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Population density: Maldives vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a population density of 4,620 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Maldives has 6,077 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Maldives and North Korea rank 6th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Maldives has 0.006% of the world's population and 0.0002% 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 Maldives 706% higher than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Maldives
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Maldives North Korea
2026 4,620 573
2025 4,604 572
2024 4,587 570
2023 4,572 568
2022 4,525 566
2021 4,456 564
2020 4,335 562
2019 4,211 560
2018 4,084 558
2017 3,957 555
2016 3,827 553
2015 3,696 550
2014 3,571 547
2013 3,454 545
2012 3,340 542
2011 3,226 540
2010 3,115 537
2009 3,007 535
2008 2,902 533
2007 2,801 530
2006 2,710 528
2005 2,645 525
2004 2,602 522
2003 2,560 518
2002 2,518 515
2001 2,476 512
2000 2,435 509
1999 2,395 505
1998 2,354 501
1997 2,311 497
1996 2,265 492
1995 2,216 488
1994 2,165 482
1993 2,114 475
1992 2,059 468
1991 2,001 461
1990 1,940 454
1989 1,880 447
1988 1,821 441
1987 1,761 435
1986 1,700 428
1985 1,642 422
1984 1,590 416
1983 1,546 410
1982 1,505 404
1981 1,464 398
1980 1,423 392
1979 1,384 387
1978 1,348 381
1977 1,312 376
1976 1,274 371
1975 1,236 365
1974 1,200 359
1973 1,165 352
1972 1,131 344
1971 1,097 335
1970 1,064 326
1969 1,032 318
1968 1,002 309
1967 971 300
1966 937 291.9
1965 899 284.3
1964 869 277.3
1963 848 270.3
1962 827 263.8
1961 807 257.9

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/maldives/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Maldives increased by 70.5%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Maldives ranked 7th by population density and is 6th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Maldives
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Maldives North Korea
2024 42% 63.9%
2023 41.5% 63.5%
2022 41.1% 63.2%
2021 40.7% 62.9%
2020 40.4% 62.6%
2019 40% 62.4%
2018 39.7% 62.1%
2017 39.3% 61.8%
2016 39% 61.6%
2015 38.6% 61.3%
2014 38.2% 61.1%
2013 37.8% 60.9%
2012 37.5% 60.7%
2011 37.1% 60.5%
2010 36.8% 60.3%
2009 36.4% 60.2%
2008 35.9% 60%
2007 35.4% 59.9%
2006 34.9% 59.8%
2005 34.1% 59.8%
2004 32.9% 59.7%
2003 31.4% 59.6%
2002 29.9% 59.5%
2001 28.6% 59.5%
2000 27.6% 59.4%
1999 27% 59.4%
1998 26.5% 59.3%
1997 26% 59.2%
1996 25.7% 59.2%
1995 25.5% 59.1%
1994 25.6% 59%
1993 25.6% 58.9%
1992 25.7% 58.7%
1991 25.8% 58.6%
1990 25.9% 58.4%
1989 25.8% 58.3%
1988 25.8% 58.1%
1987 25.7% 57.9%
1986 25.6% 57.7%
1985 25.5% 57.5%
1984 25.3% 57.4%
1983 24.9% 57.2%
1982 24.3% 57.1%
1981 23.6% 57%
1980 22.8% 56.9%
1979 22% 56.9%
1978 21.1% 56.8%
1977 20.2% 56.8%
1976 19% 56.8%
1975 17.6% 56.7%
1974 16.2% 56.5%
1973 14.7% 56.1%
1972 13.5% 55.6%
1971 12.5% 54.9%
1970 11.9% 54.2%
1969 11.6% 53.3%
1968 11.4% 52%
1967 11.3% 50.5%
1966 11.4% 49%
1965 11.5% 47.5%
1964 11.5% 46.2%
1963 11.4% 45%
1962 11.4% 43.7%
1961 11.4% 42.3%
1960 11.4% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
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/maldives/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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