North American Countries By Population Density

What is Population Density?

Population density is the term used to refer to the number of people that live within a specific measured area. It is most commonly used to talk about human populations, although it can also be applied to agricultural crops, wildlife, or other living organisms. Population density can measure the number of people per unit of area within a city, a state, a country, or around the world. For example, the global population density is 35 people per square mile, taking into account all the land area in the world, even that which is not populated. This article takes a closer look at the population density of North American countries.

North American Countries with the Highest Population Density

The third highest population density in North America can be found in Puerto Rico. This small island, located in the Caribbean Sea, is an unincorporated territory of the US and covers an area of 9,104 square kilometers (or 3,515 square miles). It has a total population size of 3,916,632, giving this island a population density of 430 people for every square kilometer. The vast majority of people here, 2.35 million, live in the San Juan metropolitan area, which is the capital.

Barbados is home to the second highest population density in North America. This Caribbean island nation, which makes up part of the Lesser Antilles, covers an area of 439 square kilometers (or 169 square miles). It has a total population size of 279,254, giving this country a population density of 647 people per square kilometer. Nearly 90% of the population here is of African-Caribbean descent and English is the official language. Bridgetown is its capital and largest city with a population size of 110,000, just under half the national population number.

The highest population density in North America can be found in Bermuda. This small island, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is a British Overseas Territory and covers an area of only 53.2 square kilometers (or 20.5 square miles). It has a total population size of 65,365, giving this island a population density of 1,226 people for every square kilometer. The city of St. George’s has the largest population size in this territory, with 1,743 residents. This is followed by Hamilton, the capital, with a population of approximately 1,010.

North American Countries with the Lowest Population Density

Canada, the largest country in North America and the second largest country in the world, is the third least densely populated. It covers an area of 9,984,670 square kilometers (or 3,855,100 square miles). The population size of Canada is over 32.8 million, giving this country a population density of only 3 people for every square kilometer.

The second least populated country in North America can be found in Greenland, a sovereign country that is a member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the largest island in the world, covering a total area of 2,166,086 square kilometers (or 836,330 square miles). Its total population size is approximately 56,375, which gives this country a population density of .03. Greenland is often considered the least densely populated country in the world.

Navassa Island is a small, unincorporated territory of the US. This island is located in the Caribbean Sea, where it covers an area of only 5.4 square kilometers (or 2 square miles). Navassa Island is unpopulated, giving it a population density of 0. It serves as a wildlife preserve, which is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.