The world population changes from year to year. As these changes occur, the rankings for different criteria also changes. Studies on the number of population differ depending on category. There is a category where the total population of a single country is computed, and there is also another category while the population depending on the density is also computed. This article will focus on the top 10 least densely populated countries in the world. Different sources have given different figures, because of that, there may be discrepancies regarding the accuracy of the data. The list is ranked, beginning from the highest density population to the lowest.
1. Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country located in Denmark. This is the world’s largest island with an area of 2,175,600 square kilometers. The total population is over 56 thousand and the population density is merely around 0.03 people per sq. kilometer. Because of this, Greenland is the least densely populated country in the world.
2. Falkland Islands
With a total population of only 3,000, total area of 12,173 square kilometers, and a population density of 0.25 people per sq. kilometer, Falkland Islands is 2nd among the top 10 least densely populated countries in the world. This territory is composed of two main islands and more than 700 minor ones south of the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Western Sahara
The Western Sahara is located in North Africa and is surrounded by Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Atlantic Ocean. The land area is 266,000 square kilometers and the total population is over 400,000. The density of the population is 1.3 people per sq. kilometer, ranking it 3rd among the least densely populated countries in the world. This country was occupied by Spain in the late 19th century. In 1975, Spain Gave up its control of the territory and gave it to Morocco and Mauritania. A war eventually broke out between the two countries and eventually Morocco gained an effective control of most of Western Sahara, which included the major cities and majority of the natural resources.
4. Mongolia
A landlocked country in east-central Asia, Mongolia is the 4th among the least densely populated countries in the world. This country is landlocked between Russia and China and the world’s second largest country surrounded by land. Mongolia not densely populated despite being an independent country. The population is over 2.6 million with a density of 1.7 people per sq. kilometer. Mongolia also has the smallest stock market in the world. With a land area of 1,564,116 square kilometers, Mongolia is the 19th largest independent country in the world.
5. French Guiana
Officially named as “Guiana”, this country is an overseas department of the country, France. This country is located in South America and bordered by one of the least densely populated countries, Suriname, as well as Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean. The country’s total population is 187,000 and the density of its population is 2.1 people per sq. kilometer. In order not to be mistaken as a colony of another country, “French” was added to the country’s name to be distinguished from other “Guianas” namely: Spanish Guiana, British, Dutch, and Portuguese Guianas.
6. Namibia9. Iceland
The Republic of Namibia is the 6th among the least densely populated countries in the world. With a population of over 2 million and an area of 824,292 square kilometers, the country’s population density is 2.5 people per sq. kilometer. Namibia is located in the south-west of Africa and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west. On its south is South Africa; while on the east is Botswana. Angola north of Namibia. The country’s main difficulty is the massive cases of HIV/AIDS. Despite this, the people of Namibia take pleasure in its high social, political, and economic stability.
7. Australia
The “Land Down Under” is ranked 7th as one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The Commonwealth of Australia is a developed country and the only country in the world that is also considered a continent. It is located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Although the total population of this country is well over 21 million, the density of the population is only 2.6 people per sq. kilometer. Australia has 5 major coastal cities and this country houses many of the most venomous snakes.
8. Suriname
Ranked 8th among the least densely populated countries, the Republic of Suriname is a country in South America with Guyana on its west and Brazil on its south. The population is over 400,000 with a population density of 2.7 people per sq. kilometer. Before it became the Suriname everyone knows today, this country was first colonized by the English and the Dutch and governed as Dutch Guiana. This was until 1954 when the country was designated as a constituent of Netherlands. The country finally became independent in 1975 and was constantly considered a Caribbean country.
9. Iceland
The Republic of Iceland is an island in between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. This country has over 300,000 in population with a total land area of 103,000 square kilometers. It is the most sparsely populated country in the whole of Europe. Ranked 9th among the least densely populated countries in the world, Iceland has a population density of 3 people per sq. kilometer. Since the first settlement began in 874 AD, more people began visiting and staying over winter and as years went by, more people stayed and more people settled in the area. In 1944, the land became independent from other countries’ territorial authority and was declared a republic.
10. Mauritania
Ranked number 10 on the least densely populated countries, Mauritania is in the west of North Africa. The population of this country is over 3 million people with a density of population of 3 people per kilometer square. This is an Islamic Republic country. The land area is about the same as that of Ontario Canada. It is the 29th largest country in the world. The population of Mauritania consists of 30 percent Arab, 30 percent Black, and 40 percent of mixed ethnicity.
