P'yŏngyang: region in North Korea
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View P'yŏngyang, North Korea on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in P'yŏngyang as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.0, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 4.52, 6.04, 5.43 and 5.99. Disconnectivity in street construction in P'yŏngyang follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1976-1990.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in P'yŏngyang spans a total of 3236 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 4.52, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 4.52, 4.86, 4.88 and 5.0. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in P'yŏngyang has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.34 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.12.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in P'yŏngyang followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in P'yŏngyang, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Pyongyang and Kangdong. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Pyongyang peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kangdong followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in P'yŏngyang fare in comparison to others in North Korea? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in P'yŏngyang was the 9th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in North Korea. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in North Korea, street construction in P'yŏngyang has become more disconnected. P'yŏngyang ranked 12th in 1975, 7th in 1976-1990, 8th in 1991-2000 and 9th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in P'yŏngyang is Pyongyang with an SNDi of 4.54, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Kangdong with an SNDi of 3.19, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Kangdong, Pyongyang
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in P'yŏngyang rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in P'yŏngyang, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Pyongyang and Kangdong. Out of the two cities, Kangdong does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kangdong peaked in 1976-1990.
To date, P'yŏngyang is the 11th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in North Korea. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in North Korea, the street network in P'yŏngyang has become more disconnected. P'yŏngyang ranked 12th in 1975, 11th in 1976-1990, 12th in 1991-2000 and 11th in 2001-2014.