Skip to content

Population density: Israel vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Israel has a population density of 1,227 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Israel has 22,414 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Israel and North Korea rank 21st and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Israel has 0.12% of the world's population and 0.01% 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 Israel 114.1% higher than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Israel
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Israel North Korea
2026 1,227 573
2025 1,210 572
2024 1,194 570
2023 1,179 568
2022 1,144 566
2021 1,122 564
2020 1,103 562
2019 1,084 560
2018 1,063 558
2017 1,043 555
2016 1,023 553
2015 1,003 550
2014 983 547
2013 965 545
2012 947 542
2011 929 540
2010 912 537
2009 896 535
2008 875 533
2007 859 530
2006 844 528
2005 829 525
2004 815 522
2003 801 518
2002 786 515
2001 771 512
2000 753 509
1999 733 505
1998 715 501
1997 698 497
1996 681 492
1995 664 488
1994 646 482
1993 630 475
1992 613 468
1991 592 461
1990 558 454
1989 541 447
1988 532 441
1987 523 435
1986 515 428
1985 507 422
1984 498 416
1983 491 410
1982 482 404
1981 473 398
1980 464 392
1979 453 387
1978 442 381
1977 432 376
1976 423 371
1975 414 365
1974 404 359
1973 392 352
1972 377 344
1971 367 335
1970 356 326
1969 344 318
1968 335 309
1967 329 300
1966 315 291.9
1965 307 284.3
1964 296.2 277.3
1963 284.7 270.3
1962 274.4 263.8
1961 261.5 257.9

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/israel/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Israel increased by 45.4%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Israel ranked 23rd by population density and is 21st now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Israel
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Israel North Korea
2024 91.5% 63.9%
2023 91.5% 63.5%
2022 91.5% 63.2%
2021 91.5% 62.9%
2020 91.6% 62.6%
2019 91.6% 62.4%
2018 91.6% 62.1%
2017 91.7% 61.8%
2016 91.7% 61.6%
2015 91.7% 61.3%
2014 91.7% 61.1%
2013 91.7% 60.9%
2012 91.7% 60.7%
2011 91.7% 60.5%
2010 91.7% 60.3%
2009 91.7% 60.2%
2008 91.7% 60%
2007 91.7% 59.9%
2006 91.7% 59.8%
2005 91.6% 59.8%
2004 91.6% 59.7%
2003 91.5% 59.6%
2002 91.4% 59.5%
2001 91.4% 59.5%
2000 91.3% 59.4%
1999 91.2% 59.4%
1998 91.1% 59.3%
1997 91% 59.2%
1996 90.9% 59.2%
1995 90.9% 59.1%
1994 90.8% 59%
1993 90.7% 58.9%
1992 90.6% 58.7%
1991 90.5% 58.6%
1990 90.4% 58.4%
1989 90.3% 58.3%
1988 90.2% 58.1%
1987 90.1% 57.9%
1986 90% 57.7%
1985 89.9% 57.5%
1984 89.7% 57.4%
1983 89.6% 57.2%
1982 89.4% 57.1%
1981 89.1% 57%
1980 88.8% 56.9%
1979 88.5% 56.9%
1978 88.1% 56.8%
1977 87.7% 56.8%
1976 87.3% 56.8%
1975 86.8% 56.7%
1974 86.3% 56.5%
1973 85.8% 56.1%
1972 85.3% 55.6%
1971 84.8% 54.9%
1970 84.3% 54.2%
1969 83.7% 53.3%
1968 83.2% 52%
1967 82.5% 50.5%
1966 81.9% 49%
1965 81.2% 47.5%
1964 80.4% 46.2%
1963 79.7% 45%
1962 78.8% 43.7%
1961 78% 42.3%
1960 76.9% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 91.6% to 91.5% in Israel and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Israel
City Population
Jerusalem 936K
Tel Aviv 468K
Haifa 283K
Rishon LeZion 250K
Petah Tikva 236K
Netanya 217K
Beersheba 209K
Holon 194K
Bnei Brak 194K
Ramat Gan 159K
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/israel/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. Wikidata (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.