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Population density: Canada vs South Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Canada has a population density of 12.4 people per square mile compared to 1,371 people in South Korea. Canada has 2,602,997 sq ft of land per person vs 20,861 sq ft in South Korea. Canada and South Korea rank 189th and 18th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Canada has 0.51% of the world's population and 5.9% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.64% of the population and 0.07% of the land area for South Korea, making the population density in Canada 99.1% lower than in South Korea.

Population density by year

Canada
South Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Canada South Korea
2026 12.4 1,371
2025 12.3 1,372
2024 12.2 1,373
2023 11.8 1,372
2022 11.5 1,371
2021 11.3 1,374
2020 11 1,376
2019 10.9 1,374
2018 10.7 1,370
2017 10.6 1,364
2016 10.4 1,361
2015 10.3 1,356
2014 10.2 1,349
2013 10.1 1,341
2012 10 1,336
2011 9.92 1,331
2010 9.82 1,320
2009 9.72 1,316
2008 9.6 1,310
2007 9.5 1,301
2006 9.41 1,295
2005 9.31 1,289
2004 9.23 1,286
2003 9.14 1,281
2002 9.06 1,275
2001 8.96 1,268
2000 8.86 1,262
1999 8.78 1,252
1998 8.71 1,243
1997 8.64 1,234
1996 8.55 1,222
1995 8.46 1,211
1994 8.38 1,199
1993 8.29 1,187
1992 8.2 1,175
1991 8.1 1,163
1990 8 1,151
1989 7.88 1,140
1988 7.74 1,129
1987 7.64 1,118
1986 7.54 1,107
1985 7.47 1,096
1984 7.4 1,085
1983 7.33 1,072
1982 7.26 1,056
1981 7.17 1,040
1980 7.08 1,024
1979 6.99 1,008
1978 6.92 993
1977 6.85 978
1976 6.77 963
1975 6.69 947
1974 6.59 932
1973 6.5 916
1972 6.42 900
1971 6.34 883
1970 6.16 866
1969 6.07 847
1968 5.99 828
1967 5.9 809
1966 5.79 790
1965 5.68 771
1964 5.58 751
1963 5.48 732
1962 5.38 712
1961 5.28 692

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/canada/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Canada increased by 31.8%, compared to a 5.84% growth in South Korea.

In 2006, Canada ranked 186th by population density and is 189th now. South Korea was 14th in 2006 and ranks 18th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Canada
South Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Canada South Korea
2024 82.7% 81.2%
2023 82.5% 81.2%
2022 82.4% 81.2%
2021 82.2% 81.2%
2020 82% 81.2%
2019 81.7% 81.3%
2018 81.6% 81.4%
2017 81.4% 81.5%
2016 81.3% 81.6%
2015 81.2% 81.6%
2014 81.2% 81.7%
2013 81.2% 81.8%
2012 81.2% 81.9%
2011 81.1% 82%
2010 81% 82%
2009 80.9% 81.9%
2008 80.7% 81.8%
2007 80.4% 81.7%
2006 80.2% 81.6%
2005 80% 81.4%
2004 79.7% 81.1%
2003 79.4% 80.7%
2002 79.1% 80.3%
2001 78.8% 79.9%
2000 78.6% 79.6%
1999 78.4% 79.4%
1998 78.3% 79.2%
1997 78.1% 79%
1996 77.9% 78.8%
1995 77.6% 78.4%
1994 77.3% 77.9%
1993 77% 77.1%
1992 76.7% 76.2%
1991 76.6% 75.2%
1990 76.6% 74%
1989 76.5% 72.5%
1988 76.5% 70.6%
1987 76.5% 68.6%
1986 76.5% 66.6%
1985 76.4% 64.8%
1984 76.2% 63.1%
1983 76% 61.5%
1982 75.9% 60%
1981 75.7% 58.3%
1980 75.7% 56.7%
1979 75.6% 54.9%
1978 75.6% 53.1%
1977 75.5% 51.3%
1976 75.5% 49.6%
1975 75.6% 48%
1974 75.7% 46.5%
1973 75.9% 45.1%
1972 76% 43.8%
1971 76.1% 42.3%
1970 75.9% 40.7%
1969 75.5% 38.7%
1968 75% 36.5%
1967 74.3% 34.6%
1966 73.6% 33.1%
1965 72.9% 32%
1964 72.1% 31%
1963 71.3% 30.1%
1962 70.4% 29.2%
1961 69.7% 28.4%
1960 69% 27.7%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/south-korea | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 79.7% to 82.7% in Canada and from 81.1% to 81.2% in South Korea.

Densely populated cities

Canada
City Population
Toronto 2.79M
Montreal 1.8M
Calgary 1.31M
Ottawa 1.02M
Edmonton 1.01M
Winnipeg 750K
Mississauga 718K
Vancouver 662K
Brampton 656K
Hamilton 569K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/canada/south-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 (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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