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Population density: Marshall Islands vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Marshall Islands has a population density of 504 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. The Marshall Islands has 52,011 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. The Marshall Islands and North Korea rank 56th and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Marshall Islands has 0.0005% of the world's population and 0.0001% 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 the Marshall Islands 12% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Marshall Islands
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Marshall Islands North Korea
2026 504 573
2025 522 572
2024 540 570
2023 559 568
2022 577 566
2021 595 564
2020 614 562
2019 633 560
2018 652 558
2017 669 555
2016 686 553
2015 702 550
2014 717 547
2013 729 545
2012 740 542
2011 747 540
2010 749 537
2009 748 535
2008 749 533
2007 749 530
2006 748 528
2005 747 525
2004 745 522
2003 743 518
2002 740 515
2001 736 512
2000 730 509
1999 722 505
1998 715 501
1997 709 497
1996 702 492
1995 694 488
1994 687 482
1993 678 475
1992 667 468
1991 656 461
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/marshall-islands/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Marshall Islands decreased by 32.6%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, the Marshall Islands ranked 30th by population density and is 56th now. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Marshall Islands
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Marshall Islands North Korea
2024 78.7% 63.9%
2023 78.4% 63.5%
2022 78% 63.2%
2021 77.6% 62.9%
2020 77.3% 62.6%
2019 76.9% 62.4%
2018 76.6% 62.1%
2017 76.2% 61.8%
2016 75.9% 61.6%
2015 75.5% 61.3%
2014 75.1% 61.1%
2013 74.7% 60.9%
2012 74.3% 60.7%
2011 73.9% 60.5%
2010 73.4% 60.3%
2009 72.9% 60.2%
2008 72.4% 60%
2007 71.8% 59.9%
2006 71.2% 59.8%
2005 70.6% 59.8%
2004 70.1% 59.7%
2003 69.5% 59.6%
2002 69% 59.5%
2001 68.6% 59.5%
2000 68.3% 59.4%
1999 68% 59.4%
1998 67.9% 59.3%
1997 67.7% 59.2%
1996 67.6% 59.2%
1995 67.5% 59.1%
1994 67.5% 59%
1993 67.4% 58.9%
1992 67.3% 58.7%
1991 67.2% 58.6%
1990 67.1% 58.4%
1989 66.9% 58.3%
1988 66.7% 58.1%
1987 66.1% 57.9%
1986 65.1% 57.7%
1985 64% 57.5%
1984 62.8% 57.4%
1983 61.6% 57.2%
1982 60.6% 57.1%
1981 59.9% 57%
1980 59.7% 56.9%
1979 59.8% 56.9%
1978 60.1% 56.8%
1977 60.5% 56.8%
1976 60.9% 56.8%
1975 61.2% 56.7%
1974 61.5% 56.5%
1973 61.3% 56.1%
1972 59.9% 55.6%
1971 57.4% 54.9%
1970 54.3% 54.2%
1969 51% 53.3%
1968 47.9% 52%
1967 45.6% 50.5%
1966 43.8% 49%
1965 42.1% 47.5%
1964 40.4% 46.2%
1963 38.8% 45%
1962 37.4% 43.7%
1961 36% 42.3%
1960 34.8% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 70.1% to 78.7% in the Marshall Islands and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

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/marshall-islands/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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