Which EU Country Has the Highest Population Density?

Key Takeaways

• Malta has the highest population density in the EU. It reached 1,817.4 people per km² in 2024.
• The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg take the EU’s second-, third-, and fourth-highest population densities. Their 2024 population density rates ranged from 261.8 to 529.5 people per km².
• Germany ranks fifth in the EU for population density. Its high population density is concentrated in western Germany rather than spreading evenly across the country.
• Every country in the EU’s top 10 for population density exceeds the EU average. That average stood at 109.7 people per km² in 2024.

EU Countries With the Highest Population Density

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Malta’s Population Density Runs 16 Times Above the EU Average

Malta ranks first among EU countries for population density. It recorded 1,817.4 people per km² in 2024.

The EU-27 averaged 109.7 people per km² in 2024. Malta’s 2024 population density was more than 16 times the EU average.

EU Population Growth by Country ->

Malta’s high population density traces to rapid urbanization that began in the 1970s. Growing tourism and industrial sectors drove that expansion.

Malta’s urbanization concentrated development in its eastern towns.

The Grand Harbour sits on Malta’s east coast. Its port drove urbanization in eastern Malta.

Population growth over the past two decades has strained Malta’s infrastructure. Traffic congestion is now the most urgent problem.

The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg have the EU’s second-, third-, and fourth-highest population densities. All three countries topped the EU average of 109.7 people per km² in 2024 by wide margins:

• Netherlands: 530 people per km²
• Belgium: 389 people per km²
• Luxembourg: 262 people per km²

The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg have been densely populated for centuries. Their flat land and major ports made the region a good place to live, farm, and trade, attracting and supporting large populations.

Germany’s High Population Density Concentrates in Its Western Half

Germany ranks fifth among EU countries for population density. It recorded 236.4 people per km² in 2024.

Germany’s national population density figure hides a regional divide:

• Western Germany: widespread high population density along the Rhine
• Eastern and northern Germany: population density concentrated around individual cities such as Berlin and Hamburg

The Rhine-Ruhr region became a major industrial area because of its coal and steel industries. These industries created many jobs and attracted people, which helped make western Germany densely populated.

Germany Has the Highest Coal Consumption ->By contrast, parts of eastern and northern Germany have fewer people. Some areas experienced less industrial development and lost population after German reunification in 1990.

Malta and the Low Countries are densely populated across their entire territory. Germany concentrates its population density in only part of the country.