What is the most densely populated country in Asia?
Singapore is the most densely populated country in Asia, with about 7,900 people per km². Among large countries, Bangladesh is the most crowded.
Singapore packs about 5.9 million people onto 745 km², about 7,900 people per km². That makes it the most densely populated country in Asia and the second densest sovereign state in the world after Monaco. Macau, a special administrative region of China rather than a country, is denser still.
Small states dominate the top of the list: Bahrain, the Maldives and Palestine are all very dense, and the Gaza Strip in particular is one of the most crowded places on Earth. The more striking case is Bangladesh: with about 1,183 people per km² and a population of 175.7 million, it is the most densely populated large country in the world.
The ten most densely populated Asian countries
| # | Country | People per km² | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 7,880 | 5.9 million |
| 2 | Bahrain | 2,088 | 1.6 million |
| 3 | Maldives | 1,777 | 529,676 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 1,183 | 175.7 million |
| 5 | Palestine | 899 | 5.6 million |
| 6 | Taiwan | 639 | 23.1 million |
| 7 | Lebanon | 560 | 5.8 million |
| 8 | South Korea | 515 | 51.7 million |
| 9 | India | 445 | 1.46 billion |
| 10 | Israel | 431 | 9.5 million |
The least densely populated
At the other end, Mongolia has only about 2.2 people per km², the lowest of any country in the world. Kazakhstan (8), Turkmenistan (16) and Saudi Arabia (16) follow. Most of their land is desert, steppe or mountain, and people are concentrated in a few cities and oases.
See all 49 countries in the population density ranking.
Density = population ÷ total area. Population: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (2025 estimates).
Related questions
What is the most densely populated large country in Asia?
Bangladesh. Among countries with more than 10 million people it is the most crowded in the world, at about 1,183 people per km². India has about 445.
Which Asian country is the least densely populated?
Mongolia, with about 2.2 people per km², the lowest of any sovereign country. Nearly half its population lives in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.