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Population density: Rwanda vs Tonga compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 372 people in Tonga. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 77,340 sq ft in Tonga. Rwanda and Tonga rank 13th and 69th 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 0.001% of the population and 0.0005% of the land area for Tonga, making the population density in Rwanda 321% higher than in Tonga.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Tonga

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Tonga
2026 1,563 372
2025 1,529 373
2024 1,497 375
2023 1,465 376
2022 1,433 378
2021 1,402 379
2020 1,372 380
2019 1,341 380
2018 1,311 380
2017 1,281 379
2016 1,251 380
2015 1,222 382
2014 1,193 383
2013 1,165 385
2012 1,137 387
2011 1,110 387
2010 1,083 386
2009 1,056 386
2008 1,029 385
2007 1,003 384
2006 976 382
2005 951 380
2004 926 378
2003 901 376
2002 882 374
2001 870 372
2000 862 369
1999 855 367
1998 848 365
1997 814 362
1996 704 361
1995 596 361
1994 713 360
1993 838 360
1992 807 360
1991 790 359
1990 774 359
1989 754 358
1988 732 356
1987 709 354
1986 686 353
1985 663 352
1984 641 352
1983 620 353
1982 600 352
1981 580 352
1980 562 352
1979 545 351
1978 529 350
1977 513 348
1976 498 343
1975 484 335
1974 470 326
1973 456 319
1972 443 314
1971 430 309
1970 418 304
1969 405 298.2
1968 393 292.6
1967 381 287.1
1966 370 280.6
1965 359 273.1
1964 350 265.8
1963 342 258.6
1962 334 251.6
1961 326 244.7

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 2.77% decline in Tonga.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Tonga was 54th in 2006 and ranks 69th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Tonga
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Tonga
2024 29.9% 21.2%
2023 28.9% 21.1%
2022 27.8% 21.1%
2021 26.1% 21.3%
2020 24.5% 21.9%
2019 23% 22.3%
2018 21.5% 22.7%
2017 20.2% 23%
2016 19.1% 23.1%
2015 18.2% 23.2%
2014 17.5% 23.3%
2013 17.1% 23.4%
2012 16.9% 23.5%
2011 16.9% 23.5%
2010 16.9% 23.4%
2009 16.9% 23.4%
2008 16.9% 23.3%
2007 16.9% 23.2%
2006 16.9% 23.2%
2005 16.9% 23.1%
2004 16.9% 23.1%
2003 16.9% 23.1%
2002 16.9% 23.1%
2001 16.5% 23%
2000 15.8% 23%
1999 14.7% 23%
1998 13.3% 23%
1997 11.8% 22.9%
1996 10.3% 22.9%
1995 8.82% 22.8%
1994 7.48% 22.7%
1993 6.4% 22.6%
1992 5.66% 22.5%
1991 5.36% 22.4%
1990 5.27% 22.2%
1989 5.2% 22%
1988 5.14% 21.9%
1987 5.09% 21.7%
1986 5.05% 21.5%
1985 5.01% 21.4%
1984 4.98% 21.2%
1983 4.95% 21%
1982 4.91% 20.9%
1981 4.87% 20.7%
1980 4.82% 20.6%
1979 4.75% 20.5%
1978 4.67% 20.4%
1977 4.55% 20.4%
1976 4.39% 20.3%
1975 4.19% 20.3%
1974 3.97% 20.3%
1973 3.75% 20.2%
1972 3.55% 20.2%
1971 3.37% 20.2%
1970 3.24% 20.2%
1969 3.14% 20.2%
1968 3.06% 20.1%
1967 3% 20.1%
1966 2.94% 20%
1965 2.88% 19.9%
1964 2.83% 19.7%
1963 2.78% 19.4%
1962 2.72% 19.1%
1961 2.67% 18.7%
1960 2.6% 18.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 23.1% to 21.2% in Tonga.

Densely populated cities

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

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/tonga | 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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