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Population density: Philippines vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Philippines has a population density of 1,023 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. The Philippines has 31,912 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. The Philippines and Zambia rank 23rd and 157th 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 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in the Philippines 1,203% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

Philippines
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Philippines Zambia
2026 1,023 78.5
2025 1,014 76.4
2024 1,006 74.3
2023 998 72.2
2022 990 70.2
2021 982 68.3
2020 974 66.4
2019 962 64.5
2018 951 62.6
2017 939 60.8
2016 927 58.9
2015 915 57.1
2014 901 55.4
2013 887 53.7
2012 870 52
2011 853 50.3
2010 837 48.7
2009 820 47
2008 805 45.4
2007 791 43.8
2006 778 42.3
2005 765 40.8
2004 750 39.5
2003 736 38.3
2002 722 37.1
2001 707 36
2000 692 34.9
1999 675 33.9
1998 658 33
1997 642 32.2
1996 627 31.4
1995 613 30.6
1994 600 29.9
1993 587 29.2
1992 573 28.5
1991 559 27.8
1990 546 27.1
1989 532 26.4
1988 519 25.8
1987 505 25.1
1986 492 24.3
1985 480 23.6
1984 467 22.9
1983 453 22.2
1982 440 21.5
1981 428 20.8
1980 417 20.2
1979 407 19.6
1978 396 19
1977 385 18.5
1976 375 17.9
1975 366 17.4
1974 358 16.9
1973 350 16.4
1972 342 15.9
1971 334 15.5
1970 327 15.1
1969 318 14.6
1968 309 14.2
1967 301 13.7
1966 291.9 13.3
1965 283.3 12.9
1964 274.8 12.5
1963 266.4 12.1
1962 258.1 11.7
1961 250 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/philippines/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Philippines increased by 31.5%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, the Philippines ranked 28th by population density and is 23rd now. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Philippines
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
Philippines Zambia
2024 55.5% 45.5%
2023 55.1% 45%
2022 54.8% 44.6%
2021 54.5% 44.2%
2020 54.1% 43.9%
2019 53.7% 43.5%
2018 53.2% 43.1%
2017 52.6% 42.7%
2016 51.9% 42.3%
2015 51.2% 42%
2014 50.2% 41.6%
2013 49.1% 41.2%
2012 47.9% 40.8%
2011 46.7% 40.4%
2010 45.5% 40%
2009 44.3% 39.5%
2008 43.2% 39%
2007 42.3% 38.4%
2006 41.8% 37.8%
2005 41.3% 37.3%
2004 40.9% 36.8%
2003 40.4% 36.4%
2002 40% 36.1%
2001 39.5% 35.9%
2000 39.1% 35.9%
1999 38.8% 36.2%
1998 38.4% 36.7%
1997 38% 37.4%
1996 37.7% 38%
1995 37.4% 38.4%
1994 37.1% 38.7%
1993 36.8% 38.9%
1992 36.5% 39.1%
1991 36.3% 39.3%
1990 36% 39.4%
1989 35.8% 39.5%
1988 35.5% 39.5%
1987 35.3% 39.6%
1986 35.1% 39.7%
1985 34.9% 39.7%
1984 34.6% 39.8%
1983 34.4% 39.8%
1982 34.2% 39.9%
1981 34% 39.9%
1980 33.8% 39.9%
1979 33.7% 39.7%
1978 33.5% 39.3%
1977 33.3% 38.6%
1976 33.1% 37.8%
1975 32.9% 36.8%
1974 32.7% 35.6%
1973 32.5% 34.4%
1972 32.3% 33.2%
1971 32.1% 31.9%
1970 31.9% 30.7%
1969 31.7% 29.4%
1968 31.5% 28%
1967 31.3% 26.4%
1966 31.1% 24.6%
1965 31% 22.9%
1964 30.8% 21.3%
1963 30.7% 20.1%
1962 30.5% 19.1%
1961 30.3% 18.1%
1960 30% 17.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 40.9% to 55.5% in the Philippines and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

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
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/philippines/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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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