Population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Population density was 19.95 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 19.95 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2023.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 300.08 people per sq. km of land area in 1991 and was at its lowest, 19 people per sq. km of land area, in 1992.
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 46th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 217.05 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 220.31 people per sq. km of land area | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 223.61 people per sq. km of land area | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 226.94 people per sq. km of land area | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 230.13 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 232.85 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 235.72 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 238.55 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 241.3 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 243.81 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 246.35 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 249.05 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 251.72 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 254.4 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 257.11 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 259.97 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 262.85 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 265.66 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 268.34 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 271.11 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 273.8 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 276.5 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 279.29 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 282.27 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 285.25 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 288.18 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 291.1 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 293.89 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 296.7 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 298.62 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 300.08 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 19 people per sq. km of land area | -93.7% |
| 1993 | 19.06 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 19.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 19.14 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 19.16 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 19.17 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 19.18 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 19.17 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 19.15 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 19.14 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 19.13 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 19.13 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 19.14 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 19.15 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 19.09 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 19.08 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 19.13 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 19.2 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 19.27 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 19.35 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 19.45 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 19.54 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 19.64 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 19.73 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 19.83 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 19.92 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 20.01 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.09 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 20.14 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 20.15 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 20.05 people per sq. km of land area | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 19.95 people per sq. km of land area | -0.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -93.7% | 300.08 people per sq. km of land area | 19 people per sq. km of land area |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 229.61 people per sq. km of land area | 217.05 people per sq. km of land area | 241.3 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 255.93 people per sq. km of land area | 243.81 people per sq. km of land area | 268.34 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 283.81 people per sq. km of land area | 271.11 people per sq. km of land area | 296.7 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.17 people per sq. km of land area | 19 people per sq. km of land area | 300.08 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.13 people per sq. km of land area | 19.08 people per sq. km of land area | 19.2 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.68 people per sq. km of land area | 19.27 people per sq. km of land area | 20.09 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.07 people per sq. km of land area | 19.95 people per sq. km of land area | 20.15 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 43 Saint Lucia 293.91 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 44 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 283.25 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 45 Kuwait 272.36 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 46 Gambia 266.58 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 47 Trinidad and Tobago 266.57 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 48 Jamaica 262.21 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 49 Seychelles 260.38 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population in the largest city 17.4% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 19.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 96.7% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Population density in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 19.95 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 300.08 people per sq. km of land area in 1991.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 19 people per sq. km of land area in 1992.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for population density?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.