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Population density: Belarus vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belarus has a population density of 115 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Belarus has 244,678 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Belarus and North Korea rank 145th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Belarus has 0.11% of the world's population and 0.14% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.33% of the population and 0.08% of the land area for North Korea, making the population density in Belarus 79.9% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Belarus
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belarus North Korea
2026 115 573
2025 115.8 572
2024 116.5 570
2023 117.1 568
2022 117.7 566
2021 118.7 564
2020 119.7 562
2019 120.2 560
2018 120.4 558
2017 120.7 555
2016 120.8 553
2015 120.7 550
2014 120.6 547
2013 120.5 545
2012 120.6 542
2011 120.8 540
2010 121.1 537
2009 121.3 535
2008 121.6 533
2007 122 530
2006 122.6 528
2005 123.4 525
2004 124.3 522
2003 125.1 518
2002 126 515
2001 126.8 512
2000 127.4 509
1999 128 505
1998 128.6 501
1997 129.2 497
1996 129.7 492
1995 130.1 488
1994 130.6 482
1993 130.7 475
1992 130.4 468
1991 - 461
1990 - 454
1989 - 447
1988 - 441
1987 - 435
1986 - 428
1985 - 422
1984 - 416
1983 - 410
1982 - 404
1981 - 398
1980 - 392
1979 - 387
1978 - 381
1977 - 376
1976 - 371
1975 - 365
1974 - 359
1973 - 352
1972 - 344
1971 - 335
1970 - 326
1969 - 318
1968 - 309
1967 - 300
1966 - 291.9
1965 - 284.3
1964 - 277.3
1963 - 270.3
1962 - 263.8
1961 - 257.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belarus decreased by 6.19%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Belarus ranked 126th by population density and is 145th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belarus
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Belarus North Korea
2024 79.2% 63.9%
2023 78.8% 63.5%
2022 78.5% 63.2%
2021 78.1% 62.9%
2020 77.8% 62.6%
2019 77.5% 62.4%
2018 77.2% 62.1%
2017 77% 61.8%
2016 76.8% 61.6%
2015 76.6% 61.3%
2014 76.3% 61.1%
2013 75.9% 60.9%
2012 75.5% 60.7%
2011 75.1% 60.5%
2010 74.6% 60.3%
2009 74.2% 60.2%
2008 73.6% 60%
2007 73.1% 59.9%
2006 72.6% 59.8%
2005 72% 59.8%
2004 71.8% 59.7%
2003 71.3% 59.6%
2002 70.9% 59.5%
2001 70.3% 59.5%
2000 69.9% 59.4%
1999 69.5% 59.4%
1998 69% 59.3%
1997 68.6% 59.2%
1996 68.3% 59.2%
1995 68% 59.1%
1994 67.8% 59%
1993 67.5% 58.9%
1992 67.3% 58.7%
1991 67% 58.6%
1990 66.4% 58.4%
1989 65.8% 58.3%
1988 64.9% 58.1%
1987 63.8% 57.9%
1986 62.8% 57.7%
1985 61.8% 57.5%
1984 60.8% 57.4%
1983 59.7% 57.2%
1982 58.7% 57.1%
1981 57.6% 57%
1980 56.6% 56.9%
1979 55.4% 56.9%
1978 54.4% 56.8%
1977 53.2% 56.8%
1976 52% 56.8%
1975 50.7% 56.7%
1974 49.4% 56.5%
1973 48% 56.1%
1972 46.6% 55.6%
1971 45.2% 54.9%
1970 44% 54.2%
1969 42.7% 53.3%
1968 41.5% 52%
1967 40.2% 50.5%
1966 39.1% 49%
1965 38% 47.5%
1964 37% 46.2%
1963 35.9% 45%
1962 34.9% 43.7%
1961 33.9% 42.3%
1960 32.7% 40.6%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 71.8% to 79.2% in Belarus and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Belarus
City Population
Minsk 2M
Gomel 501K
Grodno 364K
Vitebsk 359K
Mogilev 353K
Brest 346K
Babruysk 206K
Baranavichy 171K
Barysaw 135K
Pinsk 124K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2008–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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