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Population density: Congo vs South Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has a population density of 50.4 people per square mile compared to 1,371 people in South Korea. The Congo has 581,285 sq ft of land per person vs 20,861 sq ft in South Korea. The Congo and South Korea rank 172nd and 18th 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 0.64% of the population and 0.07% of the land area for South Korea, making the population density in the Congo 96.3% lower than in South Korea.

Population density by year

Congo
South Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Congo South Korea
2026 50.4 1,371
2025 49.2 1,372
2024 48 1,373
2023 46.9 1,372
2022 45.8 1,371
2021 44.7 1,374
2020 43.6 1,376
2019 42.6 1,374
2018 41.6 1,370
2017 40.6 1,364
2016 39.6 1,361
2015 38.7 1,356
2014 37.7 1,349
2013 36.8 1,341
2012 36 1,336
2011 35 1,331
2010 33.8 1,320
2009 32.5 1,316
2008 31.2 1,310
2007 30.2 1,301
2006 29.1 1,295
2005 28 1,289
2004 27 1,286
2003 26.1 1,281
2002 25.4 1,275
2001 24.8 1,268
2000 23.9 1,262
1999 23 1,252
1998 22.4 1,243
1997 21.9 1,234
1996 21.4 1,222
1995 20.9 1,211
1994 20.3 1,199
1993 19.7 1,187
1992 19.1 1,175
1991 18.6 1,163
1990 18.1 1,151
1989 17.5 1,140
1988 17 1,129
1987 16.6 1,118
1986 16.1 1,107
1985 15.6 1,096
1984 15.2 1,085
1983 14.8 1,072
1982 14.5 1,056
1981 14.2 1,040
1980 13.9 1,024
1979 13.6 1,008
1978 13.3 993
1977 13 978
1976 12.6 963
1975 12.3 947
1974 12 932
1973 11.6 916
1972 11.3 900
1971 10.9 883
1970 10.6 866
1969 10.3 847
1968 9.98 828
1967 9.7 809
1966 9.42 790
1965 9.16 771
1964 8.91 751
1963 8.67 732
1962 8.44 712
1961 8.22 692

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/congo/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Congo increased by 73%, compared to a 5.84% growth in South Korea.

In 2006, the Congo ranked 175th by population density and is 172nd now. South Korea was 14th in 2006 and ranks 18th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Congo
South Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Congo South Korea
2024 63.9% 81.2%
2023 63.7% 81.2%
2022 63.6% 81.2%
2021 63.6% 81.2%
2020 63.6% 81.2%
2019 63.5% 81.3%
2018 63.4% 81.4%
2017 63.4% 81.5%
2016 63.3% 81.6%
2015 63.1% 81.6%
2014 63% 81.7%
2013 62.9% 81.8%
2012 62.7% 81.9%
2011 62.6% 82%
2010 62.4% 82%
2009 62.2% 81.9%
2008 62% 81.8%
2007 61.9% 81.7%
2006 61.6% 81.6%
2005 61.3% 81.4%
2004 60.9% 81.1%
2003 60.5% 80.7%
2002 60% 80.3%
2001 59.4% 79.9%
2000 58.9% 79.6%
1999 58.3% 79.4%
1998 57.8% 79.2%
1997 57.3% 79%
1996 56.8% 78.8%
1995 56.4% 78.4%
1994 56% 77.9%
1993 55.6% 77.1%
1992 55.3% 76.2%
1991 54.9% 75.2%
1990 54.6% 74%
1989 54.2% 72.5%
1988 53.8% 70.6%
1987 53.4% 68.6%
1986 52.9% 66.6%
1985 52.3% 64.8%
1984 51.6% 63.1%
1983 50.7% 61.5%
1982 49.6% 60%
1981 48.2% 58.3%
1980 46.8% 56.7%
1979 45.3% 54.9%
1978 43.8% 53.1%
1977 42.4% 51.3%
1976 41.2% 49.6%
1975 40.2% 48%
1974 39.6% 46.5%
1973 39.2% 45.1%
1972 38.9% 43.8%
1971 38.6% 42.3%
1970 38.3% 40.7%
1969 38.1% 38.7%
1968 37.8% 36.5%
1967 37.6% 34.6%
1966 37.4% 33.1%
1965 37.3% 32%
1964 37.2% 31%
1963 37.1% 30.1%
1962 37% 29.2%
1961 37% 28.4%
1960 36.7% 27.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.9% to 63.9% in the Congo and from 81.1% to 81.2% in South Korea.

Densely populated cities

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
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/congo/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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