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Population density: United States vs Vietnam compared

Updated on by Georank team

The United States has a population density of 97.3 people per square mile compared to 845 people in Vietnam. The United States has 309,474 sq ft of land per person vs 35,354 sq ft in Vietnam. The United States and Vietnam rank 149th and 30th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The United States has 4.21% of the world's population and 6.14% 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 the United States 88.5% lower than in Vietnam.

Population density by year

United States
Vietnam

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
United States Vietnam
2026 97.3 845
2025 96.8 840
2024 96.3 835
2023 94.8 829
2022 94.4 824
2021 94 818
2020 93.9 810
2019 93 803
2018 92.5 795
2017 92.1 787
2016 91.5 777
2015 90.8 767
2014 90.1 758
2013 89.5 749
2012 88.9 740
2011 88.2 731
2010 87.6 723
2009 86.9 716
2008 86.1 705
2007 85.2 693
2006 84.3 680
2005 83.5 671
2004 82.8 671
2003 82 665
2002 81.3 657
2001 80.6 649
2000 79.8 642
1999 79 607
1998 78.1 599
1997 77.2 591
1996 76.3 582
1995 75.4 573
1994 74.5 564
1993 73.6 554
1992 72.6 543
1991 71.7 532
1990 70.7 521
1989 69.8 510
1988 69.1 500
1987 68.5 490
1986 67.9 480
1985 67.3 470
1984 66.7 459
1983 66.1 448
1982 65.5 438
1981 64.9 428
1980 64.1 418
1979 63.6 409
1978 62.9 400
1977 62.3 390
1976 61.7 379
1975 61.1 370
1974 60.5 361
1973 59.9 353
1972 59.4 346
1971 58.7 338
1970 58 330
1969 57.3 323
1968 56.8 316
1967 56.2 309
1966 55.6 303
1965 54.9 295.4
1964 54.3 288.1
1963 53.5 280.5
1962 52.7 272.8
1961 51.9 265.8

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-states/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the United States increased by 15.3%, compared to a 24.1% growth in Vietnam.

In 2006, the United States ranked 146th by population density and is 149th now. Vietnam was 33rd in 2006 and ranks 30th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

United States
Vietnam
1x
Year Urban population
United States Vietnam
2024 80.1% 38.5%
2023 80.1% 38.1%
2022 80% 37.5%
2021 80% 36.7%
2020 80% 35.6%
2019 80.1% 34.6%
2018 80.3% 33.9%
2017 80.4% 33.4%
2016 80.5% 32.8%
2015 80.6% 32.4%
2014 80.6% 31.9%
2013 80.7% 31.5%
2012 80.7% 31.1%
2011 80.7% 30.7%
2010 80.7% 30.3%
2009 80.7% 29.8%
2008 80.6% 29.2%
2007 80.5% 28.6%
2006 80.4% 28%
2005 80.2% 27.4%
2004 80% 26.8%
2003 79.8% 26.2%
2002 79.5% 25.6%
2001 79.3% 24.9%
2000 79.1% 24.4%
1999 78.8% 23.8%
1998 78.5% 23.3%
1997 78.1% 22.7%
1996 77.7% 22.1%
1995 77.2% 21.5%
1994 76.7% 20.9%
1993 76.3% 20.3%
1992 75.9% 19.8%
1991 75.5% 19.4%
1990 75.3% 19.2%
1989 75.1% 19.1%
1988 74.8% 19%
1987 74.7% 19.1%
1986 74.5% 19.1%
1985 74.3% 19.1%
1984 74.2% 19.1%
1983 74% 19.1%
1982 73.9% 19.1%
1981 73.8% 19.1%
1980 73.8% 19.2%
1979 73.7% 19.2%
1978 73.7% 19.2%
1977 73.7% 19.6%
1976 73.6% 20.4%
1975 73.6% 20.6%
1974 73.6% 20.5%
1973 73.6% 20.5%
1972 73.6% 20.6%
1971 73.5% 20.7%
1970 73.5% 20.7%
1969 73.4% 20.6%
1968 73.2% 20.1%
1967 73% 19.3%
1966 72.7% 18.4%
1965 72.3% 17.5%
1964 71.9% 16.9%
1963 71.4% 16.5%
1962 70.9% 16.1%
1961 70.4% 15.7%
1960 70% 15.3%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-states/vietnam | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80% to 80.1% in the United States and from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam.

Densely populated cities

United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M
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/united-states/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 (2015–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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