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Population density: Nauru vs Vanuatu compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nauru has a population density of 1,568 people per square mile compared to 72.8 people in Vanuatu. Nauru has 18,920 sq ft of land per person vs 400,309 sq ft in Vanuatu. Nauru and Vanuatu rank 12th and 160th 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 0.004% of the population and 0.008% of the land area for Vanuatu, making the population density in Nauru 2,053% higher than in Vanuatu.

Population density by year

Nauru
Vanuatu

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nauru Vanuatu
2026 1,568 72.8
2025 1,558 71.2
2024 1,547 69.6
2023 1,538 68.1
2022 1,528 66.5
2021 1,516 65
2020 1,508 63.5
2019 1,501 62
2018 1,486 60.6
2017 1,466 59.2
2016 1,444 57.8
2015 1,419 56.5
2014 1,391 55.3
2013 1,362 54.1
2012 1,330 52.9
2011 1,308 51.7
2010 1,301 50.6
2009 1,297 49.4
2008 1,296 48.2
2007 1,298 47
2006 1,299 45.9
2005 1,301 44.8
2004 1,303 43.7
2003 1,303 42.7
2002 1,306 41.6
2001 1,312 40.6
2000 1,317 39.6
1999 1,319 38.7
1998 1,321 37.9
1997 1,321 37.1
1996 1,319 36.3
1995 1,316 35.5
1994 1,313 34.7
1993 1,308 33.9
1992 1,298 33.1
1991 1,276 32.3
1990 1,246 31.5
1989 1,216 30.7
1988 1,187 29.9
1987 1,159 29.1
1986 1,132 28.4
1985 1,107 27.7
1984 1,085 27
1983 1,064 26.3
1982 1,041 25.7
1981 1,015 25.1
1980 991 24.6
1979 967 24
1978 945 23.4
1977 928 22.7
1976 915 22
1975 905 21.3
1974 897 20.7
1973 889 20
1972 882 19.5
1971 876 18.9
1970 869 18.3
1969 852 17.8
1968 819 17.3
1967 794 16.8
1966 783 16.3
1965 755 15.8
1964 714 15.3
1963 677 14.9
1962 645 14.5
1961 618 14.1

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/vanuatu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Nauru increased by 20.6%, compared to a 58.7% growth in Vanuatu.

In 2006, Nauru ranked 13th by population density and is 12th now. Vanuatu was 159th in 2006 and ranks 160th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nauru
Vanuatu
1x
Year Urban population
Nauru Vanuatu
2024 100% 22.3%
2023 100% 22.3%
2022 100% 22.3%
2021 100% 22.3%
2020 100% 22.4%
2019 100% 23.5%
2018 100% 24.3%
2017 100% 24.8%
2016 100% 24.9%
2015 100% 24.9%
2014 100% 24.9%
2013 100% 24.8%
2012 100% 24.8%
2011 100% 24.8%
2010 100% 24.7%
2009 100% 24.3%
2008 100% 23.9%
2007 100% 23.6%
2006 100% 23.3%
2005 100% 23%
2004 100% 22.7%
2003 100% 22.5%
2002 100% 22.2%
2001 100% 21.9%
2000 100% 21.7%
1999 100% 21.4%
1998 100% 21.1%
1997 100% 20.8%
1996 100% 20.5%
1995 100% 20.2%
1994 100% 20%
1993 100% 19.7%
1992 100% 19.4%
1991 100% 19.1%
1990 100% 18.8%
1989 100% 18.4%
1988 100% 18.1%
1987 100% 17.7%
1986 100% 17.3%
1985 100% 16.9%
1984 100% 16.5%
1983 100% 16%
1982 100% 15.6%
1981 100% 15.2%
1980 100% 14.8%
1979 100% 14.4%
1978 100% 14%
1977 100% 13.6%
1976 100% 13.2%
1975 100% 12.8%
1974 100% 12.5%
1973 100% 12.1%
1972 100% 11.7%
1971 100% 11.4%
1970 100% 11%
1969 100% 10.7%
1968 100% 10.3%
1967 100% 9.99%
1966 100% 9.69%
1965 100% 9.39%
1964 100% 9.1%
1963 100% 8.81%
1962 100% 8.53%
1961 100% 8.25%
1960 100% 7.98%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 100% to 100% in Nauru and from 22.7% to 22.3% in Vanuatu.

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/vanuatu | 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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