Skip to content

Population density: North Korea vs San Marino compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population density of 573 people per square mile compared to 1,466 people in San Marino. North Korea has 48,964 sq ft of land per person vs 19,388 sq ft in San Marino. North Korea and San Marino rank 52nd and 16th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. North Korea has 0.33% of the world's population and 0.08% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.0004% of the population and 0.00004% of the land area for San Marino, making the population density in North Korea 60.9% lower than in San Marino.

Population density by year

North Korea
San Marino

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
North Korea San Marino
2026 573 1,466
2025 572 1,464
2024 570 1,467
2023 568 1,462
2022 566 1,457
2021 564 1,479
2020 562 1,501
2019 560 1,496
2018 558 1,490
2017 555 1,460
2016 553 1,429
2015 550 1,420
2014 547 1,410
2013 545 1,426
2012 542 1,445
2011 540 1,408
2010 537 1,436
2009 535 1,427
2008 533 1,367
2007 530 1,347
2006 528 1,303
2005 525 1,288
2004 522 1,272
2003 518 1,202
2002 515 1,187
2001 512 1,172
2000 509 1,157
1999 505 1,142
1998 501 1,128
1997 497 1,114
1996 492 1,100
1995 488 1,086
1994 482 1,072
1993 475 1,056
1992 468 1,041
1991 461 1,027
1990 454 1,013
1989 447 999
1988 441 986
1987 435 979
1986 428 977
1985 422 971
1984 416 965
1983 410 960
1982 404 952
1981 398 943
1980 392 932
1979 387 920
1978 381 908
1977 376 864
1976 371 825
1975 365 822
1974 359 821
1973 352 820
1972 344 811
1971 335 795
1970 326 784
1969 318 778
1968 309 771
1967 300 764
1966 291.9 756
1965 284.3 747
1964 277.3 733
1963 270.3 716
1962 263.8 699
1961 257.9 682

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/san-marino | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in North Korea increased by 8.64%, compared to a 12.5% growth in San Marino.

In 2006, North Korea ranked 40th by population density and is 52nd now. San Marino was 12th in 2006 and ranks 16th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

North Korea
San Marino
1x
Year Urban population
North Korea San Marino
2024 63.9% 97.2%
2023 63.5% 97.1%
2022 63.2% 97.1%
2021 62.9% 97.1%
2020 62.6% 97.1%
2019 62.4% 97.1%
2018 62.1% 97.1%
2017 61.8% 97.1%
2016 61.6% 97.1%
2015 61.3% 97.1%
2014 61.1% 97.1%
2013 60.9% 97.1%
2012 60.7% 97.1%
2011 60.5% 97.1%
2010 60.3% 97.1%
2009 60.2% 96.8%
2008 60% 96.4%
2007 59.9% 95.8%
2006 59.8% 95.2%
2005 59.8% 94.6%
2004 59.7% 94.2%
2003 59.6% 94%
2002 59.5% 93.9%
2001 59.5% 93.9%
2000 59.4% 93.8%
1999 59.4% 93.5%
1998 59.3% 93.2%
1997 59.2% 92.9%
1996 59.2% 92.5%
1995 59.1% 92.1%
1994 59% 91.7%
1993 58.9% 91.3%
1992 58.7% 90.9%
1991 58.6% 90.7%
1990 58.4% 90.5%
1989 58.3% 90.4%
1988 58.1% 90.4%
1987 57.9% 90.4%
1986 57.7% 90.2%
1985 57.5% 89.5%
1984 57.4% 88.4%
1983 57.2% 87%
1982 57.1% 85.4%
1981 57% 83.6%
1980 56.9% 81.6%
1979 56.9% 79.5%
1978 56.8% 77.5%
1977 56.8% 75.5%
1976 56.8% 73.6%
1975 56.7% 71.4%
1974 56.5% 68.9%
1973 56.1% 66.3%
1972 55.6% 63.8%
1971 54.9% 61.6%
1970 54.2% 59.8%
1969 53.3% 58.3%
1968 52% 57%
1967 50.5% 55.7%
1966 49% 54.5%
1965 47.5% 53.4%
1964 46.2% 52.4%
1963 45% 51.4%
1962 43.7% 50.5%
1961 42.3% 49.7%
1960 40.6% 48.9%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea and from 94.2% to 97.2% in San Marino.

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/north-korea/san-marino | 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:

  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)

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.