Africa Population Density and Map (2026)

Africa is one of the most structurally diverse continents in the world in terms of population density.

The continent contains both some of the most densely populated and most sparsely inhabited landmasses on Earth.

Population density across Africa varies dramatically between countries, shaped by land availability, settlement patterns, environmental constraints, and uneven population distribution.

What is population density?

Population density measures how many people live per square kilometer of land area. It shows how tightly a population is concentrated within a country’s territory, rather than total population size.

High population density reflects land pressure, urban concentration, infrastructure demand, and limited space for expansion.

Low population density reflects large land areas, environmental constraints, and dispersed settlement patterns.

Average population density of Africa

Africa has an average population density nearly three times lower than Asia, despite having some of the fastest-growing populations in the world.

This continental average of 50.1 people per square kilometer, which is below the global average population density of 62.1 people per square kilometer, is shaped by vast desert regions, large semi-arid zones, rainforest interiors, and uneven settlement distribution, with dense population clusters separated by extensive lightly inhabited land areas.

Most densely populated countries in Africa

These African countries have the highest population density levels:

• Mauritius
• Rwanda
• Burundi
• Comoros
• Seychelles
• Gambia
• Nigeria
• Uganda
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Malawi

Least densely populated countries in Africa

These African countries have the lowest population density levels:

• Namibia
• Botswana
• Libya
• Mauritania
• Central African Republic
• Gabon
• Chad
• Congo
• Algeria
• Mali

Complete Africa population density ranking

The table below ranks African countries by population density, from highest to lowest.

Population density figures are based on United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 data and measured in people per square kilometer.

Country listings follow commonly used geographic conventions and may include transcontinental states.

High-density large countries

Some African countries combine very large populations with high population density, including Nigeria (250.2 people per km²), Uganda (243.5), Malawi (223.2), and Ghana (148.5).

In these countries, population pressure is structural rather than temporary, producing sustained strain on housing systems, transport networks, water supply, food systems, and urban infrastructure.

Low-density large countries

Some of Africa’s largest countries by land area remain sparsely populated across most of their territory, including Algeria (19.4 people per km²), Libya (4.4), Mali (19.5), Chad (15.3), Mauritania (4.9), and Namibia (3.6).

Population distribution in these countries is highly uneven, with dense urban and agricultural corridors separated by vast lightly inhabited regions.

Why population density in Africa matters

Population density in Africa directly affects:

• Housing availability
• Urban development
• Infrastructure pressure
• Transport systems
• Resource distribution
• Environmental sustainability
• Economic productivity