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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of East Timor was 1,418,517 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current East Timor's population is 1,446,322 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 18.4 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 +1.67% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of East Timor has increased from 977K people to 1.45M (48.1% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% 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 1,987,832 19,601,003
2099 1,992,781 19,729,897
2098 1,999,464 19,859,274
2097 2,006,033 19,989,589
2096 2,013,975 20,120,795
2095 2,022,154 20,252,653
2094 2,029,021 20,384,384
2093 2,034,247 20,516,457
2092 2,039,828 20,649,140
2091 2,046,736 20,781,939
2090 2,053,036 20,914,434
2089 2,060,872 21,046,685
2088 2,066,894 21,178,406
2087 2,074,575 21,310,103
2086 2,077,501 21,441,361
2085 2,082,992 21,571,843
2084 2,088,750 21,701,761
2083 2,094,025 21,830,989
2082 2,096,584 21,960,135
2081 2,100,389 22,088,774
2080 2,103,318 22,216,836
2079 2,102,450 22,344,442
2078 2,105,023 22,471,597
2077 2,105,962 22,598,635
2076 2,105,353 22,725,293
2075 2,105,681 22,852,140
2074 2,104,008 22,979,532
2073 2,103,594 23,107,165
2072 2,099,913 23,234,961
2071 2,092,097 23,363,260
2070 2,089,631 23,491,789
2069 2,083,998 23,621,167
2068 2,077,421 23,750,741
2067 2,070,800 23,880,460
2066 2,062,424 24,010,584
2065 2,055,429 24,140,518
2064 2,047,710 24,269,765
2063 2,039,046 24,397,924
2062 2,031,925 24,525,403
2061 2,026,233 24,651,788
2060 2,018,606 24,776,326
2059 2,008,230 24,898,430
2058 1,996,788 25,018,630
2057 1,984,779 25,135,871
2056 1,970,553 25,250,670
2055 1,957,864 25,361,704
2054 1,949,402 25,469,578
2053 1,933,335 25,574,137
2052 1,920,154 25,675,211
2051 1,909,672 25,772,870
2050 1,892,861 25,866,886
2049 1,878,666 25,957,363
2048 1,861,588 26,043,774
2047 1,844,948 26,126,594
2046 1,829,365 26,205,638
2045 1,812,921 26,281,344
2044 1,797,407 26,353,455
2043 1,777,316 26,422,173
2042 1,756,704 26,486,580
2041 1,738,329 26,547,651
2040 1,720,028 26,604,634
2039 1,699,358 26,656,882
2038 1,679,907 26,703,458
2037 1,659,862 26,744,185
2036 1,640,436 26,778,348
2035 1,617,753 26,805,065
2034 1,597,457 26,823,948
2033 1,578,852 26,834,263
2032 1,560,402 26,835,978
2031 1,540,509 26,827,992
2030 1,518,434 26,809,850
2029 1,496,842 26,782,161
2028 1,475,633 26,744,278
2027 1,455,562 26,696,504
2026 1,436,564 26,638,530
2025 1,418,517 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 218,010 people (a 17.7% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 30.9% to 1,892,861 people with a rank change from 152nd to 149th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 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% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of East Timor grew by 1.28%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

East Timor North Korea
Current population
1446322
26668308
Population rank 152/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
29.5 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
17.2 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
52 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +49 +198
Annual growth/decline +17,879 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.28% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 80/197 146/197
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 20,378 -2,552 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99% of the population change in East Timor is from natural causes (a gain of 214,036 people) and 0.96% is from migration (a gain of 2,071 people). In North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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