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Population density: Nepal vs South Sudan compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nepal has a population density of 535 people per square mile compared to 51 people in South Sudan. Nepal has 53,430 sq ft of land per person vs 580,697 sq ft in South Sudan. Nepal and South Sudan rank 54th and 171st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Nepal has 0.36% of the world's population and 0.1% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.15% of the population and 0.42% of the land area for South Sudan, making the population density in Nepal 948% higher than in South Sudan.

Population density by year

Nepal
South Sudan

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nepal South Sudan
2026 535 51
2025 535 50
2024 536 49
2023 537 47.1
2022 537 45.2
2021 533 44.5
2020 523 43.8
2019 513 42.7
2018 507 41.5
2017 506 42
2016 505 44.4
2015 503 45.5
2014 500 46
2013 498 45.8
2012 497 44.1
2011 496 -
2010 494 -
2009 491 -
2008 488 -
2007 484 -
2006 480 -
2005 475 -
2004 470 -
2003 464 -
2002 458 -
2001 451 -
2000 443 -
1999 437 -
1998 429 -
1997 421 -
1996 412 -
1995 403 -
1994 393 -
1993 384 -
1992 373 -
1991 363 -
1990 354 -
1989 345 -
1988 338 -
1987 331 -
1986 324 -
1985 317 -
1984 309 -
1983 302 -
1982 295.2 -
1981 288.4 -
1980 281.7 -
1979 275.1 -
1978 268.8 -
1977 262.6 -
1976 256.8 -
1975 251.2 -
1974 245.7 -
1973 240.4 -
1972 235.3 -
1971 230.2 -
1970 225.2 -
1969 220.4 -
1968 215.6 -
1967 211.1 -
1966 206.6 -
1965 202.4 -
1964 198.3 -
1963 194.3 -
1962 190.6 -
1961 186.9 -

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/nepal/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2012 to 2026, population density in Nepal increased by 7.45%, compared to a 15.6% growth in South Sudan.

In 2012, Nepal ranked 51st by population density and is 54th now. South Sudan was 169th in 2012 and ranks 171st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nepal
South Sudan
1x
Year Urban population
Nepal South Sudan
2024 66.8% 21.4%
2023 66.5% 21.1%
2022 66.3% 20.8%
2021 66.1% 20.5%
2020 66.1% 20.2%
2019 66% 19.9%
2018 65.8% 19.6%
2017 65.6% 19.3%
2016 65.3% 19.1%
2015 65% 18.8%
2014 64.6% 18.5%
2013 64.1% 18.3%
2012 63.7% 18%
2011 63.1% 17.8%
2010 62% 17.5%
2009 59.9% 17.3%
2008 56.9% 17%
2007 53.4% 17%
2006 49.5% 17%
2005 45.5% 16.9%
2004 41.6% 16.8%
2003 38% 16.6%
2002 35% 16.4%
2001 32.8% 16.3%
2000 31.1% 16%
1999 29.5% 15.8%
1998 28% 15.6%
1997 26.6% 15.3%
1996 25.3% 15%
1995 24.1% 14.7%
1994 23% 14.5%
1993 22% 14.2%
1992 21.2% 13.8%
1991 20.4% 13.3%
1990 19.8% 12.6%
1989 19.2% 11.9%
1988 18.7% 11.2%
1987 18.3% 10.4%
1986 17.9% 9.73%
1985 17.5% 9.15%
1984 17.1% 8.73%
1983 16.6% 8.52%
1982 16.1% 8.49%
1981 15.5% 8.49%
1980 14.6% 8.49%
1979 13.4% 8.49%
1978 12% 8.49%
1977 10.5% 8.49%
1976 8.99% 8.49%
1975 7.51% 8.5%
1974 6.18% 8.5%
1973 5.09% 8.5%
1972 4.33% 8.51%
1971 4% 8.51%
1970 3.93% 8.52%
1969 3.87% 8.53%
1968 3.82% 8.54%
1967 3.78% 8.55%
1966 3.75% 8.56%
1965 3.72% 8.57%
1964 3.69% 8.58%
1963 3.66% 8.6%
1962 3.62% 8.62%
1961 3.57% 8.64%
1960 3.51% 8.66%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/nepal/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 41.6% to 66.8% in Nepal and from 16.8% to 21.4% in South Sudan.

Densely populated cities

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/nepal/south-sudan | 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 (2008–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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