adjective
Having people or animals living in a place.
The city is densely populated.
Only a few families live on the sparsely populated island.
Good to know
Do not confuse populated with popular. Populated means that people live in a place; popular means that many people like something.
Common phrases & grammar
densely populated area · heavily populated city · sparsely populated region
be + populated by + people/animals
a + densely populated + place