Population density in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Population density was 56.97 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population density in Least developed 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
Least developed countries recorded 56.97 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Least developed countries peaked at 56.97 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.11 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Least developed countries ranks 21st of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 15.11 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 15.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 15.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 16.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 16.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 17.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 17.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 18.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 18.49 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 18.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 19.41 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 19.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 20.4 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 20.95 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 21.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 22.53 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 23.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 23.7 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 24.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 24.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 25.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 26.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 26.84 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 27.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 28.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 29.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 29.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 30.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 31.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 32.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 32.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 31.74 people per sq. km of land area | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 32.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 33.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 34.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 35.29 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 36.2 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 37.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 38.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 38.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 39.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 40.92 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 41.56 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 42.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 43.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 44.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 45.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 46.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 47.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 49.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 44.02 people per sq. km of land area | -10.2% |
| 2013 | 45.08 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 46.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 47.25 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 48.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 49.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 50.71 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 51.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 53.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 54.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 55.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 56.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.73 people per sq. km of land area | 15.11 people per sq. km of land area | 18.49 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 21.24 people per sq. km of land area | 18.97 people per sq. km of land area | 23.7 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.25 people per sq. km of land area | 24.26 people per sq. km of land area | 30.51 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.71 people per sq. km of land area | 31.27 people per sq. km of land area | 37.11 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.26 people per sq. km of land area | 38.02 people per sq. km of land area | 46.77 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.99 people per sq. km of land area | 44.02 people per sq. km of land area | 51.93 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.07 people per sq. km of land area | 53.18 people per sq. km of land area | 56.97 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 18 Lebanon 564.37 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 19 San Marino 564.33 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 20 Saint Martin (French part) 550.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 21 Burundi 533.08 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 22 Netherlands 530.95 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 23 Republic of Korea 529.84 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 24 India 483.68 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Least developed countries
- Population in the largest city 32.9% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 36.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Least developed countries?
- Population density in Least developed countries was 56.97 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 56.97 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.11 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Least developed countries rank for population density?
- Least developed countries ranks 21st out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed 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.