Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Russia
Russia: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 8.77 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▬ Flat
Population density in Russia, 1992–2024
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
The most recent figure for population density in Russia is 8.77 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Russia peaked at 9.06 people per sq. km of land area in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.72 people per sq. km of land area, in 2008.
That places Russia 203rd out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Russia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 9.06 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1993 | 9.06 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 9.06 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 9.06 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 9.05 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 9.03 people per sq. km of land area | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 9.01 people per sq. km of land area | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 8.98 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 8.95 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 8.91 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 8.87 people per sq. km of land area | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 8.83 people per sq. km of land area | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 8.79 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 8.76 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 8.73 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8.73 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 8.75 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 8.78 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 8.81 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 8.83 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 8.85 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 8.87 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.87 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 8.84 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 8.81 people per sq. km of land area | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 8.78 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 8.77 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 8.77 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for high income countries, which is 147 people per sq. km of land area, 6% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Russia's 8.77 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 85.13 people per sq. km of land area, 10% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.04 people per sq. km of land area | 8.98 people per sq. km of land area | 9.06 people per sq. km of land area | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.8 people per sq. km of land area | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | 8.95 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.81 people per sq. km of land area | 8.72 people per sq. km of land area | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.81 people per sq. km of land area | 8.77 people per sq. km of land area | 8.87 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Russia
- 200 Norway 15.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 201 Bolivia 11.41 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 202 Gabon 9.85 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 204 Central African Republic 8.56 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 205 Kazakhstan 7.63 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 206 Mauritania 5.02 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Russia
- Population in the largest city 11.8% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 34.34 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.1882 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 2.09 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 12.74 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 90.8 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 2,656 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Russia?
- Population density in Russia was 8.77 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.06 people per sq. km of land area in 1992.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.72 people per sq. km of land area in 2008.
- How does Russia rank for population density?
- Russia ranks 203rd out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Russia 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.