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Population density: Vietnam vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Vietnam has a population density of 845 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. Vietnam has 35,354 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. Vietnam and Zambia rank 30th and 157th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Vietnam has 1.24% of the world's population and 0.21% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in Vietnam 976% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

Vietnam
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Vietnam Zambia
2026 845 78.5
2025 840 76.4
2024 835 74.3
2023 829 72.2
2022 824 70.2
2021 818 68.3
2020 810 66.4
2019 803 64.5
2018 795 62.6
2017 787 60.8
2016 777 58.9
2015 767 57.1
2014 758 55.4
2013 749 53.7
2012 740 52
2011 731 50.3
2010 723 48.7
2009 716 47
2008 705 45.4
2007 693 43.8
2006 680 42.3
2005 671 40.8
2004 671 39.5
2003 665 38.3
2002 657 37.1
2001 649 36
2000 642 34.9
1999 607 33.9
1998 599 33
1997 591 32.2
1996 582 31.4
1995 573 30.6
1994 564 29.9
1993 554 29.2
1992 543 28.5
1991 532 27.8
1990 521 27.1
1989 510 26.4
1988 500 25.8
1987 490 25.1
1986 480 24.3
1985 470 23.6
1984 459 22.9
1983 448 22.2
1982 438 21.5
1981 428 20.8
1980 418 20.2
1979 409 19.6
1978 400 19
1977 390 18.5
1976 379 17.9
1975 370 17.4
1974 361 16.9
1973 353 16.4
1972 346 15.9
1971 338 15.5
1970 330 15.1
1969 323 14.6
1968 316 14.2
1967 309 13.7
1966 303 13.3
1965 295.4 12.9
1964 288.1 12.5
1963 280.5 12.1
1962 272.8 11.7
1961 265.8 11.3

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/vietnam/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Vietnam increased by 24.1%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, Vietnam ranked 33rd by population density and is 30th now. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Vietnam
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
Vietnam Zambia
2024 38.5% 45.5%
2023 38.1% 45%
2022 37.5% 44.6%
2021 36.7% 44.2%
2020 35.6% 43.9%
2019 34.6% 43.5%
2018 33.9% 43.1%
2017 33.4% 42.7%
2016 32.8% 42.3%
2015 32.4% 42%
2014 31.9% 41.6%
2013 31.5% 41.2%
2012 31.1% 40.8%
2011 30.7% 40.4%
2010 30.3% 40%
2009 29.8% 39.5%
2008 29.2% 39%
2007 28.6% 38.4%
2006 28% 37.8%
2005 27.4% 37.3%
2004 26.8% 36.8%
2003 26.2% 36.4%
2002 25.6% 36.1%
2001 24.9% 35.9%
2000 24.4% 35.9%
1999 23.8% 36.2%
1998 23.3% 36.7%
1997 22.7% 37.4%
1996 22.1% 38%
1995 21.5% 38.4%
1994 20.9% 38.7%
1993 20.3% 38.9%
1992 19.8% 39.1%
1991 19.4% 39.3%
1990 19.2% 39.4%
1989 19.1% 39.5%
1988 19% 39.5%
1987 19.1% 39.6%
1986 19.1% 39.7%
1985 19.1% 39.7%
1984 19.1% 39.8%
1983 19.1% 39.8%
1982 19.1% 39.9%
1981 19.1% 39.9%
1980 19.2% 39.9%
1979 19.2% 39.7%
1978 19.2% 39.3%
1977 19.6% 38.6%
1976 20.4% 37.8%
1975 20.6% 36.8%
1974 20.5% 35.6%
1973 20.5% 34.4%
1972 20.6% 33.2%
1971 20.7% 31.9%
1970 20.7% 30.7%
1969 20.6% 29.4%
1968 20.1% 28%
1967 19.3% 26.4%
1966 18.4% 24.6%
1965 17.5% 22.9%
1964 16.9% 21.3%
1963 16.5% 20.1%
1962 16.1% 19.1%
1961 15.7% 18.1%
1960 15.3% 17.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 26.8% to 38.5% in Vietnam and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

Densely populated cities

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K

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/vietnam/zambia | 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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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