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Population density: North Korea vs Uruguay compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population density of 573 people per square mile compared to 50.1 people in Uruguay. North Korea has 48,964 sq ft of land per person vs 560,081 sq ft in Uruguay. North Korea and Uruguay rank 52nd and 173rd 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 0.04% of the population and 0.12% of the land area for Uruguay, making the population density in North Korea 1,045% higher than in Uruguay.

Population density by year

North Korea
Uruguay

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
North Korea Uruguay
2026 573 50.1
2025 572 50.1
2024 570 50.1
2023 568 50.1
2022 566 50.2
2021 564 50.3
2020 562 50.3
2019 560 50.3
2018 558 50.2
2017 555 50.1
2016 553 50
2015 550 49.8
2014 547 49.7
2013 545 49.5
2012 542 49.4
2011 540 49.2
2010 537 49.1
2009 535 49
2008 533 48.9
2007 530 48.8
2006 528 48.7
2005 525 48.6
2004 522 48.6
2003 518 48.6
2002 515 48.5
2001 512 48.5
2000 509 48.3
1999 505 48.2
1998 501 47.9
1997 497 47.7
1996 492 47.4
1995 488 47.2
1994 482 47
1993 475 46.7
1992 468 46.5
1991 461 46.2
1990 454 45.9
1989 447 45.7
1988 441 45.4
1987 435 45.1
1986 428 44.9
1985 422 44.6
1984 416 44.4
1983 410 44.2
1982 404 44
1981 398 43.9
1980 392 43.7
1979 387 43.5
1978 381 43.3
1977 376 43.1
1976 371 42.8
1975 365 42.5
1974 359 42.2
1973 352 42
1972 344 41.8
1971 335 41.5
1970 326 41.3
1969 318 41
1968 309 40.8
1967 300 40.4
1966 291.9 40.1
1965 284.3 39.7
1964 277.3 39.3
1963 270.3 38.8
1962 263.8 38.4
1961 257.9 37.9

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/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in North Korea increased by 8.64%, compared to a 2.84% growth in Uruguay.

In 2006, North Korea ranked 40th by population density and is 52nd now. Uruguay was 158th in 2006 and ranks 173rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

North Korea
Uruguay
1x
Year Urban population
North Korea Uruguay
2024 63.9% 95.6%
2023 63.5% 95.5%
2022 63.2% 95.5%
2021 62.9% 95.4%
2020 62.6% 95.4%
2019 62.4% 95.3%
2018 62.1% 95.3%
2017 61.8% 95.2%
2016 61.6% 95.2%
2015 61.3% 95.1%
2014 61.1% 95%
2013 60.9% 94.9%
2012 60.7% 94.8%
2011 60.5% 94.6%
2010 60.3% 94.3%
2009 60.2% 93.9%
2008 60% 93.5%
2007 59.9% 93%
2006 59.8% 92.5%
2005 59.8% 92.1%
2004 59.7% 91.8%
2003 59.6% 91.6%
2002 59.5% 91.5%
2001 59.5% 91.4%
2000 59.4% 91.3%
1999 59.4% 91.2%
1998 59.3% 91.1%
1997 59.2% 91%
1996 59.2% 90.8%
1995 59.1% 90.6%
1994 59% 90.4%
1993 58.9% 90.1%
1992 58.7% 89.8%
1991 58.6% 89.4%
1990 58.4% 89.1%
1989 58.3% 88.7%
1988 58.1% 88.3%
1987 57.9% 88%
1986 57.7% 87.6%
1985 57.5% 87.2%
1984 57.4% 86.8%
1983 57.2% 86.4%
1982 57.1% 85.9%
1981 57% 85.5%
1980 56.9% 85%
1979 56.9% 84.5%
1978 56.8% 84.1%
1977 56.8% 83.7%
1976 56.8% 83.3%
1975 56.7% 83%
1974 56.5% 82.8%
1973 56.1% 82.6%
1972 55.6% 82.3%
1971 54.9% 82.2%
1970 54.2% 82%
1969 53.3% 81.8%
1968 52% 81.6%
1967 50.5% 81.5%
1966 49% 81.3%
1965 47.5% 81.1%
1964 46.2% 81%
1963 45% 80.8%
1962 43.7% 80.6%
1961 42.3% 80.4%
1960 40.6% 80.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 59.7% to 63.9% in North Korea and from 91.8% to 95.6% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 125K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 76.4K
Tacuarembo 54.8K
Melo 51.8K

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/uruguay | 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 (2008–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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