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Population density: Israel vs South Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Israel has a population density of 1,227 people per square mile compared to 1,371 people in South Korea. Israel has 22,414 sq ft of land per person vs 20,861 sq ft in South Korea. Israel and South Korea rank 21st and 18th 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 0.64% of the population and 0.07% of the land area for South Korea, making the population density in Israel 10.5% lower than in South Korea.

Population density by year

Israel
South Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Israel South Korea
2026 1,227 1,371
2025 1,210 1,372
2024 1,194 1,373
2023 1,179 1,372
2022 1,144 1,371
2021 1,122 1,374
2020 1,103 1,376
2019 1,084 1,374
2018 1,063 1,370
2017 1,043 1,364
2016 1,023 1,361
2015 1,003 1,356
2014 983 1,349
2013 965 1,341
2012 947 1,336
2011 929 1,331
2010 912 1,320
2009 896 1,316
2008 875 1,310
2007 859 1,301
2006 844 1,295
2005 829 1,289
2004 815 1,286
2003 801 1,281
2002 786 1,275
2001 771 1,268
2000 753 1,262
1999 733 1,252
1998 715 1,243
1997 698 1,234
1996 681 1,222
1995 664 1,211
1994 646 1,199
1993 630 1,187
1992 613 1,175
1991 592 1,163
1990 558 1,151
1989 541 1,140
1988 532 1,129
1987 523 1,118
1986 515 1,107
1985 507 1,096
1984 498 1,085
1983 491 1,072
1982 482 1,056
1981 473 1,040
1980 464 1,024
1979 453 1,008
1978 442 993
1977 432 978
1976 423 963
1975 414 947
1974 404 932
1973 392 916
1972 377 900
1971 367 883
1970 356 866
1969 344 847
1968 335 828
1967 329 809
1966 315 790
1965 307 771
1964 296.2 751
1963 284.7 732
1962 274.4 712
1961 261.5 692

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/israel/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Israel increased by 45.4%, compared to a 5.84% growth in South Korea.

In 2006, Israel ranked 23rd by population density and is 21st now. South Korea was 14th in 2006 and ranks 18th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Israel
South Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Israel South Korea
2024 91.5% 81.2%
2023 91.5% 81.2%
2022 91.5% 81.2%
2021 91.5% 81.2%
2020 91.6% 81.2%
2019 91.6% 81.3%
2018 91.6% 81.4%
2017 91.7% 81.5%
2016 91.7% 81.6%
2015 91.7% 81.6%
2014 91.7% 81.7%
2013 91.7% 81.8%
2012 91.7% 81.9%
2011 91.7% 82%
2010 91.7% 82%
2009 91.7% 81.9%
2008 91.7% 81.8%
2007 91.7% 81.7%
2006 91.7% 81.6%
2005 91.6% 81.4%
2004 91.6% 81.1%
2003 91.5% 80.7%
2002 91.4% 80.3%
2001 91.4% 79.9%
2000 91.3% 79.6%
1999 91.2% 79.4%
1998 91.1% 79.2%
1997 91% 79%
1996 90.9% 78.8%
1995 90.9% 78.4%
1994 90.8% 77.9%
1993 90.7% 77.1%
1992 90.6% 76.2%
1991 90.5% 75.2%
1990 90.4% 74%
1989 90.3% 72.5%
1988 90.2% 70.6%
1987 90.1% 68.6%
1986 90% 66.6%
1985 89.9% 64.8%
1984 89.7% 63.1%
1983 89.6% 61.5%
1982 89.4% 60%
1981 89.1% 58.3%
1980 88.8% 56.7%
1979 88.5% 54.9%
1978 88.1% 53.1%
1977 87.7% 51.3%
1976 87.3% 49.6%
1975 86.8% 48%
1974 86.3% 46.5%
1973 85.8% 45.1%
1972 85.3% 43.8%
1971 84.8% 42.3%
1970 84.3% 40.7%
1969 83.7% 38.7%
1968 83.2% 36.5%
1967 82.5% 34.6%
1966 81.9% 33.1%
1965 81.2% 32%
1964 80.4% 31%
1963 79.7% 30.1%
1962 78.8% 29.2%
1961 78% 28.4%
1960 76.9% 27.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 91.6% to 91.5% in Israel and from 81.1% to 81.2% in South 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
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/israel/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. Wikidata (2016–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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