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Population density: Switzerland vs Tanzania compared

Updated on by Georank team

Switzerland has a population density of 596 people per square mile compared to 212.2 people in Tanzania. Switzerland has 49,353 sq ft of land per person vs 148,726 sq ft in Tanzania. Switzerland and Tanzania rank 51st and 106th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Switzerland has 0.11% of the world's population and 0.03% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.84% of the population and 0.59% of the land area for Tanzania, making the population density in Switzerland 181% higher than in Tanzania.

Population density by year

Switzerland
Tanzania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Switzerland Tanzania
2026 596 212.2
2025 594 206.3
2024 590 200.5
2023 583 194.8
2022 575 189.2
2021 571 183.7
2020 566 178.3
2019 562 173
2018 558 167.9
2017 554 162.7
2016 549 157.4
2015 543 152.1
2014 537 147.2
2013 530 142.8
2012 524 138.5
2011 519 134.6
2010 513 130.9
2009 508 127.6
2008 501 124.5
2007 495 121.2
2006 491 117.8
2005 487 114.6
2004 484 111.4
2003 481 108.4
2002 477 105.6
2001 474 102.9
2000 471 100.2
1999 468 97.4
1998 466 94.8
1997 464 92.3
1996 463 90.5
1995 461 88.8
1994 458 86.1
1993 455 82.8
1992 450 80.3
1991 446 78.3
1990 440 76.3
1989 436 74.4
1988 432 72.4
1987 429 70.3
1986 426 68
1985 424 65.8
1984 422 63.7
1983 421 61.6
1982 419 59.6
1981 416 57.8
1980 414 56.1
1979 412 54.4
1978 412 52.6
1977 412 50.7
1976 413 48.9
1975 415 47.2
1974 416 45.5
1973 413 43.9
1972 410 42.3
1971 407 40.9
1970 405 39.5
1969 402 38.1
1968 398 36.8
1967 393 35.7
1966 388 34.6
1965 384 33.5
1964 379 32.5
1963 373 31.6
1962 365 30.7
1961 356 29.8

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/switzerland/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Switzerland increased by 21.6%, compared to a 80.1% growth in Tanzania.

In 2006, Switzerland ranked 44th by population density and is 51st now. Tanzania was 128th in 2006 and ranks 106th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Switzerland
Tanzania
1x
Year Urban population
Switzerland Tanzania
2024 85.5% 36.2%
2023 85.2% 35.5%
2022 84.9% 34.8%
2021 84.2% 34.4%
2020 82.3% 33.9%
2019 80.8% 33.3%
2018 79.3% 32.8%
2017 77.9% 32.3%
2016 76.7% 31.8%
2015 75.6% 31.2%
2014 74.7% 30.6%
2013 74.1% 30.1%
2012 73.8% 29.5%
2011 73.7% 28.9%
2010 73.6% 28.2%
2009 73.6% 27.5%
2008 73.5% 26.8%
2007 73.5% 26.1%
2006 73.5% 25.4%
2005 73.5% 24.7%
2004 73.5% 24.1%
2003 73.5% 23.5%
2002 73.4% 23%
2001 73.4% 22.6%
2000 73.3% 22.2%
1999 73.1% 21.8%
1998 72.9% 21.5%
1997 72.5% 21.1%
1996 72% 20.8%
1995 71.5% 20.5%
1994 71% 20.2%
1993 70.4% 19.9%
1992 69.8% 19.6%
1991 69.2% 19.3%
1990 68.7% 18.9%
1989 68% 18.6%
1988 67.3% 18.2%
1987 66.5% 17.8%
1986 65.6% 17.4%
1985 64.8% 17%
1984 64% 16.6%
1983 63.2% 16.2%
1982 62.4% 15.7%
1981 61.8% 15.3%
1980 61.3% 14.8%
1979 60.8% 14.2%
1978 60.4% 13.7%
1977 60.1% 13%
1976 59.7% 12.1%
1975 59.4% 11.2%
1974 59.1% 10.1%
1973 58.7% 9.05%
1972 58.3% 8.03%
1971 57.9% 7.08%
1970 57.4% 6.26%
1969 56.9% 5.62%
1968 56.3% 5.19%
1967 55.7% 5.04%
1966 55.1% 5%
1965 54.4% 4.97%
1964 53.7% 4.95%
1963 53% 4.93%
1962 52.4% 4.92%
1961 51.7% 4.9%
1960 51% 4.89%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/switzerland/tanzania | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland and from 24.1% to 36.2% in Tanzania.

Densely populated cities

Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K

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/switzerland/tanzania | 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. Wikidata (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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