Civitascope / Population and health
Search Magyar

Population density in the EU countries and regions

Topic: Population and health

Population density ranges from 1,817.4 people per km² in Malta to 18.5 people per km² in Finland.

In 2024, the EU had 109.7 people per km². Population density is the year's average population divided by the land area.

Figures for:
2024.
Covers:
the whole year.
New data:
once a year.
Dataset updated:
25 February 2026.

Published 10 November 2026

27 / 27 EU countries ranked

The ranking

In 2024, population density ranged from 18.5 people per km² in Finland to 1,817.4 people per km² in Malta.

Population density, people per km²

2024
05001,0001,5002,000people per km²
EU, 109.7 people per km²
Rank 1: Malta, 1,817.4 people per km²
Rank 2: Netherlands, 529.5 people per km²
Rank 3: Belgium, 389.1 people per km²
Rank 4: Luxembourg, 261.8 people per km²
Rank 5: Germany, 236.4 people per km²
Rank 6: Italy, 198.0 people per km²
Rank 7: Denmark, 142.4 people per km²
Rank 8: Czechia, 141.2 people per km²
Rank 9: Poland, 119.0 people per km²
Rank 10: Portugal, 117.6 people per km²
Rank 11: Austria, 111.3 people per km²
Rank 11: Slovakia, 111.3 people per km²
Rank 13: France, 108.5 people per km²
Rank 14: Cyprus, 105.8 people per km²
Rank 15: Slovenia, 105.6 people per km²
Rank 16: Hungary, 104.8 people per km²
Rank 17: Spain, 97.2 people per km²
Rank 18: Romania, 81.3 people per km²
Rank 19: Greece, 79.8 people per km²
Rank 20: Ireland, 78.6 people per km²
Rank 21: Croatia, 69.2 people per km²
Rank 22: Bulgaria, 58.6 people per km²
Rank 23: Lithuania, 46.1 people per km²
Rank 24: Estonia, 31.8 people per km²
Rank 25: Latvia, 30.0 people per km²
Rank 26: Sweden, 26.0 people per km²
Rank 27: Finland, 18.5 people per km²
How to read: bars start at zero. Every country with a value is shown, ranked from highest to lowest, and the EU in the first row.The values for France and the EU are provisional.The values for Romania and the EU are estimates.Source: Eurostat, Population density by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_d3dens).Chart: Civitascope (civitascope.eu) · CC BY 4.0 · Download image · Download data ·

The regions of the EU

In 2024, 242 of the EU's 244 regions had a value. Population density was highest in Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Belgium), 7,827.4 people per km², and lowest in Övre Norrland (Sweden), 3.5 people per km².

Population density by NUTS 2 region, people per km²

2024 · the EU's 244 NUTS 2 regions
people per km²
  • 3.5–62.1 (48 regions)
  • 62.5–96.1 (49 regions)
  • 98.4–157.7 (48 regions)
  • 158.9–327.7 (49 regions)
  • 336.8–7,827.4 (48 regions)
  • no value

Zoom with two fingers, or with Ctrl and the scroll wheel or the buttons. Zoomed in, drag to move.

AzoresMadeiraCanary IslandsGuadeloupeMartiniqueFrench GuianaRéunionMayotte
How to read: the regions are put into five bands by their value, each band holding about a fifth of the regions. The stronger the colour, the higher the value. Pointing at a region or tapping it shows its name, its value and its country's figure.Source: Eurostat (demo_r_d3dens), NUTS 2024, level 2. Boundaries: © EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries.Chart: Civitascope (civitascope.eu) · CC BY 4.0 · Download image · Download data ·

Austria111.3

  1. Wien5,093.5 people per km²
  2. Vorarlberg162.3 people per km²
  3. Oberösterreich130.9 people per km²
  4. Niederösterreich91.3 people per km²
  5. Salzburg81.1 people per km²
  6. Burgenland79.8 people per km²
  7. Steiermark78.2 people per km²
  8. Tirol62.1 people per km²
  9. Kärnten60.9 people per km²

Belgium389.1

  1. Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest7,827.4 people per km²
  2. Prov. Antwerpen692.0 people per km²
  3. Prov. Vlaams-Brabant568.5 people per km²
  4. Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen532.2 people per km²
  5. Prov. West-Vlaanderen391.1 people per km²
  6. Prov. Limburg (BE)379.3 people per km²
  7. Prov. Brabant wallon379.1 people per km²
  8. Prov. Hainaut359.8 people per km²
  9. Prov. Liège294.3 people per km²
  10. Prov. Namur138.9 people per km²
  11. Prov. Luxembourg (BE)67.1 people per km²

Bulgaria58.6

  1. Yugozapaden99.9 people per km²
  2. Yuzhen tsentralen59.0 people per km²
  3. Severoiztochen56.8 people per km²
  4. Yugoiztochen48.6 people per km²
  5. Severen tsentralen46.2 people per km²
  6. Severozapaden35.0 people per km²

Croatia69.2

  1. Jadranska Hrvatska53.7 people per km²
  2. Panonska Hrvatska43.2 people per km²
  3. Grad Zagrebno value
  4. Sjeverna Hrvatskano value

Cyprus105.8

  1. Kýpros105.8 people per km²

Czechia141.2

  1. Praha2,868.7 people per km²
  2. Moravskoslezsko223.2 people per km²
  3. Střední Čechy136.3 people per km²
  4. Střední Morava132.9 people per km²
  5. Severozápad130.3 people per km²
  6. Jihovýchod127.4 people per km²
  7. Severovýchod125.5 people per km²
  8. Jihozápad74.0 people per km²

Denmark142.4

  1. Hovedstaden788.9 people per km²
  2. Sjælland120.7 people per km²
  3. Midtjylland107.3 people per km²
  4. Syddanmark103.4 people per km²
  5. Nordjylland76.8 people per km²

Estonia31.8

  1. Eesti31.8 people per km²

Finland18.5

  1. Helsinki-Uusimaa194.7 people per km²
  2. Etelä-Suomi36.6 people per km²
  3. Länsi-Suomi24.3 people per km²
  4. Åland19.7 people per km²
  5. Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi6.2 people per km²

France108.5

  1. Ile de France1,048.2 people per km²
  2. Mayotte890.2 people per km²
  3. La Réunion363.6 people per km²
  4. Nord-Pas de Calais327.7 people per km²
  5. Martinique326.5 people per km²
  6. Guadeloupe246.6 people per km²
  7. Alsace234.8 people per km²
  8. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur168.7 people per km²
  9. Rhône-Alpes155.6 people per km²
  10. Haute-Normandie152.3 people per km²
  11. Bretagne127.1 people per km²
  12. Pays de la Loire122.2 people per km²
  13. Languedoc-Roussillon109.2 people per km²
  14. Picardie98.6 people per km²
  15. Lorraine98.4 people per km²
  16. Aquitaine87.6 people per km²
  17. Basse-Normandie83.7 people per km²
  18. Franche-Comté72.6 people per km²
  19. Poitou-Charentes71.2 people per km²
  20. Midi-Pyrénées70.4 people per km²
  21. Centre — Val de Loire66.0 people per km²
  22. Auvergne52.5 people per km²
  23. Bourgogne51.4 people per km²
  24. Champagne-Ardenne50.9 people per km²
  25. Limousin43.0 people per km²
  26. Corse41.5 people per km²
  27. Guyane3.6 people per km²

Germany236.4

  1. Berlin4,342.6 people per km²
  2. Hamburg2,615.6 people per km²
  3. Bremen1,799.9 people per km²
  4. Düsseldorf1,013.9 people per km²
  5. Köln614.6 people per km²
  6. Darmstadt545.2 people per km²
  7. Arnsberg448.0 people per km²
  8. Karlsruhe414.9 people per km²
  9. Saarland395.0 people per km²
  10. Stuttgart394.9 people per km²
  11. Münster384.9 people per km²
  12. Detmold319.0 people per km²
  13. Rheinhessen-Pfalz305.0 people per km²
  14. Oberbayern276.1 people per km²
  15. Leipzig274.6 people per km²
  16. Freiburg250.8 people per km²
  17. Mittelfranken248.6 people per km²
  18. Hannover236.2 people per km²
  19. Tübingen219.1 people per km²
  20. Chemnitz213.7 people per km²
  21. Dresden204.3 people per km²
  22. Braunschweig196.7 people per km²
  23. Schwaben194.9 people per km²
  24. Gießen193.6 people per km²
  25. Schleswig-Holstein191.9 people per km²
  26. Koblenz190.7 people per km²
  27. Weser-Ems172.5 people per km²
  28. Unterfranken155.0 people per km²
  29. Oberfranken146.3 people per km²
  30. Kassel145.3 people per km²
  31. Thüringen130.8 people per km²
  32. Niederbayern122.4 people per km²
  33. Oberpfalz116.0 people per km²
  34. Lüneburg111.9 people per km²
  35. Trier107.3 people per km²
  36. Sachsen-Anhalt105.7 people per km²
  37. Brandenburg88.1 people per km²
  38. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern69.8 people per km²

Greece79.8

  1. Attiki994.8 people per km²
  2. Kentriki Makedonia95.9 people per km²
  3. Ionia Nisia87.5 people per km²
  4. Kriti74.8 people per km²
  5. Notio Aigaio62.5 people per km²
  6. Dytiki Elláda57.8 people per km²
  7. Voreio Aigaio53.7 people per km²
  8. Thessalia48.6 people per km²
  9. Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki40.3 people per km²
  10. Ipeiros35.5 people per km²
  11. Peloponnisos34.3 people per km²
  12. Sterea Elláda32.8 people per km²
  13. Dytiki Makedonia26.6 people per km²

Hungary104.8

  1. Budapest3,305.3 people per km²
  2. Pest212.5 people per km²
  3. Közép-Dunántúl98.6 people per km²
  4. Nyugat-Dunántúl87.4 people per km²
  5. Észak-Magyarország81.1 people per km²
  6. Észak-Alföld80.1 people per km²
  7. Dél-Alföld65.6 people per km²
  8. Dél-Dunántúl61.7 people per km²

Ireland78.6

  1. Eastern and Midland185.6 people per km²
  2. Southern60.9 people per km²
  3. Northern and Western38.2 people per km²

Italy198.0

  1. Lombardia434.9 people per km²
  2. Campania409.8 people per km²
  3. Lazio336.8 people per km²
  4. Veneto279.7 people per km²
  5. Liguria279.1 people per km²
  6. Puglia201.3 people per km²
  7. Emilia-Romagna201.2 people per km²
  8. Sicilia186.5 people per km²
  9. Piemonte169.0 people per km²
  10. Toscana160.5 people per km²
  11. Marche158.9 people per km²
  12. Friuli-Venezia Giulia157.7 people per km²
  13. Calabria121.0 people per km²
  14. Abruzzo117.4 people per km²
  15. Umbria102.6 people per km²
  16. Provincia Autonoma di Trento88.7 people per km²
  17. Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen73.1 people per km²
  18. Sardegna65.6 people per km²
  19. Molise64.9 people per km²
  20. Basilicata53.1 people per km²
  21. Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste37.8 people per km²

Latvia30.0

  1. Latvija30.0 people per km²

Lithuania46.1

  1. Sostinės regionas92.6 people per km²
  2. Vidurio ir vakarų Lietuvos regionas37.9 people per km²

Luxembourg261.8

  1. Luxembourg261.8 people per km²

Malta1,817.4

  1. Malta1,817.4 people per km²

Netherlands529.5

  1. Zuid-Holland1,393.1 people per km²
  2. Noord-Holland1,086.4 people per km²
  3. Utrecht938.3 people per km²
  4. Noord-Brabant537.2 people per km²
  5. Limburg (NL)525.9 people per km²
  6. Gelderland431.0 people per km²
  7. Overijssel354.7 people per km²
  8. Flevoland316.1 people per km²
  9. Groningen261.3 people per km²
  10. Zeeland217.6 people per km²
  11. Friesland (NL)200.8 people per km²
  12. Drenthe189.2 people per km²

Poland119.0

  1. Warszawski stołeczny547.2 people per km²
  2. Śląskie345.9 people per km²
  3. Małopolskie220.8 people per km²
  4. Dolnośląskie141.7 people per km²
  5. Pomorskie129.9 people per km²
  6. Łódzkie128.1 people per km²
  7. Wielkopolskie116.5 people per km²
  8. Podkarpackie110.2 people per km²
  9. Kujawsko-pomorskie109.6 people per km²
  10. Świętokrzyskie96.1 people per km²
  11. Opolskie95.3 people per km²
  12. Lubelskie77.4 people per km²
  13. Mazowiecki regionalny75.0 people per km²
  14. Zachodniopomorskie72.1 people per km²
  15. Lubuskie68.5 people per km²
  16. Warmińsko-mazurskie56.2 people per km²
  17. Podlaskie53.8 people per km²

Portugal117.6

  1. Grande Lisboa1,620.0 people per km²
  2. Península de Setúbal557.7 people per km²
  3. Região Autónoma da Madeira322.9 people per km²
  4. Norte174.7 people per km²
  5. Região Autónoma dos Açores104.8 people per km²
  6. Algarve99.0 people per km²
  7. Oeste e Vale do Tejo94.2 people per km²
  8. Centro (PT)73.8 people per km²
  9. Alentejo17.7 people per km²

Romania81.3

  1. Bucureşti-Ilfov1,316.7 people per km²
  2. Nord-Est88.3 people per km²
  3. Sud-Muntenia83.6 people per km²
  4. Nord-Vest74.7 people per km²
  5. Sud-Est69.4 people per km²
  6. Centru67.4 people per km²
  7. Sud-Vest Oltenia64.6 people per km²
  8. Vest52.5 people per km²

Slovakia111.3

  1. Bratislavský kraj363.5 people per km²
  2. Západné Slovensko121.3 people per km²
  3. Východné Slovensko101.5 people per km²
  4. Stredné Slovensko80.3 people per km²

Slovenia105.6

  1. Zahodna Slovenija129.9 people per km²
  2. Vzhodna Slovenija90.2 people per km²

Spain97.2

  1. Ciudad de Melilla6,180.4 people per km²
  2. Ciudad de Ceuta4,168.7 people per km²
  3. Comunidad de Madrid885.8 people per km²
  4. País Vasco310.9 people per km²
  5. Canarias303.0 people per km²
  6. Cataluña252.4 people per km²
  7. Illes Balears249.5 people per km²
  8. Comunitat Valenciana232.2 people per km²
  9. Región de Murcia139.6 people per km²
  10. Cantabria112.4 people per km²
  11. Andalucía99.7 people per km²
  12. Principado de Asturias95.8 people per km²
  13. Galicia92.3 people per km²
  14. Comunidad Foral de Navarra65.8 people per km²
  15. La Rioja64.7 people per km²
  16. Aragón28.6 people per km²
  17. Castilla-La Mancha26.7 people per km²
  18. Extremadura25.8 people per km²
  19. Castilla y León25.5 people per km²

Sweden26.0

  1. Stockholm377.7 people per km²
  2. Sydsverige113.9 people per km²
  3. Västsverige72.3 people per km²
  4. Östra Mellansverige46.0 people per km²
  5. Småland med öarna26.6 people per km²
  6. Norra Mellansverige13.4 people per km²
  7. Mellersta Norrland5.3 people per km²
  8. Övre Norrland3.5 people per km²

The sparsest and the densest NUTS 3 regions

In 2024, 1,144 of the EU's 1,165 NUTS 3 regions had a value. Population density was highest in Paris (France), 20,147.8 people per km², and lowest in Lappi (Finland), 1.9 people per km².

Population density in the sparsest and the densest NUTS 3 region and in the country, people per km²

2024 · logarithmic axis
EU, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 1.9 people per km², EU figure: 109.7 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 20,147.8 people per km².
Sparsest: Lappi (Finland) · densest: Paris (France)
Rank 1: Malta, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 604.3 people per km², country: 1,817.4 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 2,154.1 people per km².
Sparsest: Gozo and Comino/Għawdex u Kemmuna · densest: Malta
Rank 2: Netherlands, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 142.9 people per km², country: 529.5 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 3,554.2 people per km².
Sparsest: Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen · densest: Agglomeratie ’s-Gravenhage
Rank 3: Germany, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 35.1 people per km², country: 236.4 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 4,828.6 people per km².
Sparsest: Altmarkkreis Salzwedel · densest: München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Rank 4: Denmark, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 61.2 people per km², country: 142.4 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 4,753.3 people per km².
Sparsest: Vestjylland · densest: Byen København
Rank 5: Czechia, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 68.0 people per km², country: 141.2 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 2,868.7 people per km².
Sparsest: Jihočeský kraj · densest: Hlavní město Praha
Rank 6: Poland, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 37.5 people per km², country: 119.0 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 3,699.9 people per km².
Sparsest: Szczecinecko-pyrzycki · densest: Miasto Warszawa
Rank 7: Portugal, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 13.8 people per km², country: 117.6 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 1,620.0 people per km².
Sparsest: Baixo Alentejo · densest: Grande Lisboa
Rank 8: Austria, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 20.2 people per km², country: 111.3 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 5,093.5 people per km².
Sparsest: Lungau · densest: Wien
Rank 8: Slovakia, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 64.9 people per km², country: 111.3 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 363.5 people per km².
Sparsest: Banskobystrický kraj · densest: Bratislavský kraj
Rank 10: France, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 3.6 people per km², country: 108.5 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 20,147.8 people per km².
Sparsest: Guyane · densest: Paris
Rank 11: Slovenia, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 37.7 people per km², country: 105.6 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 243.7 people per km².
Sparsest: Primorsko-notranjska · densest: Osrednjeslovenska
Rank 12: Hungary, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 50.8 people per km², country: 104.8 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 3,305.3 people per km².
Sparsest: Somogy · densest: Budapest
Rank 13: Spain, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 8.8 people per km², country: 97.2 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 6,180.4 people per km².
Sparsest: Soria · densest: Melilla
Rank 14: Romania, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 26.6 people per km², country: 81.3 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 7,426.4 people per km².
Sparsest: Tulcea · densest: Bucureşti
Rank 15: Greece, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 9.6 people per km², country: 79.8 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 11,142.8 people per km².
Sparsest: Evrytania · densest: Kentrikos Tomeas Athinon
Rank 16: Ireland, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 37.2 people per km², country: 78.6 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 1,664.5 people per km².
Sparsest: West · densest: Dublin
Rank 17: Bulgaria, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 23.8 people per km², country: 58.6 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 988.9 people per km².
Sparsest: Vidin · densest: Sofia (stolitsa)
Rank 18: Lithuania, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 18.7 people per km², country: 46.1 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 92.6 people per km².
Sparsest: Utenos apskritis · densest: Vilniaus apskritis
Rank 19: Latvia, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 14.3 people per km², country: 30.0 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 265.3 people per km².
Sparsest: Vidzeme · densest: Rīga
Rank 20: Sweden, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 2.6 people per km², country: 26.0 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 377.7 people per km².
Sparsest: Norrbottens län · densest: Stockholms län
Rank 21: Finland, sparsest NUTS 3 region: 1.9 people per km², country: 18.5 people per km², densest NUTS 3 region: 194.7 people per km².
Sparsest: Lappi · densest: Helsinki-Uusimaa
How to read: one row per country, with a dot for its sparsest NUTS 3 region, one for the country and one for its densest NUTS 3 region. The EU's row shows the sparsest and the densest of all the EU's NUTS 3 regions. The axis is logarithmic, each tick ten times the one before. The regions' names are under each row, each value in the columns on the right. Countries are ranked by the “country” column.Some NUTS 3 regions of Belgium, Estonia, Croatia and Italy have no value, so these countries are left out.Cyprus and Luxembourg are one NUTS 3 region each.The NUTS 3 region named Malta is the island of Malta, without Gozo and Comino.The values for France and the EU (EU figure and densest NUTS 3 region) are provisional.The values for Romania and the EU (EU figure) are estimates.Source: Eurostat (demo_r_d3dens), NUTS 2024, level 3.Chart: Civitascope (civitascope.eu) · CC BY 4.0 · Download image · Download data ·

Over time

From 2016 to 2024, the EU figure rose from 108.5 people per km² to 109.7 people per km².

Population density in the EU, people per km²

2016–2024
EU, by year: 2016 108.5 people per km², 2017 108.6 people per km², 2018 108.8 people per km², 2019 109.0 people per km², 2020 108.9 people per km², 2021 109.0 people per km², 2022 108.9 people per km², 2023 109.3 people per km², 2024 109.7 people per km².
Eurostat marks a break in the EU series in 2020 and 2022–2023. Values before and after a break are not fully comparable.How to read: one value a year, from 2016 to 2024. The axis does not start at zero, so that the change shows.Source: Eurostat, Population density by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_d3dens).Chart: Civitascope (civitascope.eu) · CC BY 4.0 · Download image · Download data ·

Between 2016 and 2024, density fell in 9 countries and rose in 18.

Population density, people per km²

2016 and 2024 · ranked by 2024
20162024ChangeChange
05001,0001,500%
EU, 2016: 108.5 people per km², 2024: 109.7 people per km², Change: +1.1%
Rank 1: Malta, 2016: 1,450.2 people per km², 2024: 1,817.4 people per km², Change: +25.3%
Rank 2: Netherlands, 2016: 498.1 people per km², 2024: 529.5 people per km², Change: +6.3%
Rank 3: Belgium, 2016: 373.7 people per km², 2024: 389.1 people per km², Change: +4.1%
Rank 4: Luxembourg, 2016: 225.1 people per km², 2024: 261.8 people per km², Change: +16.3%
Rank 5: Germany, 2016: 233.1 people per km², 2024: 236.4 people per km², Change: +1.4%
Rank 6: Italy, 2024: 198.0 people per km², 2016: 205.4 people per km², Change: −3.6%
Rank 7: Denmark, 2016: 136.4 people per km², 2024: 142.4 people per km², Change: +4.4%
Rank 8: Czechia, 2016: 136.8 people per km², 2024: 141.2 people per km², Change: +3.2%
Rank 9: Poland, 2024: 119.0 people per km², 2016: 123.6 people per km², Change: −3.7%
Rank 10: Portugal, 2016: 113.5 people per km², 2024: 117.6 people per km², Change: +3.6%
Rank 11: Austria, 2016: 106.0 people per km², 2024: 111.3 people per km², Change: +5.0%
Rank 11: Slovakia, 2024: 111.3 people per km², 2016: 111.5 people per km², Change: −0.2%
Rank 13: France, 2016: 105.3 people per km², 2024: 108.5 people per km², Change: +3.0%
Rank 14: Cyprus, 2016: 92.4 people per km², 2024: 105.8 people per km², Change: +14.5%
Rank 15: Slovenia, 2016: 102.5 people per km², 2024: 105.6 people per km², Change: +3.0%
Rank 16: Hungary, 2024: 104.8 people per km², 2016: 107.6 people per km², Change: −2.6%
Rank 17: Spain, 2016: 92.5 people per km², 2024: 97.2 people per km², Change: +5.1%
Rank 18: Romania, 2024: 81.3 people per km², 2016: 85.6 people per km², Change: −5.0%
Rank 19: Greece, 2024: 79.8 people per km², 2016: 82.4 people per km², Change: −3.2%
Rank 20: Ireland, 2016: 69.3 people per km², 2024: 78.6 people per km², Change: +13.4%
Rank 21: Croatia, 2024: 69.2 people per km², 2016: 74.6 people per km², Change: −7.2%
Rank 22: Bulgaria, 2024: 58.6 people per km², 2016: 64.8 people per km², Change: −9.6%
Rank 23: Lithuania, 2016: 45.8 people per km², 2024: 46.1 people per km², Change: +0.7%
Rank 24: Estonia, 2016: 30.3 people per km², 2024: 31.8 people per km², Change: +5.0%
Rank 25: Latvia, 2024: 30.0 people per km², 2016: 31.0 people per km², Change: −3.2%
Rank 26: Sweden, 2016: 24.4 people per km², 2024: 26.0 people per km², Change: +6.6%
Rank 27: Finland, 2016: 18.1 people per km², 2024: 18.5 people per km², Change: +2.2%
Eurostat marks a break in the series between 2016 and 2024 for the EU, Cyprus, Germany and Italy. Their two values are not fully comparable.How to read: each arrow goes from 2016 (outlined dot) to 2024 (filled dot). A leftward arrow means density fell. Each value is beside its dot. The column on the right is the change in % of the 2016 value. Countries are ranked by 2024.The values for France (2024) and the EU (2024) are provisional.The values for Romania (2024) and the EU (2024) are estimates.Source: Eurostat, Population density by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_d3dens).Chart: Civitascope (civitascope.eu) · CC BY 4.0 · Download image · Download data ·

About the data

Population density, the annual average population per square kilometre of land area (total area, including inland waters, where land area is not available).

Eurostat: “Population density is the ratio of the (annual average) population of a region to the (land) area of the region; total area (including inland waters) is used when land area is not available.” (source)

Population reported by the national statistical institutes (usually resident population, or legal or registered residence where usual residence cannot be established) and area by NUTS 3 region.

How to read these numbers

How it is measured

France's figures include its five overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte). Spain's include the Canary Islands, and Portugal's the Azores and Madeira.

Two of Croatia's four NUTS 2 regions, Grad Zagreb and Sjeverna Hrvatska, are not in the dataset.

Breaks in the series

A break in the series (flag b) means that a value is not fully comparable with the years before it. This concerns Cyprus (2022–2023), Germany (2022–2023), Italy (2020) and the EU (2020, 2022–2023).

Provisional figures

A provisional value (flag p) may still be revised. This concerns France (2024), the regions of France (2024), the regions of the Netherlands (2024) and the EU (2021–2024).

Estimates

A value with flag e is an estimate, not measured or counted in full. This concerns Romania (2024), the regions of Romania (2024) and the EU (2020–2024).

Sources and data

Eurostat, Population density by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_d3dens). Data updated 25 February 2026, retrieved 9 November 2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0.

Eurostat metadata · Eurostat methodology

The exact Eurostat API query

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/demo_r_d3dens?format=JSON&lang=en&freq=A&geo=AT&geo=BE&geo=BG&geo=CY&geo=CZ&geo=DE&geo=DK&geo=EE&geo=EL&geo=ES&geo=EU27_2020&geo=FI&geo=FR&geo=HR&geo=HU&geo=IE&geo=IT&geo=LT&geo=LU&geo=LV&geo=MT&geo=NL&geo=PL&geo=PT&geo=RO&geo=SE&geo=SI&geo=SK&unit=PER_KM2

How every number in this story was computed

Related stories

All stories in Population and health