North Korea has a population density of 570 people per square mile compared to the World's average of 141.6 people. North Korea has 48,964 sq ft of land per person. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, North Korea ranked 52nd out of 197.
North Korea has 0.33% of the world's population and 0.08% of all countries' land area.
Population density in North Korea compared to the World's average
North Korea
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 570 ppl/mi² | 141.6 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 52/197 | N/A |
| Population |
26621357
|
8266870341
|
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 57,506,055 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 48,911 sq ft | 196,901 sq ft |
| Rural population | 36.5% | 42.3% |
| Urban population | 63.5% | 57.7% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 10.8% | 28.6% |
North Korea population density by year chart
The chart below plots how population density in North Korea has been changing over time. From 2004 to 2024, population density increased by 9.25%. The population density rank was 40th 21 years ago and is 52nd today.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 570 | 52 |
| 2023 | 568 | 52 |
| 2022 | 566 | 52 |
| 2021 | 564 | 51 |
| 2020 | 562 | 51 |
| 2019 | 560 | 50 |
| 2018 | 558 | 50 |
| 2017 | 555 | 49 |
| 2016 | 553 | 48 |
| 2015 | 550 | 46 |
| 2014 | 547 | 45 |
| 2013 | 545 | 44 |
| 2012 | 542 | 42 |
| 2011 | 540 | 42 |
| 2010 | 537 | 41 |
| 2009 | 535 | 41 |
| 2008 | 533 | 41 |
| 2007 | 530 | 41 |
| 2006 | 528 | 40 |
| 2005 | 525 | 40 |
| 2004 | 522 | 40 |
| 2003 | 518 | 40 |
| 2002 | 515 | 40 |
| 2001 | 512 | 40 |
| 2000 | 509 | 40 |
| 1999 | 505 | 38 |
| 1998 | 501 | 37 |
| 1997 | 497 | 38 |
| 1996 | 492 | 38 |
| 1995 | 488 | 38 |
| 1994 | 482 | 38 |
| 1993 | 475 | 38 |
| 1992 | 468 | 38 |
| 1991 | 461 | 38 |
| 1990 | 454 | 37 |
| 1989 | 447 | 36 |
| 1988 | 441 | 36 |
| 1987 | 435 | 36 |
| 1986 | 428 | 36 |
| 1985 | 422 | 37 |
| 1984 | 416 | 38 |
| 1983 | 410 | 38 |
| 1982 | 404 | 38 |
| 1981 | 398 | 38 |
| 1980 | 392 | 38 |
| 1979 | 387 | 37 |
| 1978 | 381 | 37 |
| 1977 | 376 | 37 |
| 1976 | 371 | 38 |
| 1975 | 365 | 38 |
| 1974 | 359 | 37 |
| 1973 | 352 | 37 |
| 1972 | 344 | 37 |
| 1971 | 335 | 37 |
| 1970 | 326 | 39 |
| 1969 | 318 | 39 |
| 1968 | 309 | 40 |
| 1967 | 300 | 40 |
| 1966 | 291.9 | 41 |
| 1965 | 284.3 | 40 |
| 1964 | 277.3 | 40 |
| 1963 | 270.3 | 40 |
| 1962 | 263.8 | 40 |
| 1961 | 257.9 | 40 |
Share of urban population by year chart
The following chart shows the share of the urban population in North Korea from 1960 to 2024: 40.2% of population lived in urban areas in 1960, 59.4% in 2000, and in 2024 the share of the urban population was 63.5%.
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63.5% | 97 |
| 2023 | 63.2% | 97 |
| 2022 | 62.9% | 97 |
| 2021 | 62.6% | 96 |
| 2020 | 62.4% | 95 |
| 2019 | 62.1% | 94 |
| 2018 | 61.9% | 94 |
| 2017 | 61.7% | 93 |
| 2016 | 61.5% | 92 |
| 2015 | 61.3% | 92 |
| 2014 | 61.1% | 92 |
| 2013 | 60.9% | 92 |
| 2012 | 60.7% | 92 |
| 2011 | 60.6% | 92 |
| 2010 | 60.4% | 92 |
| 2009 | 60.2% | 91 |
| 2008 | 60% | 90 |
| 2007 | 60% | 89 |
| 2006 | 59.9% | 88 |
| 2005 | 59.8% | 86 |
| 2004 | 59.7% | 86 |
| 2003 | 59.6% | 86 |
| 2002 | 59.6% | 86 |
| 2001 | 59.5% | 83 |
| 2000 | 59.4% | 81 |
| 1999 | 59.3% | 80 |
| 1998 | 59.3% | 80 |
| 1997 | 59.2% | 78 |
| 1996 | 59.1% | 77 |
| 1995 | 59% | 77 |
| 1994 | 58.9% | 76 |
| 1993 | 58.8% | 75 |
| 1992 | 58.7% | 75 |
| 1991 | 58.5% | 74 |
| 1990 | 58.4% | 73 |
| 1989 | 58.2% | 71 |
| 1988 | 58.1% | 71 |
| 1987 | 57.9% | 71 |
| 1986 | 57.8% | 70 |
| 1985 | 57.6% | 69 |
| 1984 | 57.5% | 69 |
| 1983 | 57.3% | 69 |
| 1982 | 57.2% | 69 |
| 1981 | 57% | 68 |
| 1980 | 56.9% | 66 |
| 1979 | 56.9% | 65 |
| 1978 | 56.8% | 65 |
| 1977 | 56.8% | 64 |
| 1976 | 56.7% | 63 |
| 1975 | 56.7% | 62 |
| 1974 | 56.2% | 62 |
| 1973 | 55.7% | 60 |
| 1972 | 55.2% | 60 |
| 1971 | 54.7% | 59 |
| 1970 | 54.2% | 58 |
| 1969 | 51.6% | 59 |
| 1968 | 49% | 62 |
| 1967 | 47.1% | 66 |
| 1966 | 46.1% | 67 |
| 1965 | 45.1% | 68 |
| 1964 | 44.1% | 67 |
| 1963 | 43.1% | 68 |
| 1962 | 42.1% | 68 |
| 1961 | 41.2% | 68 |
| 1960 | 40.2% | 68 |
Densely populated cities
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
Relevant pages:
North Korea topic pages:
Population density comparisons
