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Population density: Philippines vs Switzerland compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Philippines has a population density of 1,023 people per square mile compared to 596 people in Switzerland. The Philippines has 31,912 sq ft of land per person vs 49,353 sq ft in Switzerland. The Philippines and Switzerland rank 23rd and 51st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Philippines has 1.43% of the world's population and 0.2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.11% of the population and 0.03% of the land area for Switzerland, making the population density in the Philippines 71.5% higher than in Switzerland.

Population density by year

Philippines
Switzerland

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Philippines Switzerland
2026 1,023 596
2025 1,014 594
2024 1,006 590
2023 998 583
2022 990 575
2021 982 571
2020 974 566
2019 962 562
2018 951 558
2017 939 554
2016 927 549
2015 915 543
2014 901 537
2013 887 530
2012 870 524
2011 853 519
2010 837 513
2009 820 508
2008 805 501
2007 791 495
2006 778 491
2005 765 487
2004 750 484
2003 736 481
2002 722 477
2001 707 474
2000 692 471
1999 675 468
1998 658 466
1997 642 464
1996 627 463
1995 613 461
1994 600 458
1993 587 455
1992 573 450
1991 559 446
1990 546 440
1989 532 436
1988 519 432
1987 505 429
1986 492 426
1985 480 424
1984 467 422
1983 453 421
1982 440 419
1981 428 416
1980 417 414
1979 407 412
1978 396 412
1977 385 412
1976 375 413
1975 366 415
1974 358 416
1973 350 413
1972 342 410
1971 334 407
1970 327 405
1969 318 402
1968 309 398
1967 301 393
1966 291.9 388
1965 283.3 384
1964 274.8 379
1963 266.4 373
1962 258.1 365
1961 250 356

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/philippines/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Philippines increased by 31.5%, compared to a 21.6% growth in Switzerland.

In 2006, the Philippines ranked 28th by population density and is 23rd now. Switzerland was 44th in 2006 and ranks 51st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Philippines
Switzerland
1x
Year Urban population
Philippines Switzerland
2024 55.5% 85.5%
2023 55.1% 85.2%
2022 54.8% 84.9%
2021 54.5% 84.2%
2020 54.1% 82.3%
2019 53.7% 80.8%
2018 53.2% 79.3%
2017 52.6% 77.9%
2016 51.9% 76.7%
2015 51.2% 75.6%
2014 50.2% 74.7%
2013 49.1% 74.1%
2012 47.9% 73.8%
2011 46.7% 73.7%
2010 45.5% 73.6%
2009 44.3% 73.6%
2008 43.2% 73.5%
2007 42.3% 73.5%
2006 41.8% 73.5%
2005 41.3% 73.5%
2004 40.9% 73.5%
2003 40.4% 73.5%
2002 40% 73.4%
2001 39.5% 73.4%
2000 39.1% 73.3%
1999 38.8% 73.1%
1998 38.4% 72.9%
1997 38% 72.5%
1996 37.7% 72%
1995 37.4% 71.5%
1994 37.1% 71%
1993 36.8% 70.4%
1992 36.5% 69.8%
1991 36.3% 69.2%
1990 36% 68.7%
1989 35.8% 68%
1988 35.5% 67.3%
1987 35.3% 66.5%
1986 35.1% 65.6%
1985 34.9% 64.8%
1984 34.6% 64%
1983 34.4% 63.2%
1982 34.2% 62.4%
1981 34% 61.8%
1980 33.8% 61.3%
1979 33.7% 60.8%
1978 33.5% 60.4%
1977 33.3% 60.1%
1976 33.1% 59.7%
1975 32.9% 59.4%
1974 32.7% 59.1%
1973 32.5% 58.7%
1972 32.3% 58.3%
1971 32.1% 57.9%
1970 31.9% 57.4%
1969 31.7% 56.9%
1968 31.5% 56.3%
1967 31.3% 55.7%
1966 31.1% 55.1%
1965 31% 54.4%
1964 30.8% 53.7%
1963 30.7% 53%
1962 30.5% 52.4%
1961 30.3% 51.7%
1960 30% 51%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/philippines/switzerland | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 40.9% to 55.5% in the Philippines and from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland.

Densely populated cities

Philippines
City Population
Quezon 3.08M
Manila 1.9M
Davao 1.85M
Caloocan 1.71M
Taguig 1.31M
Zamboanga 1.02M
Palawan 969K
Cebu 965K
Antipolo 914K
Pasig 853K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/philippines/switzerland | 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 (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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