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Population density: Nicaragua vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a population density of 152.8 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. Nicaragua has 187,291 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. Nicaragua and Zambia rank 131st and 157th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Nicaragua has 0.09% of the world's population and 0.08% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in Nicaragua 94.7% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

Nicaragua
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nicaragua Zambia
2026 152.8 78.5
2025 150.8 76.4
2024 148.9 74.3
2023 146.9 72.2
2022 144.9 70.2
2021 143 68.3
2020 141.3 66.4
2019 139.5 64.5
2018 137.7 62.6
2017 135.9 60.8
2016 134.1 58.9
2015 132.3 57.1
2014 130.6 55.4
2013 128.8 53.7
2012 127 52
2011 125.2 50.3
2010 123.5 48.7
2009 121.7 47
2008 120 45.4
2007 118.3 43.8
2006 116.6 42.3
2005 115 40.8
2004 113.5 39.5
2003 112.2 38.3
2002 110.8 37.1
2001 109.5 36
2000 108.1 34.9
1999 106.6 33.9
1998 105.1 33
1997 103.5 32.2
1996 101.8 31.4
1995 99.9 30.6
1994 97.9 29.9
1993 95.9 29.2
1992 93.8 28.5
1991 91.7 27.8
1990 89.6 27.1
1989 87.5 26.4
1988 85.5 25.8
1987 83.6 25.1
1986 81.7 24.3
1985 79.8 23.6
1984 77.9 22.9
1983 76 22.2
1982 74 21.5
1981 72 20.8
1980 70 20.2
1979 68.1 19.6
1978 66.3 19
1977 64.4 18.5
1976 62.5 17.9
1975 60.6 17.4
1974 58.8 16.9
1973 57 16.4
1972 55.4 15.9
1971 53.8 15.5
1970 52.1 15.1
1969 50.5 14.6
1968 49 14.2
1967 47.5 13.7
1966 46 13.3
1965 44.6 12.9
1964 43.3 12.5
1963 42 12.1
1962 40.7 11.7
1961 39.5 11.3

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/nicaragua/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Nicaragua increased by 31%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, Nicaragua ranked 131st by population density and is 131st still. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nicaragua
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
Nicaragua Zambia
2024 59.3% 45.5%
2023 59.1% 45%
2022 59% 44.6%
2021 58.9% 44.2%
2020 58.7% 43.9%
2019 58.5% 43.5%
2018 58.4% 43.1%
2017 58.2% 42.7%
2016 58% 42.3%
2015 57.8% 42%
2014 57.6% 41.6%
2013 57.4% 41.2%
2012 57.2% 40.8%
2011 57% 40.4%
2010 56.8% 40%
2009 56.7% 39.5%
2008 56.5% 39%
2007 56.3% 38.4%
2006 56.1% 37.8%
2005 55.9% 37.3%
2004 55.8% 36.8%
2003 55.6% 36.4%
2002 55.5% 36.1%
2001 55.4% 35.9%
2000 55.2% 35.9%
1999 55.1% 36.2%
1998 54.9% 36.7%
1997 54.8% 37.4%
1996 54.6% 38%
1995 54.4% 38.4%
1994 54.3% 38.7%
1993 54.1% 38.9%
1992 53.9% 39.1%
1991 53.7% 39.3%
1990 53.5% 39.4%
1989 53.3% 39.5%
1988 53.1% 39.5%
1987 52.9% 39.6%
1986 52.7% 39.7%
1985 52.4% 39.7%
1984 52.2% 39.8%
1983 51.9% 39.8%
1982 51.7% 39.9%
1981 51.4% 39.9%
1980 51.1% 39.9%
1979 50.8% 39.7%
1978 50.5% 39.3%
1977 50.2% 38.6%
1976 49.8% 37.8%
1975 49.5% 36.8%
1974 49.1% 35.6%
1973 48.7% 34.4%
1972 48.3% 33.2%
1971 47.8% 31.9%
1970 47.3% 30.7%
1969 46.5% 29.4%
1968 45.6% 28%
1967 44.6% 26.4%
1966 43.6% 24.6%
1965 42.6% 22.9%
1964 41.7% 21.3%
1963 41% 20.1%
1962 40.4% 19.1%
1961 39.8% 18.1%
1960 39.2% 17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/nicaragua/zambia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 55.8% to 59.3% in Nicaragua and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

Densely populated cities

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K

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/nicaragua/zambia | 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 (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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