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Population density: Kenya vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has a population density of 261.5 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Kenya has 110,878 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Kenya and North Korea rank 94th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Kenya has 0.69% of the world's population and 0.39% 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 Kenya 54.4% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Kenya
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Kenya North Korea
2026 261.5 573
2025 256.6 572
2024 251.6 570
2023 246.7 568
2022 241.9 566
2021 237.3 564
2020 232.8 562
2019 229.1 560
2018 225.4 558
2017 221.6 555
2016 217.6 553
2015 213.6 550
2014 209.6 547
2013 204.7 545
2012 199.7 542
2011 194.6 540
2010 189.3 537
2009 183.9 535
2008 178.4 533
2007 173.1 530
2006 167.9 528
2005 162.9 525
2004 158 522
2003 153.1 518
2002 148.5 515
2001 143.9 512
2000 139.4 509
1999 135.3 505
1998 131.5 501
1997 127.9 497
1996 124.4 492
1995 121.1 488
1994 117.7 482
1993 114.3 475
1992 111 468
1991 107.6 461
1990 104.2 454
1989 100.7 447
1988 97.2 441
1987 93.8 435
1986 90.6 428
1985 87.4 422
1984 84.3 416
1983 81.2 410
1982 78.3 404
1981 75.5 398
1980 72.9 392
1979 70.4 387
1978 68 381
1977 65.7 376
1976 63.5 371
1975 61.5 365
1974 59.5 359
1973 57.5 352
1972 55.5 344
1971 53.6 335
1970 51.7 326
1969 49.8 318
1968 47.9 309
1967 46 300
1966 44.2 291.9
1965 42.5 284.3
1964 40.8 277.3
1963 39.3 270.3
1962 37.8 263.8
1961 36.3 257.9

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/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Kenya increased by 55.7%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Kenya ranked 111th by population density and is 94th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Kenya
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Kenya North Korea
2024 31.9% 63.9%
2023 31.6% 63.5%
2022 31.4% 63.2%
2021 31.3% 62.9%
2020 31.2% 62.6%
2019 31.2% 62.4%
2018 31.4% 62.1%
2017 31.5% 61.8%
2016 31.7% 61.6%
2015 31.7% 61.3%
2014 31.8% 61.1%
2013 31.8% 60.9%
2012 31.9% 60.7%
2011 31.9% 60.5%
2010 31.9% 60.3%
2009 31.9% 60.2%
2008 31.4% 60%
2007 30.4% 59.9%
2006 29% 59.8%
2005 27.3% 59.8%
2004 25.4% 59.7%
2003 23.6% 59.6%
2002 21.9% 59.5%
2001 20.4% 59.5%
2000 19.5% 59.4%
1999 19% 59.4%
1998 18.9% 59.3%
1997 18.8% 59.2%
1996 18.7% 59.2%
1995 18.6% 59.1%
1994 18.5% 59%
1993 18.5% 58.9%
1992 18.4% 58.7%
1991 18.3% 58.6%
1990 18.2% 58.4%
1989 18.1% 58.3%
1988 17.9% 58.1%
1987 17.7% 57.9%
1986 17.5% 57.7%
1985 17.3% 57.5%
1984 17% 57.4%
1983 16.8% 57.2%
1982 16.5% 57.1%
1981 16.2% 57%
1980 15.8% 56.9%
1979 15.5% 56.9%
1978 15% 56.8%
1977 14.5% 56.8%
1976 13.9% 56.8%
1975 13.2% 56.7%
1974 12.5% 56.5%
1973 11.8% 56.1%
1972 11.2% 55.6%
1971 10.6% 54.9%
1970 10.1% 54.2%
1969 9.83% 53.3%
1968 9.61% 52%
1967 9.42% 50.5%
1966 9.26% 49%
1965 9.12% 47.5%
1964 8.97% 46.2%
1963 8.82% 45%
1962 8.63% 43.7%
1961 8.44% 42.3%
1960 8.23% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
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/kenya/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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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