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Population density: Rwanda vs Spain compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 253 people in Spain. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 111,496 sq ft in Spain. Rwanda and Spain rank 13th and 97th 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 0.6% of the population and 0.34% of the land area for Spain, making the population density in Rwanda 518% higher than in Spain.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Spain

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Spain
2026 1,563 253
2025 1,529 253.1
2024 1,497 253.2
2023 1,465 250.6
2022 1,433 247.7
2021 1,402 245.9
2020 1,372 245.5
2019 1,341 244.3
2018 1,311 242.5
2017 1,281 241.5
2016 1,251 240.9
2015 1,222 240.6
2014 1,193 240.6
2013 1,165 241.3
2012 1,137 242.2
2011 1,110 242.2
2010 1,083 241.3
2009 1,056 240.8
2008 1,029 238.6
2007 1,003 234.7
2006 976 230.4
2005 951 226.5
2004 926 222.7
2003 901 218.9
2002 882 215
2001 870 212.2
2000 862 210.6
1999 855 209.4
1998 848 208.6
1997 814 207.7
1996 704 206.9
1995 596 206
1994 713 205.1
1993 838 204.1
1992 807 203.1
1991 790 202.1
1990 774 201.6
1989 754 201.4
1988 732 201
1987 709 200.6
1986 686 200.1
1985 663 199.5
1984 641 198.8
1983 620 198
1982 600 197
1981 580 195.8
1980 562 194.4
1979 545 192.8
1978 529 191.1
1977 513 189.3
1976 498 187.4
1975 484 185.4
1974 470 183.3
1973 456 181.3
1972 443 179.3
1971 430 177.4
1970 418 175.2
1969 405 173.3
1968 393 171.6
1967 381 169.4
1966 370 167.3
1965 359 165.6
1964 350 163.8
1963 342 162.2
1962 334 160.8
1961 326 159.3

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/rwanda/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 9.77% growth in Spain.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Spain was 84th in 2006 and ranks 97th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Spain
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Spain
2024 29.9% 80.3%
2023 28.9% 80.1%
2022 27.8% 80%
2021 26.1% 79.8%
2020 24.5% 79.7%
2019 23% 79.6%
2018 21.5% 79.6%
2017 20.2% 79.5%
2016 19.1% 79.4%
2015 18.2% 79.2%
2014 17.5% 79.1%
2013 17.1% 79%
2012 16.9% 78.8%
2011 16.9% 78.7%
2010 16.9% 78.5%
2009 16.9% 78.3%
2008 16.9% 78%
2007 16.9% 77.8%
2006 16.9% 77.5%
2005 16.9% 77.2%
2004 16.9% 77%
2003 16.9% 76.7%
2002 16.9% 76.5%
2001 16.5% 76.3%
2000 15.8% 76.2%
1999 14.7% 76%
1998 13.3% 75.9%
1997 11.8% 75.8%
1996 10.3% 75.7%
1995 8.82% 75.6%
1994 7.48% 75.5%
1993 6.4% 75.3%
1992 5.66% 75.2%
1991 5.36% 75%
1990 5.27% 74.8%
1989 5.2% 74.6%
1988 5.14% 74.4%
1987 5.09% 74.1%
1986 5.05% 73.8%
1985 5.01% 73.5%
1984 4.98% 73.1%
1983 4.95% 72.8%
1982 4.91% 72.4%
1981 4.87% 72%
1980 4.82% 71.5%
1979 4.75% 71.1%
1978 4.67% 70.6%
1977 4.55% 70.1%
1976 4.39% 69.6%
1975 4.19% 69.1%
1974 3.97% 68.5%
1973 3.75% 68%
1972 3.55% 67.4%
1971 3.37% 66.8%
1970 3.24% 66.2%
1969 3.14% 65.4%
1968 3.06% 64.4%
1967 3% 63.4%
1966 2.94% 62.3%
1965 2.88% 61.1%
1964 2.83% 60%
1963 2.78% 58.9%
1962 2.72% 58%
1961 2.67% 57.1%
1960 2.6% 56.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 77% to 80.3% in Spain.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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 (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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