Skip to content

Population density: Latvia vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Latvia has a population density of 76.2 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Latvia has 372,581 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Latvia and North Korea rank 158th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Latvia has 0.02% of the world's population and 0.04% 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 Latvia 86.7% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Latvia
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Latvia North Korea
2026 76.2 573
2025 77 572
2024 77.7 570
2023 78.4 568
2022 78.2 566
2021 78.4 564
2020 79.1 562
2019 79.7 560
2018 80.2 558
2017 80.8 555
2016 81.6 553
2015 82.3 550
2014 83 547
2013 83.8 545
2012 84.7 542
2011 85.7 540
2010 87.3 537
2009 89.1 535
2008 90.6 533
2007 91.6 530
2006 92.3 528
2005 93.2 525
2004 94.2 522
2003 95.2 518
2002 96.2 515
2001 97.3 512
2000 98.5 509
1999 99.5 505
1998 100.3 501
1997 101.3 497
1996 102.3 492
1995 103.4 488
1994 104.9 482
1993 106.7 475
1992 108.8 468
1991 - 461
1990 - 454
1989 - 447
1988 - 441
1987 - 435
1986 - 428
1985 - 422
1984 - 416
1983 - 410
1982 - 404
1981 - 398
1980 - 392
1979 - 387
1978 - 381
1977 - 376
1976 - 371
1975 - 365
1974 - 359
1973 - 352
1972 - 344
1971 - 335
1970 - 326
1969 - 318
1968 - 309
1967 - 300
1966 - 291.9
1965 - 284.3
1964 - 277.3
1963 - 270.3
1962 - 263.8
1961 - 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/latvia/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Latvia decreased by 17.5%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Latvia ranked 141st by population density and is 158th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Latvia
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Latvia North Korea
2024 68.5% 63.9%
2023 68.4% 63.5%
2022 68.3% 63.2%
2021 68.2% 62.9%
2020 68.1% 62.6%
2019 68.1% 62.4%
2018 68% 62.1%
2017 68% 61.8%
2016 67.9% 61.6%
2015 67.9% 61.3%
2014 67.9% 61.1%
2013 67.8% 60.9%
2012 67.8% 60.7%
2011 67.8% 60.5%
2010 67.8% 60.3%
2009 67.8% 60.2%
2008 67.8% 60%
2007 67.9% 59.9%
2006 67.9% 59.8%
2005 67.9% 59.8%
2004 67.9% 59.7%
2003 67.9% 59.6%
2002 68% 59.5%
2001 68% 59.5%
2000 68.1% 59.4%
1999 68.1% 59.4%
1998 68.3% 59.3%
1997 68.5% 59.2%
1996 68.8% 59.2%
1995 69.2% 59.1%
1994 69.6% 59%
1993 69.9% 58.9%
1992 70.2% 58.7%
1991 70.5% 58.6%
1990 70.7% 58.4%
1989 70.8% 58.3%
1988 70.8% 58.1%
1987 70.7% 57.9%
1986 70.5% 57.7%
1985 70.3% 57.5%
1984 70% 57.4%
1983 69.6% 57.2%
1982 69.2% 57.1%
1981 68.8% 57%
1980 68.4% 56.9%
1979 68% 56.9%
1978 67.6% 56.8%
1977 67.1% 56.8%
1976 66.5% 56.8%
1975 65.9% 56.7%
1974 65.3% 56.5%
1973 64.7% 56.1%
1972 64% 55.6%
1971 63.4% 54.9%
1970 62.7% 54.2%
1969 62.1% 53.3%
1968 61.6% 52%
1967 61% 50.5%
1966 60.5% 49%
1965 60% 47.5%
1964 59.4% 46.2%
1963 58.9% 45%
1962 58.3% 43.7%
1961 57.7% 42.3%
1960 57.1% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.9% to 68.5% in Latvia and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
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/latvia/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2008–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.