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Population density: Rwanda vs Turkey compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 289.2 people in Turkey. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 98,624 sq ft in Turkey. Rwanda and Turkey rank 13th and 82nd 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 1.05% of the population and 0.52% of the land area for Turkey, making the population density in Rwanda 441% higher than in Turkey.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Turkey

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Turkey
2026 1,563 289.2
2025 1,529 288.5
2024 1,497 287.8
2023 1,465 287.1
2022 1,433 286
2021 1,402 283.2
2020 1,372 280.6
2019 1,341 277.9
2018 1,311 274
2017 1,281 270.3
2016 1,251 266.8
2015 1,222 263.2
2014 1,193 259.7
2013 1,165 256.3
2012 1,137 253
2011 1,110 249.8
2010 1,083 246.1
2009 1,056 242.4
2008 1,029 239.1
2007 1,003 236.1
2006 976 235.7
2005 951 233.3
2004 926 230.8
2003 901 228.3
2002 882 225.6
2001 870 222.9
2000 862 220.2
1999 855 217.4
1998 848 214.5
1997 814 211.5
1996 704 208.5
1995 596 205.4
1994 713 202
1993 838 198.5
1992 807 195.2
1991 790 191.9
1990 774 188.5
1989 754 185
1988 732 181.4
1987 709 177.8
1986 686 174.2
1985 663 170.6
1984 641 166.8
1983 620 163
1982 600 159.3
1981 580 155.9
1980 562 152.8
1979 545 149.8
1978 529 146.9
1977 513 143.9
1976 498 141
1975 484 138.2
1974 470 135.3
1973 456 132.4
1972 443 129.3
1971 430 126.3
1970 418 123.3
1969 405 120.4
1968 393 117.5
1967 381 114.6
1966 370 111.7
1965 359 108.8
1964 350 106.1
1963 342 103.4
1962 334 100.7
1961 326 98

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 22.7% growth in Turkey.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Turkey was 83rd in 2006 and ranks 82nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Turkey
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Turkey
2024 29.9% 89.3%
2023 28.9% 89%
2022 27.8% 89%
2021 26.1% 89.2%
2020 24.5% 88.9%
2019 23% 88.7%
2018 21.5% 88.2%
2017 20.2% 88%
2016 19.1% 88.1%
2015 18.2% 87.2%
2014 17.5% 83.6%
2013 17.1% 78.5%
2012 16.9% 73.8%
2011 16.9% 71%
2010 16.9% 69.3%
2009 16.9% 67.8%
2008 16.9% 66.5%
2007 16.9% 65.3%
2006 16.9% 64.3%
2005 16.9% 63.3%
2004 16.9% 62.4%
2003 16.9% 61.6%
2002 16.9% 60.7%
2001 16.5% 59.9%
2000 15.8% 59%
1999 14.7% 58.1%
1998 13.3% 57.3%
1997 11.8% 56.5%
1996 10.3% 55.8%
1995 8.82% 55.1%
1994 7.48% 54.3%
1993 6.4% 53.6%
1992 5.66% 52.8%
1991 5.36% 51.9%
1990 5.27% 51%
1989 5.2% 50%
1988 5.14% 49%
1987 5.09% 47.8%
1986 5.05% 46.7%
1985 5.01% 45.6%
1984 4.98% 44.4%
1983 4.95% 43.2%
1982 4.91% 42%
1981 4.87% 40.9%
1980 4.82% 39.9%
1979 4.75% 39%
1978 4.67% 38.1%
1977 4.55% 37.2%
1976 4.39% 36.3%
1975 4.19% 35.4%
1974 3.97% 34.4%
1973 3.75% 33.4%
1972 3.55% 32.3%
1971 3.37% 31.3%
1970 3.24% 30.2%
1969 3.14% 29.2%
1968 3.06% 28.1%
1967 3% 27%
1966 2.94% 26.1%
1965 2.88% 25.4%
1964 2.83% 24.9%
1963 2.78% 24.5%
1962 2.72% 24.1%
1961 2.67% 23.8%
1960 2.6% 23.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 62.4% to 89.3% in Turkey.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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