The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 462,721 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 470,884 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.
Population statistics:
- North Korea's population is 56.6 times bigger than Brunei's.
- Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
- The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 0.32% for North Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.08% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 471K (29.1% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).
Brunei vs North Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Brunei
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 467,416 | 19,604,631 |
| 2099 | 468,955 | 19,733,548 |
| 2098 | 470,474 | 19,862,949 |
| 2097 | 471,886 | 19,993,288 |
| 2096 | 473,386 | 20,124,518 |
| 2095 | 474,822 | 20,256,401 |
| 2094 | 476,324 | 20,388,156 |
| 2093 | 477,804 | 20,520,253 |
| 2092 | 479,320 | 20,652,961 |
| 2091 | 480,794 | 20,785,785 |
| 2090 | 482,320 | 20,918,305 |
| 2089 | 483,944 | 21,050,580 |
| 2088 | 485,580 | 21,182,325 |
| 2087 | 487,128 | 21,314,047 |
| 2086 | 488,625 | 21,445,329 |
| 2085 | 490,259 | 21,575,835 |
| 2084 | 491,848 | 21,705,777 |
| 2083 | 493,523 | 21,835,029 |
| 2082 | 495,200 | 21,964,199 |
| 2081 | 496,840 | 22,092,862 |
| 2080 | 498,434 | 22,220,948 |
| 2079 | 500,007 | 22,348,577 |
| 2078 | 501,497 | 22,475,755 |
| 2077 | 503,086 | 22,602,817 |
| 2076 | 504,597 | 22,729,499 |
| 2075 | 506,394 | 22,856,369 |
| 2074 | 508,080 | 22,983,784 |
| 2073 | 509,613 | 23,111,441 |
| 2072 | 511,047 | 23,239,261 |
| 2071 | 512,261 | 23,367,583 |
| 2070 | 513,446 | 23,496,136 |
| 2069 | 514,716 | 23,625,538 |
| 2068 | 516,037 | 23,755,136 |
| 2067 | 517,358 | 23,884,879 |
| 2066 | 518,464 | 24,015,027 |
| 2065 | 519,443 | 24,144,985 |
| 2064 | 520,281 | 24,274,257 |
| 2063 | 520,990 | 24,402,439 |
| 2062 | 521,488 | 24,529,941 |
| 2061 | 522,004 | 24,656,350 |
| 2060 | 522,425 | 24,780,911 |
| 2059 | 522,802 | 24,903,037 |
| 2058 | 523,135 | 25,023,260 |
| 2057 | 523,377 | 25,140,523 |
| 2056 | 523,422 | 25,255,342 |
| 2055 | 523,432 | 25,366,397 |
| 2054 | 523,252 | 25,474,292 |
| 2053 | 523,048 | 25,578,870 |
| 2052 | 522,679 | 25,679,963 |
| 2051 | 522,034 | 25,777,639 |
| 2050 | 521,243 | 25,871,673 |
| 2049 | 520,307 | 25,962,167 |
| 2048 | 519,256 | 26,048,593 |
| 2047 | 518,107 | 26,131,429 |
| 2046 | 516,871 | 26,210,487 |
| 2045 | 515,363 | 26,286,208 |
| 2044 | 513,945 | 26,358,331 |
| 2043 | 512,420 | 26,427,062 |
| 2042 | 510,764 | 26,491,482 |
| 2041 | 508,923 | 26,552,564 |
| 2040 | 507,093 | 26,609,557 |
| 2039 | 505,089 | 26,661,815 |
| 2038 | 502,784 | 26,708,400 |
| 2037 | 500,639 | 26,749,134 |
| 2036 | 498,469 | 26,783,304 |
| 2035 | 496,091 | 26,810,026 |
| 2034 | 493,656 | 26,828,912 |
| 2033 | 491,157 | 26,839,229 |
| 2032 | 488,666 | 26,840,944 |
| 2031 | 485,865 | 26,832,957 |
| 2030 | 482,904 | 26,814,812 |
| 2029 | 479,937 | 26,787,117 |
| 2028 | 476,756 | 26,749,227 |
| 2027 | 473,357 | 26,701,444 |
| 2026 | 469,968 | 26,643,460 |
| 2025 | 466,440 | 26,575,953 |
| 2024 | 462,721 | 26,498,823 |
| 2023 | 458,949 | 26,418,204 |
| 2022 | 455,370 | 26,328,845 |
| 2021 | 451,721 | 26,232,534 |
| 2020 | 447,404 | 26,136,312 |
| 2019 | 442,680 | 26,037,632 |
| 2018 | 437,810 | 25,931,147 |
| 2017 | 432,772 | 25,817,709 |
| 2016 | 427,564 | 25,698,326 |
| 2015 | 422,212 | 25,575,350 |
| 2014 | 416,750 | 25,451,262 |
| 2013 | 411,202 | 25,329,451 |
| 2012 | 405,557 | 25,211,728 |
| 2011 | 399,389 | 25,097,874 |
| 2010 | 392,332 | 24,987,258 |
| 2009 | 384,952 | 24,878,332 |
| 2008 | 377,793 | 24,764,618 |
| 2007 | 370,873 | 24,646,383 |
| 2006 | 364,663 | 24,524,507 |
| 2005 | 358,916 | 24,396,433 |
| 2004 | 352,911 | 24,254,943 |
| 2003 | 346,637 | 24,090,380 |
| 2002 | 340,099 | 23,943,973 |
| 2001 | 333,345 | 23,815,358 |
| 2000 | 326,424 | 23,665,910 |
| 1999 | 319,411 | 23,497,599 |
| 1998 | 312,385 | 23,311,564 |
| 1997 | 305,341 | 23,110,830 |
| 1996 | 298,276 | 22,895,746 |
| 1995 | 291,195 | 22,669,304 |
| 1994 | 284,091 | 22,393,975 |
| 1993 | 276,971 | 22,073,352 |
| 1992 | 269,839 | 21,750,911 |
| 1991 | 262,596 | 21,428,638 |
| 1990 | 255,292 | 21,112,137 |
| 1989 | 248,064 | 20,804,367 |
| 1988 | 240,913 | 20,503,161 |
| 1987 | 233,860 | 20,205,483 |
| 1986 | 226,495 | 19,910,855 |
| 1985 | 218,919 | 19,620,388 |
| 1984 | 211,661 | 19,335,043 |
| 1983 | 204,741 | 19,054,034 |
| 1982 | 198,165 | 18,776,357 |
| 1981 | 191,977 | 18,501,295 |
| 1980 | 186,111 | 18,236,786 |
| 1979 | 180,422 | 17,983,470 |
| 1978 | 174,884 | 17,735,995 |
| 1977 | 169,277 | 17,492,798 |
| 1976 | 163,607 | 17,243,450 |
| 1975 | 158,070 | 16,971,055 |
| 1974 | 152,656 | 16,673,121 |
| 1973 | 147,369 | 16,350,367 |
| 1972 | 142,189 | 15,975,069 |
| 1971 | 137,921 | 15,572,457 |
| 1970 | 135,138 | 15,172,775 |
| 1969 | 131,446 | 14,767,615 |
| 1968 | 126,222 | 14,365,596 |
| 1967 | 121,017 | 13,958,350 |
| 1966 | 115,874 | 13,569,094 |
| 1965 | 110,838 | 13,219,369 |
| 1964 | 105,922 | 12,889,770 |
| 1963 | 101,159 | 12,567,057 |
| 1962 | 96,719 | 12,262,882 |
| 1961 | 92,517 | 11,990,713 |
| 1960 | 88,347 | 11,722,953 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/north-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 43,320 people (a 10.1% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).
Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Brunei's population will grow by 10.7% to 521,243 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.
Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -0.65% |
| 2099 | -0.32% | -0.65% |
| 2098 | -0.3% | -0.65% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -0.65% |
| 2096 | -0.3% | -0.65% |
| 2095 | -0.32% | -0.65% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -0.64% |
| 2093 | -0.32% | -0.64% |
| 2092 | -0.31% | -0.64% |
| 2091 | -0.32% | -0.63% |
| 2090 | -0.34% | -0.63% |
| 2089 | -0.34% | -0.62% |
| 2088 | -0.32% | -0.62% |
| 2087 | -0.31% | -0.61% |
| 2086 | -0.33% | -0.6% |
| 2085 | -0.32% | -0.6% |
| 2084 | -0.34% | -0.59% |
| 2083 | -0.34% | -0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.33% | -0.58% |
| 2081 | -0.32% | -0.58% |
| 2080 | -0.31% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | -0.57% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | -0.56% |
| 2077 | -0.3% | -0.56% |
| 2076 | -0.35% | -0.56% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -0.55% |
| 2074 | -0.3% | -0.55% |
| 2073 | -0.28% | -0.55% |
| 2072 | -0.24% | -0.55% |
| 2071 | -0.23% | -0.55% |
| 2070 | -0.25% | -0.55% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -0.55% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | -0.54% |
| 2067 | -0.21% | -0.54% |
| 2066 | -0.19% | -0.54% |
| 2065 | -0.16% | -0.53% |
| 2064 | -0.14% | -0.53% |
| 2063 | -0.1% | -0.52% |
| 2062 | -0.1% | -0.51% |
| 2061 | -0.08% | -0.5% |
| 2060 | -0.07% | -0.49% |
| 2059 | -0.06% | -0.48% |
| 2058 | -0.05% | -0.47% |
| 2057 | -0.009% | -0.45% |
| 2056 | -0.002% | -0.44% |
| 2055 | 0.03% | -0.42% |
| 2054 | 0.04% | -0.41% |
| 2053 | 0.07% | -0.39% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -0.38% |
| 2051 | 0.15% | -0.36% |
| 2050 | 0.18% | -0.35% |
| 2049 | 0.2% | -0.33% |
| 2048 | 0.22% | -0.32% |
| 2047 | 0.24% | -0.3% |
| 2046 | 0.29% | -0.29% |
| 2045 | 0.28% | -0.27% |
| 2044 | 0.3% | -0.26% |
| 2043 | 0.32% | -0.24% |
| 2042 | 0.36% | -0.23% |
| 2041 | 0.36% | -0.21% |
| 2040 | 0.4% | -0.2% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | -0.17% |
| 2038 | 0.43% | -0.15% |
| 2037 | 0.44% | -0.13% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | -0.1% |
| 2035 | 0.49% | -0.07% |
| 2034 | 0.51% | -0.04% |
| 2033 | 0.51% | -0.006% |
| 2032 | 0.58% | 0.03% |
| 2031 | 0.61% | 0.07% |
| 2030 | 0.62% | 0.1% |
| 2029 | 0.67% | 0.14% |
| 2028 | 0.72% | 0.18% |
| 2027 | 0.72% | 0.22% |
| 2026 | 0.76% | 0.25% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | 0.29% |
| 2024 | 0.82% | 0.31% |
| 2023 | 0.79% | 0.34% |
| 2022 | 0.81% | 0.37% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | 0.37% |
| 2020 | 1.07% | 0.38% |
| 2019 | 1.11% | 0.41% |
| 2018 | 1.16% | 0.44% |
| 2017 | 1.22% | 0.46% |
| 2016 | 1.27% | 0.48% |
| 2015 | 1.31% | 0.49% |
| 2014 | 1.35% | 0.48% |
| 2013 | 1.39% | 0.47% |
| 2012 | 1.54% | 0.45% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | 0.44% |
| 2010 | 1.92% | 0.44% |
| 2009 | 1.89% | 0.46% |
| 2008 | 1.87% | 0.48% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | 0.52% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | 0.58% |
| 2004 | 1.81% | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 1.92% | 0.61% |
| 2002 | 2.03% | 0.54% |
| 2001 | 2.12% | 0.63% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | 0.72% |
| 1999 | 2.25% | 0.8% |
| 1998 | 2.31% | 0.87% |
| 1997 | 2.37% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 2.43% | 1% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | 1.23% |
| 1994 | 2.57% | 1.45% |
| 1993 | 2.64% | 1.48% |
| 1992 | 2.76% | 1.5% |
| 1991 | 2.86% | 1.5% |
| 1990 | 2.91% | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 2.97% | 1.47% |
| 1988 | 3.02% | 1.47% |
| 1987 | 3.25% | 1.48% |
| 1986 | 3.46% | 1.48% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 1.48% |
| 1984 | 3.38% | 1.47% |
| 1983 | 3.32% | 1.48% |
| 1982 | 3.22% | 1.49% |
| 1981 | 3.15% | 1.45% |
| 1980 | 3.15% | 1.41% |
| 1979 | 3.17% | 1.4% |
| 1978 | 3.31% | 1.39% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 1.45% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 3.55% | 1.79% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 1.97% |
| 1973 | 3.64% | 2.35% |
| 1972 | 3.09% | 2.59% |
| 1971 | 2.06% | 2.63% |
| 1970 | 2.81% | 2.74% |
| 1969 | 4.14% | 2.8% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | 2.92% |
| 1967 | 4.44% | 2.87% |
| 1966 | 4.54% | 2.65% |
| 1965 | 4.64% | 2.56% |
| 1964 | 4.71% | 2.57% |
| 1963 | 4.59% | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 4.54% | 2.27% |
| 1961 | 4.72% | 2.28% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/north-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Brunei grew by 0.82%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.
Live population counters
|
Brunei
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
470884
|
26659144
|
| Population rank | 170/197 | 57/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.32% |
| One net population change |
2.32 hours
|
6.52 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.4 hours
|
1.54 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.65 hours
|
2.05 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +10 | +221 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,772 | +80,619 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.82% | +0.31% |
| Population growth rate rank | 114/197 | 150/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.08 years
|
3.15 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +0 | -2,787 |
| Net migration rank | 77/196 | 104/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 119,933 | 50,439 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 124/195 | 150/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.9% | 0.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 21/195 | 189/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
North Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 0 | - | -2,787 |
| 2024 | - | 0 | - | -2,473 |
| 2023 | 3,837 | 0 | 86,203 | -1,997 |
| 2022 | 3,319 | 0 | 96,495 | -1,997 |
| 2021 | 3,985 | 0 | 99,710 | -1,585 |
| 2020 | 4,188 | 462 | 95,920 | -1,585 |
| 2019 | 4,335 | 456 | 106,208 | -3,142 |
| 2018 | 4,502 | 450 | 113,164 | -3,225 |
| 2017 | 4,685 | 440 | 120,181 | -3,224 |
| 2016 | 4,876 | 415 | 125,048 | -3,222 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 356 | 127,365 | -3,208 |
| 2014 | 5,206 | 303 | 127,078 | -3,042 |
| 2013 | 5,302 | 285 | 122,519 | -2,933 |
| 2012 | 5,349 | 346 | 118,773 | -2,919 |
| 2011 | 5,242 | 1,399 | 114,798 | -2,957 |
| 2010 | 5,003 | 2,479 | 112,443 | -3,053 |
| 2009 | 4,789 | 2,489 | 111,530 | -3,058 |
| 2008 | 4,624 | 2,409 | 122,015 | -3,051 |
| 2007 | 4,521 | 2,291 | 120,521 | -3,021 |
| 2006 | 4,590 | 1,030 | 129,171 | -2,948 |
| 2005 | 4,703 | 1,163 | 132,765 | -2,861 |
| 2004 | 4,874 | 1,261 | 155,838 | -2,758 |
| 2003 | 5,034 | 1,383 | 178,775 | -2,717 |
| 2002 | 5,169 | 1,499 | 119,504 | -2,763 |
| 2001 | 5,275 | 1,569 | 143,321 | -2,884 |
| 2000 | 5,331 | 1,660 | 161,591 | -3,142 |
| 1999 | 5,388 | 1,639 | 181,613 | -3,443 |
| 1998 | 5,466 | 1,566 | 197,589 | -3,706 |
| 1997 | 5,518 | 1,533 | 211,325 | -3,745 |
| 1996 | 5,606 | 1,464 | 226,095 | -3,512 |
| 1995 | 5,750 | 1,348 | 233,381 | -3,094 |
| 1994 | 5,907 | 1,206 | 320,861 | -517 |
| 1993 | 6,045 | 1,082 | 320,880 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6,169 | 969 | 324,002 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6,259 | 1,087 | 320,551 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6,265 | 992 | 312,460 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6,202 | 1,002 | 303,078 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6,135 | 962 | 299,305 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6,017 | 994 | 296,030 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5,826 | 1,897 | 293,227 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5,620 | 1,808 | 287,714 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5,373 | 1,722 | 282,987 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5,138 | 1,602 | 279,046 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4,931 | 1,475 | 276,332 | 0 |
| 1981 | 4,839 | 1,124 | 273,800 | 0 |
| 1980 | 4,775 | 995 | 255,206 | 0 |
| 1979 | 4,717 | 899 | 251,409 | 0 |
| 1978 | 4,668 | 791 | 243,533 | 0 |
| 1977 | 4,594 | 1,157 | 242,870 | 0 |
| 1976 | 4,518 | 1,080 | 255,841 | 0 |
| 1975 | 4,431 | 1,047 | 288,966 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4,334 | 1,011 | 306,902 | 0 |
| 1973 | 4,216 | 1,007 | 338,600 | 0 |
| 1972 | 4,085 | 1,053 | 411,997 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3,880 | -476 | 393,220 | 0 |
| 1970 | 3,694 | -1,538 | 406,129 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3,618 | 1,608 | 404,189 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3,551 | 1,677 | 399,837 | 0 |
| 1967 | 3,477 | 1,703 | 414,632 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3,403 | 1,697 | 363,882 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3,326 | 1,655 | 335,587 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3,264 | 1,595 | 323,623 | 0 |
| 1963 | 3,195 | 1,469 | 321,805 | 0 |
| 1962 | 3,128 | 1,088 | 286,534 | 0 |
| 1961 | 3,175 | 1,014 | 257,788 | 0 |
| 1960 | 3,168 | 982 | 277,717 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/north-korea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 43,993 people) and 6.15% is from migration (a gain of 2,882 people). In North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).
As of 2024, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Brunei
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Kuala Belait | 70K |
| Bandar Seri Begawan | 50K |
| Seria | 13.1K |
|
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 differences between Brunei and North Korea
|
Brunei
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.8 years | 74 years |
| Average age | 33.9 years | 38 years |
| Median age | 33.2 years | 37.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.1:46.9 | 49.5:50.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.75 births per woman | 1.78 births per woman |
| Population density | 231 ppl/mi² | 573 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/north-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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