Countries With Lowest Population Density – 2025
Least densely populated countries in 2025 are discussed in this article. The world is bustling with mega cities and teeming urban sprawls. Yet, several nations exist where human presence is a mere whisper. These places stretch across sweeping landscapes are home to very few people resulting in unique cultures, ecosystems, and lifestyles. This article is based on an UN report : United Nation world population prospects 2024.
📌Key Takeaways
- Global Leader: Greenland remains the least densely populated place on Earth, with a density of just 0.14 persons per km².
- Least Densely Populated Country: Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world with 2.26 person km² (5.85 person per square mile)
- The Geographic Giants: Australia (#3) and Canada (#8) are the major global economies having their place in top 10 least populated countries/territories.
- Resource vs. Space: Countries like Libya and Botswana are in top 10 due to their arid desert environments limiting large scale human population.
Least Densely Populated Countries In The World
Table below depicts the lowest population density countries list in the world. While preparing this list for sparsely populated countries 2025, we did not consider territories. We also excluded countries like Western Sahara as their sovereignty is disputed.
Top 10 Countries with Lowest Population Density (2025)
| Rank | Country | Total Population | Density (km²) | Density (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenland | 55,745 | 0.14 | 0.35 |
| 2 | Mongolia | 3,517,100 | 2.26 | 5.85 |
| 3 | Australia | 26,974,026 | 3.51 | 9.09 |
| 4 | Namibia | 3,092,816 | 3.76 | 9.73 |
| 5 | Iceland | 398,266 | 3.97 | 10.29 |
| 6 | Suriname | 639,850 | 4.10 | 10.62 |
| 7 | Guyana | 835,986 | 4.25 | 11.00 |
| 8 | Canada | 40,126,723 | 4.41 | 11.43 |
| 9 | Libya | 7,458,555 | 4.45 | 11.53 |
| 10 | Botswana | 2,562,122 | 4.50 | 11.65 |
Note: Rankings are based on 2025 population estimates relative to land area.
- Greenland ranks first with an extremely low population density of around 0.14 person per square kilometer (0.36 person per square mile). Greenland is the lowest population density country in the world. Covered mostly by ice sheets and remote arctic terrain the region is known for its isolated settlements.
- Mongolia follows at second spot on lowest population density countries list with 2.26 person per square kilometer (5.85 person per square mile). It is situated in north east Asia and is landlocked between Russia and China. Mongolia has a very tough terrain and climate as it’s major part is within Gobi desert region.
- Australia is third on the list with 3.51 person per square kilometer (9.09 person per square mile). This is the sixth largest country in the world with estimated 26.9 million population in 2025. It is also the second most populous country in this list after Canada.
- Namibia is on fourth spot and is on the south western Africa. It has 3.76 person per square kilometer (9.73 person per square mile). It has rough terrain of Namib desert which is the major reason for low population density.
- Iceland occupies fifth spot on the list of countries with least population in the world. It has 3.97 person per square kilometer (10.29 person per square mile).This is an island with active volcanoes and glaciers and it’s population is mostly situated near it’s coast.
- Suriname is on sixth position and is the least densely populated country in South America continent. It has 4.10 person per square kilometer (10.62 person per square mile).
- Guyana is the seventh least densely populated country in the world. It has been in lot of news in last few years due to huge discovery of oil near it’s coast. It has 4.25 person per square kilometer (11.00 person per square mile)
- Canada is the eighth on this list and is the least densely populated country in North America. It is the second largest country in the world by size. The population is around 40 million. It has 4.41 person per square kilometer (11.43 person per square mile)
- Libya occupies the ninth spot on this list. It’s situated in the north of African continent and most of it’s territory is covered by Sahara desert. It has 4.45 person per square kilometer (11.53 person per square mile)
- Botswana completes the world’s least populous density ranking for top ten countries. It’s situated in the south eastern part of Africa. It has 4.50 person per square kilometer (11.65 person per square mile)
Conclusion
Understanding population density is essential for studying global geography, demography ,development and population patterns. Data on lowest population density countries list provides insights on how the terrain and climate shapes settlement patterns.
Common Questions on Population Density
Which country has the lowest population density in 2025?
Greenland remains the least densely populated territory in the world with only 0.14 persons per square kilometer (0.35 per square mile), primarily due to its massive ice sheet. However, Mongolia is the least populated country with 2.26 person per square kilometer (5.85 person per square mile)
Why is Mongolia’s population density so low?
Mongolia is the least densely populated country with 2.26 persons per square km. Its low density is caused by its vast, rugged geography—including the Gobi Desert and high-altitude steppes—making large portions of the country difficult to inhabit.
Are large countries like Canada and Australia densely populated?
No. Despite having large total populations, both Australia (3.51 persons/km²) and Canada (4.41 persons/km²) ranks in the top 10 for lowest density countries because their landmasses are enormous relative to their population count.
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