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Population density: Ghana vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ghana has a population density of 407 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Ghana has 74,579 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Ghana and North Korea rank 63rd and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ghana has 0.42% of the world's population and 0.15% 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 Ghana 29.1% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Ghana
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ghana North Korea
2026 407 573
2025 399 572
2024 392 570
2023 385 568
2022 377 566
2021 370 564
2020 363 562
2019 356 560
2018 349 558
2017 342 555
2016 334 553
2015 327 550
2014 319 547
2013 312 545
2012 304 542
2011 297 540
2010 290 537
2009 283 535
2008 276 533
2007 269.1 530
2006 262.3 528
2005 255.5 525
2004 248.9 522
2003 242.4 518
2002 236 515
2001 229.6 512
2000 223.5 509
1999 218 505
1998 212.7 501
1997 207.6 497
1996 202.7 492
1995 198 488
1994 193.4 482
1993 188.8 475
1992 184.2 468
1991 179.7 461
1990 175.2 454
1989 170.8 447
1988 166.6 441
1987 162.6 435
1986 159 428
1985 155.5 422
1984 152.2 416
1983 148.3 410
1982 143.9 404
1981 139.8 398
1980 135.9 392
1979 132 387
1978 128 381
1977 124.2 376
1976 120.6 371
1975 117.2 365
1974 113.8 359
1973 110.6 352
1972 107.4 344
1971 104.4 335
1970 101.6 326
1969 98.9 318
1968 96.5 309
1967 94.2 300
1966 91.9 291.9
1965 89.7 284.3
1964 87.6 277.3
1963 85.5 270.3
1962 83.5 263.8
1961 81.5 257.9

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/ghana/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ghana increased by 55%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Ghana ranked 78th by population density and is 63rd now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ghana
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Ghana North Korea
2024 58.4% 63.9%
2023 57.8% 63.5%
2022 57.3% 63.2%
2021 56.7% 62.9%
2020 56.2% 62.6%
2019 55.7% 62.4%
2018 55.2% 62.1%
2017 54.7% 61.8%
2016 54.2% 61.6%
2015 53.6% 61.3%
2014 53.1% 61.1%
2013 52.5% 60.9%
2012 51.9% 60.7%
2011 51.3% 60.5%
2010 50.7% 60.3%
2009 50.1% 60.2%
2008 49.5% 60%
2007 48.8% 59.9%
2006 48.1% 59.8%
2005 47.5% 59.8%
2004 46.8% 59.7%
2003 46.1% 59.6%
2002 45.3% 59.5%
2001 44.6% 59.5%
2000 43.9% 59.4%
1999 43.2% 59.4%
1998 42.5% 59.3%
1997 41.6% 59.2%
1996 40.8% 59.2%
1995 40% 59.1%
1994 39.1% 59%
1993 38.2% 58.9%
1992 37.4% 58.7%
1991 36.5% 58.6%
1990 35.7% 58.4%
1989 35% 58.3%
1988 34.3% 58.1%
1987 33.6% 57.9%
1986 33% 57.7%
1985 32.5% 57.5%
1984 32.1% 57.4%
1983 31.8% 57.2%
1982 31.5% 57.1%
1981 31.2% 57%
1980 31% 56.9%
1979 30.8% 56.9%
1978 30.7% 56.8%
1977 30.5% 56.8%
1976 30.3% 56.8%
1975 30.1% 56.7%
1974 30% 56.5%
1973 29.8% 56.1%
1972 29.5% 55.6%
1971 29.3% 54.9%
1970 29% 54.2%
1969 28.6% 53.3%
1968 28.2% 52%
1967 27.7% 50.5%
1966 27.2% 49%
1965 26.6% 47.5%
1964 26% 46.2%
1963 25.3% 45%
1962 24.6% 43.7%
1961 23.9% 42.3%
1960 23.3% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 46.8% to 58.4% in Ghana and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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