Urban area over the long-term in North Korea
North Korea: Urban area over the long-term was 954.94 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
954.94 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
95th
of 202 countries
All-time high
954.94 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0004 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in North Korea, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 954.94 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in North Korea peaked at 954.94 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0004 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places North Korea 95th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in North Korea, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0064 km² per grid cell | +300.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | +125.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0508 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1500 | 0.1741 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1600 | 0.653 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1700 | 2.45 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1710 | 2.38 km² per grid cell | -2.8% |
| 1720 | 2.92 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1730 | 3.59 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1740 | 4.41 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1750 | 5.41 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1760 | 6.65 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1770 | 8.16 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1780 | 10.02 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1790 | 12.31 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1800 | 15.12 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1810 | 18.57 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1820 | 22.8 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1830 | 27.07 km² per grid cell | +18.7% |
| 1840 | 31.73 km² per grid cell | +17.2% |
| 1850 | 37.15 km² per grid cell | +17.1% |
| 1860 | 43.36 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1870 | 50.07 km² per grid cell | +15.5% |
| 1880 | 56.28 km² per grid cell | +12.4% |
| 1890 | 60.46 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1900 | 60.5 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1910 | 60.5 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 67.72 km² per grid cell | +11.9% |
| 1930 | 76.39 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1940 | 92.56 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1950 | 123.19 km² per grid cell | +33.1% |
| 1951 | 124.35 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 126.48 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 129.71 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 134.12 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1955 | 139.75 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 146.53 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 154.3 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1958 | 162.88 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1959 | 171.97 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 181.32 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1961 | 190.69 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1962 | 200.13 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 209.86 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1964 | 220.28 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 231.69 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 244.18 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 257.65 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 277.24 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1969 | 301.68 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1970 | 327.1 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1971 | 340.53 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 354.18 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 367.77 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 380.99 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 393.6 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 402.19 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 409.96 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 417.35 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 424.96 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 433.26 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 443.28 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 454.08 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 465.44 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 477.01 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 488.5 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 499.81 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 511.05 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 522.39 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 534.1 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 546.35 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 559.2 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 572.54 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 586.09 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 599.5 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 612.67 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 625.5 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 638.02 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 650.22 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 662.12 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 673.73 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 682.41 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 691.14 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 699.9 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 708.7 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 717.53 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 724.86 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 732.2 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 739.54 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 746.88 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 754.22 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 768.33 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 782.54 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 796.87 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 811.29 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 825.81 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 840.43 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 855.14 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 869.93 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 884.8 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 899.75 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 910.8 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 921.84 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 932.88 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 943.92 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 954.94 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 954.94 km² per grid cell is above the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 954.94 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 1.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | +300.0% | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0064 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +275.0% | 0.1741 km² per grid cell | 0.653 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +275.0% | 0.653 km² per grid cell | 2.45 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +260.0% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +250.0% | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0508 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +242.9% | 0.0508 km² per grid cell | 0.1741 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 0.0016 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0064 km² per grid cell | 0.0064 km² per grid cell | 0.0064 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0508 km² per grid cell | 0.0508 km² per grid cell | 0.0508 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1741 km² per grid cell | 0.1741 km² per grid cell | 0.1741 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.653 km² per grid cell | 0.653 km² per grid cell | 0.653 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.45 km² per grid cell | 2.45 km² per grid cell | 2.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.38 km² per grid cell | 2.38 km² per grid cell | 2.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 3.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 4.41 km² per grid cell | 4.41 km² per grid cell | 4.41 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.41 km² per grid cell | 5.41 km² per grid cell | 5.41 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 8.16 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 10.02 km² per grid cell | 10.02 km² per grid cell | 10.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 12.31 km² per grid cell | 12.31 km² per grid cell | 12.31 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 15.12 km² per grid cell | 15.12 km² per grid cell | 15.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 18.57 km² per grid cell | 18.57 km² per grid cell | 18.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 22.8 km² per grid cell | 22.8 km² per grid cell | 22.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 27.07 km² per grid cell | 27.07 km² per grid cell | 27.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 31.73 km² per grid cell | 31.73 km² per grid cell | 31.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 37.15 km² per grid cell | 37.15 km² per grid cell | 37.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 43.36 km² per grid cell | 43.36 km² per grid cell | 43.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 50.07 km² per grid cell | 50.07 km² per grid cell | 50.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 56.28 km² per grid cell | 56.28 km² per grid cell | 56.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 60.46 km² per grid cell | 60.46 km² per grid cell | 60.46 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 60.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 67.72 km² per grid cell | 67.72 km² per grid cell | 67.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 76.39 km² per grid cell | 76.39 km² per grid cell | 76.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 92.56 km² per grid cell | 92.56 km² per grid cell | 92.56 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 141.33 km² per grid cell | 123.19 km² per grid cell | 171.97 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 231.47 km² per grid cell | 181.32 km² per grid cell | 301.68 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 381.86 km² per grid cell | 327.1 km² per grid cell | 424.96 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 482.89 km² per grid cell | 433.26 km² per grid cell | 534.1 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 605.22 km² per grid cell | 546.35 km² per grid cell | 662.12 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 711.69 km² per grid cell | 673.73 km² per grid cell | 746.88 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 818.94 km² per grid cell | 754.22 km² per grid cell | 884.8 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 927.36 km² per grid cell | 899.75 km² per grid cell | 954.94 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 92 Slovakia 1,086 km² per grid cell compare
- 93 Costa Rica 1,053 km² per grid cell compare
- 94 Bulgaria 960.21 km² per grid cell compare
- 96 Afghanistan 947.56 km² per grid cell compare
- 97 Greece 894.56 km² per grid cell compare
- 98 Dominican Republic 881.77 km² per grid cell compare
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in North Korea?
- Urban area over the long-term in North Korea was 954.94 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 954.94 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0004 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does North Korea rank for urban area over the long-term?
- North Korea ranks 95th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.