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Population density: Switzerland vs Turkey compared

Updated on by Georank team

Switzerland has a population density of 596 people per square mile compared to 289.2 people in Turkey. Switzerland has 49,353 sq ft of land per person vs 98,624 sq ft in Turkey. Switzerland and Turkey rank 51st and 82nd 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 1.05% of the population and 0.52% of the land area for Turkey, making the population density in Switzerland 106.2% higher than in Turkey.

Population density by year

Switzerland
Turkey

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Switzerland Turkey
2026 596 289.2
2025 594 288.5
2024 590 287.8
2023 583 287.1
2022 575 286
2021 571 283.2
2020 566 280.6
2019 562 277.9
2018 558 274
2017 554 270.3
2016 549 266.8
2015 543 263.2
2014 537 259.7
2013 530 256.3
2012 524 253
2011 519 249.8
2010 513 246.1
2009 508 242.4
2008 501 239.1
2007 495 236.1
2006 491 235.7
2005 487 233.3
2004 484 230.8
2003 481 228.3
2002 477 225.6
2001 474 222.9
2000 471 220.2
1999 468 217.4
1998 466 214.5
1997 464 211.5
1996 463 208.5
1995 461 205.4
1994 458 202
1993 455 198.5
1992 450 195.2
1991 446 191.9
1990 440 188.5
1989 436 185
1988 432 181.4
1987 429 177.8
1986 426 174.2
1985 424 170.6
1984 422 166.8
1983 421 163
1982 419 159.3
1981 416 155.9
1980 414 152.8
1979 412 149.8
1978 412 146.9
1977 412 143.9
1976 413 141
1975 415 138.2
1974 416 135.3
1973 413 132.4
1972 410 129.3
1971 407 126.3
1970 405 123.3
1969 402 120.4
1968 398 117.5
1967 393 114.6
1966 388 111.7
1965 384 108.8
1964 379 106.1
1963 373 103.4
1962 365 100.7
1961 356 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/switzerland/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Switzerland increased by 21.6%, compared to a 22.7% growth in Turkey.

In 2006, Switzerland ranked 44th by population density and is 51st now. Turkey was 83rd in 2006 and ranks 82nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Switzerland
Turkey
1x
Year Urban population
Switzerland Turkey
2024 85.5% 89.3%
2023 85.2% 89%
2022 84.9% 89%
2021 84.2% 89.2%
2020 82.3% 88.9%
2019 80.8% 88.7%
2018 79.3% 88.2%
2017 77.9% 88%
2016 76.7% 88.1%
2015 75.6% 87.2%
2014 74.7% 83.6%
2013 74.1% 78.5%
2012 73.8% 73.8%
2011 73.7% 71%
2010 73.6% 69.3%
2009 73.6% 67.8%
2008 73.5% 66.5%
2007 73.5% 65.3%
2006 73.5% 64.3%
2005 73.5% 63.3%
2004 73.5% 62.4%
2003 73.5% 61.6%
2002 73.4% 60.7%
2001 73.4% 59.9%
2000 73.3% 59%
1999 73.1% 58.1%
1998 72.9% 57.3%
1997 72.5% 56.5%
1996 72% 55.8%
1995 71.5% 55.1%
1994 71% 54.3%
1993 70.4% 53.6%
1992 69.8% 52.8%
1991 69.2% 51.9%
1990 68.7% 51%
1989 68% 50%
1988 67.3% 49%
1987 66.5% 47.8%
1986 65.6% 46.7%
1985 64.8% 45.6%
1984 64% 44.4%
1983 63.2% 43.2%
1982 62.4% 42%
1981 61.8% 40.9%
1980 61.3% 39.9%
1979 60.8% 39%
1978 60.4% 38.1%
1977 60.1% 37.2%
1976 59.7% 36.3%
1975 59.4% 35.4%
1974 59.1% 34.4%
1973 58.7% 33.4%
1972 58.3% 32.3%
1971 57.9% 31.3%
1970 57.4% 30.2%
1969 56.9% 29.2%
1968 56.3% 28.1%
1967 55.7% 27%
1966 55.1% 26.1%
1965 54.4% 25.4%
1964 53.7% 24.9%
1963 53% 24.5%
1962 52.4% 24.1%
1961 51.7% 23.8%
1960 51% 23.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland and from 62.4% to 89.3% in Turkey.

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
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/switzerland/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. Wikidata (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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