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Population density: Nicaragua vs North Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a population density of 152.8 people per square mile compared to 573 people in North Korea. Nicaragua has 187,291 sq ft of land per person vs 48,964 sq ft in North Korea. Nicaragua and North Korea rank 131st and 52nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Nicaragua has 0.09% of the world's population and 0.08% 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 Nicaragua 73.3% lower than in North Korea.

Population density by year

Nicaragua
North Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nicaragua North Korea
2026 152.8 573
2025 150.8 572
2024 148.9 570
2023 146.9 568
2022 144.9 566
2021 143 564
2020 141.3 562
2019 139.5 560
2018 137.7 558
2017 135.9 555
2016 134.1 553
2015 132.3 550
2014 130.6 547
2013 128.8 545
2012 127 542
2011 125.2 540
2010 123.5 537
2009 121.7 535
2008 120 533
2007 118.3 530
2006 116.6 528
2005 115 525
2004 113.5 522
2003 112.2 518
2002 110.8 515
2001 109.5 512
2000 108.1 509
1999 106.6 505
1998 105.1 501
1997 103.5 497
1996 101.8 492
1995 99.9 488
1994 97.9 482
1993 95.9 475
1992 93.8 468
1991 91.7 461
1990 89.6 454
1989 87.5 447
1988 85.5 441
1987 83.6 435
1986 81.7 428
1985 79.8 422
1984 77.9 416
1983 76 410
1982 74 404
1981 72 398
1980 70 392
1979 68.1 387
1978 66.3 381
1977 64.4 376
1976 62.5 371
1975 60.6 365
1974 58.8 359
1973 57 352
1972 55.4 344
1971 53.8 335
1970 52.1 326
1969 50.5 318
1968 49 309
1967 47.5 300
1966 46 291.9
1965 44.6 284.3
1964 43.3 277.3
1963 42 270.3
1962 40.7 263.8
1961 39.5 257.9

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/nicaragua/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Nicaragua increased by 31%, compared to a 8.64% growth in North Korea.

In 2006, Nicaragua ranked 131st by population density and is 131st still. North Korea was 40th in 2006 and ranks 52nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nicaragua
North Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Nicaragua North Korea
2024 59.3% 63.9%
2023 59.1% 63.5%
2022 59% 63.2%
2021 58.9% 62.9%
2020 58.7% 62.6%
2019 58.5% 62.4%
2018 58.4% 62.1%
2017 58.2% 61.8%
2016 58% 61.6%
2015 57.8% 61.3%
2014 57.6% 61.1%
2013 57.4% 60.9%
2012 57.2% 60.7%
2011 57% 60.5%
2010 56.8% 60.3%
2009 56.7% 60.2%
2008 56.5% 60%
2007 56.3% 59.9%
2006 56.1% 59.8%
2005 55.9% 59.8%
2004 55.8% 59.7%
2003 55.6% 59.6%
2002 55.5% 59.5%
2001 55.4% 59.5%
2000 55.2% 59.4%
1999 55.1% 59.4%
1998 54.9% 59.3%
1997 54.8% 59.2%
1996 54.6% 59.2%
1995 54.4% 59.1%
1994 54.3% 59%
1993 54.1% 58.9%
1992 53.9% 58.7%
1991 53.7% 58.6%
1990 53.5% 58.4%
1989 53.3% 58.3%
1988 53.1% 58.1%
1987 52.9% 57.9%
1986 52.7% 57.7%
1985 52.4% 57.5%
1984 52.2% 57.4%
1983 51.9% 57.2%
1982 51.7% 57.1%
1981 51.4% 57%
1980 51.1% 56.9%
1979 50.8% 56.9%
1978 50.5% 56.8%
1977 50.2% 56.8%
1976 49.8% 56.8%
1975 49.5% 56.7%
1974 49.1% 56.5%
1973 48.7% 56.1%
1972 48.3% 55.6%
1971 47.8% 54.9%
1970 47.3% 54.2%
1969 46.5% 53.3%
1968 45.6% 52%
1967 44.6% 50.5%
1966 43.6% 49%
1965 42.6% 47.5%
1964 41.7% 46.2%
1963 41% 45%
1962 40.4% 43.7%
1961 39.8% 42.3%
1960 39.2% 40.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 55.8% to 59.3% in Nicaragua and from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea.

Densely populated cities

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
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/nicaragua/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 (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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