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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Estonia was 1,372,341 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Estonia's population is 1,339,590 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 19.9 times bigger than Estonia's.
  • Estonia is ranked the 155th 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 Estonia vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Estonia has had an average growth rate of +0.37% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Estonia has decreased from 1.35M people to 1.34M (0.54% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Estonia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Estonia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Estonia North Korea
2100 831,394 19,604,631
2099 836,965 19,733,548
2098 842,414 19,862,949
2097 847,873 19,993,288
2096 853,472 20,124,518
2095 859,044 20,256,401
2094 864,547 20,388,156
2093 870,136 20,520,253
2092 875,676 20,652,961
2091 881,282 20,785,785
2090 887,028 20,918,305
2089 892,857 21,050,580
2088 898,736 21,182,325
2087 904,914 21,314,047
2086 911,254 21,445,329
2085 917,722 21,575,835
2084 924,458 21,705,777
2083 931,259 21,835,029
2082 938,110 21,964,199
2081 944,978 22,092,862
2080 952,018 22,220,948
2079 959,194 22,348,577
2078 966,496 22,475,755
2077 973,883 22,602,817
2076 981,283 22,729,499
2075 988,735 22,856,369
2074 996,352 22,983,784
2073 1,004,078 23,111,441
2072 1,011,873 23,239,261
2071 1,019,779 23,367,583
2070 1,027,821 23,496,136
2069 1,035,828 23,625,538
2068 1,043,819 23,755,136
2067 1,051,892 23,884,879
2066 1,059,940 24,015,027
2065 1,068,064 24,144,985
2064 1,076,199 24,274,257
2063 1,084,303 24,402,439
2062 1,092,418 24,529,941
2061 1,100,514 24,656,350
2060 1,108,650 24,780,911
2059 1,116,534 24,903,037
2058 1,124,375 25,023,260
2057 1,132,033 25,140,523
2056 1,139,610 25,255,342
2055 1,147,117 25,366,397
2054 1,154,317 25,474,292
2053 1,161,452 25,578,870
2052 1,168,381 25,679,963
2051 1,175,291 25,777,639
2050 1,182,029 25,871,673
2049 1,188,633 25,962,167
2048 1,194,960 26,048,593
2047 1,201,294 26,131,429
2046 1,207,577 26,210,487
2045 1,213,815 26,286,208
2044 1,220,042 26,358,331
2043 1,226,162 26,427,062
2042 1,232,282 26,491,482
2041 1,238,386 26,552,564
2040 1,244,441 26,609,557
2039 1,250,581 26,661,815
2038 1,256,780 26,708,400
2037 1,263,149 26,749,134
2036 1,269,700 26,783,304
2035 1,276,331 26,810,026
2034 1,283,159 26,828,912
2033 1,290,037 26,839,229
2032 1,297,036 26,840,944
2031 1,304,102 26,832,957
2030 1,311,189 26,814,812
2029 1,318,225 26,787,117
2028 1,325,354 26,749,227
2027 1,332,492 26,701,444
2026 1,339,590 26,643,460
2025 1,358,931 26,575,953
2024 1,372,341 26,498,823
2023 1,370,286 26,418,204
2022 1,348,840 26,328,845
2021 1,330,932 26,232,534
2020 1,329,522 26,136,312
2019 1,326,898 26,037,632
2018 1,321,977 25,931,147
2017 1,317,384 25,817,709
2016 1,315,790 25,698,326
2015 1,315,407 25,575,350
2014 1,314,545 25,451,262
2013 1,317,997 25,329,451
2012 1,322,696 25,211,728
2011 1,327,439 25,097,874
2010 1,331,475 24,987,258
2009 1,334,515 24,878,332
2008 1,337,090 24,764,618
2007 1,340,680 24,646,383
2006 1,346,810 24,524,507
2005 1,354,775 24,396,433
2004 1,362,550 24,254,943
2003 1,370,720 24,090,380
2002 1,379,350 23,943,973
2001 1,388,115 23,815,358
2000 1,396,985 23,665,910
1999 1,390,244 23,497,599
1998 1,386,156 23,311,564
1997 1,399,535 23,110,830
1996 1,415,594 22,895,746
1995 1,436,634 22,669,304
1994 1,462,514 22,393,975
1993 1,494,128 22,073,352
1992 1,533,091 21,750,911
1991 1,561,314 21,428,638
1990 1,569,174 21,112,137
1989 1,568,131 20,804,367
1988 1,561,900 20,503,161
1987 1,552,221 20,205,483
1986 1,540,190 19,910,855
1985 1,528,781 19,620,388
1984 1,518,617 19,335,043
1983 1,508,745 19,054,034
1982 1,498,414 18,776,357
1981 1,487,666 18,501,295
1980 1,477,219 18,236,786
1979 1,468,333 17,983,470
1978 1,460,188 17,735,995
1977 1,450,211 17,492,798
1976 1,439,576 17,243,450
1975 1,429,352 16,971,055
1974 1,418,169 16,673,121
1973 1,405,951 16,350,367
1972 1,392,518 15,975,069
1971 1,376,955 15,572,457
1970 1,360,076 15,172,775
1969 1,345,249 14,767,615
1968 1,331,214 14,365,596
1967 1,318,946 13,958,350
1966 1,308,597 13,569,094
1965 1,294,566 13,219,369
1964 1,277,086 12,889,770
1963 1,258,857 12,567,057
1962 1,241,623 12,262,882
1961 1,225,077 11,990,713
1960 1,211,537 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/estonia/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Estonia decreased by 31,020 people (a 2.3% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Estonia gained 23,800 people (a 1.81% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Estonia was ranked 149th most populous country in 2006 and is 155th 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) Estonia's population will shrink by 11.8% to 1,182,029 people with a rank change from 155th to 159th. 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 Estonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 1.57M people and is projected to decrease to 831K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Estonia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Estonia North Korea
2100 -0.67% -0.65%
2099 -0.65% -0.65%
2098 -0.64% -0.65%
2097 -0.66% -0.65%
2096 -0.65% -0.65%
2095 -0.64% -0.65%
2094 -0.64% -0.64%
2093 -0.63% -0.64%
2092 -0.64% -0.64%
2091 -0.65% -0.63%
2090 -0.65% -0.63%
2089 -0.65% -0.62%
2088 -0.68% -0.62%
2087 -0.7% -0.61%
2086 -0.7% -0.6%
2085 -0.73% -0.6%
2084 -0.73% -0.59%
2083 -0.73% -0.59%
2082 -0.73% -0.58%
2081 -0.74% -0.58%
2080 -0.75% -0.57%
2079 -0.76% -0.57%
2078 -0.76% -0.56%
2077 -0.75% -0.56%
2076 -0.75% -0.56%
2075 -0.76% -0.55%
2074 -0.77% -0.55%
2073 -0.77% -0.55%
2072 -0.78% -0.55%
2071 -0.78% -0.55%
2070 -0.77% -0.55%
2069 -0.77% -0.55%
2068 -0.77% -0.54%
2067 -0.76% -0.54%
2066 -0.76% -0.54%
2065 -0.76% -0.53%
2064 -0.75% -0.53%
2063 -0.74% -0.52%
2062 -0.74% -0.51%
2061 -0.73% -0.5%
2060 -0.71% -0.49%
2059 -0.7% -0.48%
2058 -0.68% -0.47%
2057 -0.66% -0.45%
2056 -0.65% -0.44%
2055 -0.62% -0.42%
2054 -0.61% -0.41%
2053 -0.59% -0.39%
2052 -0.59% -0.38%
2051 -0.57% -0.36%
2050 -0.56% -0.35%
2049 -0.53% -0.33%
2048 -0.53% -0.32%
2047 -0.52% -0.3%
2046 -0.51% -0.29%
2045 -0.51% -0.27%
2044 -0.5% -0.26%
2043 -0.5% -0.24%
2042 -0.49% -0.23%
2041 -0.49% -0.21%
2040 -0.49% -0.2%
2039 -0.49% -0.17%
2038 -0.5% -0.15%
2037 -0.52% -0.13%
2036 -0.52% -0.1%
2035 -0.53% -0.07%
2034 -0.53% -0.04%
2033 -0.54% -0.006%
2032 -0.54% 0.03%
2031 -0.54% 0.07%
2030 -0.53% 0.1%
2029 -0.54% 0.14%
2028 -0.54% 0.18%
2027 -0.53% 0.22%
2026 -1.42% 0.25%
2025 -0.98% 0.29%
2024 0.15% 0.31%
2023 1.59% 0.34%
2022 1.35% 0.37%
2021 0.11% 0.37%
2020 0.2% 0.38%
2019 0.37% 0.41%
2018 0.35% 0.44%
2017 0.12% 0.46%
2016 0.03% 0.48%
2015 0.07% 0.49%
2014 -0.26% 0.48%
2013 -0.36% 0.47%
2012 -0.36% 0.45%
2011 -0.3% 0.44%
2010 -0.23% 0.44%
2009 -0.19% 0.46%
2008 -0.27% 0.48%
2007 -0.46% 0.5%
2006 -0.59% 0.52%
2005 -0.57% 0.58%
2004 -0.6% 0.68%
2003 -0.63% 0.61%
2002 -0.63% 0.54%
2001 -0.63% 0.63%
2000 0.48% 0.72%
1999 0.29% 0.8%
1998 -0.96% 0.87%
1997 -1.13% 0.94%
1996 -1.46% 1%
1995 -1.77% 1.23%
1994 -2.12% 1.45%
1993 -2.54% 1.48%
1992 -1.81% 1.5%
1991 -0.5% 1.5%
1990 0.07% 1.48%
1989 0.4% 1.47%
1988 0.62% 1.47%
1987 0.78% 1.48%
1986 0.75% 1.48%
1985 0.67% 1.48%
1984 0.65% 1.47%
1983 0.69% 1.48%
1982 0.72% 1.49%
1981 0.71% 1.45%
1980 0.61% 1.41%
1979 0.56% 1.4%
1978 0.69% 1.39%
1977 0.74% 1.45%
1976 0.72% 1.61%
1975 0.79% 1.79%
1974 0.87% 1.97%
1973 0.96% 2.35%
1972 1.13% 2.59%
1971 1.24% 2.63%
1970 1.1% 2.74%
1969 1.05% 2.8%
1968 0.93% 2.92%
1967 0.79% 2.87%
1966 1.08% 2.65%
1965 1.37% 2.56%
1964 1.45% 2.57%
1963 1.39% 2.48%
1962 1.35% 2.27%
1961 1.12% 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/estonia/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Estonia grew by 0.15%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Estonia North Korea
Current population
1339590
26659144
Population rank 155/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
4.26 hours
6.52 minutes
One birth every
47.9 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
32.8 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +6 +221
Annual growth/decline +2,055 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.15% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 158/197 150/197
One migration net change every
39.5 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -13,350 -2,787
Net migration rank 141/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 203,046 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 110/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.9% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 43/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Estonia
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Estonia North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -13,350 - -2,787
2024 - -7,742 - -2,473
2023 -5,070 5,717 86,203 -1,997
2022 -5,665 39,754 96,495 -1,997
2021 -5,324 7,043 99,710 -1,585
2020 -2,659 3,694 95,920 -1,585
2019 -1,327 5,386 106,208 -3,142
2018 -1,322 7,089 113,164 -3,225
2017 -1,713 5,202 120,181 -3,224
2016 -1,316 1,081 125,048 -3,222
2015 -1,315 4,261 127,365 -3,208
2014 -1,972 -674 127,078 -3,042
2013 -1,713 -2,688 122,519 -2,933
2012 -1,455 -3,674 118,773 -2,919
2011 -531 -3,941 114,798 -2,957
2010 0 -3,781 112,443 -3,053
2009 -400 -2,089 111,530 -3,058
2008 -668 -2,034 122,015 -3,051
2007 -1,608 -2,941 120,521 -3,021
2006 -2,559 -5,351 129,171 -2,948
2005 -2,981 -5,208 132,765 -2,861
2004 -3,679 -3,681 155,838 -2,758
2003 -5,072 -3,705 178,775 -2,717
2002 -5,380 -2,889 119,504 -2,763
2001 -5,830 -3,280 143,321 -2,884
2000 -5,309 -3,083 161,591 -3,142
1999 -6,117 1,419 181,613 -3,443
1998 -7,208 -3,296 197,589 -3,706
1997 -6,018 -4,066 211,325 -3,745
1996 -5,662 -10,540 226,095 -3,512
1995 -7,327 -12,655 233,381 -3,094
1994 -8,044 -17,984 320,861 -517
1993 -5,976 -25,501 320,880 0
1992 -1,993 -38,391 324,002 0
1991 -312 -9,712 320,551 0
1990 2,825 -2,660 312,460 0
1989 5,803 -368 303,078 0
1988 6,404 5,256 299,305 0
1987 6,829 5,389 296,030 0
1986 6,160 5,260 293,227 0
1985 4,281 5,097 287,714 0
1984 5,163 5,006 282,987 0
1983 5,884 4,986 279,046 0
1982 5,244 4,832 276,332 0
1981 4,612 4,789 273,800 0
1980 3,989 4,619 255,206 0
1979 3,818 4,521 251,409 0
1978 4,088 7,234 243,533 0
1977 4,931 7,189 242,870 0
1976 4,319 6,942 255,841 0
1975 4,717 6,737 288,966 0
1974 5,956 6,594 306,902 0
1973 5,623 6,488 338,600 0
1972 6,267 6,432 411,997 0
1971 7,160 6,392 393,220 0
1970 6,257 6,158 406,129 0
1969 5,515 8,650 404,189 0
1968 5,592 9,403 399,837 0
1967 5,012 9,115 414,632 0
1966 4,842 8,998 363,882 0
1965 5,437 8,851 335,587 0
1964 6,897 8,734 323,623 0
1963 6,043 8,410 321,805 0
1962 6,457 8,248 286,534 0
1961 7,228 7,991 257,788 0
1960 7,511 7,762 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 26.1% of the population change in Estonia is from natural causes (a loss of 27,683 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 78,553 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, 203,046 residents or 14.9% of the population were not native-born in Estonia, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Estonia
City Population
Tallinn 458K
Tartu 97.8K
Narva 53.4K
Parnu 41.5K
Kohtla-Jarve 33.4K
Viljandi 17.3K
Maardu 17K
Rakvere 15.7K
Kuressaare 13.2K
Sillamae 12.4K
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/estonia/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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