North Korea has a population density of 570 people per square mile compared to 67.2 people in Sweden. North Korea has 48,964 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, North Korea and Sweden are ranked 52nd and 163rd, 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 the land area of all countries, compared to 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, hence the population density in North Korea is 748% higher than in Sweden.
Population density comparison
North Korea
|
Sweden
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 570 ppl/mi² | 67.2 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 52/197 | 163/197 |
| Population |
26621357
|
10654722
|
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 157,248 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 48,911 sq ft | 414,753 sq ft |
| Rural population | 36.5% | 11% |
| Urban population | 63.5% | 89% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 10.8% | 0% |
North Korea vs Sweden:
Population density chart by year
From 2004 to 2024, population density in North Korea increased by 9.25%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.
In 2004, North Korea ranked 40th for population density and is in 52nd place now. Sweden was 151st in 2004 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Sweden
|
|
| 2024 | 570 | 67.2 |
| 2023 | 568 | 67 |
| 2022 | 566 | 66.7 |
| 2021 | 564 | 66.2 |
| 2020 | 562 | 65.8 |
| 2019 | 560 | 65.4 |
| 2018 | 558 | 64.7 |
| 2017 | 555 | 64 |
| 2016 | 553 | 63.1 |
| 2015 | 550 | 62.3 |
| 2014 | 547 | 61.7 |
| 2013 | 545 | 61 |
| 2012 | 542 | 60.5 |
| 2011 | 540 | 60.1 |
| 2010 | 537 | 59.6 |
| 2009 | 535 | 59.1 |
| 2008 | 533 | 58.6 |
| 2007 | 530 | 58.2 |
| 2006 | 528 | 57.7 |
| 2005 | 525 | 57.4 |
| 2004 | 522 | 57.2 |
| 2003 | 518 | 57 |
| 2002 | 515 | 56.7 |
| 2001 | 512 | 56.6 |
| 2000 | 509 | 56.4 |
| 1999 | 505 | 56.3 |
| 1998 | 501 | 56.3 |
| 1997 | 497 | 56.2 |
| 1996 | 492 | 56.2 |
| 1995 | 488 | 56.1 |
| 1994 | 482 | 55.8 |
| 1993 | 475 | 55.4 |
| 1992 | 468 | 55.1 |
| 1991 | 461 | 54.8 |
| 1990 | 454 | 54.4 |
| 1989 | 447 | 54 |
| 1988 | 441 | 53.6 |
| 1987 | 435 | 53.4 |
| 1986 | 428 | 53.2 |
| 1985 | 422 | 53.1 |
| 1984 | 416 | 53 |
| 1983 | 410 | 53 |
| 1982 | 404 | 52.9 |
| 1981 | 398 | 52.9 |
| 1980 | 392 | 52.8 |
| 1979 | 387 | 52.7 |
| 1978 | 381 | 52.6 |
| 1977 | 376 | 52.5 |
| 1976 | 371 | 52.3 |
| 1975 | 365 | 52.1 |
| 1974 | 359 | 51.9 |
| 1973 | 352 | 51.7 |
| 1972 | 344 | 51.6 |
| 1971 | 335 | 51.5 |
| 1970 | 326 | 51.1 |
| 1969 | 318 | 50.7 |
| 1968 | 309 | 50.3 |
| 1967 | 300 | 50 |
| 1966 | 291.9 | 49.6 |
| 1965 | 284.3 | 49.2 |
| 1964 | 277.3 | 48.7 |
| 1963 | 270.3 | 48.4 |
| 1962 | 263.8 | 48.1 |
| 1961 | 257.9 | 47.8 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Sweden
|
|
| 2024 | 63.5% | 89% |
| 2023 | 63.2% | 88.7% |
| 2022 | 62.9% | 88.5% |
| 2021 | 62.6% | 88.2% |
| 2020 | 62.4% | 88% |
| 2019 | 62.1% | 87.7% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | 87.4% |
| 2017 | 61.7% | 87.1% |
| 2016 | 61.5% | 86.9% |
| 2015 | 61.3% | 86.6% |
| 2014 | 61.1% | 86.2% |
| 2013 | 60.9% | 85.9% |
| 2012 | 60.7% | 85.6% |
| 2011 | 60.6% | 85.3% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | 85.1% |
| 2009 | 60.2% | 84.9% |
| 2008 | 60% | 84.7% |
| 2007 | 60% | 84.6% |
| 2006 | 59.9% | 84.4% |
| 2005 | 59.8% | 84.3% |
| 2004 | 59.7% | 84.3% |
| 2003 | 59.6% | 84.2% |
| 2002 | 59.6% | 84.1% |
| 2001 | 59.5% | 84.1% |
| 2000 | 59.4% | 84% |
| 1999 | 59.3% | 84% |
| 1998 | 59.3% | 84% |
| 1997 | 59.2% | 83.9% |
| 1996 | 59.1% | 83.9% |
| 1995 | 59% | 83.8% |
| 1994 | 58.9% | 83.7% |
| 1993 | 58.8% | 83.5% |
| 1992 | 58.7% | 83.4% |
| 1991 | 58.5% | 83.2% |
| 1990 | 58.4% | 83.1% |
| 1989 | 58.2% | 83.1% |
| 1988 | 58.1% | 83.1% |
| 1987 | 57.9% | 83.1% |
| 1986 | 57.8% | 83.1% |
| 1985 | 57.6% | 83.1% |
| 1984 | 57.5% | 83.1% |
| 1983 | 57.3% | 83.1% |
| 1982 | 57.2% | 83.1% |
| 1981 | 57% | 83.1% |
| 1980 | 56.9% | 83.1% |
| 1979 | 56.9% | 83% |
| 1978 | 56.8% | 82.9% |
| 1977 | 56.8% | 82.9% |
| 1976 | 56.7% | 82.8% |
| 1975 | 56.7% | 82.7% |
| 1974 | 56.2% | 82.5% |
| 1973 | 55.7% | 82.2% |
| 1972 | 55.2% | 81.9% |
| 1971 | 54.7% | 81.6% |
| 1970 | 54.2% | 81% |
| 1969 | 51.6% | 80.3% |
| 1968 | 49% | 79.5% |
| 1967 | 47.1% | 78.7% |
| 1966 | 46.1% | 77.9% |
| 1965 | 45.1% | 77.1% |
| 1964 | 44.1% | 76.2% |
| 1963 | 43.1% | 75.2% |
| 1962 | 42.1% | 74.3% |
| 1961 | 41.2% | 73.3% |
| 1960 | 40.2% | 72.5% |
From 2004 to 2024 share of the urban population changed from 59.7% to 63.5% in North Korea and from 84.3% to 89% in Sweden.
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 |
|
Sweden
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Stockholm | 985K |
| Gothenburg | 675K |
| Malmo | 339K |
| Uppsala | 175K |
| Norrkoping | 98.2K |
| Umea | 94.2K |
| Solna | 85.8K |
| Sodertalje | 78.4K |
| Sollentuna | 77.7K |
| Halmstad | 73K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
Relevant pages:
By topic
vs
comparisons:
Population density comparisons
