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Population density: Cuba vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a population density of 271.8 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Cuba has 107,724 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Cuba and North Korea rank 90th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Cuba has 0.14% of the world's population and 0.07% 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 Cuba 52.6% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Cuba
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Cuba North Korea
2026 271.8 573
2025 272.9 572
2024 274 570
2023 275 568
2022 276 566
2021 277.5 564
2020 278.9 562
2019 279.5 560
2018 280.1 558
2017 280.7 555
2016 280.4 553
2015 280.5 550
2014 281 547
2013 280.8 545
2012 274.5 542
2011 273.9 540
2010 274.9 537
2009 274.8 535
2008 274.8 533
2007 274.7 530
2006 274.5 528
2005 274 525
2004 273.5 522
2003 272.9 518
2002 272.1 515
2001 268.7 512
2000 267.9 509
1999 267 505
1998 266.1 501
1997 265.2 497
1996 264.4 492
1995 263.5 488
1994 262.5 482
1993 261.4 475
1992 260.1 468
1991 258.5 461
1990 256.4 454
1989 254 447
1988 251.6 441
1987 249.2 435
1986 247 428
1985 244.9 422
1984 242.9 416
1983 240.9 410
1982 239 404
1981 237.5 398
1980 236.4 392
1979 235.4 387
1978 234.2 381
1977 232.7 376
1976 230.8 371
1975 228.6 365
1974 226.1 359
1973 223.2 352
1972 220 344
1971 216.5 335
1970 212.8 326
1969 209 318
1968 205.2 309
1967 201.4 300
1966 197.6 291.9
1965 193.7 284.3
1964 189.7 277.3
1963 185.7 270.3
1962 181.9 263.8
1961 178.1 257.9

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/cuba/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Cuba decreased by 0.96%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Cuba ranked 76th by population density and is 90th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Cuba
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Cuba North Korea
2024 77.2% 63.9%
2023 77.1% 63.5%
2022 77.1% 63.2%
2021 77.1% 62.9%
2020 77.1% 62.6%
2019 77.1% 62.4%
2018 77% 62.1%
2017 77% 61.8%
2016 76.9% 61.6%
2015 76.9% 61.3%
2014 76.8% 61.1%
2013 76.8% 60.9%
2012 76.8% 60.7%
2011 76.7% 60.5%
2010 76.6% 60.3%
2009 76.5% 60.2%
2008 76.4% 60%
2007 76.2% 59.9%
2006 76.1% 59.8%
2005 76% 59.8%
2004 75.9% 59.7%
2003 75.9% 59.6%
2002 75.9% 59.5%
2001 75.9% 59.5%
2000 75.6% 59.4%
1999 75.4% 59.4%
1998 75.3% 59.3%
1997 75.1% 59.2%
1996 74.8% 59.2%
1995 74.6% 59.1%
1994 74.5% 59%
1993 74.5% 58.9%
1992 74.4% 58.7%
1991 74.1% 58.6%
1990 73.7% 58.4%
1989 73.3% 58.3%
1988 72.7% 58.1%
1987 72.1% 57.9%
1986 71.6% 57.7%
1985 71.1% 57.5%
1984 70.8% 57.4%
1983 70.3% 57.2%
1982 69.5% 57.1%
1981 68.9% 57%
1980 68.4% 56.9%
1979 67.7% 56.9%
1978 66.9% 56.8%
1977 65.9% 56.8%
1976 64.9% 56.8%
1975 63.9% 56.7%
1974 63% 56.5%
1973 62.1% 56.1%
1972 61.3% 55.6%
1971 60.7% 54.9%
1970 60.3% 54.2%
1969 59.9% 53.3%
1968 59.6% 52%
1967 59.4% 50.5%
1966 59.1% 49%
1965 58.8% 47.5%
1964 58.6% 46.2%
1963 58.3% 45%
1962 58.1% 43.7%
1961 57.9% 42.3%
1960 57.7% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 75.9% to 77.2% in Cuba and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K
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/cuba/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 (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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