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Population density: Rwanda vs Sweden compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 67.8 people in Sweden. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. Rwanda and Sweden rank 13th and 163rd 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 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, making the population density in Rwanda 2,204% higher than in Sweden.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Sweden

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Sweden
2026 1,563 67.8
2025 1,529 67.5
2024 1,497 67.2
2023 1,465 67
2022 1,433 66.7
2021 1,402 66.2
2020 1,372 65.8
2019 1,341 65.4
2018 1,311 64.7
2017 1,281 64
2016 1,251 63.1
2015 1,222 62.3
2014 1,193 61.7
2013 1,165 61
2012 1,137 60.5
2011 1,110 60.1
2010 1,083 59.6
2009 1,056 59.1
2008 1,029 58.6
2007 1,003 58.2
2006 976 57.7
2005 951 57.4
2004 926 57.2
2003 901 57
2002 882 56.7
2001 870 56.6
2000 862 56.4
1999 855 56.3
1998 848 56.3
1997 814 56.2
1996 704 56.2
1995 596 56.1
1994 713 55.8
1993 838 55.4
1992 807 55.1
1991 790 54.8
1990 774 54.4
1989 754 54
1988 732 53.6
1987 709 53.4
1986 686 53.2
1985 663 53.1
1984 641 53
1983 620 53
1982 600 52.9
1981 580 52.9
1980 562 52.8
1979 545 52.7
1978 529 52.6
1977 513 52.5
1976 498 52.3
1975 484 52.1
1974 470 51.9
1973 456 51.7
1972 443 51.6
1971 430 51.5
1970 418 51.1
1969 405 50.7
1968 393 50.3
1967 381 50
1966 370 49.6
1965 359 49.2
1964 350 48.7
1963 342 48.4
1962 334 48.1
1961 326 47.8

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Sweden was 155th in 2006 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Sweden
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Sweden
2024 29.9% 88.9%
2023 28.9% 88.6%
2022 27.8% 88.4%
2021 26.1% 88.2%
2020 24.5% 87.9%
2019 23% 87.7%
2018 21.5% 87.5%
2017 20.2% 87.2%
2016 19.1% 87%
2015 18.2% 86.6%
2014 17.5% 86.3%
2013 17.1% 85.9%
2012 16.9% 85.6%
2011 16.9% 85.4%
2010 16.9% 85.1%
2009 16.9% 84.9%
2008 16.9% 84.8%
2007 16.9% 84.6%
2006 16.9% 84.5%
2005 16.9% 84.4%
2004 16.9% 84.3%
2003 16.9% 84.2%
2002 16.9% 84.1%
2001 16.5% 84.1%
2000 15.8% 84%
1999 14.7% 84%
1998 13.3% 84%
1997 11.8% 84%
1996 10.3% 83.9%
1995 8.82% 83.9%
1994 7.48% 83.8%
1993 6.4% 83.7%
1992 5.66% 83.6%
1991 5.36% 83.5%
1990 5.27% 83.4%
1989 5.2% 83.3%
1988 5.14% 83.2%
1987 5.09% 83.2%
1986 5.05% 83.1%
1985 5.01% 83.1%
1984 4.98% 83.1%
1983 4.95% 83.1%
1982 4.91% 83.1%
1981 4.87% 83.1%
1980 4.82% 83.1%
1979 4.75% 83.1%
1978 4.67% 83%
1977 4.55% 82.9%
1976 4.39% 82.8%
1975 4.19% 82.7%
1974 3.97% 82.5%
1973 3.75% 82.3%
1972 3.55% 82%
1971 3.37% 81.7%
1970 3.24% 81.2%
1969 3.14% 80.6%
1968 3.06% 79.8%
1967 3% 78.9%
1966 2.94% 78%
1965 2.88% 77.1%
1964 2.83% 76.2%
1963 2.78% 75.3%
1962 2.72% 74.3%
1961 2.67% 73.4%
1960 2.6% 72.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 84.3% to 88.9% in Sweden.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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