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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 5.28 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 2.01% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Ethiopia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia North Korea
2100 371,078,260 19,601,003
2099 369,338,252 19,729,897
2098 367,513,542 19,859,274
2097 365,567,496 19,989,589
2096 363,536,294 20,120,795
2095 361,596,042 20,252,653
2094 359,531,317 20,384,384
2093 357,460,480 20,516,457
2092 355,389,829 20,649,140
2091 353,218,632 20,781,939
2090 350,960,021 20,914,434
2089 348,751,618 21,046,685
2088 346,517,326 21,178,406
2087 344,162,324 21,310,103
2086 341,671,994 21,441,361
2085 339,167,930 21,571,843
2084 336,649,520 21,701,761
2083 334,083,247 21,830,989
2082 331,401,460 21,960,135
2081 328,715,487 22,088,774
2080 326,013,981 22,216,836
2079 323,282,865 22,344,442
2078 320,422,535 22,471,597
2077 317,492,915 22,598,635
2076 314,518,328 22,725,293
2075 311,487,723 22,852,140
2074 308,416,133 22,979,532
2073 305,383,505 23,107,165
2072 302,258,564 23,234,961
2071 299,119,280 23,363,260
2070 295,963,235 23,491,789
2069 292,756,723 23,621,167
2068 289,522,748 23,750,741
2067 286,191,689 23,880,460
2066 282,905,709 24,010,584
2065 279,576,283 24,140,518
2064 276,197,958 24,269,765
2063 272,782,685 24,397,924
2062 269,340,926 24,525,403
2061 265,803,351 24,651,788
2060 262,269,354 24,776,326
2059 258,692,767 24,898,430
2058 255,205,644 25,018,630
2057 251,656,356 25,135,871
2056 248,002,497 25,250,670
2055 244,426,069 25,361,704
2054 240,794,405 25,469,578
2053 237,155,110 25,574,137
2052 233,479,314 25,675,211
2051 229,733,593 25,772,870
2050 226,055,085 25,866,886
2049 222,351,471 25,957,363
2048 218,627,197 26,043,774
2047 214,883,954 26,126,594
2046 211,161,780 26,205,638
2045 207,461,987 26,281,344
2044 203,749,820 26,353,455
2043 200,035,613 26,422,173
2042 196,351,202 26,486,580
2041 192,689,672 26,547,651
2040 189,023,384 26,604,634
2039 185,365,776 26,656,882
2038 181,733,067 26,703,458
2037 178,124,993 26,744,185
2036 174,515,366 26,778,348
2035 170,904,339 26,805,065
2034 167,316,305 26,823,948
2033 163,763,376 26,834,263
2032 160,167,364 26,835,978
2031 156,590,018 26,827,992
2030 153,023,174 26,809,850
2029 149,461,578 26,782,161
2028 145,944,350 26,744,278
2027 142,419,893 26,696,504
2026 138,930,724 26,638,530
2025 135,472,051 26,571,036
2024 132,059,767 26,498,823
2023 128,691,692 26,418,204
2022 125,384,287 26,328,845
2021 122,138,588 26,232,534
2020 118,917,671 26,136,312
2019 115,737,383 26,037,632
2018 112,664,152 25,931,147
2017 109,666,481 25,817,709
2016 106,718,162 25,698,326
2015 103,867,135 25,575,350
2014 101,115,610 25,451,262
2013 98,438,751 25,329,451
2012 95,798,767 25,211,728
2011 93,149,970 25,097,874
2010 90,538,514 24,987,258
2009 88,007,636 24,878,332
2008 85,543,668 24,764,618
2007 83,103,217 24,646,383
2006 80,703,490 24,524,507
2005 78,367,470 24,396,433
2004 76,077,206 24,254,943
2003 73,832,663 24,090,380
2002 71,635,517 23,943,973
2001 69,487,762 23,815,358
2000 67,411,494 23,665,910
1999 65,374,561 23,497,599
1998 63,363,524 23,311,564
1997 61,404,539 23,110,830
1996 59,467,635 22,895,746
1995 57,537,335 22,669,304
1994 55,611,508 22,393,975
1993 53,708,891 22,073,352
1992 51,853,747 21,750,911
1991 49,717,198 21,428,638
1990 47,609,755 21,112,137
1989 45,879,690 20,804,367
1988 44,150,825 20,503,161
1987 42,460,039 20,205,483
1986 41,037,656 19,910,855
1985 39,842,136 19,620,388
1984 38,735,722 19,335,043
1983 37,740,817 19,054,034
1982 36,701,290 18,776,357
1981 35,304,012 18,501,295
1980 34,428,514 18,236,786
1979 34,238,652 17,983,470
1978 33,734,592 17,735,995
1977 33,167,272 17,492,798
1976 32,534,418 17,243,450
1975 31,723,252 16,971,055
1974 30,957,273 16,673,121
1973 30,166,785 16,350,367
1972 29,374,608 15,975,069
1971 28,600,106 15,572,457
1970 27,829,128 15,172,775
1969 27,072,571 14,767,615
1968 26,337,930 14,365,596
1967 25,620,276 13,958,350
1966 24,952,689 13,569,094
1965 24,310,612 13,219,369
1964 23,666,548 12,889,770
1963 23,051,637 12,567,057
1962 22,465,126 12,262,882
1961 21,906,102 11,990,713
1960 21,376,693 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/ethiopia/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia North Korea
2100 0.47% -0.65%
2099 0.5% -0.65%
2098 0.53% -0.65%
2097 0.56% -0.65%
2096 0.54% -0.65%
2095 0.57% -0.65%
2094 0.58% -0.64%
2093 0.58% -0.64%
2092 0.61% -0.64%
2091 0.64% -0.63%
2090 0.63% -0.63%
2089 0.64% -0.62%
2088 0.68% -0.62%
2087 0.73% -0.61%
2086 0.74% -0.6%
2085 0.75% -0.6%
2084 0.77% -0.59%
2083 0.81% -0.59%
2082 0.82% -0.58%
2081 0.83% -0.58%
2080 0.84% -0.57%
2079 0.89% -0.57%
2078 0.92% -0.56%
2077 0.95% -0.56%
2076 0.97% -0.56%
2075 1% -0.55%
2074 0.99% -0.55%
2073 1.03% -0.55%
2072 1.05% -0.55%
2071 1.07% -0.55%
2070 1.1% -0.55%
2069 1.12% -0.55%
2068 1.16% -0.54%
2067 1.16% -0.54%
2066 1.19% -0.54%
2065 1.22% -0.53%
2064 1.25% -0.53%
2063 1.28% -0.52%
2062 1.33% -0.51%
2061 1.35% -0.5%
2060 1.38% -0.49%
2059 1.37% -0.48%
2058 1.41% -0.47%
2057 1.47% -0.45%
2056 1.46% -0.44%
2055 1.51% -0.42%
2054 1.53% -0.41%
2053 1.57% -0.39%
2052 1.63% -0.38%
2051 1.63% -0.36%
2050 1.67% -0.35%
2049 1.7% -0.33%
2048 1.74% -0.32%
2047 1.76% -0.3%
2046 1.78% -0.29%
2045 1.82% -0.27%
2044 1.86% -0.26%
2043 1.88% -0.24%
2042 1.9% -0.23%
2041 1.94% -0.21%
2040 1.97% -0.2%
2039 2% -0.17%
2038 2.03% -0.15%
2037 2.07% -0.13%
2036 2.11% -0.1%
2035 2.14% -0.07%
2034 2.17% -0.04%
2033 2.25% -0.006%
2032 2.28% 0.03%
2031 2.33% 0.07%
2030 2.38% 0.1%
2029 2.41% 0.14%
2028 2.47% 0.18%
2027 2.51% 0.22%
2026 2.55% 0.25%
2025 2.58% 0.27%
2024 2.62% 0.31%
2023 2.64% 0.34%
2022 2.66% 0.37%
2021 2.71% 0.37%
2020 2.75% 0.38%
2019 2.73% 0.41%
2018 2.73% 0.44%
2017 2.76% 0.46%
2016 2.74% 0.48%
2015 2.72% 0.49%
2014 2.72% 0.48%
2013 2.76% 0.47%
2012 2.84% 0.45%
2011 2.88% 0.44%
2010 2.88% 0.44%
2009 2.88% 0.46%
2008 2.94% 0.48%
2007 2.97% 0.5%
2006 2.98% 0.52%
2005 3.01% 0.58%
2004 3.04% 0.68%
2003 3.07% 0.61%
2002 3.09% 0.54%
2001 3.08% 0.63%
2000 3.12% 0.72%
1999 3.17% 0.8%
1998 3.19% 0.87%
1997 3.26% 0.94%
1996 3.35% 1%
1995 3.46% 1.23%
1994 3.54% 1.45%
1993 3.58% 1.48%
1992 4.3% 1.5%
1991 4.43% 1.5%
1990 3.77% 1.48%
1989 3.92% 1.47%
1988 3.98% 1.47%
1987 3.47% 1.48%
1986 3% 1.48%
1985 2.86% 1.48%
1984 2.64% 1.47%
1983 2.83% 1.48%
1982 3.96% 1.49%
1981 2.54% 1.45%
1980 0.55% 1.41%
1979 1.49% 1.4%
1978 1.71% 1.39%
1977 1.95% 1.45%
1976 2.56% 1.61%
1975 2.47% 1.79%
1974 2.62% 1.97%
1973 2.7% 2.35%
1972 2.71% 2.59%
1971 2.77% 2.63%
1970 2.79% 2.74%
1969 2.79% 2.8%
1968 2.8% 2.92%
1967 2.68% 2.87%
1966 2.64% 2.65%
1965 2.72% 2.56%
1964 2.67% 2.57%
1963 2.61% 2.48%
1962 2.55% 2.27%
1961 2.48% 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/ethiopia/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia North Korea
Current population
140722974
26668308
Population rank 10/197 57/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.32%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
7.3 minutes
One birth every
7.59 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
40.6 seconds
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +198
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 146/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +24,054 -2,787
Net migration rank 31/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -2,787
2024 3,379,409 30,069 79,496 -2,473
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 86,203 -1,997
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 96,495 -1,997
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 99,710 -1,585
2020 3,199,718 38,866 95,920 -1,585
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 106,208 -3,142
2018 3,015,231 9,302 113,164 -3,225
2017 2,899,143 71,766 120,181 -3,224
2016 2,809,889 115,823 125,048 -3,222
2015 2,713,529 62,785 127,365 -3,208
2014 2,623,647 103,122 127,078 -3,042
2013 2,546,020 80,955 122,519 -2,933
2012 2,533,398 119,517 118,773 -2,919
2011 2,527,811 116,793 114,798 -2,957
2010 2,498,048 80,213 112,443 -3,053
2009 2,467,118 16,315 111,530 -3,058
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 122,015 -3,051
2007 2,436,753 -381 120,521 -3,021
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 129,171 -2,948
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 132,765 -2,861
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 155,838 -2,758
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 178,775 -2,717
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 119,504 -2,763
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 143,321 -2,884
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 161,591 -3,142
1999 2,010,987 29,142 181,613 -3,443
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 197,589 -3,706
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 211,325 -3,745
1996 1,896,364 41,456 226,095 -3,512
1995 1,831,068 91,727 233,381 -3,094
1994 1,788,133 140,715 320,861 -517
1993 1,734,851 141,545 320,880 0
1992 1,673,839 160,106 324,002 0
1991 1,579,416 859,737 320,551 0
1990 1,479,663 296,014 312,460 0
1989 1,441,769 242,614 303,078 0
1988 1,393,356 379,966 299,305 0
1987 1,356,853 251,387 296,030 0
1986 1,050,277 186,227 293,227 0
1985 997,050 157,476 287,714 0
1984 920,670 137,632 282,987 0
1983 863,472 68,022 279,046 0
1982 1,080,853 66,702 276,332 0
1981 1,018,838 628,135 273,800 0
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 255,206 0
1979 987,203 -711,455 251,409 0
1978 943,388 -210,991 243,533 0
1977 929,381 -527,133 242,870 0
1976 899,577 -36,125 255,841 0
1975 801,425 -42,540 288,966 0
1974 777,306 -4,232 306,902 0
1973 807,535 347 338,600 0
1972 779,808 -3,375 411,997 0
1971 787,047 -14,510 393,220 0
1970 760,821 8,589 406,129 0
1969 736,428 7,258 404,189 0
1968 715,602 9,992 399,837 0
1967 695,283 14,437 414,632 0
1966 616,281 9,160 363,882 0
1965 642,359 16,348 335,587 0
1964 618,667 10,749 323,623 0
1963 590,998 9,418 321,805 0
1962 563,650 8,960 286,534 0
1961 538,518 6,938 257,788 0
1960 511,694 1,696 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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/ethiopia/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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