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Population density: France vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

France has a population density of 330 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. France has 101,089 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. France and North Korea rank 75th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. France has 0.84% of the world's population and 0.36% 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 France 42.3% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

France
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
France North Korea
2026 330 573
2025 330 572
2024 329 570
2023 329 568
2022 328 566
2021 326 564
2020 325 562
2019 324 560
2018 323 558
2017 322 555
2016 321 553
2015 320 550
2014 319 547
2013 317 545
2012 316 542
2011 314 540
2010 312 537
2009 311 535
2008 309 533
2007 308 530
2006 306 528
2005 304 525
2004 301 522
2003 299.1 518
2002 297 515
2001 294.9 512
2000 292.8 509
1999 290.7 505
1998 289.3 501
1997 288.2 497
1996 287.2 492
1995 286.1 488
1994 285.1 482
1993 284 475
1992 282.8 468
1991 281.4 461
1990 280 454
1989 278.5 447
1988 276.8 441
1987 275.2 435
1986 273.7 428
1985 272.3 422
1984 271 416
1983 269.6 410
1982 268.2 404
1981 267.2 398
1980 265.6 392
1979 264.2 387
1978 263 381
1977 261.8 376
1976 260.6 371
1975 259.5 365
1974 258.3 359
1973 256.6 352
1972 254.5 344
1971 252.3 335
1970 249.9 326
1969 247.7 318
1968 245.6 309
1967 243.8 300
1966 241.8 291.9
1965 239.7 284.3
1964 237.4 277.3
1963 234.9 270.3
1962 232.5 263.8
1961 230.2 257.9

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/france/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in France increased by 8.08%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, France ranked 67th by population density and is 75th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

France
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
France North Korea
2024 78.8% 63.9%
2023 78.8% 63.5%
2022 78.8% 63.2%
2021 78.7% 62.9%
2020 78.7% 62.6%
2019 78.7% 62.4%
2018 78.7% 62.1%
2017 78.6% 61.8%
2016 78.6% 61.6%
2015 77.8% 61.3%
2014 77.4% 61.1%
2013 77.2% 60.9%
2012 77.2% 60.7%
2011 77.1% 60.5%
2010 77.1% 60.3%
2009 77.1% 60.2%
2008 77.2% 60%
2007 77.2% 59.9%
2006 77.3% 59.8%
2005 77.4% 59.8%
2004 77.5% 59.7%
2003 77.5% 59.6%
2002 77.3% 59.5%
2001 76.9% 59.5%
2000 76.5% 59.4%
1999 76.2% 59.4%
1998 75.9% 59.3%
1997 75.6% 59.2%
1996 75.4% 59.2%
1995 75.1% 59.1%
1994 74.8% 59%
1993 74.6% 58.9%
1992 74.4% 58.7%
1991 74.2% 58.6%
1990 74.1% 58.4%
1989 73.9% 58.3%
1988 73.8% 58.1%
1987 73.7% 57.9%
1986 73.6% 57.7%
1985 73.6% 57.5%
1984 73.5% 57.4%
1983 73.4% 57.2%
1982 73.4% 57.1%
1981 73.3% 57%
1980 73.2% 56.9%
1979 73.2% 56.9%
1978 73.2% 56.8%
1977 73.1% 56.8%
1976 73.1% 56.8%
1975 73% 56.7%
1974 72.9% 56.5%
1973 72.7% 56.1%
1972 72.3% 55.6%
1971 71.9% 54.9%
1970 71.4% 54.2%
1969 70.8% 53.3%
1968 70.2% 52%
1967 69.5% 50.5%
1966 68.4% 49%
1965 67.2% 47.5%
1964 65.9% 46.2%
1963 64.6% 45%
1962 63.5% 43.7%
1961 62.5% 42.3%
1960 61.7% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 77.5% to 78.8% in France and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

France
City Population
Paris 2.11M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K
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/france/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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