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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 3.51 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.15% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Iran vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran North Korea
2100 80,660,972 19,601,003
2099 81,193,582 19,729,897
2098 81,717,474 19,859,274
2097 82,241,892 19,989,589
2096 82,764,411 20,120,795
2095 83,283,942 20,252,653
2094 83,799,806 20,384,384
2093 84,316,389 20,516,457
2092 84,833,108 20,649,140
2091 85,354,240 20,781,939
2090 85,878,473 20,914,434
2089 86,409,859 21,046,685
2088 86,947,263 21,178,406
2087 87,492,427 21,310,103
2086 88,047,949 21,441,361
2085 88,610,339 21,571,843
2084 89,181,346 21,701,761
2083 89,758,453 21,830,989
2082 90,343,413 21,960,135
2081 90,936,310 22,088,774
2080 91,535,218 22,216,836
2079 92,136,544 22,344,442
2078 92,740,467 22,471,597
2077 93,344,865 22,598,635
2076 93,946,187 22,725,293
2075 94,544,733 22,852,140
2074 95,135,317 22,979,532
2073 95,721,351 23,107,165
2072 96,292,835 23,234,961
2071 96,851,951 23,363,260
2070 97,397,073 23,491,789
2069 97,924,812 23,621,167
2068 98,432,509 23,750,741
2067 98,913,776 23,880,460
2066 99,374,357 24,010,584
2065 99,812,137 24,140,518
2064 100,223,387 24,269,765
2063 100,602,361 24,397,924
2062 100,951,282 24,525,403
2061 101,266,537 24,651,788
2060 101,545,806 24,776,326
2059 101,792,315 24,898,430
2058 101,994,395 25,018,630
2057 102,161,227 25,135,871
2056 102,291,323 25,250,670
2055 102,382,089 25,361,704
2054 102,431,558 25,469,578
2053 102,441,204 25,574,137
2052 102,413,350 25,675,211
2051 102,350,865 25,772,870
2050 102,251,999 25,866,886
2049 102,122,983 25,957,363
2048 101,957,508 26,043,774
2047 101,765,614 26,126,594
2046 101,547,098 26,205,638
2045 101,305,486 26,281,344
2044 101,038,874 26,353,455
2043 100,752,109 26,422,173
2042 100,446,296 26,486,580
2041 100,122,690 26,547,651
2040 99,784,572 26,604,634
2039 99,436,793 26,656,882
2038 99,072,548 26,703,458
2037 98,694,577 26,744,185
2036 98,302,279 26,778,348
2035 97,899,013 26,805,065
2034 97,482,352 26,823,948
2033 97,054,589 26,834,263
2032 96,608,216 26,835,978
2031 96,141,200 26,827,992
2030 95,656,003 26,809,850
2029 95,133,736 26,782,161
2028 94,561,150 26,744,278
2027 93,925,792 26,696,504
2026 93,215,072 26,638,530
2025 92,417,681 26,571,036
2024 91,567,738 26,498,823
2023 90,608,707 26,418,204
2022 89,524,246 26,328,845
2021 88,455,488 26,232,534
2020 87,723,443 26,136,312
2019 87,051,648 26,037,632
2018 86,117,998 25,931,147
2017 85,026,754 25,817,709
2016 83,812,228 25,698,326
2015 82,619,362 25,575,350
2014 81,502,045 25,451,262
2013 80,414,686 25,329,451
2012 79,370,580 25,211,728
2011 78,383,598 25,097,874
2010 77,420,842 24,987,258
2009 76,457,825 24,878,332
2008 75,514,204 24,764,618
2007 74,602,648 24,646,383
2006 73,392,747 24,524,507
2005 71,828,455 24,396,433
2004 70,256,316 24,254,943
2003 68,769,340 24,090,380
2002 68,011,317 23,943,973
2001 67,452,005 23,815,358
2000 66,418,659 23,665,910
1999 65,445,391 23,497,599
1998 64,519,859 23,311,564
1997 63,639,638 23,110,830
1996 62,881,300 22,895,746
1995 62,205,567 22,669,304
1994 61,520,598 22,393,975
1993 61,403,543 22,073,352
1992 61,184,983 21,750,911
1991 59,986,931 21,428,638
1990 58,380,092 21,112,137
1989 56,704,914 20,804,367
1988 55,072,694 20,503,161
1987 53,323,493 20,205,483
1986 51,446,045 19,910,855
1985 49,582,289 19,620,388
1984 47,793,998 19,335,043
1983 46,029,535 19,054,034
1982 44,272,141 18,776,357
1981 41,989,312 18,501,295
1980 39,842,324 18,236,786
1979 38,424,952 17,983,470
1978 37,126,535 17,735,995
1977 35,933,181 17,492,798
1976 34,837,271 17,243,450
1975 33,802,973 16,971,055
1974 32,796,463 16,673,121
1973 31,839,838 16,350,367
1972 30,921,179 15,975,069
1971 30,029,071 15,572,457
1970 29,145,100 15,172,775
1969 28,273,482 14,767,615
1968 27,437,391 14,365,596
1967 26,628,432 13,958,350
1966 25,829,270 13,569,094
1965 25,036,978 13,219,369
1964 24,262,859 12,889,770
1963 23,519,005 12,567,057
1962 22,807,907 12,262,882
1961 22,125,726 11,990,713
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran North Korea
2100 -0.66% -0.65%
2099 -0.64% -0.65%
2098 -0.64% -0.65%
2097 -0.63% -0.65%
2096 -0.62% -0.65%
2095 -0.62% -0.65%
2094 -0.61% -0.64%
2093 -0.61% -0.64%
2092 -0.61% -0.64%
2091 -0.61% -0.63%
2090 -0.61% -0.63%
2089 -0.62% -0.62%
2088 -0.62% -0.62%
2087 -0.63% -0.61%
2086 -0.63% -0.6%
2085 -0.64% -0.6%
2084 -0.64% -0.59%
2083 -0.65% -0.59%
2082 -0.65% -0.58%
2081 -0.65% -0.58%
2080 -0.65% -0.57%
2079 -0.65% -0.57%
2078 -0.65% -0.56%
2077 -0.64% -0.56%
2076 -0.63% -0.56%
2075 -0.62% -0.55%
2074 -0.61% -0.55%
2073 -0.59% -0.55%
2072 -0.58% -0.55%
2071 -0.56% -0.55%
2070 -0.54% -0.55%
2069 -0.52% -0.55%
2068 -0.49% -0.54%
2067 -0.46% -0.54%
2066 -0.44% -0.54%
2065 -0.41% -0.53%
2064 -0.38% -0.53%
2063 -0.35% -0.52%
2062 -0.31% -0.51%
2061 -0.28% -0.5%
2060 -0.24% -0.49%
2059 -0.2% -0.48%
2058 -0.16% -0.47%
2057 -0.13% -0.45%
2056 -0.09% -0.44%
2055 -0.05% -0.42%
2054 -0.009% -0.41%
2053 0.03% -0.39%
2052 0.06% -0.38%
2051 0.1% -0.36%
2050 0.13% -0.35%
2049 0.16% -0.33%
2048 0.19% -0.32%
2047 0.22% -0.3%
2046 0.24% -0.29%
2045 0.26% -0.27%
2044 0.28% -0.26%
2043 0.3% -0.24%
2042 0.32% -0.23%
2041 0.34% -0.21%
2040 0.35% -0.2%
2039 0.37% -0.17%
2038 0.38% -0.15%
2037 0.4% -0.13%
2036 0.41% -0.1%
2035 0.43% -0.07%
2034 0.44% -0.04%
2033 0.46% -0.006%
2032 0.49% 0.03%
2031 0.51% 0.07%
2030 0.55% 0.1%
2029 0.61% 0.14%
2028 0.68% 0.18%
2027 0.76% 0.22%
2026 0.86% 0.25%
2025 0.93% 0.27%
2024 1.06% 0.31%
2023 1.21% 0.34%
2022 1.21% 0.37%
2021 0.83% 0.37%
2020 0.77% 0.38%
2019 1.08% 0.41%
2018 1.28% 0.44%
2017 1.45% 0.46%
2016 1.44% 0.48%
2015 1.37% 0.49%
2014 1.35% 0.48%
2013 1.32% 0.47%
2012 1.26% 0.45%
2011 1.24% 0.44%
2010 1.26% 0.44%
2009 1.25% 0.46%
2008 1.22% 0.48%
2007 1.65% 0.5%
2006 2.18% 0.52%
2005 2.24% 0.58%
2004 2.16% 0.68%
2003 1.11% 0.61%
2002 0.83% 0.54%
2001 1.56% 0.63%
2000 1.49% 0.72%
1999 1.43% 0.8%
1998 1.38% 0.87%
1997 1.21% 0.94%
1996 1.09% 1%
1995 1.11% 1.23%
1994 0.19% 1.45%
1993 0.36% 1.48%
1992 2% 1.5%
1991 2.75% 1.5%
1990 2.95% 1.48%
1989 2.96% 1.47%
1988 3.28% 1.47%
1987 3.65% 1.48%
1986 3.76% 1.48%
1985 3.74% 1.48%
1984 3.83% 1.47%
1983 3.97% 1.48%
1982 5.44% 1.49%
1981 5.39% 1.45%
1980 3.69% 1.41%
1979 3.5% 1.4%
1978 3.32% 1.39%
1977 3.15% 1.45%
1976 3.06% 1.61%
1975 3.07% 1.79%
1974 3% 1.97%
1973 2.97% 2.35%
1972 2.97% 2.59%
1971 3.03% 2.63%
1970 3.08% 2.74%
1969 3.05% 2.8%
1968 3.04% 2.92%
1967 3.09% 2.87%
1966 3.16% 2.65%
1965 3.19% 2.56%
1964 3.16% 2.57%
1963 3.12% 2.48%
1962 3.08% 2.27%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Iran North Korea
Current population
93580141
26668308
Population rank 17/197 57/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.32%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
7.3 minutes
One birth every
27.4 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
1.21 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,329 +198
Annual growth/decline +849,943 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 146/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 -2,787
Net migration rank 14/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -2,787
2024 715,785 190,156 79,496 -2,473
2023 750,150 262,044 86,203 -1,997
2022 753,525 403,190 96,495 -1,997
2021 645,725 334,967 99,710 -1,585
2020 663,978 -180,680 95,920 -1,585
2019 893,063 -32,794 106,208 -3,142
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 113,164 -3,225
2017 1,140,549 34,849 120,181 -3,224
2016 1,186,949 66,630 125,048 -3,222
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 127,365 -3,208
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 127,078 -3,042
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 122,519 -2,933
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 118,773 -2,919
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 114,798 -2,957
2010 980,380 -12,849 112,443 -3,053
2009 958,322 211 111,530 -3,058
2008 940,983 -12,184 122,015 -3,051
2007 919,254 -24,950 120,521 -3,021
2006 884,529 640,932 129,171 -2,948
2005 837,305 765,873 132,765 -2,861
2004 801,203 739,996 155,838 -2,758
2003 732,600 700,222 178,775 -2,717
2002 752,205 -668,962 119,504 -2,763
2001 743,658 291,692 143,321 -2,884
2000 731,203 300,133 161,591 -3,142
1999 723,237 191,988 181,613 -3,443
1998 717,655 218,171 197,589 -3,706
1997 726,574 98,009 211,325 -3,745
1996 784,508 -92,435 226,095 -3,512
1995 879,648 -220,258 233,381 -3,094
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 320,861 -517
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 320,880 0
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 324,002 0
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 320,551 0
1990 1,530,434 200,711 312,460 0
1989 1,609,739 9,460 303,078 0
1988 1,614,512 30,688 299,305 0
1987 1,639,644 213,524 296,030 0
1986 1,659,289 242,411 293,227 0
1985 1,661,750 163,999 287,714 0
1984 1,653,051 97,748 282,987 0
1983 1,573,612 204,544 279,046 0
1982 1,514,240 222,390 276,332 0
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 273,800 0
1980 1,361,293 103,674 255,206 0
1979 1,294,306 75,451 251,409 0
1978 1,156,974 70,088 243,533 0
1977 1,091,542 68,093 242,870 0
1976 1,013,347 18,825 255,841 0
1975 929,481 106,921 288,966 0
1974 873,369 103,252 306,902 0
1973 831,880 104,779 338,600 0
1972 804,043 96,614 411,997 0
1971 805,830 77,717 393,220 0
1970 794,612 89,757 406,129 0
1969 780,660 78,196 404,189 0
1968 743,992 69,342 399,837 0
1967 727,276 77,313 414,632 0
1966 695,040 98,709 363,882 0
1965 663,029 127,808 335,587 0
1964 635,589 121,817 323,623 0
1963 620,126 110,190 321,805 0
1962 595,538 96,332 286,534 0
1961 594,674 77,811 257,788 0
1960 584,060 54,041 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.9% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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