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Population density: Rwanda vs Senegal compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 260.6 people in Senegal. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 114,447 sq ft in Senegal. Rwanda and Senegal rank 13th and 95th 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 0.23% of the population and 0.13% of the land area for Senegal, making the population density in Rwanda 500% higher than in Senegal.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Senegal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Senegal
2026 1,563 260.6
2025 1,529 254.7
2024 1,497 248.9
2023 1,465 243.2
2022 1,433 237.4
2021 1,402 231.7
2020 1,372 225.9
2019 1,341 220
2018 1,311 214.1
2017 1,281 208.2
2016 1,251 202.3
2015 1,222 196.3
2014 1,193 190.4
2013 1,165 184.4
2012 1,137 179.1
2011 1,110 174.3
2010 1,083 170
2009 1,056 166
2008 1,029 162.1
2007 1,003 158.3
2006 976 154.7
2005 951 151.1
2004 926 147.6
2003 901 144.2
2002 882 140.8
2001 870 137.4
2000 862 134.1
1999 855 130.9
1998 848 127.8
1997 814 124.9
1996 704 122
1995 596 119
1994 713 116
1993 838 113
1992 807 109.9
1991 790 106.9
1990 774 103.9
1989 754 100.9
1988 732 98.1
1987 709 95.3
1986 686 92.5
1985 663 89.9
1984 641 87.4
1983 620 85.1
1982 600 82.8
1981 580 80.7
1980 562 78.6
1979 545 76.7
1978 529 74.9
1977 513 73.2
1976 498 71.4
1975 484 69.6
1974 470 67.7
1973 456 65.7
1972 443 63.8
1971 430 61.9
1970 418 60.1
1969 405 58.3
1968 393 56.6
1967 381 54.9
1966 370 53.3
1965 359 51.8
1964 350 50.3
1963 342 48.9
1962 334 47.5
1961 326 46.2

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/senegal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 68.5% growth in Senegal.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Senegal was 117th in 2006 and ranks 95th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Senegal
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Senegal
2024 29.9% 55.2%
2023 28.9% 54.7%
2022 27.8% 53.4%
2021 26.1% 52.2%
2020 24.5% 51.1%
2019 23% 49.9%
2018 21.5% 48.9%
2017 20.2% 47.9%
2016 19.1% 47.1%
2015 18.2% 46.3%
2014 17.5% 45.6%
2013 17.1% 45%
2012 16.9% 44.5%
2011 16.9% 44.1%
2010 16.9% 43.6%
2009 16.9% 43.2%
2008 16.9% 42.9%
2007 16.9% 42.5%
2006 16.9% 42.2%
2005 16.9% 41.9%
2004 16.9% 41.6%
2003 16.9% 41.4%
2002 16.9% 41.1%
2001 16.5% 40.9%
2000 15.8% 40.7%
1999 14.7% 40.5%
1998 13.3% 40.3%
1997 11.8% 40.1%
1996 10.3% 40%
1995 8.82% 39.8%
1994 7.48% 39.7%
1993 6.4% 39.5%
1992 5.66% 39.3%
1991 5.36% 39.1%
1990 5.27% 38.9%
1989 5.2% 38.7%
1988 5.14% 38.5%
1987 5.09% 38.2%
1986 5.05% 38%
1985 5.01% 37.7%
1984 4.98% 37.4%
1983 4.95% 37%
1982 4.91% 36.7%
1981 4.87% 36.3%
1980 4.82% 36%
1979 4.75% 35.6%
1978 4.67% 35.2%
1977 4.55% 34.8%
1976 4.39% 34.4%
1975 4.19% 33.9%
1974 3.97% 33.5%
1973 3.75% 33%
1972 3.55% 32.5%
1971 3.37% 31.9%
1970 3.24% 31.3%
1969 3.14% 30.4%
1968 3.06% 29.4%
1967 3% 28.3%
1966 2.94% 27.2%
1965 2.88% 26.1%
1964 2.83% 25%
1963 2.78% 24.1%
1962 2.72% 23.3%
1961 2.67% 22.8%
1960 2.6% 22.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 41.6% to 55.2% in Senegal.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Senegal
City Population
Dakar 1.44M
Thies 391K
Rufisque 295K
Saint-Louis 259K
Ziguinchor 205K
Kaolack 172K
Louga 113K
Kolda 62.3K

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/senegal | 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 (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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