 889 134.1
1972 882 132.3
1971 876 130.4
1970 869 128.5
1969 852 126.5
1968 819 124.5
1967 794 122.4
1966 783 120
1965 755 117.1
1964 714 114.3
1963 677 111.4
1962 645 108.5
1961 618 105.7

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/nauru/samoa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Nauru increased by 20.6%, compared to a 19.6% growth in Samoa.

In 2006, Nauru ranked 13th by population density and is 12th now. Samoa was 108th in 2006 and ranks 112th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nauru
Samoa
1x
Year Urban population
Nauru Samoa
2024 100% 17.5%
2023 100% 17.5%
2022 100% 17.5%
2021 100% 17.6%
2020 100% 18.1%
2019 100% 18.4%
2018 100% 18.7%
2017 100% 19%
2016 100% 19.1%
2015 100% 19.2%
2014 100% 19.3%
2013 100% 19.4%
2012 100% 19.5%
2011 100% 19.6%
2010 100% 19.8%
2009 100% 20.1%
2008 100% 20.4%
2007 100% 20.7%
2006 100% 21%
2005 100% 21.2%
2004 100% 21.5%
2003 100% 21.8%
2002 100% 21.9%
2001 100% 22%
2000 100% 22%
1999 100% 21.9%
1998 100% 21.8%
1997 100% 21.8%
1996 100% 21.7%
1995 100% 21.6%
1994 100% 21.4%
1993 100% 21.3%
1992 100% 21.2%
1991 100% 21.1%
1990 100% 21%
1989 100% 20.8%
1988 100% 20.6%
1987 100% 20.5%
1986 100% 20.5%
1985 100% 20.6%
1984 100% 20.8%
1983 100% 21%
1982 100% 21.2%
1981 100% 21.2%
1980 100% 21.2%
1979 100% 21.2%
1978 100% 21.2%
1977 100% 21.1%
1976 100% 21.1%
1975 100% 21%
1974 100% 21%
1973 100% 20.9%
1972 100% 20.7%
1971 100% 20.6%
1970 100% 20.3%
1969 100% 20%
1968 100% 19.7%
1967 100% 19.5%
1966 100% 19.3%
1965 100% 19.2%
1964 100% 19.2%
1963 100% 19.1%
1962 100% 19%
1961 100% 18.9%
1960 100% 18.9%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 100% to 100% in Nauru and from 21.5% to 17.5% in Samoa.

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/nauru/samoa | 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 (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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