Using data from the World Bank, 24/7 Wall St. identified the world’s 30 most sparsely populated countries.
Supplemental data on population distribution, gross domestic product, and total fertility rates — or the average number of children women have in their lifetime — are also from the World Bank and are for the latest available year.
Why It Matters
Population density can have a number of implications for governments, economies, and environments. Overpopulation and sprawl can put a strain on natural resources, negatively impact biodiversity, and create infrastructure challenges. In less densely populated areas, fewer people can mean a smaller tax base and limited incentive for business development. Residents can also struggle with access to essential services.
30. Uruguay
- Population density in 2022: 51 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 3,422,794 (130th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 67,576 sq. miles (89th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 95.7% urban; 4.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $71.2 billion ($20,795 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.5 children per woman over lifetime
29. New Zealand
- Population density in 2022: 50 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 5,124,100 (122nd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 101,665 sq. miles (74th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 86.9% urban; 13.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $248.1 billion ($48,419 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime
28. Algeria
- Population density in 2022: 49 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 44,903,225 (34th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 919,595 sq. miles (10th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 74.8% urban; 25.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $195.0 billion ($4,343 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.9 children per woman over lifetime
27. Mali
- Population density in 2022: 48 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 22,593,590 (58th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 471,118 sq. miles (23rd largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 45.4% urban; 54.6% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $18.8 billion ($833 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 6.0 children per woman over lifetime
26. Finland
- Population density in 2022: 47 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 5,556,106 (115th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 117,355 sq. miles (70th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 85.7% urban; 14.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $282.6 billion ($50,872 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.5 children per woman over lifetime
25. Belize
- Population density in 2022: 46 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 405,272 (171st most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 8,807 sq. miles (147th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 46.4% urban; 53.6% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.8 billion ($6,984 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.0 children per woman over lifetime
24. Congo, Rep.
- Population density in 2022: 45 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 5,970,424 (111th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 131,854 sq. miles (64th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 68.7% urban; 31.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $15.8 billion ($2,649 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.2 children per woman over lifetime
23. South Sudan
- Population density in 2022: 45 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 10,913,164 (85th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 243,990 sq. miles (41st largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 20.8% urban; 79.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2015: $12.0 billion ($1,072 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.5 children per woman over lifetime
22. Paraguay
- Population density in 2022: 44 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 6,780,744 (106th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 153,398 sq. miles (59th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 62.8% urban; 37.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $41.7 billion ($6,153 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.5 children per woman over lifetime
21. Saudi Arabia
- Population density in 2022: 44 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 36,408,820 (41st most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 830,000 sq. miles (12th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 84.7% urban; 15.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.1 trillion ($30,448 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.4 children per woman over lifetime
20. Argentina
- Population density in 2022: 44 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 46,234,830 (33rd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 1,056,642 sq. miles (8th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 92.3% urban; 7.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $631.1 billion ($13,651 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.9 children per woman over lifetime
19. Norway
- Population density in 2022: 39 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 5,457,127 (117th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 140,645 sq. miles (62nd largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 83.7% urban; 16.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $593.3 billion ($108,729 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime
18. Oman
- Population density in 2022: 38 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 4,576,298 (124th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 119,499 sq. miles (68th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 87.8% urban; 12.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $114.7 billion ($25,057 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.6 children per woman over lifetime
17. Chad
- Population density in 2022: 36 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 17,723,315 (67th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 486,180 sq. miles (21st largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 24.1% urban; 75.9% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $12.7 billion ($717 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 6.3 children per woman over lifetime
16. Turkmenistan
- Population density in 2022: 35 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 6,430,770 (109th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 181,441 sq. miles (53rd largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 53.5% urban; 46.5% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $56.5 billion ($8,793 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.7 children per woman over lifetime
15. Bolivia
- Population density in 2022: 29 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 12,224,110 (79th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 418,264 sq. miles (27th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 70.8% urban; 29.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $44.0 billion ($3,600 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.6 children per woman over lifetime
14. Gabon
- Population density in 2022: 24 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 2,388,992 (142nd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 99,487 sq. miles (75th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 90.7% urban; 9.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $21.1 billion ($8,820 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.5 children per woman over lifetime
13. Central African Republic
- Population density in 2022: 23 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 5,579,144 (114th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 240,534 sq. miles (43rd largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 43.1% urban; 56.9% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.4 billion ($427 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 6.0 children per woman over lifetime
12. Russia
- Population density in 2022: 23 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 144,236,933 (9th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 6,323,145 sq. miles (the largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 75.1% urban; 24.9% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.2 trillion ($15,271 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.5 children per woman over lifetime
11. Kazakhstan
- Population density in 2022: 19 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 19,621,972 (63rd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 1,042,360 sq. miles (9th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 58.0% urban; 42.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $225.5 billion ($11,492 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.3 children per woman over lifetime
10. Botswana
- Population density in 2022: 12 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 2,630,296 (139th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 218,816 sq. miles (47th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 72.2% urban; 27.8% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $20.4 billion ($7,739 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.8 children per woman over lifetime
9. Mauritania
- Population density in 2022: 12 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 4,736,139 (123rd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 397,955 sq. miles (28th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 56.9% urban; 43.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $9.8 billion ($2,065 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.4 children per woman over lifetime
8. Canada
- Population density in 2022: 11 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 38,929,902 (37th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 3,393,336 sq. miles (4th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 81.8% urban; 18.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.2 trillion ($55,522 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.4 children per woman over lifetime
7. Guyana
- Population density in 2022: 11 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 808,726 (160th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 76,004 sq. miles (84th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 27.0% urban; 73.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $14.7 billion ($18,199 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.4 children per woman over lifetime
6. Suriname
- Population density in 2022: 10 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 618,040 (164th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 60,232 sq. miles (90th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 66.3% urban; 33.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $3.6 billion ($5,859 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.3 children per woman over lifetime
5. Libya
- Population density in 2022: 10 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 6,812,341 (105th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 679,362 sq. miles (16th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 81.3% urban; 18.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $45.8 billion ($6,716 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.5 children per woman over lifetime
4. Iceland
- Population density in 2022: 10 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 382,003 (172nd most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 38,931 sq. miles (104th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 94.0% urban; 6.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $28.1 billion ($73,467 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.8 children per woman over lifetime
3. Australia
- Population density in 2022: 9 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 26,005,540 (56th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 2,969,906 sq. miles (6th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 86.5% urban; 13.5% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.7 trillion ($65,100 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime
2. Namibia
- Population density in 2022: 8 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 2,567,012 (140th most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 317,874 sq. miles (33rd largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 54.0% urban; 46.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $12.9 billion ($5,031 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.3 children per woman over lifetime
1. Mongolia
- Population density in 2022: 6 people per sq. mile
- Total population: 3,398,366 (131st most of 195 countries)
- Total land area: 601,357 sq. miles (18th largest of 195 countries)
- Population by community type: 68.9% urban; 31.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $17.1 billion ($5,046 per capita)
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.8 children per woman over lifetime
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks