North Korea has a population density of 573 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. North Korea has 48,964 sq ft of land per person and ranks 52nd out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
North Korea has 0.33% of the world's population and 0.08% of the total land area of all countries.
North Korea population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 573 | 52 |
| 2025 | 572 | 52 |
| 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 | 39 |
| 1998 | 501 | 38 |
| 1997 | 497 | 39 |
| 1996 | 492 | 39 |
| 1995 | 488 | 39 |
| 1994 | 482 | 39 |
| 1993 | 475 | 39 |
| 1992 | 468 | 39 |
| 1991 | 461 | 39 |
| 1990 | 454 | 38 |
| 1989 | 447 | 38 |
| 1988 | 441 | 38 |
| 1987 | 435 | 38 |
| 1986 | 428 | 38 |
| 1985 | 422 | 39 |
| 1984 | 416 | 40 |
| 1983 | 410 | 40 |
| 1982 | 404 | 40 |
| 1981 | 398 | 40 |
| 1980 | 392 | 40 |
| 1979 | 387 | 39 |
| 1978 | 381 | 39 |
| 1977 | 376 | 39 |
| 1976 | 371 | 40 |
| 1975 | 365 | 40 |
| 1974 | 359 | 39 |
| 1973 | 352 | 39 |
| 1972 | 344 | 39 |
| 1971 | 335 | 39 |
| 1970 | 326 | 41 |
| 1969 | 318 | 41 |
| 1968 | 309 | 42 |
| 1967 | 300 | 42 |
| 1966 | 291.9 | 43 |
| 1965 | 284.3 | 42 |
| 1964 | 277.3 | 42 |
| 1963 | 270.3 | 42 |
| 1962 | 263.8 | 42 |
| 1961 | 257.9 | 42 |
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/north-korea | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in North Korea has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 8.64%. North Korea ranked 40th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 52nd today.
Density metrics
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 52/197 |
| Population |
26659144
|
56/197 |
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 97/197 |
| Land area per capita | 48,911 sq ft | 146/197 |
| Rural population | 36.1% | 100/195 |
| Urban population | 63.9% | 96/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 10.7% | 76/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63.9% | 96 |
| 2023 | 63.5% | 97 |
| 2022 | 63.2% | 97 |
| 2021 | 62.9% | 96 |
| 2020 | 62.6% | 96 |
| 2019 | 62.4% | 96 |
| 2018 | 62.1% | 95 |
| 2017 | 61.8% | 95 |
| 2016 | 61.6% | 95 |
| 2015 | 61.3% | 95 |
| 2014 | 61.1% | 95 |
| 2013 | 60.9% | 95 |
| 2012 | 60.7% | 94 |
| 2011 | 60.5% | 94 |
| 2010 | 60.3% | 93 |
| 2009 | 60.2% | 92 |
| 2008 | 60% | 92 |
| 2007 | 59.9% | 90 |
| 2006 | 59.8% | 90 |
| 2005 | 59.8% | 89 |
| 2004 | 59.7% | 88 |
| 2003 | 59.6% | 86 |
| 2002 | 59.5% | 86 |
| 2001 | 59.5% | 84 |
| 2000 | 59.4% | 81 |
| 1999 | 59.4% | 80 |
| 1998 | 59.3% | 81 |
| 1997 | 59.2% | 79 |
| 1996 | 59.2% | 78 |
| 1995 | 59.1% | 77 |
| 1994 | 59% | 76 |
| 1993 | 58.9% | 75 |
| 1992 | 58.7% | 74 |
| 1991 | 58.6% | 74 |
| 1990 | 58.4% | 73 |
| 1989 | 58.3% | 72 |
| 1988 | 58.1% | 72 |
| 1987 | 57.9% | 72 |
| 1986 | 57.7% | 71 |
| 1985 | 57.5% | 71 |
| 1984 | 57.4% | 71 |
| 1983 | 57.2% | 70 |
| 1982 | 57.1% | 70 |
| 1981 | 57% | 70 |
| 1980 | 56.9% | 66 |
| 1979 | 56.9% | 66 |
| 1978 | 56.8% | 66 |
| 1977 | 56.8% | 64 |
| 1976 | 56.8% | 63 |
| 1975 | 56.7% | 60 |
| 1974 | 56.5% | 60 |
| 1973 | 56.1% | 59 |
| 1972 | 55.6% | 58 |
| 1971 | 54.9% | 57 |
| 1970 | 54.2% | 58 |
| 1969 | 53.3% | 57 |
| 1968 | 52% | 57 |
| 1967 | 50.5% | 59 |
| 1966 | 49% | 62 |
| 1965 | 47.5% | 64 |
| 1964 | 46.2% | 65 |
| 1963 | 45% | 66 |
| 1962 | 43.7% | 67 |
| 1961 | 42.3% | 67 |
| 1960 | 40.6% | 68 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/north-korea | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in North Korea from 1960 to 2024: 40.6% lived in urban areas in 1960, 59.4% in 2000, and 63.9% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
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/north-korea | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
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) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.