Skip to content

Population in East Timor compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of East Timor was 1,400,638 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current East Timor's population is 1,441,764 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 18.5 times bigger than East Timor's.
  • East Timor is ranked the 152nd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.02% for East Timor vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, East Timor has had an average growth rate of +1.74% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of East Timor has increased from 977K people to 1.44M (47.6% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

East Timor vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

East Timor
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
East Timor North Korea
2100 1,987,918 19,604,631
2099 1,992,867 19,733,548
2098 1,999,551 19,862,949
2097 2,006,120 19,993,288
2096 2,014,062 20,124,518
2095 2,022,241 20,256,401
2094 2,029,109 20,388,156
2093 2,034,335 20,520,253
2092 2,039,916 20,652,961
2091 2,046,825 20,785,785
2090 2,053,125 20,918,305
2089 2,060,960 21,050,580
2088 2,066,983 21,182,325
2087 2,074,665 21,314,047
2086 2,077,590 21,445,329
2085 2,083,082 21,575,835
2084 2,088,840 21,705,777
2083 2,094,115 21,835,029
2082 2,096,675 21,964,199
2081 2,100,480 22,092,862
2080 2,103,409 22,220,948
2079 2,102,541 22,348,577
2078 2,105,113 22,475,755
2077 2,106,052 22,602,817
2076 2,105,444 22,729,499
2075 2,105,772 22,856,369
2074 2,104,099 22,983,784
2073 2,103,684 23,111,441
2072 2,100,004 23,239,261
2071 2,092,187 23,367,583
2070 2,089,722 23,496,136
2069 2,084,088 23,625,538
2068 2,077,511 23,755,136
2067 2,070,890 23,884,879
2066 2,062,513 24,015,027
2065 2,055,518 24,144,985
2064 2,047,799 24,274,257
2063 2,039,134 24,402,439
2062 2,032,012 24,529,941
2061 2,026,320 24,656,350
2060 2,018,694 24,780,911
2059 2,008,316 24,903,037
2058 1,996,874 25,023,260
2057 1,984,864 25,140,523
2056 1,970,638 25,255,342
2055 1,957,948 25,366,397
2054 1,949,486 25,474,292
2053 1,933,418 25,578,870
2052 1,920,237 25,679,963
2051 1,909,754 25,777,639
2050 1,892,942 25,871,673
2049 1,878,747 25,962,167
2048 1,861,668 26,048,593
2047 1,845,027 26,131,429
2046 1,829,444 26,210,487
2045 1,813,000 26,286,208
2044 1,797,485 26,358,331
2043 1,777,393 26,427,062
2042 1,756,780 26,491,482
2041 1,738,404 26,552,564
2040 1,720,102 26,609,557
2039 1,699,431 26,661,815
2038 1,679,979 26,708,400
2037 1,659,934 26,749,134
2036 1,640,507 26,783,304
2035 1,617,823 26,810,026
2034 1,597,525 26,828,912
2033 1,578,920 26,839,229
2032 1,560,470 26,840,944
2031 1,540,575 26,832,957
2030 1,518,500 26,814,812
2029 1,496,906 26,787,117
2028 1,475,696 26,749,227
2027 1,455,624 26,701,444
2026 1,436,626 26,643,460
2025 1,418,578 26,575,953
2024 1,400,638 26,498,823
2023 1,384,286 26,418,204
2022 1,369,295 26,328,845
2021 1,350,139 26,232,534
2020 1,326,053 26,136,312
2019 1,300,945 26,037,632
2018 1,275,959 25,931,147
2017 1,251,703 25,817,709
2016 1,228,312 25,698,326
2015 1,205,131 25,575,350
2014 1,181,903 25,451,262
2013 1,158,695 25,329,451
2012 1,134,885 25,211,728
2011 1,110,207 25,097,874
2010 1,084,679 24,987,258
2009 1,058,782 24,878,332
2008 1,032,429 24,764,618
2007 1,004,889 24,646,383
2006 976,597 24,524,507
2005 948,311 24,396,433
2004 929,074 24,254,943
2003 916,878 24,090,380
2002 879,159 23,943,973
2001 812,249 23,815,358
2000 745,088 23,665,910
1999 834,697 23,497,599
1998 942,530 23,311,564
1997 917,184 23,110,830
1996 892,282 22,895,746
1995 868,146 22,669,304
1994 844,493 22,393,975
1993 821,437 22,073,352
1992 799,318 21,750,911
1991 778,278 21,428,638
1990 760,345 21,112,137
1989 744,856 20,804,367
1988 730,745 20,503,161
1987 718,476 20,205,483
1986 707,185 19,910,855
1985 696,665 19,620,388
1984 686,777 19,335,043
1983 677,707 19,054,034
1982 669,149 18,776,357
1981 660,493 18,501,295
1980 649,871 18,236,786
1979 638,719 17,983,470
1978 628,775 17,735,995
1977 618,315 17,492,798
1976 607,620 17,243,450
1975 598,158 16,971,055
1974 590,827 16,673,121
1973 582,855 16,350,367
1972 572,962 15,975,069
1971 562,966 15,572,457
1970 553,069 15,172,775
1969 543,356 14,767,615
1968 533,875 14,365,596
1967 524,648 13,958,350
1966 515,696 13,569,094
1965 507,034 13,219,369
1964 498,659 12,889,770
1963 490,564 12,567,057
1962 482,774 12,262,882
1961 475,291 11,990,713
1960 468,118 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/east-timor/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of East Timor increased by 251,715 people (a 25.8% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, East Timor gained 213,452 people (a 17.4% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

East Timor was ranked 155th most populous country in 2006 and is 152nd 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) East Timor's population will grow by 31.3% to 1,892,942 people with a rank change from 152nd to 149th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

East Timor is projected to reach its peak in 2077 at 2.11M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

East Timor
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
East Timor North Korea
2100 -0.25% -0.65%
2099 -0.33% -0.65%
2098 -0.33% -0.65%
2097 -0.39% -0.65%
2096 -0.4% -0.65%
2095 -0.34% -0.65%
2094 -0.26% -0.64%
2093 -0.27% -0.64%
2092 -0.34% -0.64%
2091 -0.31% -0.63%
2090 -0.38% -0.63%
2089 -0.29% -0.62%
2088 -0.37% -0.62%
2087 -0.14% -0.61%
2086 -0.26% -0.6%
2085 -0.28% -0.6%
2084 -0.25% -0.59%
2083 -0.12% -0.59%
2082 -0.18% -0.58%
2081 -0.14% -0.58%
2080 0.04% -0.57%
2079 -0.12% -0.57%
2078 -0.04% -0.56%
2077 0.03% -0.56%
2076 -0.02% -0.56%
2075 0.08% -0.55%
2074 0.02% -0.55%
2073 0.18% -0.55%
2072 0.37% -0.55%
2071 0.12% -0.55%
2070 0.27% -0.55%
2069 0.32% -0.55%
2068 0.32% -0.54%
2067 0.41% -0.54%
2066 0.34% -0.54%
2065 0.38% -0.53%
2064 0.42% -0.53%
2063 0.35% -0.52%
2062 0.28% -0.51%
2061 0.38% -0.5%
2060 0.52% -0.49%
2059 0.57% -0.48%
2058 0.61% -0.47%
2057 0.72% -0.45%
2056 0.65% -0.44%
2055 0.43% -0.42%
2054 0.83% -0.41%
2053 0.69% -0.39%
2052 0.55% -0.38%
2051 0.89% -0.36%
2050 0.76% -0.35%
2049 0.92% -0.33%
2048 0.9% -0.32%
2047 0.85% -0.3%
2046 0.91% -0.29%
2045 0.86% -0.27%
2044 1.13% -0.26%
2043 1.17% -0.24%
2042 1.06% -0.23%
2041 1.06% -0.21%
2040 1.22% -0.2%
2039 1.16% -0.17%
2038 1.21% -0.15%
2037 1.18% -0.13%
2036 1.4% -0.1%
2035 1.27% -0.07%
2034 1.18% -0.04%
2033 1.18% -0.006%
2032 1.29% 0.03%
2031 1.45% 0.07%
2030 1.44% 0.1%
2029 1.44% 0.14%
2028 1.38% 0.18%
2027 1.32% 0.22%
2026 1.27% 0.25%
2025 1.28% 0.29%
2024 1.18% 0.31%
2023 1.09% 0.34%
2022 1.42% 0.37%
2021 1.82% 0.37%
2020 1.93% 0.38%
2019 1.96% 0.41%
2018 1.94% 0.44%
2017 1.9% 0.46%
2016 1.92% 0.48%
2015 1.97% 0.49%
2014 2% 0.48%
2013 2.1% 0.47%
2012 2.22% 0.45%
2011 2.35% 0.44%
2010 2.45% 0.44%
2009 2.55% 0.46%
2008 2.74% 0.48%
2007 2.9% 0.5%
2006 2.98% 0.52%
2005 2.07% 0.58%
2004 1.33% 0.68%
2003 4.29% 0.61%
2002 8.24% 0.54%
2001 9.01% 0.63%
2000 -10.7% 0.72%
1999 -11.4% 0.8%
1998 2.76% 0.87%
1997 2.79% 0.94%
1996 2.78% 1%
1995 2.8% 1.23%
1994 2.81% 1.45%
1993 2.77% 1.48%
1992 2.7% 1.5%
1991 2.36% 1.5%
1990 2.08% 1.48%
1989 1.93% 1.47%
1988 1.71% 1.47%
1987 1.6% 1.48%
1986 1.51% 1.48%
1985 1.44% 1.48%
1984 1.34% 1.47%
1983 1.28% 1.48%
1982 1.31% 1.49%
1981 1.63% 1.45%
1980 1.75% 1.41%
1979 1.58% 1.4%
1978 1.69% 1.39%
1977 1.76% 1.45%
1976 1.58% 1.61%
1975 1.24% 1.79%
1974 1.37% 1.97%
1973 1.73% 2.35%
1972 1.78% 2.59%
1971 1.79% 2.63%
1970 1.79% 2.74%
1969 1.78% 2.8%
1968 1.76% 2.92%
1967 1.74% 2.87%
1966 1.71% 2.65%
1965 1.68% 2.56%
1964 1.65% 2.57%
1963 1.61% 2.48%
1962 1.57% 2.27%
1961 1.53% 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/east-timor/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of East Timor grew by 1.18%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

East Timor North Korea
Current population
1441764
26659144
Population rank 152/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
32.1 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
17.2 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
52.2 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +45 +221
Annual growth/decline +16,352 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 91/197 150/197
One migration net change every
3.44 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -2,550 -2,787
Net migration rank 102/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 8,303 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 179/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 169/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

East Timor
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
East Timor North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,550 - -2,787
2024 - -2,552 - -2,473
2023 20,495 -5,620 86,203 -1,997
2022 20,625 -5,519 96,495 -1,997
2021 20,101 3,111 99,710 -1,585
2020 21,166 3,793 95,920 -1,585
2019 21,307 3,942 106,208 -3,142
2018 21,650 3,062 113,164 -3,225
2017 22,145 1,666 120,181 -3,224
2016 22,778 208 125,048 -3,222
2015 23,391 -20 127,365 -3,208
2014 24,040 -958 127,078 -3,042
2013 24,538 -1,206 122,519 -2,933
2012 24,890 -609 118,773 -2,919
2011 25,237 -159 114,798 -2,957
2010 25,515 470 112,443 -3,053
2009 25,696 117 111,530 -3,058
2008 25,888 1,009 122,015 -3,051
2007 26,074 2,103 120,521 -3,021
2006 26,221 2,184 129,171 -2,948
2005 26,412 1,759 132,765 -2,861
2004 26,751 -16,447 155,838 -2,758
2003 26,900 -12,810 178,775 -2,717
2002 25,410 35,935 119,504 -2,763
2001 23,314 49,159 143,321 -2,884
2000 21,579 40,272 161,591 -3,142
1999 21,871 -262,940 181,613 -3,443
1998 23,590 1,806 197,589 -3,706
1997 23,501 1,804 211,325 -3,745
1996 22,703 1,796 226,095 -3,512
1995 21,962 1,806 233,381 -3,094
1994 21,746 1,794 320,861 -517
1993 20,770 1,795 320,880 0
1992 19,880 1,794 324,002 0
1991 18,605 1,803 320,551 0
1990 18,343 -2,881 312,460 0
1989 17,758 -2,246 303,078 0
1988 12,118 587 299,305 0
1987 11,945 -106 296,030 0
1986 11,062 -316 293,227 0
1985 10,788 -495 287,714 0
1984 10,922 -1,436 282,987 0
1983 9,686 -1,032 279,046 0
1982 9,579 -1,125 276,332 0
1981 9,336 -482 273,800 0
1980 6,940 5,457 255,206 0
1979 987 8,924 251,409 0
1978 -1,000 10,967 243,533 0
1977 296 10,657 242,870 0
1976 783 9,662 255,841 0
1975 -1,062 9,542 288,966 0
1974 8,405 -2,222 306,902 0
1973 10,033 -278 338,600 0
1972 10,030 0 411,997 0
1971 9,964 0 393,220 0
1970 9,824 0 406,129 0
1969 9,611 0 404,189 0
1968 9,356 0 399,837 0
1967 9,089 0 414,632 0
1966 8,810 0 363,882 0
1965 8,526 0 335,587 0
1964 8,235 0 323,623 0
1963 7,938 0 321,805 0
1962 7,639 0 286,534 0
1961 7,330 0 257,788 0
1960 7,012 0 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/east-timor/north-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 98.3% of the population change in East Timor is from natural causes (a gain of 217,698 people) and 1.66% is from migration (a gain of 3,665 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, 8,303 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in East Timor, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

East Timor
City Population
Dili 222K
Maliana 15.8K
Baucau 15K
Ainaro 5.45K
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/east-timor/north-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.