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Population density: Norway vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Norway has a population density of 40.3 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Norway has 744,100 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Norway and Rwanda rank 182nd and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Norway has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.24% 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 Norway 97.4% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Norway
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Norway Rwanda
2026 40.3 1,563
2025 40 1,529
2024 39.6 1,497
2023 39.2 1,465
2022 38.8 1,433
2021 38.5 1,402
2020 38.2 1,372
2019 37.9 1,341
2018 37.7 1,311
2017 37.4 1,281
2016 37.1 1,251
2015 36.8 1,222
2014 36.4 1,193
2013 36 1,165
2012 35.6 1,137
2011 35.1 1,110
2010 34.7 1,083
2009 34.2 1,056
2008 33.8 1,029
2007 33.4 1,003
2006 33 976
2005 32.8 951
2004 32.6 926
2003 32.4 901
2002 32.2 882
2001 32 870
2000 31.8 862
1999 31.6 855
1998 31.4 848
1997 31.2 814
1996 31.1 704
1995 30.9 596
1994 30.8 713
1993 30.6 838
1992 30.4 807
1991 30.2 790
1990 30.1 774
1989 30 754
1988 29.8 732
1987 29.7 709
1986 29.6 686
1985 29.4 663
1984 29.4 641
1983 29.3 620
1982 29.2 600
1981 29.1 580
1980 29 562
1979 28.9 545
1978 28.8 529
1977 28.7 513
1976 28.5 498
1975 28.4 484
1974 28.3 470
1973 28.1 456
1972 27.9 443
1971 27.7 430
1970 27.5 418
1969 27.3 405
1968 27.1 393
1967 26.8 381
1966 26.6 370
1965 26.4 359
1964 26.2 350
1963 26 342
1962 25.8 334
1961 25.6 326

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/norway/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Norway increased by 21.9%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Norway ranked 171st by population density and is 182nd now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Norway
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Norway Rwanda
2024 83.3% 29.9%
2023 83.1% 28.9%
2022 83% 27.8%
2021 82.9% 26.1%
2020 82.7% 24.5%
2019 82.5% 23%
2018 82.2% 21.5%
2017 82% 20.2%
2016 81.7% 19.1%
2015 81.2% 18.2%
2014 80.6% 17.5%
2013 80% 17.1%
2012 79.5% 16.9%
2011 79.3% 16.9%
2010 79.2% 16.9%
2009 79.1% 16.9%
2008 78.8% 16.9%
2007 78.4% 16.9%
2006 78.1% 16.9%
2005 77.8% 16.9%
2004 77.6% 16.9%
2003 77.3% 16.9%
2002 76.8% 16.9%
2001 76.4% 16.5%
2000 76.1% 15.8%
1999 75.8% 14.7%
1998 75.3% 13.3%
1997 74.7% 11.8%
1996 74.2% 10.3%
1995 73.9% 8.82%
1994 73.7% 7.48%
1993 73.2% 6.4%
1992 72.6% 5.66%
1991 72.2% 5.36%
1990 71.9% 5.27%
1989 71.7% 5.2%
1988 71.6% 5.14%
1987 71.5% 5.09%
1986 71.4% 5.05%
1985 71.3% 5.01%
1984 71.2% 4.98%
1983 71.1% 4.95%
1982 71% 4.91%
1981 70.8% 4.87%
1980 70.6% 4.82%
1979 70.4% 4.75%
1978 70.1% 4.67%
1977 69.7% 4.55%
1976 69.3% 4.39%
1975 68.9% 4.19%
1974 68.3% 3.97%
1973 67.7% 3.75%
1972 67.1% 3.55%
1971 66.4% 3.37%
1970 65.6% 3.24%
1969 64.4% 3.14%
1968 62.6% 3.06%
1967 60.5% 3%
1966 58.2% 2.94%
1965 55.9% 2.88%
1964 53.6% 2.83%
1963 51.6% 2.78%
1962 50.1% 2.72%
1961 49% 2.67%
1960 48.7% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 77.6% to 83.3% in Norway and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K
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/norway/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 (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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