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Population density: Rwanda vs Saudi Arabia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 44.1 people in Saudi Arabia. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 686,079 sq ft in Saudi Arabia. Rwanda and Saudi Arabia rank 13th and 179th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Rwanda has 0.18% of the world's population and 0.02% 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 Rwanda 3,448% higher than in Saudi Arabia.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Saudi Arabia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Saudi Arabia
2026 1,563 44.1
2025 1,529 43.3
2024 1,497 42.5
2023 1,465 40.6
2022 1,433 38.8
2021 1,402 37.1
2020 1,372 38
2019 1,341 36.2
2018 1,311 36.4
2017 1,281 37.3
2016 1,251 37.3
2015 1,222 35.9
2014 1,193 34.1
2013 1,165 33.3
2012 1,137 31.5
2011 1,110 30.2
2010 1,083 28.9
2009 1,056 29.2
2008 1,029 28.1
2007 1,003 26.9
2006 976 25.9
2005 951 24.8
2004 926 23.7
2003 901 22.6
2002 882 21.6
2001 870 20.5
2000 862 19.5
1999 855 18.6
1998 848 18
1997 814 17.3
1996 704 16.7
1995 596 16
1994 713 15.4
1993 838 14.7
1992 807 14.1
1991 790 13.4
1990 774 12.8
1989 754 12.2
1988 732 11.6
1987 709 11
1986 686 10.4
1985 663 9.82
1984 641 9.27
1983 620 8.74
1982 600 8.22
1981 580 7.74
1980 562 7.29
1979 545 6.87
1978 529 6.48
1977 513 6.12
1976 498 5.79
1975 484 5.49
1974 470 5.21
1973 456 4.95
1972 443 4.71
1971 430 4.49
1970 418 4.29
1969 405 4.12
1968 393 3.96
1967 381 3.8
1966 370 3.66
1965 359 3.53
1964 350 3.4
1963 342 3.28
1962 334 3.16
1961 326 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/rwanda/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 70.4% growth in Saudi Arabia.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Saudi Arabia was 177th in 2006 and ranks 179th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Saudi Arabia
2024 29.9% 84.5%
2023 28.9% 84.3%
2022 27.8% 84.1%
2021 26.1% 84%
2020 24.5% 83.8%
2019 23% 83.6%
2018 21.5% 83.5%
2017 20.2% 83.3%
2016 19.1% 83.1%
2015 18.2% 83%
2014 17.5% 82.8%
2013 17.1% 82.6%
2012 16.9% 82.4%
2011 16.9% 82.3%
2010 16.9% 82.1%
2009 16.9% 81.9%
2008 16.9% 81.6%
2007 16.9% 81.4%
2006 16.9% 81.2%
2005 16.9% 81%
2004 16.9% 80.8%
2003 16.9% 80.5%
2002 16.9% 80.3%
2001 16.5% 80.2%
2000 15.8% 80%
1999 14.7% 79.8%
1998 13.3% 79.6%
1997 11.8% 79.4%
1996 10.3% 79.2%
1995 8.82% 78.9%
1994 7.48% 78.6%
1993 6.4% 78.3%
1992 5.66% 78%
1991 5.36% 77.6%
1990 5.27% 77%
1989 5.2% 76.3%
1988 5.14% 75.6%
1987 5.09% 74.8%
1986 5.05% 73.9%
1985 5.01% 72.9%
1984 4.98% 71.8%
1983 4.95% 70.6%
1982 4.91% 69.3%
1981 4.87% 67.9%
1980 4.82% 66.4%
1979 4.75% 64.9%
1978 4.67% 63.3%
1977 4.55% 61.7%
1976 4.39% 60.1%
1975 4.19% 58.4%
1974 3.97% 56.8%
1973 3.75% 55.1%
1972 3.55% 53.2%
1971 3.37% 51.2%
1970 3.24% 49.2%
1969 3.14% 47.1%
1968 3.06% 45%
1967 3% 42.9%
1966 2.94% 40.9%
1965 2.88% 39%
1964 2.83% 37.2%
1963 2.78% 35.6%
1962 2.72% 34.1%
1961 2.67% 32.8%
1960 2.6% 31.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 80.8% to 84.5% in Saudi Arabia.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
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/rwanda/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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