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Population density (people per km²) by country, 2006

Population density (people per km²) map of the world in 1994. In relation to the equator it is seen that the vast majority of the human population lives in the Northern Hemisphere.

Population density (people per km²) map of the world in 1994

Deserts around the world. Compare with maps above. See also this image for location of densely populated areas (cities) in various vegetation zones.

Population density (in agriculture: standing stock and standing crop) is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume; it is a quantity of type number density. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and most of the time to humans. It is a key geographical term.^[1] In simple terms population density refers to the number of people living in an area per kilometer square.

Biological population densities

Population density is population divided by total land area or water volume, as appropriate.^[1]

Low densities may cause an extinction vortex and lead to further reduced fertility. This is called the Allee effect after the scientist who identified it. Examples of the causes in low population densities include:^[2]

• Increased problems with locating sexual mates


• Increased inbreeding
  

Monaco in Southern Europe, currently holds the record for being the most densely populated nation in the world.

Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world.

This population cartogram of the European Union (2007–2012) uses areas and colors to represent population.

For humans, population density is the number of people per unit of area, usually quoted per square kilometer or square mile (which may include or exclude, for example, areas of water or glaciers). Commonly this may be calculated for a county, city, country, another territory or the entire world.

The world's population is around 7,500,000,000^[3] and Earth's total area (including land and water) is 510,000,000 square kilometers (197,000,000 sq. mi.).^[4] Therefore, the worldwide human population density is around 7,500,000,000 ÷ 510,000,000 = 14.7 per km² (38 per sq. mi). If only the Earth's land area of 150,000,000 km² (58,000,000 sq. mi.) is taken into account, then human population density is 50 per km² (129 per sq. mile). This includes all continental and island land area, including Antarctica. If Antarctica is also excluded, then population density rises to over 55 people per km² (over 142 per sq. mile).^[1] However, over half^{[citation needed]} of the Earth's land mass consists of areas inhospitable to human habitation, such as deserts and high mountains, and population tends to cluster around seaports and fresh-water sources. Thus, this number by itself does not give any helpful measurement of human population density.

Several of the most densely populated territories in the world are city-states, microstates and dependencies.^[5][6] These territories have a relatively small area and a high urbanization level, with an economically specialized city population drawing also on rural resources outside the area, illustrating the difference between high population density and overpopulation

The potential to maintain the agricultural aspects of deserts is extremely limited as there is not enough precipitation to support a sustainable land. The population in these areas are extremely low. Therefore cities in the Middle East, such as Dubai, have been increasing in population and infrastructure growth at a fast pace. ^[7]

Cities with high population densities are, by some, considered to be overpopulated, though this will depend on factors like quality of housing and infrastructure and access to resources.^[8] Most of the most densely populated cities are in Southeast Asia, though Cairo and Lagos in Africa also fall into this category.^[9]

City population and especially area are, however, heavily dependent on the definition of "urban area" used: densities are almost invariably higher for the central city area than when suburban settlements and the intervening rural areas are included, as in the areas of agglomeration or metropolitan area, the latter sometimes including neighboring cities. For instance, Milwaukee has a greater population density when just the inner city is measured, and the surrounding suburbs excluded.^[10]

In comparison, based on a world population of seven billion, the world's inhabitants, as a loose crowd taking up ten square feet (one square metre) per person (Jacobs Method), would occupy a space a little larger than Delaware's land area.^{[citation needed]}

Countries and dependent territories

With population under 10,000,000

Pos.	Country (or dependent territory)	Area (km2)	Area (mi2)	Population	Density (pop./km2)	Density (pop./mi2)
1	Macau (China)	30.5	12	650,834	21,339	55,268
2	Monaco	2.02	0.78	37,550	18,589	48,145
3	Singapore	719.9	278	5,612,300	7,796	20,192
4	Hong Kong (China)	1,106.3	427	7,409,800	6,698	17,348
5	Gibraltar (UK)[11]	6.8	2.6	33,140	4,874	12,624
6	Bahrain	757	292	1,451,200	1,917	4,965
7	Vatican City	0.44	0.17	800	1,818	4,709
8	Malta	315	122	475,701	1,510	3,911
9	Maldives	298	115	378,114	1,269	3,287
10	Bermuda (UK)	52	20	63,779	1,227	3,178

The Gaza Strip (blockaded exclave of Palestine) has a population of 1.85 million and a population density of 5,046 pop/km.

With population above 10,000,000

Pos.	Country (or dependent territory)	Area (km2)	Area (mi2)	Population	Density (pop./km2)	Density (pop./mi2)
12	Bangladesh	143,998	55,598	165,001,946	1,146	2,968
19	Taiwan	36,193	13,974	23,572,049	651	1,686
25	South Korea	100,210	38,691	51,635,256	515	1,334
27	Rwanda	26,338	10,169	12,001,136	456	1,181
33	Haiti	27,065	10,450	11,112,945	411	1,064
34	India	3,287,240	1,269,210	1,335,543,957	406	1,052
36	Burundi	27,816	10,740	10,681,186	384	995
38	Belgium	30,528	11,787	11,414,214	374	969
39	Philippines	300,000	115,831	106,302,840	354	917
42	Japan	377,944	145,925	126,490,000	335	868

Other methods of measurement

Although arithmetic density is the most common way of measuring population density, several other methods have been developed to provide a more accurate measure of population density over a specific area.

• 
  Arithmetic density: The total number of people / area of land (measured in square miles or square kilometers)


• 
  Physiological density: The total population / area of arable land
  


• 
  Agricultural density: The total rural population / area of arable land
  


• 
  Residential density: The number of people living in an urban area / area of residential land


• 
  Urban density: The number of people inhabiting an urban area / total area of urban land


• 
  Ecological optimum: The density of population that can be supported by the natural resources

See also

• Demography


• Human geography


• Idealized population


• Optimum population


• Population genetics


• Population health


• Population momentum


• Population pyramid


• Rural transport problem


• Small population size


• Distance sampling


• List of population concern organizations

Lists of entities by population density

• List of countries by population density


• List of cities by population density


• List of city districts by population density


• List of English districts by population density


• List of European cities proper by population density


• List of United States cities by population density


• List of islands by population density


• List of U.S. states by population density


• List of Australian suburbs by population density

References

External links

• Selected Current and Historic City, Ward & Neighborhood Density