Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Sudan
Sudan: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 27.01 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population density in Sudan, 2012–2024
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
In 2024, population density in Sudan stood at 27.01 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Sudan peaked at 27.01 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 19.77 people per sq. km of land area, in 2012.
Sudan ranks 176th of 216 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Sudan, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 19.77 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 2013 | 20.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 20.78 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 21.43 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 22.09 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 22.87 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 23.68 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 24.38 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 25.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 25.73 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 26.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 26.79 people per sq. km of land area | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 27.01 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 27.01 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 41% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 27.01 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.86 people per sq. km of land area, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 21.9 people per sq. km of land area | 19.77 people per sq. km of land area | 24.38 people per sq. km of land area | 8 |
| 2020s | 26.2 people per sq. km of land area | 25.05 people per sq. km of land area | 27.01 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
- 173 Eritrea 29.27 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 174 Solomon Islands 29.27 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 175 Zambia 28.67 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 177 Vanuatu 26.89 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 178 Peru 26.73 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 179 Chile 26.64 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Sudan
- Population in the largest city 37.4% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 37.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1307 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 6.75 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 3.4 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 6.75 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.06 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 157.78 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Sudan?
- Population density in Sudan was 27.01 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 27.01 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.77 people per sq. km of land area in 2012.
- How does Sudan rank for population density?
- Sudan ranks 176th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sudan 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.