population density

American  

[pop-yuh-lay-shuhn den-si-tee] / ˌpɒp jəˈleɪ ʃən ˌdɛn sɪ ti /

noun

• population densities
  plural

1. the number of people, or members of a particular plant or animal species, living in a specified unit of area: a measure of how crowded or spread out inhabitants are.

   At the time of this research, the city had a population density of 537 persons per square mile.

   Our free-range chickens are raised without antibiotics and in low population densities, with plenty of room to roam around.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• population densities
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of population density

First recorded in 1850–55

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

population density

Much of “The Powerful Primate” concerns how ancient humanity learned to make tools and fire, allowing big increases in population density.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The analysis showed that wood smoke pollution is especially harmful in urban and suburban areas, where population density, emissions patterns, and atmospheric movement combine to increase exposure.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 26, 2026

The city's population density is more than 7,100 people per square kilometre of land, on par with packed metropolises like Tokyo.

From Barron's ● Nov. 27, 2025

Retained firefighters - predominantly based in rural areas with a lower population density than bigger cities - are on-call emergency responders who live near their local fire station and jump in an appliance when needed.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2025

These correlations suggest strongly that regional population size or population density or population pressure has something to do with the formation of complex societies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• anthropology

---