25. Mali
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 20,250,834 — #59 out of 217 countries
> Land area: 471,118 square miles — #23 out of 217 countries
> Population growth, 2015-2020: 16.1%
While the northern regions of Mali are sandy and arid, the south contains two main rivers, and holds 90% of the country’s population. A significant portion of Mali’s population lives in rural areas, with 5% to 10% of them being nomadic.
24. Argentina
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 45,376,763 — #32 out of 217 countries
> Land area: 1,056,641 square miles — #8 out of 217 countries
> Population growth, 2015-2020: 5.2%
The second-largest country in South America by land, Argentina has a diverse landscape including the high peaks of the Andes, sub-antarctic plateaus in the south, and plains in the north. Over 90% of the population lives in urban areas, with about 30% of those people residing in the capital city of Buenos Aires. The colder southern region is the most sparsely populated.
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23. Oman
> Population density: 43 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 5,106,622 — #119 out of 217 countries
> Land area: 119,499 square miles — #69 out of 217 countries
> Population growth, 2015-2020: 19.7%
The terrain in Oman consists of harsh desert and rugged mountains. Most of the country has limited water and is very sparsely populated, while the largest population centers are around the northern mountains and the southern city of Salalah. Immigrants make up about 45% of the country’s population.
22. Saudi Arabia
> Population density: 42 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 34,813,867 — #41 out of 217 countries
> Land area: 830,000 square miles — #12 out of 217 countries
> Population growth, 2015-2020: 9.8%
Saudi Arabia takes up most of the Arabian peninsula, and is the largest country in the world that has no rivers. It’s almost completely a sandy, harsh desert. The population historically consisted of nomadic peoples, but now over 80% live in urban areas, with over 6 million residing in the capital city of Riyadh.
21. Republic of the Congo
> Population density: 42 people per square mile
> Est. population 2020: 5,518,092 — #116 out of 217 countries
> Land area: 131,854 square miles — #65 out of 217 countries
> Population growth, 2015-2020: 13.6%
The Republic of the Congo is roughly the size of Montana, with over 60% being densely forested and largely uninhabited. About 70% of the population lives in the capital city of Brazzaville, the city of Pointe Noire, or in smaller cities along the stretch of railroad that runs between the two urban centers.
