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Population density: Nicaragua vs South Korea compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a population density of 152.8 people per square mile compared to 1,371 people in South Korea. Nicaragua has 187,291 sq ft of land per person vs 20,861 sq ft in South Korea. Nicaragua and South Korea rank 131st and 18th 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 0.64% of the population and 0.07% of the land area for South Korea, making the population density in Nicaragua 88.9% lower than in South Korea.

Population density by year

Nicaragua
South Korea

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Nicaragua South Korea
2026 152.8 1,371
2025 150.8 1,372
2024 148.9 1,373
2023 146.9 1,372
2022 144.9 1,371
2021 143 1,374
2020 141.3 1,376
2019 139.5 1,374
2018 137.7 1,370
2017 135.9 1,364
2016 134.1 1,361
2015 132.3 1,356
2014 130.6 1,349
2013 128.8 1,341
2012 127 1,336
2011 125.2 1,331
2010 123.5 1,320
2009 121.7 1,316
2008 120 1,310
2007 118.3 1,301
2006 116.6 1,295
2005 115 1,289
2004 113.5 1,286
2003 112.2 1,281
2002 110.8 1,275
2001 109.5 1,268
2000 108.1 1,262
1999 106.6 1,252
1998 105.1 1,243
1997 103.5 1,234
1996 101.8 1,222
1995 99.9 1,211
1994 97.9 1,199
1993 95.9 1,187
1992 93.8 1,175
1991 91.7 1,163
1990 89.6 1,151
1989 87.5 1,140
1988 85.5 1,129
1987 83.6 1,118
1986 81.7 1,107
1985 79.8 1,096
1984 77.9 1,085
1983 76 1,072
1982 74 1,056
1981 72 1,040
1980 70 1,024
1979 68.1 1,008
1978 66.3 993
1977 64.4 978
1976 62.5 963
1975 60.6 947
1974 58.8 932
1973 57 916
1972 55.4 900
1971 53.8 883
1970 52.1 866
1969 50.5 847
1968 49 828
1967 47.5 809
1966 46 790
1965 44.6 771
1964 43.3 751
1963 42 732
1962 40.7 712
1961 39.5 692

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Nicaragua increased by 31%, compared to a 5.84% growth in South Korea.

In 2006, Nicaragua ranked 131st by population density and is 131st still. South Korea was 14th in 2006 and ranks 18th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Nicaragua
South Korea
1x
Year Urban population
Nicaragua South Korea
2024 59.3% 81.2%
2023 59.1% 81.2%
2022 59% 81.2%
2021 58.9% 81.2%
2020 58.7% 81.2%
2019 58.5% 81.3%
2018 58.4% 81.4%
2017 58.2% 81.5%
2016 58% 81.6%
2015 57.8% 81.6%
2014 57.6% 81.7%
2013 57.4% 81.8%
2012 57.2% 81.9%
2011 57% 82%
2010 56.8% 82%
2009 56.7% 81.9%
2008 56.5% 81.8%
2007 56.3% 81.7%
2006 56.1% 81.6%
2005 55.9% 81.4%
2004 55.8% 81.1%
2003 55.6% 80.7%
2002 55.5% 80.3%
2001 55.4% 79.9%
2000 55.2% 79.6%
1999 55.1% 79.4%
1998 54.9% 79.2%
1997 54.8% 79%
1996 54.6% 78.8%
1995 54.4% 78.4%
1994 54.3% 77.9%
1993 54.1% 77.1%
1992 53.9% 76.2%
1991 53.7% 75.2%
1990 53.5% 74%
1989 53.3% 72.5%
1988 53.1% 70.6%
1987 52.9% 68.6%
1986 52.7% 66.6%
1985 52.4% 64.8%
1984 52.2% 63.1%
1983 51.9% 61.5%
1982 51.7% 60%
1981 51.4% 58.3%
1980 51.1% 56.7%
1979 50.8% 54.9%
1978 50.5% 53.1%
1977 50.2% 51.3%
1976 49.8% 49.6%
1975 49.5% 48%
1974 49.1% 46.5%
1973 48.7% 45.1%
1972 48.3% 43.8%
1971 47.8% 42.3%
1970 47.3% 40.7%
1969 46.5% 38.7%
1968 45.6% 36.5%
1967 44.6% 34.6%
1966 43.6% 33.1%
1965 42.6% 32%
1964 41.7% 31%
1963 41% 30.1%
1962 40.4% 29.2%
1961 39.8% 28.4%
1960 39.2% 27.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 55.8% to 59.3% in Nicaragua and from 81.1% to 81.2% in South 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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-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 (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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