Population density in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Population density was 33.71 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population density in Europe & Central Asia, 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 recorded 33.71 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 155.15 people per sq. km of land area in 1991 and was at its lowest, 31.42 people per sq. km of land area, in 1993.
That places Europe & Central Asia 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 123.4 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 124.82 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 126.25 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 127.69 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 129.09 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 130.32 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 131.54 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 132.73 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 133.9 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 134.94 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 135.98 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 137.13 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 138.24 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 139.29 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 140.31 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 141.32 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 142.32 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 143.32 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 144.29 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 145.29 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 146.24 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 147.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 147.96 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 148.86 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 149.77 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 150.72 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 151.68 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 152.65 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 153.64 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 154.45 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 155.15 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 31.46 people per sq. km of land area | -79.7% |
| 1993 | 31.42 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 31.51 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 31.58 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 31.63 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 31.6 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 31.63 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 31.66 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 31.66 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 31.7 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 31.76 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 31.85 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 31.94 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 32.03 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 32.01 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 32.11 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 32.24 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 32.36 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 32.48 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 32.56 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 32.68 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 32.8 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 32.94 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 33.08 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 33.23 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 33.35 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 33.47 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 33.6 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 33.67 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 33.7 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 33.69 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 33.71 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 128.86 people per sq. km of land area | 123.4 people per sq. km of land area | 133.9 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 139.71 people per sq. km of land area | 134.94 people per sq. km of land area | 144.29 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 149.39 people per sq. km of land area | 145.29 people per sq. km of land area | 153.64 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 56.21 people per sq. km of land area | 31.42 people per sq. km of land area | 155.15 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.97 people per sq. km of land area | 31.66 people per sq. km of land area | 32.36 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.02 people per sq. km of land area | 32.48 people per sq. km of land area | 33.6 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.69 people per sq. km of land area | 33.67 people per sq. km of land area | 33.71 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 36 Tuvalu 327.2 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 37 Pakistan 321.07 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 38 Viet Nam 320.18 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 39 Guam 308.34 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 40 El Salvador 304.52 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 41 Cayman Islands 304.32 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 42 United States Virgin Islands 299.76 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Europe & Central Asia
- Population in the largest city 17.0% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 85.1% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Europe & Central Asia?
- Population density in Europe & Central Asia was 33.71 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?
- The highest recorded value was 155.15 people per sq. km of land area in 1991.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.42 people per sq. km of land area in 1993.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for population density?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.