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Population density: Qatar vs Saudi Arabia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Qatar has a population density of 673 people per square mile compared to 44.1 people in Saudi Arabia. Qatar has 43,077 sq ft of land per person vs 686,079 sq ft in Saudi Arabia. Qatar and Saudi Arabia rank 44th and 179th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Qatar has 0.04% of the world's population and 0.008% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.43% of the population and 1.44% of the land area for Saudi Arabia, making the population density in Qatar 1,428% higher than in Saudi Arabia.

Population density by year

Qatar
Saudi Arabia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Qatar Saudi Arabia
2026 673 44.1
2025 660 43.3
2024 644 42.5
2023 599 40.6
2022 599 38.8
2021 565 37.1
2020 630 38
2019 595 36.2
2018 582 36.4
2017 574 37.3
2016 558 37.3
2015 528 35.9
2014 485 34.1
2013 428 33.3
2012 384 31.5
2011 362 30.2
2010 361 28.9
2009 359 29.2
2008 318 28.1
2007 269.6 26.9
2006 217 25.9
2005 184.1 24.8
2004 172.5 23.7
2003 166.1 22.6
2002 158.7 21.6
2001 151.2 20.5
2000 143.9 19.5
1999 136.6 18.6
1998 129.5 18
1997 122.8 17.3
1996 118 16.7
1995 114.7 16
1994 111.4 15.4
1993 108.1 14.7
1992 104.8 14.1
1991 101.5 13.4
1990 98.2 12.8
1989 95 12.2
1988 91.7 11.6
1987 88.6 11
1986 85.3 10.4
1985 81.6 9.82
1984 77.6 9.27
1983 73.6 8.74
1982 69.5 8.22
1981 65.5 7.74
1980 61.6 7.29
1979 57.7 6.87
1978 53.9 6.48
1977 50.3 6.12
1976 46.6 5.79
1975 43.1 5.49
1974 39.6 5.21
1973 36.1 4.95
1972 32.7 4.71
1971 29.3 4.49
1970 26 4.29
1969 23 4.12
1968 20.5 3.96
1967 18.2 3.8
1966 16.1 3.66
1965 14.3 3.53
1964 12.7 3.4
1963 11.2 3.28
1962 9.96 3.16
1961 8.85 3.04

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/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Qatar increased by 210.1%, compared to a 70.4% growth in Saudi Arabia.

In 2006, Qatar ranked 89th by population density and is 44th now. Saudi Arabia was 177th in 2006 and ranks 179th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Qatar
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Urban population
Qatar Saudi Arabia
2024 99.3% 84.5%
2023 99.3% 84.3%
2022 99.2% 84.1%
2021 99.2% 84%
2020 99.2% 83.8%
2019 99.1% 83.6%
2018 99.1% 83.5%
2017 99% 83.3%
2016 99% 83.1%
2015 98.9% 83%
2014 98.9% 82.8%
2013 98.8% 82.6%
2012 98.7% 82.4%
2011 98.6% 82.3%
2010 98.5% 82.1%
2009 98.3% 81.9%
2008 98.1% 81.6%
2007 97.9% 81.4%
2006 97.6% 81.2%
2005 97.3% 81%
2004 97% 80.8%
2003 96.8% 80.5%
2002 96.6% 80.3%
2001 96.5% 80.2%
2000 96.3% 80%
1999 96.1% 79.8%
1998 95.9% 79.6%
1997 95.7% 79.4%
1996 95.4% 79.2%
1995 95.1% 78.9%
1994 94.7% 78.6%
1993 94.3% 78.3%
1992 93.9% 78%
1991 93.4% 77.6%
1990 92.9% 77%
1989 92.4% 76.3%
1988 91.8% 75.6%
1987 91.1% 74.8%
1986 90.4% 73.9%
1985 89.6% 72.9%
1984 88.3% 71.8%
1983 86.9% 70.6%
1982 85.4% 69.3%
1981 84% 67.9%
1980 83% 66.4%
1979 82.2% 64.9%
1978 81.6% 63.3%
1977 81% 61.7%
1976 80.4% 60.1%
1975 79.9% 58.4%
1974 79.5% 56.8%
1973 78.9% 55.1%
1972 78.4% 53.2%
1971 77.7% 51.2%
1970 77% 49.2%
1969 76.2% 47.1%
1968 75.3% 45%
1967 74.4% 42.9%
1966 73.3% 40.9%
1965 72.2% 39%
1964 71% 37.2%
1963 69.7% 35.6%
1962 68.3% 34.1%
1961 66.7% 32.8%
1960 65% 31.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 97% to 99.3% in Qatar and from 80.8% to 84.5% in Saudi Arabia.

Densely populated cities

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/qatar/saudi-arabia | 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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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