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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Estonia was 1,366,475 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Estonia's population is 1,347,027 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 19.8 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 +0.35% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Estonia has increased from 1.35M people to 1.35M (0.02% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Estonia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Estonia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Estonia North Korea
2100 836,010 19,601,003
2099 841,611 19,729,897
2098 847,091 19,859,274
2097 852,580 19,989,589
2096 858,210 20,120,795
2095 863,813 20,252,653
2094 869,346 20,384,384
2093 874,966 20,516,457
2092 880,538 20,649,140
2091 886,175 20,781,939
2090 891,952 20,914,434
2089 897,814 21,046,685
2088 903,726 21,178,406
2087 909,938 21,310,103
2086 916,313 21,441,361
2085 922,817 21,571,843
2084 929,590 21,701,761
2083 936,429 21,830,989
2082 943,318 21,960,135
2081 950,224 22,088,774
2080 957,303 22,216,836
2079 964,518 22,344,442
2078 971,861 22,471,597
2077 979,290 22,598,635
2076 986,730 22,725,293
2075 994,224 22,852,140
2074 1,001,883 22,979,532
2073 1,009,652 23,107,165
2072 1,017,490 23,234,961
2071 1,025,441 23,363,260
2070 1,033,527 23,491,789
2069 1,041,579 23,621,167
2068 1,049,614 23,750,741
2067 1,057,732 23,880,460
2066 1,065,824 24,010,584
2065 1,073,994 24,140,518
2064 1,082,173 24,269,765
2063 1,090,322 24,397,924
2062 1,098,483 24,525,403
2061 1,106,624 24,651,788
2060 1,114,804 24,776,326
2059 1,122,732 24,898,430
2058 1,130,617 25,018,630
2057 1,138,317 25,135,871
2056 1,145,937 25,250,670
2055 1,153,485 25,361,704
2054 1,160,725 25,469,578
2053 1,167,900 25,574,137
2052 1,174,867 25,675,211
2051 1,181,816 25,772,870
2050 1,188,591 25,866,886
2049 1,195,231 25,957,363
2048 1,201,594 26,043,774
2047 1,207,963 26,126,594
2046 1,214,281 26,205,638
2045 1,220,553 26,281,344
2044 1,226,815 26,353,455
2043 1,232,969 26,422,173
2042 1,239,123 26,486,580
2041 1,245,261 26,547,651
2040 1,251,349 26,604,634
2039 1,257,523 26,656,882
2038 1,263,757 26,703,458
2037 1,270,161 26,744,185
2036 1,276,749 26,778,348
2035 1,283,416 26,805,065
2034 1,290,282 26,823,948
2033 1,297,198 26,834,263
2032 1,304,236 26,835,978
2031 1,311,342 26,827,992
2030 1,318,468 26,809,850
2029 1,325,543 26,782,161
2028 1,332,712 26,744,278
2027 1,339,889 26,696,504
2026 1,347,027 26,638,530
2025 1,366,475 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 31,237 people (a 2.37% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 1,188,591 people with a rank change from 155th to 159th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 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 836K 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 -0.43% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Estonia declined by 0.43%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Estonia North Korea
Current population
1347027
26668308
Population rank 155/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
1.5 hours
7.3 minutes
One birth every
53.9 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
33.3 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline -16 +198
Annual growth/decline -5,866 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 182/197 146/197
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 -6,038 -7,742 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.8% of the population change in Estonia is from natural causes (a loss of 31,749 people) and 69.2% is from migration (a gain of 71,485 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/estonia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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