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Population density: Portugal vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Portugal has a population density of 302 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Portugal has 92,822 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Portugal and Rwanda rank 81st and 13th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Portugal has 0.13% of the world's population and 0.06% 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 Portugal 80.7% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Portugal
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Portugal Rwanda
2026 302 1,563
2025 302 1,529
2024 302 1,497
2023 299.1 1,465
2022 295 1,433
2021 293 1,402
2020 291.1 1,372
2019 290.8 1,341
2018 290.8 1,311
2017 291.2 1,281
2016 291.9 1,251
2015 292.9 1,222
2014 294.1 1,193
2013 295.7 1,165
2012 297.3 1,137
2011 298.5 1,110
2010 299 1,083
2009 298.8 1,056
2008 299 1,029
2007 298.5 1,003
2006 297.9 976
2005 297.4 951
2004 296.8 926
2003 296 901
2002 294.9 882
2001 293.3 870
2000 291.3 862
1999 289.2 855
1998 287.6 848
1997 286.1 814
1996 284.9 704
1995 283.8 596
1994 282.8 713
1993 282.1 838
1992 281.7 807
1991 281.9 790
1990 282.6 774
1989 283.2 754
1988 283.6 732
1987 283.9 709
1986 284 686
1985 283.7 663
1984 283 641
1983 281.9 620
1982 280.6 600
1981 278.9 580
1980 276.4 562
1979 273.5 545
1978 270.6 529
1977 267.7 513
1976 264.8 498
1975 257.4 484
1974 247.8 470
1973 244.4 456
1972 244.3 443
1971 244.7 430
1970 245.7 418
1969 247.9 405
1968 250.1 393
1967 251.2 381
1966 252.8 370
1965 254.7 359
1964 255.8 350
1963 255.6 342
1962 254.6 334
1961 252.8 326

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/portugal/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Portugal increased by 1.23%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Portugal ranked 68th by population density and is 81st now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Portugal
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Portugal Rwanda
2024 61.3% 29.9%
2023 61.2% 28.9%
2022 61.1% 27.8%
2021 61.1% 26.1%
2020 61.1% 24.5%
2019 61.1% 23%
2018 61.1% 21.5%
2017 61.1% 20.2%
2016 61.1% 19.1%
2015 61.1% 18.2%
2014 61.1% 17.5%
2013 61.1% 17.1%
2012 61.1% 16.9%
2011 61.1% 16.9%
2010 61.1% 16.9%
2009 60.8% 16.9%
2008 60.4% 16.9%
2007 59.7% 16.9%
2006 59% 16.9%
2005 58.2% 16.9%
2004 57.4% 16.9%
2003 56.6% 16.9%
2002 55.8% 16.9%
2001 55.1% 16.5%
2000 54.4% 15.8%
1999 53.7% 14.7%
1998 53.1% 13.3%
1997 52.4% 11.8%
1996 51.7% 10.3%
1995 51% 8.82%
1994 50.3% 7.48%
1993 49.7% 6.4%
1992 49% 5.66%
1991 48.4% 5.36%
1990 47.7% 5.27%
1989 47.1% 5.2%
1988 46.5% 5.14%
1987 45.8% 5.09%
1986 45.2% 5.05%
1985 44.5% 5.01%
1984 43.9% 4.98%
1983 43.2% 4.95%
1982 42.6% 4.91%
1981 41.9% 4.87%
1980 41.3% 4.82%
1979 40.6% 4.75%
1978 40% 4.67%
1977 39.3% 4.55%
1976 38.7% 4.39%
1975 38.1% 4.19%
1974 37.5% 3.97%
1973 36.9% 3.75%
1972 36.3% 3.55%
1971 35.8% 3.37%
1970 35.2% 3.24%
1969 34.7% 3.14%
1968 34.2% 3.06%
1967 33.7% 3%
1966 33.2% 2.94%
1965 32.7% 2.88%
1964 32.3% 2.83%
1963 31.9% 2.78%
1962 31.5% 2.72%
1961 31.2% 2.67%
1960 30.8% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 57.4% to 61.3% in Portugal and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K
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/portugal/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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