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Population density: Niger vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Niger has a population density of 59 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Niger has 504,501 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Niger and Rwanda rank 166th and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Niger has 0.33% of the world's population and 0.85% 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 Niger 96.2% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Niger
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Niger Rwanda
2026 59 1,563
2025 57.1 1,529
2024 55.3 1,497
2023 53.5 1,465
2022 51.8 1,433
2021 50.1 1,402
2020 48.5 1,372
2019 46.9 1,341
2018 45.4 1,311
2017 43.8 1,281
2016 42.3 1,251
2015 40.8 1,222
2014 39.3 1,193
2013 37.9 1,165
2012 36.5 1,137
2011 35.1 1,110
2010 33.8 1,083
2009 32.6 1,056
2008 31.4 1,029
2007 30.3 1,003
2006 29.2 976
2005 28.1 951
2004 27.1 926
2003 26.2 901
2002 25.2 882
2001 24.4 870
2000 23.5 862
1999 22.7 855
1998 22 848
1997 21.2 814
1996 20.5 704
1995 19.9 596
1994 19.2 713
1993 18.6 838
1992 18 807
1991 17.5 790
1990 16.9 774
1989 16.4 754
1988 15.9 732
1987 15.5 709
1986 15 686
1985 14.6 663
1984 14.1 641
1983 13.7 620
1982 13.3 600
1981 12.9 580
1980 12.5 562
1979 12.2 545
1978 11.8 529
1977 11.5 513
1976 11.2 498
1975 10.9 484
1974 10.6 470
1973 10.3 456
1972 10 443
1971 9.77 430
1970 9.51 418
1969 9.25 405
1968 9 393
1967 8.76 381
1966 8.52 370
1965 8.28 359
1964 8.05 350
1963 7.82 342
1962 7.59 334
1961 7.38 326

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/niger/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Niger increased by 102.1%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Niger ranked 174th by population density and is 166th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Niger
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Niger Rwanda
2024 18% 29.9%
2023 17.8% 28.9%
2022 17.5% 27.8%
2021 17.2% 26.1%
2020 17% 24.5%
2019 16.8% 23%
2018 16.6% 21.5%
2017 16.5% 20.2%
2016 16.4% 19.1%
2015 16.3% 18.2%
2014 16.2% 17.5%
2013 16.2% 17.1%
2012 16.2% 16.9%
2011 16.2% 16.9%
2010 16.2% 16.9%
2009 16.3% 16.9%
2008 16.3% 16.9%
2007 16.3% 16.9%
2006 16.3% 16.9%
2005 16.3% 16.9%
2004 16.3% 16.9%
2003 16.3% 16.9%
2002 16.3% 16.9%
2001 16.3% 16.5%
2000 16.1% 15.8%
1999 16.1% 14.7%
1998 16% 13.3%
1997 15.9% 11.8%
1996 15.8% 10.3%
1995 15.8% 8.82%
1994 15.7% 7.48%
1993 15.7% 6.4%
1992 15.6% 5.66%
1991 15.5% 5.36%
1990 15.4% 5.27%
1989 15.4% 5.2%
1988 15.3% 5.14%
1987 15.1% 5.09%
1986 15% 5.05%
1985 14.8% 5.01%
1984 14.6% 4.98%
1983 14.4% 4.95%
1982 14.2% 4.91%
1981 14% 4.87%
1980 13.7% 4.82%
1979 13.4% 4.75%
1978 13.1% 4.67%
1977 12.8% 4.55%
1976 12.4% 4.39%
1975 12% 4.19%
1974 11.4% 3.97%
1973 10.9% 3.75%
1972 10.3% 3.55%
1971 9.66% 3.37%
1970 9.06% 3.24%
1969 8.49% 3.14%
1968 7.96% 3.06%
1967 7.49% 3%
1966 7.1% 2.94%
1965 6.76% 2.88%
1964 6.45% 2.83%
1963 6.19% 2.78%
1962 6% 2.72%
1961 5.85% 2.67%
1960 5.71% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.3% to 18% in Niger and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Niger
City Population
Niamey 1.5M
Maradi 267K
Zinder 236K
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/niger/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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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