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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cuba was 10,979,783 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cuba's population is 10,894,785 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.45 times bigger than Cuba's.
  • Cuba is ranked the 90th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.13% for Cuba vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Cuba has had an average growth rate of -0.26% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cuba has decreased from 11.3M people to 10.9M (3.4% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Cuba vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Cuba
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cuba North Korea
2100 5,596,718 19,604,631
2099 5,657,375 19,733,548
2098 5,718,645 19,862,949
2097 5,780,569 19,993,288
2096 5,843,224 20,124,518
2095 5,906,751 20,256,401
2094 5,970,804 20,388,156
2093 6,035,854 20,520,253
2092 6,101,659 20,652,961
2091 6,168,154 20,785,785
2090 6,235,722 20,918,305
2089 6,304,222 21,050,580
2088 6,373,377 21,182,325
2087 6,443,413 21,314,047
2086 6,514,289 21,445,329
2085 6,585,780 21,575,835
2084 6,657,505 21,705,777
2083 6,729,522 21,835,029
2082 6,801,995 21,964,199
2081 6,874,468 22,092,862
2080 6,947,089 22,220,948
2079 7,019,723 22,348,577
2078 7,092,413 22,475,755
2077 7,165,274 22,602,817
2076 7,238,004 22,729,499
2075 7,311,071 22,856,369
2074 7,384,626 22,983,784
2073 7,458,600 23,111,441
2072 7,533,524 23,239,261
2071 7,609,105 23,367,583
2070 7,686,135 23,496,136
2069 7,764,393 23,625,538
2068 7,843,807 23,755,136
2067 7,924,753 23,884,879
2066 8,007,003 24,015,027
2065 8,090,881 24,144,985
2064 8,176,150 24,274,257
2063 8,262,542 24,402,439
2062 8,350,350 24,529,941
2061 8,439,080 24,656,350
2060 8,528,768 24,780,911
2059 8,618,786 24,903,037
2058 8,708,762 25,023,260
2057 8,798,693 25,140,523
2056 8,888,562 25,255,342
2055 8,977,652 25,366,397
2054 9,066,133 25,474,292
2053 9,153,249 25,578,870
2052 9,238,892 25,679,963
2051 9,323,021 25,777,639
2050 9,405,481 25,871,673
2049 9,486,566 25,962,167
2048 9,565,607 26,048,593
2047 9,643,403 26,131,429
2046 9,719,554 26,210,487
2045 9,793,859 26,286,208
2044 9,866,367 26,358,331
2043 9,937,436 26,427,062
2042 10,006,554 26,491,482
2041 10,073,994 26,552,564
2040 10,139,368 26,609,557
2039 10,203,016 26,661,815
2038 10,264,587 26,708,400
2037 10,325,061 26,749,134
2036 10,383,547 26,783,304
2035 10,440,509 26,810,026
2034 10,496,359 26,828,912
2033 10,550,821 26,839,229
2032 10,603,749 26,840,944
2031 10,655,312 26,832,957
2030 10,705,845 26,814,812
2029 10,755,262 26,787,117
2028 10,803,047 26,749,227
2027 10,849,321 26,701,444
2026 10,894,785 26,643,460
2025 10,938,241 26,575,953
2024 10,979,783 26,498,823
2023 11,019,931 26,418,204
2022 11,059,820 26,328,845
2021 11,122,168 26,232,534
2020 11,176,354 26,136,312
2019 11,202,846 26,037,632
2018 11,227,118 25,931,147
2017 11,247,829 25,817,709
2016 11,265,612 25,698,326
2015 11,275,065 25,575,350
2014 11,285,775 25,451,262
2013 11,298,167 25,329,451
2012 11,303,175 25,211,728
2011 11,301,571 25,097,874
2010 11,297,409 24,987,258
2009 11,294,719 24,878,332
2008 11,291,762 24,764,618
2007 11,287,272 24,646,383
2006 11,278,550 24,524,507
2005 11,262,554 24,396,433
2004 11,238,756 24,254,943
2003 11,209,383 24,090,380
2002 11,177,418 23,943,973
2001 11,144,132 23,815,358
2000 11,109,109 23,665,910
1999 11,072,230 23,497,599
1998 11,034,712 23,311,564
1997 10,997,934 23,110,830
1996 10,962,010 22,895,746
1995 10,925,362 22,669,304
1994 10,886,021 22,393,975
1993 10,841,031 22,073,352
1992 10,785,801 21,750,911
1991 10,717,640 21,428,638
1990 10,631,799 21,112,137
1989 10,533,243 20,804,367
1988 10,432,585 20,503,161
1987 10,335,342 20,205,483
1986 10,244,247 19,910,855
1985 10,157,228 19,620,388
1984 10,073,299 19,335,043
1983 9,991,026 19,054,034
1982 9,912,681 18,776,357
1981 9,849,320 18,501,295
1980 9,804,796 18,236,786
1979 9,763,355 17,983,470
1978 9,711,980 17,735,995
1977 9,648,440 17,492,798
1976 9,571,242 17,243,450
1975 9,479,726 16,971,055
1974 9,374,183 16,673,121
1973 9,255,328 16,350,367
1972 9,123,891 15,975,069
1971 8,979,085 15,572,457
1970 8,824,382 15,172,775
1969 8,666,640 14,767,615
1968 8,509,522 14,365,596
1967 8,352,625 13,958,350
1966 8,193,450 13,569,094
1965 8,030,797 13,219,369
1964 7,866,020 12,889,770
1963 7,701,660 12,567,057
1962 7,541,098 12,262,882
1961 7,387,117 11,990,713
1960 7,238,081 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/cuba/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cuba decreased by 12,938 people (a 0.11% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cuba lost 370,827 people (a 3.29% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Cuba was ranked 73rd most populous country in 2006 and is 90th 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) Cuba's population will shrink by 13.7% to 9,405,481 people with a rank change from 90th to 104th. 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 Cuba's population already peaked in 2012 at 11.3M people and is projected to decrease to 5.6M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Cuba
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cuba North Korea
2100 -1.07% -0.65%
2099 -1.07% -0.65%
2098 -1.07% -0.65%
2097 -1.07% -0.65%
2096 -1.08% -0.65%
2095 -1.07% -0.65%
2094 -1.08% -0.64%
2093 -1.08% -0.64%
2092 -1.08% -0.64%
2091 -1.08% -0.63%
2090 -1.09% -0.63%
2089 -1.09% -0.62%
2088 -1.09% -0.62%
2087 -1.09% -0.61%
2086 -1.09% -0.6%
2085 -1.08% -0.6%
2084 -1.07% -0.59%
2083 -1.07% -0.59%
2082 -1.05% -0.58%
2081 -1.05% -0.58%
2080 -1.03% -0.57%
2079 -1.02% -0.57%
2078 -1.02% -0.56%
2077 -1% -0.56%
2076 -1% -0.56%
2075 -1% -0.55%
2074 -0.99% -0.55%
2073 -0.99% -0.55%
2072 -0.99% -0.55%
2071 -1% -0.55%
2070 -1.01% -0.55%
2069 -1.01% -0.55%
2068 -1.02% -0.54%
2067 -1.03% -0.54%
2066 -1.04% -0.54%
2065 -1.04% -0.53%
2064 -1.05% -0.53%
2063 -1.05% -0.52%
2062 -1.05% -0.51%
2061 -1.05% -0.5%
2060 -1.04% -0.49%
2059 -1.03% -0.48%
2058 -1.02% -0.47%
2057 -1.01% -0.45%
2056 -0.99% -0.44%
2055 -0.98% -0.42%
2054 -0.95% -0.41%
2053 -0.93% -0.39%
2052 -0.9% -0.38%
2051 -0.88% -0.36%
2050 -0.85% -0.35%
2049 -0.83% -0.33%
2048 -0.81% -0.32%
2047 -0.78% -0.3%
2046 -0.76% -0.29%
2045 -0.73% -0.27%
2044 -0.72% -0.26%
2043 -0.69% -0.24%
2042 -0.67% -0.23%
2041 -0.64% -0.21%
2040 -0.62% -0.2%
2039 -0.6% -0.17%
2038 -0.59% -0.15%
2037 -0.56% -0.13%
2036 -0.55% -0.1%
2035 -0.53% -0.07%
2034 -0.52% -0.04%
2033 -0.5% -0.006%
2032 -0.48% 0.03%
2031 -0.47% 0.07%
2030 -0.46% 0.1%
2029 -0.44% 0.14%
2028 -0.43% 0.18%
2027 -0.42% 0.22%
2026 -0.4% 0.25%
2025 -0.38% 0.29%
2024 -0.36% 0.31%
2023 -0.36% 0.34%
2022 -0.56% 0.37%
2021 -0.48% 0.37%
2020 -0.24% 0.38%
2019 -0.22% 0.41%
2018 -0.18% 0.44%
2017 -0.16% 0.46%
2016 -0.08% 0.48%
2015 -0.09% 0.49%
2014 -0.11% 0.48%
2013 -0.04% 0.47%
2012 0.01% 0.45%
2011 0.04% 0.44%
2010 0.02% 0.44%
2009 0.03% 0.46%
2008 0.04% 0.48%
2007 0.08% 0.5%
2006 0.14% 0.52%
2005 0.21% 0.58%
2004 0.26% 0.68%
2003 0.29% 0.61%
2002 0.3% 0.54%
2001 0.32% 0.63%
2000 0.33% 0.72%
1999 0.34% 0.8%
1998 0.33% 0.87%
1997 0.33% 0.94%
1996 0.34% 1%
1995 0.36% 1.23%
1994 0.41% 1.45%
1993 0.51% 1.48%
1992 0.64% 1.5%
1991 0.81% 1.5%
1990 0.94% 1.48%
1989 0.96% 1.47%
1988 0.94% 1.47%
1987 0.89% 1.48%
1986 0.86% 1.48%
1985 0.83% 1.48%
1984 0.82% 1.47%
1983 0.79% 1.48%
1982 0.64% 1.49%
1981 0.45% 1.45%
1980 0.42% 1.41%
1979 0.53% 1.4%
1978 0.66% 1.39%
1977 0.81% 1.45%
1976 0.97% 1.61%
1975 1.13% 1.79%
1974 1.28% 1.97%
1973 1.44% 2.35%
1972 1.61% 2.59%
1971 1.75% 2.63%
1970 1.82% 2.74%
1969 1.85% 2.8%
1968 1.88% 2.92%
1967 1.94% 2.87%
1966 2.03% 2.65%
1965 2.09% 2.56%
1964 2.13% 2.57%
1963 2.13% 2.48%
1962 2.08% 2.27%
1961 2.06% 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/cuba/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cuba declined by 0.36%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Cuba North Korea
Current population
10894785
26659144
Population rank 90/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.32%
One net population change
13.1 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
5.48 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.7 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -110 +221
Annual growth/decline -40,148 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.36% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 182/197 150/197
One migration net change every
23.7 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -22,244 -2,787
Net migration rank 153/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 2,144 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 193/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.12% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 191/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cuba
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cuba North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -22,244 - -2,787
2024 - -22,356 - -2,473
2023 -15,880 -22,797 86,203 -1,997
2022 -17,961 -23,149 96,495 -1,997
2021 -71,616 -11,976 99,710 -1,585
2020 -12,808 -11,976 95,920 -1,585
2019 -4,245 -23,955 106,208 -3,142
2018 3,436 -23,779 113,164 -3,225
2017 2,306 -23,394 120,181 -3,224
2016 9,677 -24,146 125,048 -3,222
2015 20,464 -24,910 127,365 -3,208
2014 22,448 -39,426 127,078 -3,042
2013 29,827 -37,619 122,519 -2,933
2012 33,864 -36,101 118,773 -2,919
2011 40,753 -35,313 114,798 -2,957
2010 37,021 -34,121 112,443 -3,053
2009 37,543 -35,063 111,530 -3,058
2008 32,848 -29,427 122,015 -3,051
2007 24,617 -19,050 120,521 -3,021
2006 24,508 -12,619 129,171 -2,948
2005 36,660 -16,561 132,765 -2,861
2004 44,258 -16,776 155,838 -2,758
2003 56,170 -24,916 178,775 -2,717
2002 58,212 -25,535 119,504 -2,763
2001 57,325 -23,442 143,321 -2,884
2000 61,133 -24,980 161,591 -3,142
1999 69,069 -31,456 181,613 -3,443
1998 71,284 -33,863 197,589 -3,706
1997 71,828 -35,712 211,325 -3,745
1996 61,837 -26,105 226,095 -3,512
1995 66,809 -29,235 233,381 -3,094
1994 68,604 -27,501 320,861 -517
1993 73,221 -24,358 320,880 0
1992 83,461 -21,867 324,002 0
1991 95,398 -20,665 320,551 0
1990 112,378 -15,438 312,460 0
1989 114,865 -14,705 303,078 0
1988 116,626 -15,474 299,305 0
1987 109,617 -16,290 296,030 0
1986 105,997 -17,146 293,227 0
1985 103,228 -18,048 287,714 0
1984 101,670 -18,994 282,987 0
1983 101,858 -19,994 279,046 0
1982 95,866 -21,055 276,332 0
1981 74,067 -22,159 273,800 0
1980 74,271 -37,114 255,206 0
1979 81,192 -35,473 251,409 0
1978 86,864 -29,839 243,533 0
1977 106,875 -36,811 242,870 0
1976 125,383 -41,042 255,841 0
1975 144,964 -46,268 288,966 0
1974 165,099 -52,697 306,902 0
1973 177,387 -52,073 338,600 0
1972 187,588 -50,031 411,997 0
1971 195,106 -43,056 393,220 0
1970 201,823 -44,466 406,129 0
1969 205,581 -47,446 404,189 0
1968 205,487 -49,387 399,837 0
1967 207,245 -49,556 414,632 0
1966 209,179 -48,509 363,882 0
1965 211,322 -46,683 335,587 0
1964 209,315 -44,406 323,623 0
1963 205,788 -41,979 321,805 0
1962 196,423 -39,116 286,534 0
1961 183,806 -33,163 257,788 0
1960 172,816 -25,396 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 21.9% of the population change in Cuba is from natural causes (a loss of 64,179 people) and 78.1% is from migration (a loss of 229,508 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, 2,144 residents or 0.12% of the population were not native-born in Cuba, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Cuba
City Population
Havana 2.49M
Santiago de Cuba 445K
Holguin 350K
Camaguey 322K
Santa Clara 247K
Bayamo 235K
Guantanamo 228K
Las Tunas 202K
Pinar del Rio 189K
Cienfuegos 165K
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/cuba/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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