Skip to content

Population density: Congo vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has a population density of 50.4 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. The Congo has 581,285 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. The Congo and North Korea rank 172nd and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Congo has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.23% 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 the Congo 91.2% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Congo
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Congo North Korea
2026 50.4 573
2025 49.2 572
2024 48 570
2023 46.9 568
2022 45.8 566
2021 44.7 564
2020 43.6 562
2019 42.6 560
2018 41.6 558
2017 40.6 555
2016 39.6 553
2015 38.7 550
2014 37.7 547
2013 36.8 545
2012 36 542
2011 35 540
2010 33.8 537
2009 32.5 535
2008 31.2 533
2007 30.2 530
2006 29.1 528
2005 28 525
2004 27 522
2003 26.1 518
2002 25.4 515
2001 24.8 512
2000 23.9 509
1999 23 505
1998 22.4 501
1997 21.9 497
1996 21.4 492
1995 20.9 488
1994 20.3 482
1993 19.7 475
1992 19.1 468
1991 18.6 461
1990 18.1 454
1989 17.5 447
1988 17 441
1987 16.6 435
1986 16.1 428
1985 15.6 422
1984 15.2 416
1983 14.8 410
1982 14.5 404
1981 14.2 398
1980 13.9 392
1979 13.6 387
1978 13.3 381
1977 13 376
1976 12.6 371
1975 12.3 365
1974 12 359
1973 11.6 352
1972 11.3 344
1971 10.9 335
1970 10.6 326
1969 10.3 318
1968 9.98 309
1967 9.7 300
1966 9.42 291.9
1965 9.16 284.3
1964 8.91 277.3
1963 8.67 270.3
1962 8.44 263.8
1961 8.22 257.9

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/congo/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Congo increased by 73%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, the Congo ranked 175th by population density and is 172nd now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Congo
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Congo North Korea
2024 63.9% 63.9%
2023 63.7% 63.5%
2022 63.6% 63.2%
2021 63.6% 62.9%
2020 63.6% 62.6%
2019 63.5% 62.4%
2018 63.4% 62.1%
2017 63.4% 61.8%
2016 63.3% 61.6%
2015 63.1% 61.3%
2014 63% 61.1%
2013 62.9% 60.9%
2012 62.7% 60.7%
2011 62.6% 60.5%
2010 62.4% 60.3%
2009 62.2% 60.2%
2008 62% 60%
2007 61.9% 59.9%
2006 61.6% 59.8%
2005 61.3% 59.8%
2004 60.9% 59.7%
2003 60.5% 59.6%
2002 60% 59.5%
2001 59.4% 59.5%
2000 58.9% 59.4%
1999 58.3% 59.4%
1998 57.8% 59.3%
1997 57.3% 59.2%
1996 56.8% 59.2%
1995 56.4% 59.1%
1994 56% 59%
1993 55.6% 58.9%
1992 55.3% 58.7%
1991 54.9% 58.6%
1990 54.6% 58.4%
1989 54.2% 58.3%
1988 53.8% 58.1%
1987 53.4% 57.9%
1986 52.9% 57.7%
1985 52.3% 57.5%
1984 51.6% 57.4%
1983 50.7% 57.2%
1982 49.6% 57.1%
1981 48.2% 57%
1980 46.8% 56.9%
1979 45.3% 56.9%
1978 43.8% 56.8%
1977 42.4% 56.8%
1976 41.2% 56.8%
1975 40.2% 56.7%
1974 39.6% 56.5%
1973 39.2% 56.1%
1972 38.9% 55.6%
1971 38.6% 54.9%
1970 38.3% 54.2%
1969 38.1% 53.3%
1968 37.8% 52%
1967 37.6% 50.5%
1966 37.4% 49%
1965 37.3% 47.5%
1964 37.2% 46.2%
1963 37.1% 45%
1962 37% 43.7%
1961 37% 42.3%
1960 36.7% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.9% to 63.9% in the Congo and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
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/congo/north-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.