Q and A: How densely populated is the planet?
The world's major regions not only vary in population size, they also vary in terms of population density — the number of people per square mile (or other unit of land area). The most densely settled region is Western Europe, with 429 inhabitants per square mile. The Caribbean ranks second, with 401 people per square mile. The least densely settled region, Oceania, has nine people per square mile — about the same as Canada. The population density of the United States is 74 (see table, "Population Densities, 2000" below).
While population densities vary from region to region, they actually tell us little about where people live, the availability of resources, or the standard of living in a particular region. In Australia, for example, overall population density is very low — six people per square mile. However, 85 percent of the population lives in urban areas where densities are much higher. Twenty-one percent of Australians reside in Sydney, where the density is 10,437 people per square mile.
Population density, particularly in urbanized areas, does play a role in environmental degradation. Some analysts speculate that high levels of population density can trigger environmental degradation or socially disruptive events such as mass migration or civil violence.
But population density alone does not determine well-being. A densely populated Singapore has a per capita gross national product that is nearly US$30,170, compared to sparsely populated Somalia, which continually faces severe food shortages, despite a density of 29 people per square mile.
Population Densities, 2000
| Region |
Pop./Sq. mile |
| World |
117 |
| More developed countries |
60 |
| Less developed countries |
153 |
| Africa |
68 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa |
78 |
| Northern Africa |
53 |
| Western Africa |
99 |
| Eastern Africa |
100 |
| Middle Africa |
38 |
| Southern Africa |
48 |
| North America |
40 |
| Latin America |
65 |
| Central America |
145 |
| Caribbean |
401 |
| South America |
50 |
| Asia |
300 |
| Western Asia |
104 |
| South Central Asia |
355 |
| Southeast Asia |
304 |
| East Asia |
328 |
| Europe |
82 |
| Northern Europe |
142 |
| Western Europe |
429 |
| Eastern Europe |
42 |
| Southern Europe |
285 |
| Oceania |
9 |
Source: Population Reference Bureau, 2000 World Population Data Sheet.