Iceland is Europe's second-largest island, set relatively remote amidst the Atlantic, with isolated scape floating just outside of the Arctic Circle, in-between Greenland and Scotland. The population grew insignificantly between 20 by 0.7%, which was the eighth-slowest during that time. It is one of the world's smallest countries by headcount, with 341,243 people. Iceland is the world's third least densely populated country, with a population density of 3.63 km 2 and a total area of 103,000 km 2. Iceland's extreme climate and terrain render large sections of the country uninhabitable.

Iceland - 4 people/km 2 A tourist enjoying the sight of a frozen waterfall in Iceland. Midland droughts are also intensifying with rising temperatures from climate change caused by global warming. The country's center is known for deadly heat waves, prolonged no-rain conditions, and wildfires that make the area highly unlivable. Most Australians live along the coastline, where densely populated centers dominate the ocean's shores, under a more pleasant climate than the arid inland. The country's population growth of 1.3% from 2015 to 2020 was the 21st slowest in the world. With land nearly the size of 48 contiguous United States, Australia maintains a low population density of 3.33 people per km 2. The world's sixth-largest country by area at 7.688 million km 2, Australia is also sizable in population, with an estimated 25,499,884 people. Australia - 3 people/km 2 Large parts of inland Australia is covered by desert making the place inhospitable for most living forms. Today, it is among the smallest countries by population and 35th largest by size, with a land area covering 824,292 km 2, and population density of 3.02 people/km 2. Some 55% of Namibians live in rural areas in the north and northeast with easier water access. In addition, the AIDS pandemic wreaked havoc in this country and, in the 1990s, triggered a halt in population growth. Thus, Namibia cannot sustain its population with local produce but needs to import food from its neighbors. The country has very little arable land, with just 0.9% of its area being suitable for agriculture. The country endures lengthy periods of drought and extreme climate, and Namibians have poor access to water across the desert scape. The desert nation in Southern Africa is partially resource-cursed with rich minerals and poor management, worsened by a lack of arable land. Namibia - 3 people/km 2 A herd of gemsbok in the vast desert of Namibia, landscape too harsh to host large permanent human settlements. The capital city of Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world and home to about 45% of the Mongolians. The climate is extreme as well, with winters being long and frigid. Vast stretches of uninhabitable deserts like the Gobi Desert and treacherous mountains cover vast parts of this nation. The low population density of Mongolia can be explained by its climatic and geographic extremes. Mongolia comprises a largely steppe, desert, and semidesert landscape, where livestock grazing is the primary livelihood activity of the people. It is about twice the size of Texas and slightly smaller than Alaska. The world's most sparsely populated country is landlocked between massive Russia and China. It is also among the smallest nations in terms of population, with about 3,278,290 people and a density of 2.11 people/km 2. Mongolia is the 19th largest country in the world, with a land area of 1.564 million km 2 in Northern Asia. The extreme climate forces people to lead a nomadic way of life. Mongolia - 2 people/km 2 Nomadic yurts and livestock in a mountain valley of Mongolia.

10 Least Densely Populated Countries in the Worldġ. The article here discusses the world's least densely populated countries. Countries located at higher latitudes, especially those with massive territories in the Arctic, are sparsely populated, while highly mountainous countries or those covered by vast deserts also feature low population densities.

Population density patterns are also a great example of understanding a country's livability thus, countries are ranked by population density. For example, suitable topography allows building and easy movement, pleasant climate favors thriving populations, while milder coastal areas facilitate fishing and trade. 10 Least Densely Populated Countries in the WorldĪ country's livability is determined by geographical features, like location, topography, climate, and natural resources, not size or wealth.

Us map by population density