View source for Population density

{{Short description|Measurement of population per unit area or unit volume}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
[[File:PopulationDensityMapPerSquareKilometre.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Population density (people per square kilometre) by country in 2023]]
[[File:World population density 1994 - with equator.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Population density (people per square kilometre) map of the world in 1994.

In relation to the equator it is seen that the vast majority of human population lives in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], where 67% of Earth's land area is.]]'''Population density''' (in [[agriculture]]: [[Standing stock (disambiguation)|standing stock]] or [[plant density]]) is a measurement of [[population]] per unit land area. It is mostly applied to [[human]]s, but sometimes to other living [[organism]]s too. It is a key geographical term.<ref name="about">Matt Rosenberg [http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/popdensity.htm Population Density]. Geography.about.com. March 2, 2011. Retrieved on December 10, 2011.</ref>

== Biological population densities ==
Population density is population divided by total [[land area]], sometimes including seas and oceans, as appropriate.<ref name="about" />

Low densities may cause an [[extinction vortex]] and further reduce fertility. This is called the [[Allee effect]] after the scientist who identified it. Examples of the causes of reduced fertility in low population densities are:<ref>[http://www.eoearth.org/article/Minimum_viable_population_size Minimum viable population size]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006221151/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Minimum_viable_population_size |date=October 6, 2012 }} Eoearth.org (March 6, 2010). Retrieved on December 10, 2011.</ref>
* Increased problems with locating sexual mates
* Increased [[inbreeding]]

<!-- This section is linked from [[List of countries by population density]] -->===Human densities===
{{Main|List of countries and dependencies by population density}}
[[File:World Population Density Map 2020.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Population density (people per square kilometre) map of the world in 2020]]

Population density is the number of people per unit of area, usually transcribed as "per square kilometre" or square mile, and which may include or exclude, for example, areas of water or glaciers. Commonly this is calculated for a [[county]], [[list of cities proper by population density|city]], [[country]], another [[territory]] or the [[Earth|entire world]].

[[World population]] is around 8,000,000,000<ref>[https://www.census.gov/popclock/  U.S. & World Population Clocks]</ref> and the [[Earth]]'s total area (including [[land]] and water) is {{cvt|510,000,000|km2}}.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/world/ World]. CIA World Factbook</ref> Therefore, the worldwide human population density is approximately 8,000,000,000 ÷ 510,000,000 = {{cvt|16|/km2}}. However, if only the Earth's land area of {{cvt|150,000,000|km2}} is taken into account, then human population density is {{cvt|53|/km2}}. This includes all continental and island land area, including [[Antarctica]]. However, if Antarctica is excluded, then population density rises to over {{convert|58|/km2}}.<ref name="about" /> [[File:vegetation.png |thumb|upright=1.8|World environments map provided for comparison with maps above]]

The European Commission's [[Joint Research Centre]] (JRC) has developed a suite of (open and free) data and tools named the [[Global Human Settlement Layer]] (GHSL) to improve the science for policy support to the [[European Commission]] Directorate Generals and Services and as support to the [[United Nations]] system.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The global human settlement layer sets a new standard for global urban data reporting with the urban centre database |journal=Frontiers in Environmental Science |date=2022-09-15 | doi=10.3389/fenvs.2022.1003862 | doi-access=free | last1=Melchiorri | first1=Michele | volume=10 }}</ref>
  
Several of the most densely populated territories in the world are [[city-state]]s, [[microstate]]s and urban [[Dependent territory|dependencies]].<ref name="unpop">{{cite web| url=https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf | title=World Population Prospects, Table A.1| version=2008 revision | publisher=United Nations | author=Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division | year=2009 | access-date= March 12, 2009}}</ref>{{efn|The Monaco government uses a smaller surface area figure resulting in a population density of {{cvt|18,078|/km2}}.}} In fact, 95% of the world's population is concentrated on just 10% of the world's land.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Urbanization: 95% Of The World's Population Lives On 10% Of The Land|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217192745.htm|access-date=2020-09-01|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}}</ref> 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 [[Human overpopulation|overpopulation]].

Deserts have very limited potential for growing crops as there is not enough rain to support them. Thus, their population density is generally low. However, some cities in the Middle East, such as [[Dubai]], have been increasing in population and infrastructure growth at a fast pace.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Desert regions : population, migration, and environment |last1=Portnov |first1=B. A. |last2=Hare |first2=A. Paul |date=1999|publisher=Springer|isbn=3540657800|oclc=41320143}}</ref>[[File:Mongolian Steppes (6228096139).jpg|thumb|Mongolian Steppes. [[Mongolia]] is the least densely populated country in the world due to its harsh climate as a result of its geography.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sidmartinbio.org/why-mongolia-is-sparsely-populated/|title=Why Mongolia is sparsely populated?|work=Esther Fleming|publisher=SidmartinBio}}</ref>]]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.<ref>[http://www.globalissues.org/issue/198/human-population Human Population]. Global Issues. Retrieved on December 10, 2011.</ref> Very densely populated cities are mostly in Asia (particularly [[Southeast Asia]]); Africa's [[Lagos]], [[Kinshasa]], and [[Cairo]]; South America's [[Bogotá]], [[Lima]], and [[São Paulo]]; and [[Mexico City]] and [[Saint Petersburg]] also fall into this category.<ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125.html The largest cities in the world by land area, population and density] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516053854/http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125.html |date=May 16, 2015 }}. Citymayors.com. Retrieved on December 10, 2011.</ref>[[File:Monaco by night.JPG|thumb|[[Monaco]] is currently the most densely populated nation in Europe.]]City population and especially area are, however, heavily dependent on the definition of "urban area" used: densities are almost invariably higher for the center only than when suburban settlements and intervening rural areas are included, as in the [[urban area|agglomeration]] or [[metropolitan area]] (the latter sometimes including neighboring cities).

In comparison, based on a world population of 8 billion, the world's inhabitants, if conceptualized as a loose crowd occupying just under {{cvt|1|m2|-1}} per person (cf. [[Jacobs Method]]), would occupy an area of {{convert|8000|km2|sqmi}} a little less than the land area of [[Puerto Rico]], {{convert|8868|km2|sqmi}}.

=== Countries and dependent territories ===
{{main|List of countries and dependencies by population density}}

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Population under 10,000,000
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Rank
! rowspan="2" |Country or<br />dependent territory
! colspan="2" |Land Area
! rowspan="2" |Population
! colspan="2" |Density
|-
!km<sup>2</sup>
!sq mi
!per km<sup>2</sup>
!per sq mi
|-
| align="center" |1
| align="left" |''{{MAC}}'' ([[China]])
|{{convert|30.5|km2|0|disp=table}}
|650,834
|{{convert|{{#expr: 650834/30.5 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |2
| align="left" |{{MCO}}
|{{convert|2.02|km2|2|disp=table}}
|37,550
|{{convert|{{#expr: 37550/2.02 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |3
| align="left" |{{SIN}}
|{{convert|719.9|km2|0|disp=table}}
|5,612,300
|{{convert|{{#expr: 5612300/719.9 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |4
| align="left" |''{{HKG}}'' ([[China]])
|{{convert|1,106.3|km2|0|disp=table}}
|7,409,800
|{{convert|{{#expr: 7409800/1106.34 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |5
| align="left" |''{{flagg|usc|Gaza Strip}}'' ([[Palestine]]){{efn|[[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|Territory occupied by Israel.]]}}
|{{convert|365|km2|0|disp=table}}
|2,098,389
|{{convert|{{#expr: 2098389/365 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |6
| align="left"|''{{GIB}}'' ([[United Kingdom|UK]]){{efn|Territory claimed by [[Spain]].}}
|{{convert|6.8|km2|1|disp=table}}
|33,140
|{{convert|{{#expr: 33140/6.8 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |7
| align="left" |{{BHR}}
|{{convert|757|km2|0|disp=table}}
|1,451,200
|{{convert|{{#expr: 1451200/757 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |8
| align="left" |{{VAT}}
|{{convert|0.44|km2|2|disp=table}}
|800
|{{convert|{{#expr: 800/0.44 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |9
| align="left" |{{MLT}}
|{{convert|315|km2|0|disp=table}}
|475,701
|{{convert|{{#expr: 475701/315 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |10
| align="left" |{{MDV}}
|{{convert|298|km2|0|disp=table}}
|378,114
|{{convert|{{#expr: 378114/298 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Population above 10,000,000
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Rank
! rowspan="2" |Country/Territory
! colspan="2" |Land Area
! rowspan="2" |Population
! colspan="2" |Density
|-
!km<sup>2</sup>
!sq mi
!per km<sup>2</sup>
!per sq mi
|-
| align="center" |1
| align="left" |{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|{{convert|134,208|km2|0|disp=table}}
|170,329,768
|{{convert|{{#expr: 170329768/134208 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |2
| align="left" |{{TWN}} 
|{{convert|32,260|km2|0|disp=table}}
|23,539,588
|{{convert|{{#expr: 23539588/32260 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |3
| align="left" |{{RWA}}
|{{convert|24,668|km2|0|disp=table}}
|13,246,394
|{{convert|{{#expr: 13246394/24668 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |4
| align="left" |{{NED}}
|{{convert|33,670|km2|0|disp=table}}
|17,943,243<ref name=":NL">{{Cite web |date=November 2023 |title=Population counter |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/visualisations/dashboard-population/population-counter |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=[[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]] |language=en}}</ref>
|{{convert|{{#expr: 17943243/33670 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |5
| align="left" |{{KOR}}
|{{convert|99,909|km2|0|disp=table}}
|51,439,038
|{{convert|{{#expr: 51439038/99909 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |6
| align="left" |{{BDI}}
|{{convert|25,680|km2|0|disp=table}}
|12,574,571
|{{convert|{{#expr: 12574571/25680 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |7
| align="left" |{{flag|India}}
|{{convert|2,973,190|km2|0|disp=table}}
|1,374,547,140
|{{convert|{{#expr: 1374547140/2973190 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |8
| align="left" |{{HAI}}
|{{convert|27,560|km2|0|disp=table}}
|11,743,017
|{{convert|{{#expr: 11743017/27560 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |9
| align="left" |{{BEL}}
|{{convert|30,278|km2|0|disp=table}}
|11,554,449
|{{convert|{{#expr: 11554449/30278 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|-
| align="center" |10
| align="left" |{{flag|Philippines}}
|{{convert|298,170|km2|0|disp=table}}
|109,961,895
|{{convert|{{#expr: 109961895/298170 round 0}}|/km2|0|disp=table}}
|}

=== Other methods of measurement ===
[[File:EU Pop2008 1024.PNG|thumb|upright=1.6|This population [[cartogram]] of the European Union (2007–2012) uses areas and colors to represent population.]]
[[File:Living population density.png|upright=1.8|thumb|Living population density by country]]
Although the arithmetic density is the most common way of measuring population density, several other methods have been developed to provide alternative measures of population density over a specific area.
* '''Arithmetic density''': The total number of people / area of land
* '''[[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
* '''[[Population weighted density]]''': Also known as '''living density''', population density at which the average person lives<ref>[https://gmnenad.com/2021/05/analysis-of-real-population-density-per-countries/ Analysis of living population density per countries], based on NASA SEDAC world gridded data.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Distance sampling]]
* [[Demography]]
* [[Human geography]]
* [[Idealised population]]
* [[List of population concern organizations]]
* [[Population dynamics]]
* [[Population decline]]
* [[Population growth]]
* [[Population genetics]]
* [[Population health]]
* [[Population momentum]]
* [[Population pyramid]]
* [[Rural transport problem]]
* [[Significant figures]]
* [[Small population size]]

=== Lists of entities by population density ===
* [[Urbanization in Australia|List of Australian suburbs by population density]]
* [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|List of countries by population density]]
* [[List of cities proper 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 Union cities proper by population density]]
* [[List of islands by population density]]
* [[List of states and territories of the United States by population density]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|35em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.demographia.com/db-citydenshist.htm Selected Current and Historic City, Ward & Neighborhood Density]
* {{cite web |url= http://luminocity3d.org/WorldPopDen |title= World Population Density |author= Duncan Smith / [[UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis]] |quote= exploratory map shows data from the [...] Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) produced by the European Commission [[Joint Research Centre|JRC]] and the [[Center for International Earth Science Information Network|CIESIN]] Columbia University}}

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