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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,405,134 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,181,414 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.62 times bigger than Greece's.
  • Greece is ranked the 96th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.2M (7.61% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Greece vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece North Korea
2100 6,463,085 19,604,631
2099 6,505,287 19,733,548
2098 6,547,164 19,862,949
2097 6,589,081 19,993,288
2096 6,630,487 20,124,518
2095 6,671,006 20,256,401
2094 6,710,734 20,388,156
2093 6,749,510 20,520,253
2092 6,787,596 20,652,961
2091 6,824,775 20,785,785
2090 6,862,164 20,918,305
2089 6,900,089 21,050,580
2088 6,937,116 21,182,325
2087 6,973,450 21,314,047
2086 7,010,676 21,445,329
2085 7,048,751 21,575,835
2084 7,086,818 21,705,777
2083 7,124,743 21,835,029
2082 7,164,627 21,964,199
2081 7,205,487 22,092,862
2080 7,248,512 22,220,948
2079 7,292,836 22,348,577
2078 7,338,859 22,475,755
2077 7,387,671 22,602,817
2076 7,437,562 22,729,499
2075 7,489,139 22,856,369
2074 7,543,259 22,983,784
2073 7,600,155 23,111,441
2072 7,659,253 23,239,261
2071 7,719,672 23,367,583
2070 7,782,317 23,496,136
2069 7,847,153 23,625,538
2068 7,913,682 23,755,136
2067 7,980,659 23,884,879
2066 8,047,692 24,015,027
2065 8,114,348 24,144,985
2064 8,181,923 24,274,257
2063 8,250,274 24,402,439
2062 8,318,463 24,529,941
2061 8,386,919 24,656,350
2060 8,454,179 24,780,911
2059 8,522,250 24,903,037
2058 8,589,200 25,023,260
2057 8,655,428 25,140,523
2056 8,720,012 25,255,342
2055 8,783,558 25,366,397
2054 8,844,935 25,474,292
2053 8,903,834 25,578,870
2052 8,961,755 25,679,963
2051 9,018,494 25,777,639
2050 9,072,676 25,871,673
2049 9,126,801 25,962,167
2048 9,177,973 26,048,593
2047 9,228,605 26,131,429
2046 9,275,381 26,210,487
2045 9,321,349 26,286,208
2044 9,367,130 26,358,331
2043 9,411,608 26,427,062
2042 9,454,837 26,491,482
2041 9,499,098 26,552,564
2040 9,543,726 26,609,557
2039 9,588,298 26,661,815
2038 9,633,708 26,708,400
2037 9,679,362 26,749,134
2036 9,724,905 26,783,304
2035 9,771,397 26,810,026
2034 9,817,355 26,828,912
2033 9,863,589 26,839,229
2032 9,911,215 26,840,944
2031 9,956,924 26,832,957
2030 10,002,298 26,814,812
2029 10,047,641 26,787,117
2028 10,092,845 26,749,227
2027 10,137,354 26,701,444
2026 10,181,414 26,643,460
2025 10,223,023 26,575,953
2024 10,405,134 26,498,823
2023 10,407,351 26,418,204
2022 10,436,882 26,328,845
2021 10,569,207 26,232,534
2020 10,698,599 26,136,312
2019 10,721,582 26,037,632
2018 10,732,882 25,931,147
2017 10,754,679 25,817,709
2016 10,775,971 25,698,326
2015 10,820,883 25,575,350
2014 10,892,413 25,451,262
2013 10,965,211 25,329,451
2012 11,045,011 25,211,728
2011 11,104,899 25,097,874
2010 11,121,341 24,987,258
2009 11,107,017 24,878,332
2008 11,077,841 24,764,618
2007 11,048,473 24,646,383
2006 11,020,362 24,524,507
2005 10,987,314 24,396,433
2004 10,955,141 24,254,943
2003 10,928,070 24,090,380
2002 10,902,022 23,943,973
2001 10,862,132 23,815,358
2000 10,805,808 23,665,910
1999 10,761,698 23,497,599
1998 10,720,509 23,311,564
1997 10,661,259 23,110,830
1996 10,608,800 22,895,746
1995 10,562,153 22,669,304
1994 10,512,922 22,393,975
1993 10,460,415 22,073,352
1992 10,399,061 21,750,911
1991 10,319,927 21,428,638
1990 10,196,792 21,112,137
1989 10,089,498 20,804,367
1988 10,036,983 20,503,161
1987 10,000,595 20,205,483
1986 9,967,213 19,910,855
1985 9,934,300 19,620,388
1984 9,895,801 19,335,043
1983 9,846,627 19,054,034
1982 9,789,513 18,776,357
1981 9,729,350 18,501,295
1980 9,642,505 18,236,786
1979 9,548,258 17,983,470
1978 9,429,959 17,735,995
1977 9,308,479 17,492,798
1976 9,188,150 17,243,450
1975 9,046,541 16,971,055
1974 8,962,022 16,673,121
1973 8,929,086 16,350,367
1972 8,888,628 15,975,069
1971 8,831,036 15,572,457
1970 8,792,806 15,172,775
1969 8,772,764 14,767,615
1968 8,740,765 14,365,596
1967 8,684,088 13,958,350
1966 8,613,651 13,569,094
1965 8,550,333 13,219,369
1964 8,510,429 12,889,770
1963 8,479,625 12,567,057
1962 8,448,233 12,262,882
1961 8,398,050 11,990,713
1960 8,331,725 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/greece/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 96th 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) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people with a rank change from 96th to 106th. 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 Greece's population already peaked in 2010 at 11.1M people and is projected to decrease to 6.46M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece North Korea
2100 -0.65% -0.65%
2099 -0.64% -0.65%
2098 -0.64% -0.65%
2097 -0.62% -0.65%
2096 -0.61% -0.65%
2095 -0.59% -0.65%
2094 -0.57% -0.64%
2093 -0.56% -0.64%
2092 -0.54% -0.64%
2091 -0.54% -0.63%
2090 -0.55% -0.63%
2089 -0.53% -0.62%
2088 -0.52% -0.62%
2087 -0.53% -0.61%
2086 -0.54% -0.6%
2085 -0.54% -0.6%
2084 -0.53% -0.59%
2083 -0.56% -0.59%
2082 -0.57% -0.58%
2081 -0.59% -0.58%
2080 -0.61% -0.57%
2079 -0.63% -0.57%
2078 -0.66% -0.56%
2077 -0.67% -0.56%
2076 -0.69% -0.56%
2075 -0.72% -0.55%
2074 -0.75% -0.55%
2073 -0.77% -0.55%
2072 -0.78% -0.55%
2071 -0.8% -0.55%
2070 -0.83% -0.55%
2069 -0.84% -0.55%
2068 -0.84% -0.54%
2067 -0.83% -0.54%
2066 -0.82% -0.54%
2065 -0.83% -0.53%
2064 -0.83% -0.53%
2063 -0.82% -0.52%
2062 -0.82% -0.51%
2061 -0.8% -0.5%
2060 -0.8% -0.49%
2059 -0.78% -0.48%
2058 -0.77% -0.47%
2057 -0.74% -0.45%
2056 -0.72% -0.44%
2055 -0.69% -0.42%
2054 -0.66% -0.41%
2053 -0.65% -0.39%
2052 -0.63% -0.38%
2051 -0.6% -0.36%
2050 -0.59% -0.35%
2049 -0.56% -0.33%
2048 -0.55% -0.32%
2047 -0.5% -0.3%
2046 -0.49% -0.29%
2045 -0.49% -0.27%
2044 -0.47% -0.26%
2043 -0.46% -0.24%
2042 -0.47% -0.23%
2041 -0.47% -0.21%
2040 -0.46% -0.2%
2039 -0.47% -0.17%
2038 -0.47% -0.15%
2037 -0.47% -0.13%
2036 -0.48% -0.1%
2035 -0.47% -0.07%
2034 -0.47% -0.04%
2033 -0.48% -0.006%
2032 -0.46% 0.03%
2031 -0.45% 0.07%
2030 -0.45% 0.1%
2029 -0.45% 0.14%
2028 -0.44% 0.18%
2027 -0.43% 0.22%
2026 -0.41% 0.25%
2025 -1.75% 0.29%
2024 -0.02% 0.31%
2023 -0.28% 0.34%
2022 -1.25% 0.37%
2021 -1.21% 0.37%
2020 -0.21% 0.38%
2019 -0.11% 0.41%
2018 -0.2% 0.44%
2017 -0.2% 0.46%
2016 -0.42% 0.48%
2015 -0.66% 0.49%
2014 -0.66% 0.48%
2013 -0.72% 0.47%
2012 -0.54% 0.45%
2011 -0.15% 0.44%
2010 0.13% 0.44%
2009 0.26% 0.46%
2008 0.27% 0.48%
2007 0.26% 0.5%
2006 0.3% 0.52%
2005 0.29% 0.58%
2004 0.25% 0.68%
2003 0.24% 0.61%
2002 0.37% 0.54%
2001 0.52% 0.63%
2000 0.41% 0.72%
1999 0.38% 0.8%
1998 0.56% 0.87%
1997 0.49% 0.94%
1996 0.44% 1%
1995 0.47% 1.23%
1994 0.5% 1.45%
1993 0.59% 1.48%
1992 0.77% 1.5%
1991 1.21% 1.5%
1990 1.06% 1.48%
1989 0.52% 1.47%
1988 0.36% 1.47%
1987 0.33% 1.48%
1986 0.33% 1.48%
1985 0.39% 1.48%
1984 0.5% 1.47%
1983 0.58% 1.48%
1982 0.62% 1.49%
1981 0.9% 1.45%
1980 0.99% 1.41%
1979 1.25% 1.4%
1978 1.31% 1.39%
1977 1.31% 1.45%
1976 1.57% 1.61%
1975 0.94% 1.79%
1974 0.37% 1.97%
1973 0.46% 2.35%
1972 0.65% 2.59%
1971 0.43% 2.63%
1970 0.23% 2.74%
1969 0.37% 2.8%
1968 0.65% 2.92%
1967 0.82% 2.87%
1966 0.74% 2.65%
1965 0.47% 2.56%
1964 0.36% 2.57%
1963 0.37% 2.48%
1962 0.6% 2.27%
1961 0.8% 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/greece/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Greece declined by 0.02%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Greece North Korea
Current population
10181414
26659144
Population rank 96/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.32%
One net population change
3.95 hours
6.52 minutes
One birth every
7.43 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.14 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6 +221
Annual growth/decline -2,217 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 165/197 150/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +16,636 -2,787
Net migration rank 37/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - -2,787
2024 - -122,772 - -2,473
2023 -56,200 -159,430 86,203 -1,997
2022 -63,665 -53,997 96,495 -1,997
2021 -58,131 -160,277 99,710 -1,585
2020 -46,004 6,353 95,920 -1,585
2019 -41,814 36,762 106,208 -3,142
2018 -33,272 17,938 113,164 -3,225
2017 -36,566 10,483 120,181 -3,224
2016 -25,862 10,484 125,048 -3,222
2015 -29,216 -43,462 127,365 -3,208
2014 -20,696 -46,678 127,078 -3,042
2013 -17,545 -59,323 122,519 -2,933
2012 -16,568 -65,364 118,773 -2,919
2011 -4,441 -31,786 114,798 -2,957
2010 5,560 2,001 112,443 -3,053
2009 8,886 18,182 111,530 -3,058
2008 11,077 27,081 122,015 -3,051
2007 2,210 25,400 120,521 -3,021
2006 6,612 27,621 129,171 -2,948
2005 2,197 33,297 132,765 -2,861
2004 0 29,039 155,838 -2,758
2003 -1,093 25,323 178,775 -2,717
2002 0 25,692 119,504 -2,763
2001 0 60,387 143,321 -2,884
2000 -1,081 54,661 161,591 -3,142
1999 -2,153 49,930 181,613 -3,443
1998 -2,144 47,856 197,589 -3,706
1997 2,133 45,671 211,325 -3,745
1996 0 43,444 226,095 -3,512
1995 1,056 42,674 233,381 -3,094
1994 6,307 42,897 320,861 -517
1993 4,185 39,829 320,880 0
1992 6,239 41,000 324,002 0
1991 6,192 37,917 320,551 0
1990 8,157 26,294 312,460 0
1989 9,080 18,862 303,078 0
1988 15,055 20,557 299,305 0
1987 10,001 19,005 296,030 0
1986 20,931 19,064 293,227 0
1985 22,849 16,093 287,714 0
1984 37,604 19,767 282,987 0
1983 42,341 18,655 279,046 0
1982 50,906 19,675 276,332 0
1981 54,484 25,061 273,800 0
1980 60,748 47,460 255,206 0
1979 65,882 72,184 251,409 0
1978 64,124 60,775 243,533 0
1977 59,574 19,193 242,870 0
1976 65,236 89,601 255,841 0
1975 61,516 61,265 288,966 0
1974 68,111 -22,590 306,902 0
1973 59,824 -42,387 338,600 0
1972 64,887 -3,589 411,997 0
1971 67,116 -12,747 393,220 0
1970 71,222 -54,166 406,129 0
1969 82,464 -118,544 404,189 0
1968 87,408 -429 399,837 0
1967 91,183 -55,853 414,632 0
1966 86,998 21,206 363,882 0
1965 83,793 -81,576 335,587 0
1964 83,402 -76,678 323,623 0
1963 81,404 -77,345 321,805 0
1962 85,327 -74,972 286,534 0
1961 86,500 -61,102 257,788 0
1960 96,648 -15,996 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 51.9% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 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, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
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/greece/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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