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Population in China compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 52.6 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

China vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China North Korea
2100 633,320,628 19,604,631
2099 643,959,697 19,733,548
2098 654,691,595 19,862,949
2097 665,517,335 19,993,288
2096 676,438,150 20,124,518
2095 687,457,915 20,256,401
2094 698,589,897 20,388,156
2093 709,852,629 20,520,253
2092 721,251,520 20,652,961
2091 732,791,748 20,785,785
2090 744,501,355 20,918,305
2089 756,404,299 21,050,580
2088 768,478,316 21,182,325
2087 780,707,622 21,314,047
2086 793,081,006 21,445,329
2085 805,608,315 21,575,835
2084 818,268,277 21,705,777
2083 830,972,107 21,835,029
2082 843,721,746 21,964,199
2081 856,534,631 22,092,862
2080 869,351,919 22,220,948
2079 882,146,959 22,348,577
2078 894,889,246 22,475,755
2077 907,592,919 22,602,817
2076 920,280,380 22,729,499
2075 932,956,157 22,856,369
2074 945,631,173 22,983,784
2073 958,352,980 23,111,441
2072 971,115,895 23,239,261
2071 983,938,054 23,367,583
2070 996,853,418 23,496,136
2069 1,009,905,851 23,625,538
2068 1,023,081,790 23,755,136
2067 1,036,420,010 23,884,879
2066 1,049,887,382 24,015,027
2065 1,063,477,623 24,144,985
2064 1,077,206,695 24,274,257
2063 1,090,982,303 24,402,439
2062 1,104,833,556 24,529,941
2061 1,118,682,849 24,656,350
2060 1,132,504,136 24,780,911
2059 1,146,199,736 24,903,037
2058 1,159,714,746 25,023,260
2057 1,172,963,523 25,140,523
2056 1,185,938,083 25,255,342
2055 1,198,550,408 25,366,397
2054 1,210,749,681 25,474,292
2053 1,222,500,569 25,578,870
2052 1,233,808,926 25,679,963
2051 1,244,584,333 25,777,639
2050 1,254,824,040 25,871,673
2049 1,264,598,914 25,962,167
2048 1,273,885,471 26,048,593
2047 1,282,701,271 26,131,429
2046 1,291,133,690 26,210,487
2045 1,299,154,327 26,286,208
2044 1,306,805,350 26,358,331
2043 1,314,176,710 26,427,062
2042 1,321,319,298 26,491,482
2041 1,328,219,755 26,552,564
2040 1,334,857,481 26,609,557
2039 1,341,265,381 26,661,815
2038 1,347,407,165 26,708,400
2037 1,353,377,505 26,749,134
2036 1,359,133,287 26,783,304
2035 1,364,651,508 26,810,026
2034 1,369,940,557 26,828,912
2033 1,375,003,005 26,839,229
2032 1,379,784,204 26,840,944
2031 1,384,301,522 26,832,957
2030 1,388,520,533 26,814,812
2029 1,392,490,007 26,787,117
2028 1,396,163,778 26,749,227
2027 1,399,515,824 26,701,444
2026 1,402,578,808 26,643,460
2025 1,405,826,385 26,575,953
2024 1,408,975,000 26,498,823
2023 1,410,710,000 26,418,204
2022 1,412,175,000 26,328,845
2021 1,412,360,000 26,232,534
2020 1,411,100,000 26,136,312
2019 1,407,745,000 26,037,632
2018 1,402,760,000 25,931,147
2017 1,396,215,000 25,817,709
2016 1,387,790,000 25,698,326
2015 1,379,860,000 25,575,350
2014 1,371,860,000 25,451,262
2013 1,363,240,000 25,329,451
2012 1,354,190,000 25,211,728
2011 1,345,035,000 25,097,874
2010 1,337,705,000 24,987,258
2009 1,331,260,000 24,878,332
2008 1,324,655,000 24,764,618
2007 1,317,885,000 24,646,383
2006 1,311,020,000 24,524,507
2005 1,303,720,000 24,396,433
2004 1,296,075,000 24,254,943
2003 1,288,400,000 24,090,380
2002 1,280,400,000 23,943,973
2001 1,271,850,000 23,815,358
2000 1,262,645,000 23,665,910
1999 1,252,735,000 23,497,599
1998 1,241,935,000 23,311,564
1997 1,230,075,000 23,110,830
1996 1,217,550,000 22,895,746
1995 1,204,855,000 22,669,304
1994 1,191,835,000 22,393,975
1993 1,178,440,000 22,073,352
1992 1,164,970,000 21,750,911
1991 1,150,780,000 21,428,638
1990 1,135,185,000 21,112,137
1989 1,118,650,000 20,804,367
1988 1,101,630,000 20,503,161
1987 1,084,035,000 20,205,483
1986 1,066,790,000 19,910,855
1985 1,051,040,000 19,620,388
1984 1,036,825,000 19,335,043
1983 1,023,310,000 19,054,034
1982 1,008,630,000 18,776,357
1981 993,885,000 18,501,295
1980 981,235,000 18,236,786
1979 969,005,000 17,983,470
1978 956,165,000 17,735,995
1977 943,455,000 17,492,798
1976 930,685,000 17,243,450
1975 916,395,000 16,971,055
1974 900,350,000 16,673,121
1973 881,940,000 16,350,367
1972 862,030,000 15,975,069
1971 841,105,000 15,572,457
1970 818,315,000 15,172,775
1969 796,025,000 14,767,615
1968 774,510,000 14,365,596
1967 754,550,000 13,958,350
1966 735,400,000 13,569,094
1965 715,185,000 13,219,369
1964 698,355,000 12,889,770
1963 682,335,000 12,567,057
1962 665,770,000 12,262,882
1961 660,330,000 11,990,713
1960 667,070,000 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/china/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China North Korea
2100 -1.65% -0.65%
2099 -1.64% -0.65%
2098 -1.63% -0.65%
2097 -1.61% -0.65%
2096 -1.6% -0.65%
2095 -1.59% -0.65%
2094 -1.59% -0.64%
2093 -1.58% -0.64%
2092 -1.57% -0.64%
2091 -1.57% -0.63%
2090 -1.57% -0.63%
2089 -1.57% -0.62%
2088 -1.57% -0.62%
2087 -1.56% -0.61%
2086 -1.56% -0.6%
2085 -1.55% -0.6%
2084 -1.53% -0.59%
2083 -1.51% -0.59%
2082 -1.5% -0.58%
2081 -1.47% -0.58%
2080 -1.45% -0.57%
2079 -1.42% -0.57%
2078 -1.4% -0.56%
2077 -1.38% -0.56%
2076 -1.36% -0.56%
2075 -1.34% -0.55%
2074 -1.33% -0.55%
2073 -1.31% -0.55%
2072 -1.3% -0.55%
2071 -1.3% -0.55%
2070 -1.29% -0.55%
2069 -1.29% -0.55%
2068 -1.29% -0.54%
2067 -1.28% -0.54%
2066 -1.28% -0.54%
2065 -1.27% -0.53%
2064 -1.26% -0.53%
2063 -1.25% -0.52%
2062 -1.24% -0.51%
2061 -1.22% -0.5%
2060 -1.19% -0.49%
2059 -1.17% -0.48%
2058 -1.13% -0.47%
2057 -1.09% -0.45%
2056 -1.05% -0.44%
2055 -1.01% -0.42%
2054 -0.96% -0.41%
2053 -0.92% -0.39%
2052 -0.87% -0.38%
2051 -0.82% -0.36%
2050 -0.77% -0.35%
2049 -0.73% -0.33%
2048 -0.69% -0.32%
2047 -0.65% -0.3%
2046 -0.62% -0.29%
2045 -0.59% -0.27%
2044 -0.56% -0.26%
2043 -0.54% -0.24%
2042 -0.52% -0.23%
2041 -0.5% -0.21%
2040 -0.48% -0.2%
2039 -0.46% -0.17%
2038 -0.44% -0.15%
2037 -0.42% -0.13%
2036 -0.4% -0.1%
2035 -0.39% -0.07%
2034 -0.37% -0.04%
2033 -0.35% -0.006%
2032 -0.33% 0.03%
2031 -0.3% 0.07%
2030 -0.29% 0.1%
2029 -0.26% 0.14%
2028 -0.24% 0.18%
2027 -0.22% 0.22%
2026 -0.23% 0.25%
2025 -0.22% 0.29%
2024 -0.12% 0.31%
2023 -0.1% 0.34%
2022 -0.01% 0.37%
2021 0.09% 0.37%
2020 0.24% 0.38%
2019 0.36% 0.41%
2018 0.47% 0.44%
2017 0.61% 0.46%
2016 0.57% 0.48%
2015 0.58% 0.49%
2014 0.63% 0.48%
2013 0.67% 0.47%
2012 0.68% 0.45%
2011 0.55% 0.44%
2010 0.48% 0.44%
2009 0.5% 0.46%
2008 0.51% 0.48%
2007 0.52% 0.5%
2006 0.56% 0.52%
2005 0.59% 0.58%
2004 0.6% 0.68%
2003 0.62% 0.61%
2002 0.67% 0.54%
2001 0.73% 0.63%
2000 0.79% 0.72%
1999 0.87% 0.8%
1998 0.96% 0.87%
1997 1.03% 0.94%
1996 1.05% 1%
1995 1.09% 1.23%
1994 1.14% 1.45%
1993 1.16% 1.48%
1992 1.23% 1.5%
1991 1.37% 1.5%
1990 1.48% 1.48%
1989 1.54% 1.47%
1988 1.62% 1.47%
1987 1.62% 1.48%
1986 1.5% 1.48%
1985 1.37% 1.48%
1984 1.32% 1.47%
1983 1.46% 1.48%
1982 1.48% 1.49%
1981 1.29% 1.45%
1980 1.26% 1.41%
1979 1.34% 1.4%
1978 1.35% 1.39%
1977 1.37% 1.45%
1976 1.56% 1.61%
1975 1.78% 1.79%
1974 2.09% 1.97%
1973 2.31% 2.35%
1972 2.49% 2.59%
1971 2.78% 2.63%
1970 2.8% 2.74%
1969 2.78% 2.8%
1968 2.65% 2.92%
1967 2.6% 2.87%
1966 2.83% 2.65%
1965 2.41% 2.56%
1964 2.35% 2.57%
1963 2.49% 2.48%
1962 0.82% 2.27%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

China North Korea
Current population
1402578808
26659144
Population rank 2/197 57/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.32%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +221
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 150/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -2,787
Net migration rank 189/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -2,787
2024 - -318,992 - -2,473
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 86,203 -1,997
2022 -847,305 -293,846 96,495 -1,997
2021 480,203 -379,749 99,710 -1,585
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 95,920 -1,585
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 106,208 -3,142
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 113,164 -3,225
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 120,181 -3,224
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 125,048 -3,222
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 127,365 -3,208
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 127,078 -3,042
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 122,519 -2,933
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 118,773 -2,919
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 114,798 -2,957
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 112,443 -3,053
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 111,530 -3,058
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 122,015 -3,051
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 120,521 -3,021
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 129,171 -2,948
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 132,765 -2,861
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 155,838 -2,758
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 178,775 -2,717
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 119,504 -2,763
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 143,321 -2,884
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 161,591 -3,142
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 181,613 -3,443
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 197,589 -3,706
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 211,325 -3,745
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 226,095 -3,512
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 233,381 -3,094
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 320,861 -517
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 320,880 0
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 324,002 0
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 320,551 0
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 312,460 0
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 303,078 0
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 299,305 0
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 296,030 0
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 293,227 0
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 287,714 0
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 282,987 0
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 279,046 0
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 276,332 0
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 273,800 0
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 255,206 0
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 251,409 0
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 243,533 0
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 242,870 0
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 255,841 0
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 288,966 0
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 306,902 0
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 338,600 0
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 411,997 0
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 393,220 0
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 406,129 0
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 404,189 0
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 399,837 0
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 414,632 0
1966 19,282,187 4,165 363,882 0
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 335,587 0
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 323,623 0
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 321,805 0
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 286,534 0
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 257,788 0
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/north-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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 map with other countries

1x

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/china/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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