Special Report

The 30 Least Densely Populated Countries in the World

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There are 57.5 million square miles of land on Earth, yet 95% of the planet’s human population inhabits only 10% of that land, according to the World Bank’s 2009 World Development Report. 

To identify the least densely populated countries on Earth, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the United Nations 2019 World Population Prospects

Climate and geography play a significant role in population density. The most sparsely populated areas on Earth tend to be those with limited access to fresh water, including deserts and arctic zones, and those with dense impassable rain forest, rugged mountains, or that are isolated from continental zones by miles of ocean.

The estimated populations for 2020 are from the World Population Prospects Report. Comparisons of estimated population, square miles, and population growth are between the 50 least densely populated countries on Earth, as opposed to all countries.

At the time of the first World Population Day — July 11, 1989 — about 5.25 billion people trod the Earth. Now, about 7.7 billion of us share the globe, and the number is expected to increase to 8.5 billion by 2030 — and these are the countries with the faster-growing populations around the world.

Click here to read the 30 least densely populated countries in the world.

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30. Mali
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 20,250,833 (11th largest)
> Square miles: 471,116 (15th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 3.0% (5th fastest)

While the northern regions of Mali are sandy and arid, the south contains two main rivers, and holds 90% of the country’s population. A significant portion of Mali’s population lives in rural areas — 68% — with 5% to 10% being nomadic.

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29. Argentina
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 45,195,774 (3rd largest)
> Square miles: 1,056,637 (5th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.0% (17th slowest)

The second-largest country in South America, Argentina has a diverse landscape

including the high peaks of the Andes, sub-antarctic plateaus in the south, and plains in the north. Over 90% of the population lives in urban areas, with about 30% of those people residing in the capital city of Buenos Aires. The colder southern region is the most sparsely populated.

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28. Oman
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 5,106,626 (24th smallest)
> Square miles: 119,498 (19th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 3.6% (3rd fastest)

The terrain in Oman consists of harsh desert and rugged mountains. Most of the country has limited water and is very sparsely populated, while the largest population centers are around the northern mountains and the southern city of Salalah. Immigrants make up about 45% of the country’s population.

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27. Saudi Arabia
> Population density: 42 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 34,813,871 (7th largest)
> Square miles: 829,996 (8th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.9% (20th fastest)

Saudi Arabia takes up most of the Arabian peninsula, and is the largest country in the world that has no rivers. It’s almost completely comprised of sandy, harsh desert. The population historically consisted of nomadic peoples, but now over 80% live in urban areas, with over 6 million residing in the capital city of Riyadh.

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26. Congo
> Population density: 42 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 5,518,087 (25th largest)
> Square miles: 131,853 (20th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.6% (12th fastest)

The Republic of the Congo is roughly the size of Montana, with over 60% being densely forested and largely uninhabited. About 70% of the population lives in the capital city of Brazzaville, the city of Pointe Noire, or in smaller cities along the stretch of railroad that runs between the two urban centers.

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25. New Caledonia
> Population density: 40 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 285,498 (6th smallest)
> Square miles: 7,058 (6th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.0% (18th slowest)

An island nation in Oceania, New Caledonia is no larger than New Jersey. The interior of the main island is heavily forested, so the population is densest on the coastal plains, particularly the southern coast in and around the capital city of Noumea.

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24. Saint Helena
> Population density: 40 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 6,077 (4th smallest)
> Square miles: 151 (3rd smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.7% (10th slowest)

The island nation of Saint Helena was uninhabited when the Portuguese first landed there in 1502, and the population has remained small since then. Most of the country’s inhabitants are centered in the urban areas, including the capital city of Jamestown, and are descendants of slaves and indentured servants, British sailors, and settlers from the East India Company.

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23. Norway
> Population density: 38 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 5,421,241 (25th smallest)
> Square miles: 141,030 (21st smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.8% (12th slowest)

Norway’s terrain is largely glaciated, with rugged mountains and plateaus, and arctic tundra in the northern part of the country. The inhabitants are mostly based in the southern part of the country, where the climate is more temperate, with population centers scattered along the coast.

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22. Chad
> Population density: 34 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 16,425,864 (15th largest)
> Square miles: 486,178 (14th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 3.0% (4th fastest)

The largest landlocked country in Africa, Chad’s landscape and climate vary from desert in the north, to plains in the interior, tropical lowlands in the south and mountains in the northwest. The northern deserts are the least populated, while the southwestern region near Lake Chad is the most populous. Chad has some of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, due to lack of obstetric care.

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21. Turkmenistan
> Population density: 33 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 6,031,200 (23rd largest)
> Square miles: 181,440 (25th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.6% (23rd fastest)

Turkmenistan, a country roughly the size of California, consists largely of desert and mountains. About half the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat, and most of the population centers lie in the oasis of the eastern plateau. The western and central regions of the country are taken up by the Garagun Desert.

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20. Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
> Population density: 28 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 11,673,021 (17th largest)
> Square miles: 418,263 (16th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.4% (25th slowest)

Bolivia’s climate varies from tropical to cold and arid depending on altitude, and much of the country consists of the rugged Andes mountains and dense forest. About 70% of the country’s population lives in the urban centers of La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba.

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19. Russia
> Population density: 23 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 145,934,462 (2nd largest)
> Square miles: 6,323,116 (the largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.1% (2nd slowest)

The largest country on Earth, Russia encompasses over 6 million square miles. Much of the northern forests are cold enough to be uninhabitable, and most of the population is gathered in the western and southern parts of the country. One major blow to the population of the country was World War II, when the Soviet Union lost an estimated 26.6 million people. The echo of this generation gap circles back around every 25 years or so, when the descendants of those who survived don’t reproduce enough to keep the population stable.

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18. Gabon
> Population density: 22 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 2,225,734 (16th smallest)
> Square miles: 99,486 (15th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.7% (10th fastest)

This coastal African country roughly the size of Colorado is over 80% rainforest, and nearly 90% of its population lives in urban centers — half of those in the capital city of Libreville. The rest live in small rural villages.

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17. Central African Republic
> Population density: 20 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 4,829,767 (23rd smallest)
> Square miles: 240,533 (22nd largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.4% (25th fastest)

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country nearly the size of Texas. Its population has quadrupled since the 1960’s, but ongoing political upheaval, underdevelopment, war, and poverty have all but halted population growth. Deaths from treatable diseases reflect the rampant poverty and lack of health care infrastructure in many areas, especially the diamond-mining region.

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16. Kazakhstan
> Population density: 18 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 18,776,707 (13th largest)
> Square miles: 1,042,355 (6th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.3% (23rd slowest)

The world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan is largely arid and semi-arid steppe. Many areas of the country are radioactive or toxic due to a history of Soviet arms testing. The population centers are clustered around urban areas in the north and south, as the interior of the country is the most arid.

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15. Niue
> Population density: 16 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 1,626 (the smallest)
> Square miles: 100 (2nd smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.1% (4th slowest)

The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue, spanning only 100 square miles, has the smallest population of all the least densely populated countries on earth — and that’s down from over 5,000 people in the 1960’s. The country is self-governing but in free association with New Zealand. As all Niueans are automatically citizens of New Zealand, many choose to emigrate to the wealthier nation.

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14. Mauritania
> Population density: 12 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 4,649,658 (21st smallest)
> Square miles: 397,954 (17th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.8% (8th fastest)

A coastal country in western Africa, Mauritania is largely barren desert. As much of the country is uninhabitable, half of Mauritania’s population resides in the capital city of Nouakchott on the coast, with the other population centers lying along the southern border. Long periods of drought are causing the desert to expand, forcing many nomadic peoples and farmers into urban areas.

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13. Canada
> Population density: 11 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 37,742,154 (6th largest)
> Square miles: 3,511,008 (2nd largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.9% (15th slowest)

The second largest country in the world by area, Canada is largely too cold and inhospitable to host a big population. Its inhabitants are primarily spread along the country’s southern border with the United States, where the climate is milder and agriculture is possible. The country’s population growth is stoked mostly by immigration.

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12. Botswana
> Population density: 11 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 2,351,627 (17th smallest)
> Square miles: 218,815 (24th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.1% (16th fastest)

Some of Africa’s largest wilderness areas are in Botswana, which is considered one of the most politically stable countries on the continent. The population is largely concentrated in the eastern cities of Gaborone and Francistown, with low concentrations in the Kalahari desert to the southwest. Although Botswana used to have one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world, it now has one of the best treatment programs in Africa.

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11. Guyana
> Population density: 10 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 786,552 (15th smallest)
> Square miles: 76,004 (14th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.5% (7th slowest)

A small country on the north coast of South America, Guyana’s interior is heavily forested and uninhabited. About 90% of the population lives along the coast, which accounts for 10% of the country’s land area, and nearly half of those people reside in the capital city of Georgetown and the surrounding metro area. Guyana has one of the highest emigration rates in the world.

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10. Libya
> Population density: 10 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 6,871,292 (22nd largest)
> Square miles: 679,359 (10th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.4% (24th slowest)

A country slightly larger than Alaska, Libya’s climate and landscape are Mediterranean along the coast but largely barren desert in the interior. Most of the population lives in coastal cities, as the desert is uninhabitable.

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9. Suriname
> Population density: 10 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 586,632 (11th smallest)
> Square miles: 60,232 (12th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.0% (16th slowest)

Suriname is the smallest country in South America. About 90% of the population lives in Paramaribo, the capital city on the Atlantic Coast, or on the coast. Like its neighbor French Guiana, Suriname is largely covered in sparsely populated dense tropical rainforest.

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8. French Guiana
> Population density: 9 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 298,682 (7th smallest)
> Square miles: 31,737 (10th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.7% (9th fastest)

A tropical country between Brazil and Suriname on the east coast of South America, French Guiana is the site of a former French penal colony. Its population is mostly clustered in coastal cities, with the dense rainforests of the interior largely uninhabited.

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7. Iceland
> Population density: 9 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 341,243 (9th smallest)
> Square miles: 38,707 (11th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.7% (8th slowest)

Iceland, the second-largest island in Europe, is relatively isolated in the Atlantic Ocean, sitting just outside the Arctic Circle between Greenland and Scotland. The interior of the island has a harsh arctic climate, with the coastal areas being milder and more populated. Over 95% of Iceland’s population lives in urban areas along the coast.

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6. Australia
> Population density: 9 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 25,499,884 (9th largest)
> Square miles: 2,966,139 (4th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.3% (21st slowest)

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, encompassing an area nearly the size of the 48 contiguous United States. The population is most dense in coastal regions, as the arid center of the country experiences prolonged periods of drought, deadly heat waves, and wild fires. Rising temperatures, a result of climate change, are worsening these conditions.

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5. Namibia
> Population density: 8 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 2,540,905 (18th smallest)
> Square miles: 317,873 (18th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.9% (20th fastest)

A desert area rich in minerals but with little arable land, Namibia suffers from long periods of drought. About 55% of the population lives rurally, mostly along the northern and northeast border where water is more accessible. Population growth decreased in the 1990’s due to the AIDS epidemic.

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4. Western Sahara
> Population density: 6 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 597,339 (12th smallest)
> Square miles: 102,703 (17th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 2.5% (13th fastest)

Western Sahara is a disputed territory partially occupied by Morocco. The country is largely desert with no arable land and a small amount of pastureland. Until the mid 20th century, it was occupied mostly by the Sahrawi, a nomadic herding people. Due to immigration following Morocco’s attempted annexation, the population increased substantially. Now, over 80% of the population lives in urban areas, and most of those are in the northwest region occupied by Morocco.

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3. Mongolia
> Population density: 5 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 3,278,290 (19th smallest)
> Square miles: 599,830 (11th largest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 1.8% (22nd fastest)

Mongolia is the 19th largest country in the world by area and the third most sparsely populated. The landscape is largely steppe, desert, and semidesert, and 75% of the land is used for livestock grazing. About 45% of the population lives in the capital of Ulaanbaatar, the coldest capital city in the world.

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2. Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
> Population density: 1 person per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 3,480 (2nd smallest)
> Square miles: 4,699 (4th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 4.1% (the fastest)

An isolated archipelago 300 miles from the southern tip of Patagonia, the Falkland Islands were unoccupied when they were colonized by Europeans in the 1700’s. The islands are naturally treeless, with a grassy landscape. Most of the land is used for sheep grazing, and 80% of the population lives in the capital city of Stanley.

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1. Greenland
> Population density: 0.4 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 56,770 (5th smallest)
> Square miles: 158,475 (24th smallest)
> Population growth 2015-2020: 0.1% (3rd slowest)

The island nation of Greenland, 80% of which is covered by a massive glacier, is the 12th largest country in the world by area, but the least densely populated. The country’s arctic and subarctic temperatures range from the 30’s to the 50’s in the summer and are consistently below zero in the winter. Most of the population are Kalaallit (an Inuit people) and over 80% live on the southwest coast, which has the mildest climate.

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