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Population density: Switzerland vs Vietnam compared

Updated on by Georank team

Switzerland has a population density of 596 people per square mile compared to 845 people in Vietnam. Switzerland has 49,353 sq ft of land per person vs 35,354 sq ft in Vietnam. Switzerland and Vietnam rank 51st and 30th 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 1.24% of the population and 0.21% of the land area for Vietnam, making the population density in Switzerland 29.4% lower than in Vietnam.

Population density by year

Switzerland
Vietnam

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Switzerland Vietnam
2026 596 845
2025 594 840
2024 590 835
2023 583 829
2022 575 824
2021 571 818
2020 566 810
2019 562 803
2018 558 795
2017 554 787
2016 549 777
2015 543 767
2014 537 758
2013 530 749
2012 524 740
2011 519 731
2010 513 723
2009 508 716
2008 501 705
2007 495 693
2006 491 680
2005 487 671
2004 484 671
2003 481 665
2002 477 657
2001 474 649
2000 471 642
1999 468 607
1998 466 599
1997 464 591
1996 463 582
1995 461 573
1994 458 564
1993 455 554
1992 450 543
1991 446 532
1990 440 521
1989 436 510
1988 432 500
1987 429 490
1986 426 480
1985 424 470
1984 422 459
1983 421 448
1982 419 438
1981 416 428
1980 414 418
1979 412 409
1978 412 400
1977 412 390
1976 413 379
1975 415 370
1974 416 361
1973 413 353
1972 410 346
1971 407 338
1970 405 330
1969 402 323
1968 398 316
1967 393 309
1966 388 303
1965 384 295.4
1964 379 288.1
1963 373 280.5
1962 365 272.8
1961 356 265.8

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Switzerland increased by 21.6%, compared to a 24.1% growth in Vietnam.

In 2006, Switzerland ranked 44th by population density and is 51st now. Vietnam was 33rd in 2006 and ranks 30th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Switzerland
Vietnam
1x
Year Urban population
Switzerland Vietnam
2024 85.5% 38.5%
2023 85.2% 38.1%
2022 84.9% 37.5%
2021 84.2% 36.7%
2020 82.3% 35.6%
2019 80.8% 34.6%
2018 79.3% 33.9%
2017 77.9% 33.4%
2016 76.7% 32.8%
2015 75.6% 32.4%
2014 74.7% 31.9%
2013 74.1% 31.5%
2012 73.8% 31.1%
2011 73.7% 30.7%
2010 73.6% 30.3%
2009 73.6% 29.8%
2008 73.5% 29.2%
2007 73.5% 28.6%
2006 73.5% 28%
2005 73.5% 27.4%
2004 73.5% 26.8%
2003 73.5% 26.2%
2002 73.4% 25.6%
2001 73.4% 24.9%
2000 73.3% 24.4%
1999 73.1% 23.8%
1998 72.9% 23.3%
1997 72.5% 22.7%
1996 72% 22.1%
1995 71.5% 21.5%
1994 71% 20.9%
1993 70.4% 20.3%
1992 69.8% 19.8%
1991 69.2% 19.4%
1990 68.7% 19.2%
1989 68% 19.1%
1988 67.3% 19%
1987 66.5% 19.1%
1986 65.6% 19.1%
1985 64.8% 19.1%
1984 64% 19.1%
1983 63.2% 19.1%
1982 62.4% 19.1%
1981 61.8% 19.1%
1980 61.3% 19.2%
1979 60.8% 19.2%
1978 60.4% 19.2%
1977 60.1% 19.6%
1976 59.7% 20.4%
1975 59.4% 20.6%
1974 59.1% 20.5%
1973 58.7% 20.5%
1972 58.3% 20.6%
1971 57.9% 20.7%
1970 57.4% 20.7%
1969 56.9% 20.6%
1968 56.3% 20.1%
1967 55.7% 19.3%
1966 55.1% 18.4%
1965 54.4% 17.5%
1964 53.7% 16.9%
1963 53% 16.5%
1962 52.4% 16.1%
1961 51.7% 15.7%
1960 51% 15.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 73.5% to 85.5% in Switzerland and from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam.

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
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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 (2015–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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