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Population density: Rwanda vs Turkmenistan compared

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has a population density of 1,563 people per square mile compared to 42.7 people in Turkmenistan. Rwanda has 19,886 sq ft of land per person vs 705,496 sq ft in Turkmenistan. Rwanda and Turkmenistan rank 13th and 181st 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 0.09% of the population and 0.32% of the land area for Turkmenistan, making the population density in Rwanda 3,562% higher than in Turkmenistan.

Population density by year

Rwanda
Turkmenistan

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Rwanda Turkmenistan
2026 1,563 42.7
2025 1,529 42
2024 1,497 41.3
2023 1,465 40.6
2022 1,433 39.8
2021 1,402 39.1
2020 1,372 38.3
2019 1,341 37.5
2018 1,311 36.7
2017 1,281 35.9
2016 1,251 35.1
2015 1,222 34.3
2014 1,193 33.5
2013 1,165 32.7
2012 1,137 32
2011 1,110 31.3
2010 1,083 30.7
2009 1,056 30
2008 1,029 29.5
2007 1,003 28.9
2006 976 28.4
2005 951 27.8
2004 926 27.3
2003 901 26.8
2002 882 26.3
2001 870 25.8
2000 862 25.3
1999 855 24.8
1998 848 24.3
1997 814 23.9
1996 704 23.5
1995 596 23.1
1994 713 22.7
1993 838 22.2
1992 807 21.7
1991 790 -
1990 774 -
1989 754 -
1988 732 -
1987 709 -
1986 686 -
1985 663 -
1984 641 -
1983 620 -
1982 600 -
1981 580 -
1980 562 -
1979 545 -
1978 529 -
1977 513 -
1976 498 -
1975 484 -
1974 470 -
1973 456 -
1972 443 -
1971 430 -
1970 418 -
1969 405 -
1968 393 -
1967 381 -
1966 370 -
1965 359 -
1964 350 -
1963 342 -
1962 334 -
1961 326 -

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Rwanda increased by 60.1%, compared to a 50.5% growth in Turkmenistan.

In 2006, Rwanda ranked 18th by population density and is 13th now. Turkmenistan was 176th in 2006 and ranks 181st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Rwanda
Turkmenistan
1x
Year Urban population
Rwanda Turkmenistan
2024 29.9% 47.1%
2023 28.9% 47.1%
2022 27.8% 47.1%
2021 26.1% 47.1%
2020 24.5% 47.1%
2019 23% 47%
2018 21.5% 47%
2017 20.2% 47%
2016 19.1% 47%
2015 18.2% 47%
2014 17.5% 47%
2013 17.1% 47%
2012 16.9% 47%
2011 16.9% 46.9%
2010 16.9% 46.9%
2009 16.9% 46.9%
2008 16.9% 46.9%
2007 16.9% 46.8%
2006 16.9% 46.8%
2005 16.9% 46.8%
2004 16.9% 46.7%
2003 16.9% 46.7%
2002 16.9% 46.6%
2001 16.5% 46.4%
2000 15.8% 46.1%
1999 14.7% 45.7%
1998 13.3% 45.4%
1997 11.8% 45.1%
1996 10.3% 44.8%
1995 8.82% 44.7%
1994 7.48% 44.7%
1993 6.4% 44.7%
1992 5.66% 44.8%
1991 5.36% 44.9%
1990 5.27% 45%
1989 5.2% 45.1%
1988 5.14% 45.2%
1987 5.09% 45.4%
1986 5.05% 45.6%
1985 5.01% 45.9%
1984 4.98% 46.2%
1983 4.95% 46.4%
1982 4.91% 46.7%
1981 4.87% 47%
1980 4.82% 47.2%
1979 4.75% 47.3%
1978 4.67% 47.4%
1977 4.55% 47.5%
1976 4.39% 47.6%
1975 4.19% 47.7%
1974 3.97% 47.7%
1973 3.75% 47.8%
1972 3.55% 47.9%
1971 3.37% 47.9%
1970 3.24% 47.9%
1969 3.14% 47.9%
1968 3.06% 47.9%
1967 3% 47.8%
1966 2.94% 47.7%
1965 2.88% 47.5%
1964 2.83% 47.4%
1963 2.78% 47.2%
1962 2.72% 47%
1961 2.67% 46.8%
1960 2.6% 46.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda and from 46.7% to 47.1% in Turkmenistan.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K

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/turkmenistan | 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 (2009–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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