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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Italy was 58,952,704 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Italy's population is 58,562,681 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 2.2 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Italy is ranked the 26th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 1.03% of the world: 0.71% for Italy vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Italy has had an average growth rate of -0.21% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Italy has increased from 58.4M people to 58.6M (0.28% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Italy vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Italy
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Italy North Korea
2100 35,208,261 19,604,631
2099 35,444,989 19,733,548
2098 35,676,340 19,862,949
2097 35,914,345 19,993,288
2096 36,150,501 20,124,518
2095 36,386,787 20,256,401
2094 36,619,396 20,388,156
2093 36,850,181 20,520,253
2092 37,089,746 20,652,961
2091 37,323,400 20,785,785
2090 37,560,976 20,918,305
2089 37,802,157 21,050,580
2088 38,040,056 21,182,325
2087 38,280,439 21,314,047
2086 38,517,279 21,445,329
2085 38,761,126 21,575,835
2084 39,008,873 21,705,777
2083 39,255,273 21,835,029
2082 39,509,964 21,964,199
2081 39,767,732 22,092,862
2080 40,030,977 22,220,948
2079 40,302,924 22,348,577
2078 40,579,648 22,475,755
2077 40,860,952 22,602,817
2076 41,151,772 22,729,499
2075 41,455,646 22,856,369
2074 41,779,503 22,983,784
2073 42,111,664 23,111,441
2072 42,459,257 23,239,261
2071 42,814,908 23,367,583
2070 43,187,953 23,496,136
2069 43,571,469 23,625,538
2068 43,964,515 23,755,136
2067 44,361,273 23,884,879
2066 44,771,926 24,015,027
2065 45,197,177 24,144,985
2064 45,628,630 24,274,257
2063 46,066,216 24,402,439
2062 46,517,561 24,529,941
2061 46,971,598 24,656,350
2060 47,424,830 24,780,911
2059 47,879,711 24,903,037
2058 48,332,818 25,023,260
2057 48,778,066 25,140,523
2056 49,222,515 25,255,342
2055 49,653,326 25,366,397
2054 50,073,600 25,474,292
2053 50,488,203 25,578,870
2052 50,886,354 25,679,963
2051 51,276,616 25,777,639
2050 51,663,176 25,871,673
2049 52,034,983 25,962,167
2048 52,392,012 26,048,593
2047 52,745,310 26,131,429
2046 53,080,828 26,210,487
2045 53,408,660 26,286,208
2044 53,723,325 26,358,331
2043 54,042,322 26,427,062
2042 54,342,628 26,491,482
2041 54,629,496 26,552,564
2040 54,916,374 26,609,557
2039 55,205,078 26,661,815
2038 55,481,637 26,708,400
2037 55,757,394 26,749,134
2036 56,025,224 26,783,304
2035 56,295,613 26,810,026
2034 56,562,648 26,828,912
2033 56,822,364 26,839,229
2032 57,078,534 26,840,944
2031 57,345,322 26,832,957
2030 57,606,120 26,814,812
2029 57,851,091 26,787,117
2028 58,091,760 26,749,227
2027 58,333,039 26,701,444
2026 58,562,681 26,643,460
2025 58,769,653 26,575,953
2024 58,952,704 26,498,823
2023 58,984,216 26,418,204
2022 59,013,667 26,328,845
2021 59,133,173 26,232,534
2020 59,438,851 26,136,312
2019 59,729,081 26,037,632
2018 60,148,658 25,931,147
2017 60,002,252 25,817,709
2016 60,115,223 25,698,326
2015 60,229,605 25,575,350
2014 60,320,707 25,451,262
2013 60,311,613 25,329,451
2012 60,191,247 25,211,728
2011 60,026,841 25,097,874
2010 59,819,407 24,987,258
2009 59,555,454 24,878,332
2008 59,211,181 24,764,618
2007 58,756,247 24,646,383
2006 58,399,861 24,524,507
2005 58,166,682 24,396,433
2004 57,828,179 24,254,943
2003 57,399,184 24,090,380
2002 57,089,824 23,943,973
2001 56,976,981 23,815,358
2000 56,942,108 23,665,910
1999 56,916,317 23,497,599
1998 56,906,744 23,311,564
1997 56,890,372 23,110,830
1996 56,860,281 22,895,746
1995 56,844,303 22,669,304
1994 56,843,400 22,393,975
1993 56,831,821 22,073,352
1992 56,797,087 21,750,911
1991 56,758,521 21,428,638
1990 56,719,240 21,112,137
1989 56,671,781 20,804,367
1988 56,629,288 20,503,161
1987 56,601,931 20,205,483
1986 56,596,155 19,910,855
1985 56,593,071 19,620,388
1984 56,576,718 19,335,043
1983 56,564,074 19,054,034
1982 56,543,548 18,776,357
1981 56,501,675 18,501,295
1980 56,433,883 18,236,786
1979 56,317,749 17,983,470
1978 56,155,143 17,735,995
1977 55,955,411 17,492,798
1976 55,718,260 17,243,450
1975 55,441,001 16,971,055
1974 55,110,868 16,673,121
1973 54,751,406 16,350,367
1972 54,381,345 15,975,069
1971 54,073,490 15,572,457
1970 53,821,850 15,172,775
1969 53,537,950 14,767,615
1968 53,235,750 14,365,596
1967 52,900,500 13,958,350
1966 52,519,000 13,569,094
1965 52,112,350 13,219,369
1964 51,675,350 12,889,770
1963 51,252,000 12,567,057
1962 50,879,450 12,262,882
1961 50,536,350 11,990,713
1960 50,199,700 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/italy/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Italy increased by 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Italy lost 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Italy was ranked 23rd most populous country in 2006 and is 26th 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) Italy's population will shrink by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people with a rank change from 26th to 40th. 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 Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Italy
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Italy North Korea
2100 -0.67% -0.65%
2099 -0.65% -0.65%
2098 -0.66% -0.65%
2097 -0.65% -0.65%
2096 -0.65% -0.65%
2095 -0.64% -0.65%
2094 -0.63% -0.64%
2093 -0.65% -0.64%
2092 -0.63% -0.64%
2091 -0.63% -0.63%
2090 -0.64% -0.63%
2089 -0.63% -0.62%
2088 -0.63% -0.62%
2087 -0.61% -0.61%
2086 -0.63% -0.6%
2085 -0.64% -0.6%
2084 -0.63% -0.59%
2083 -0.64% -0.59%
2082 -0.65% -0.58%
2081 -0.66% -0.58%
2080 -0.67% -0.57%
2079 -0.68% -0.57%
2078 -0.69% -0.56%
2077 -0.71% -0.56%
2076 -0.73% -0.56%
2075 -0.78% -0.55%
2074 -0.79% -0.55%
2073 -0.82% -0.55%
2072 -0.83% -0.55%
2071 -0.86% -0.55%
2070 -0.88% -0.55%
2069 -0.89% -0.55%
2068 -0.89% -0.54%
2067 -0.92% -0.54%
2066 -0.94% -0.54%
2065 -0.95% -0.53%
2064 -0.95% -0.53%
2063 -0.97% -0.52%
2062 -0.97% -0.51%
2061 -0.96% -0.5%
2060 -0.95% -0.49%
2059 -0.94% -0.48%
2058 -0.91% -0.47%
2057 -0.9% -0.45%
2056 -0.87% -0.44%
2055 -0.84% -0.42%
2054 -0.82% -0.41%
2053 -0.78% -0.39%
2052 -0.76% -0.38%
2051 -0.75% -0.36%
2050 -0.71% -0.35%
2049 -0.68% -0.33%
2048 -0.67% -0.32%
2047 -0.63% -0.3%
2046 -0.61% -0.29%
2045 -0.59% -0.27%
2044 -0.59% -0.26%
2043 -0.55% -0.24%
2042 -0.53% -0.23%
2041 -0.52% -0.21%
2040 -0.52% -0.2%
2039 -0.5% -0.17%
2038 -0.49% -0.15%
2037 -0.48% -0.13%
2036 -0.48% -0.1%
2035 -0.47% -0.07%
2034 -0.46% -0.04%
2033 -0.45% -0.006%
2032 -0.47% 0.03%
2031 -0.45% 0.07%
2030 -0.42% 0.1%
2029 -0.41% 0.14%
2028 -0.41% 0.18%
2027 -0.39% 0.22%
2026 -0.35% 0.25%
2025 -0.31% 0.29%
2024 -0.05% 0.31%
2023 -0.05% 0.34%
2022 -0.2% 0.37%
2021 -0.51% 0.37%
2020 -0.49% 0.38%
2019 -0.7% 0.41%
2018 0.24% 0.44%
2017 -0.19% 0.46%
2016 -0.19% 0.48%
2015 -0.15% 0.49%
2014 0.02% 0.48%
2013 0.2% 0.47%
2012 0.27% 0.45%
2011 0.35% 0.44%
2010 0.44% 0.44%
2009 0.58% 0.46%
2008 0.77% 0.48%
2007 0.61% 0.5%
2006 0.4% 0.52%
2005 0.59% 0.58%
2004 0.75% 0.68%
2003 0.54% 0.61%
2002 0.2% 0.54%
2001 0.06% 0.63%
2000 0.05% 0.72%
1999 0.02% 0.8%
1998 0.03% 0.87%
1997 0.05% 0.94%
1996 0.03% 1%
1995 0.002% 1.23%
1994 0.02% 1.45%
1993 0.06% 1.48%
1992 0.07% 1.5%
1991 0.07% 1.5%
1990 0.08% 1.48%
1989 0.08% 1.47%
1988 0.05% 1.47%
1987 0.01% 1.48%
1986 0.005% 1.48%
1985 0.03% 1.48%
1984 0.02% 1.47%
1983 0.04% 1.48%
1982 0.07% 1.49%
1981 0.12% 1.45%
1980 0.21% 1.41%
1979 0.29% 1.4%
1978 0.36% 1.39%
1977 0.43% 1.45%
1976 0.5% 1.61%
1975 0.6% 1.79%
1974 0.66% 1.97%
1973 0.68% 2.35%
1972 0.57% 2.59%
1971 0.47% 2.63%
1970 0.53% 2.74%
1969 0.57% 2.8%
1968 0.63% 2.92%
1967 0.73% 2.87%
1966 0.78% 2.65%
1965 0.85% 2.56%
1964 0.83% 2.57%
1963 0.73% 2.48%
1962 0.68% 2.27%
1961 0.67% 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/italy/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Italy declined by 0.05%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Italy North Korea
Current population
58562681
26659144
Population rank 26/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.32%
One net population change
16.7 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
1.39 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
47.7 seconds
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -86 +221
Annual growth/decline -31,512 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 170/197 150/197
One migration net change every
6.99 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +75,448 -2,787
Net migration rank 19/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 6,553,671 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 12/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 11% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 59/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Italy
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Italy North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 75,448 - -2,787
2024 - 95,246 - -2,473
2023 -283,125 150,189 86,203 -1,997
2022 -318,674 231,228 96,495 -1,997
2021 -301,579 157,327 99,710 -1,585
2020 -338,801 85,281 95,920 -1,585
2019 -215,025 46,634 106,208 -3,142
2018 -192,475 83,686 113,164 -3,225
2017 -192,007 95,147 120,181 -3,224
2016 -138,265 84,568 125,048 -3,222
2015 -162,620 39,389 127,365 -3,208
2014 -96,513 52,679 127,078 -3,042
2013 -90,468 158,090 122,519 -2,933
2012 -78,248 252,524 118,773 -2,919
2011 -48,021 198,544 114,798 -2,957
2010 -23,928 274,387 112,443 -3,053
2009 -17,866 283,676 111,530 -3,058
2008 -11,842 422,534 122,015 -3,051
2007 -5,876 495,092 120,521 -3,021
2006 0 215,995 129,171 -2,948
2005 -17,450 258,702 132,765 -2,861
2004 11,566 417,970 155,838 -2,758
2003 -40,179 478,578 178,775 -2,717
2002 -22,836 223,861 119,504 -2,763
2001 -11,396 48,903 143,321 -2,884
2000 -17,082 56,065 161,591 -3,142
1999 -22,766 54,405 181,613 -3,443
1998 -39,835 67,985 197,589 -3,706
1997 -22,756 50,539 211,325 -3,745
1996 -22,744 53,450 226,095 -3,512
1995 -34,107 -460,287 233,381 -3,094
1994 -17,053 502,750 320,861 -517
1993 0 24,321 320,880 0
1992 22,718 51,747 324,002 0
1991 11,352 19,721 320,551 0
1990 22,688 35,317 312,460 0
1989 28,336 19,540 303,078 0
1988 33,977 18,553 299,305 0
1987 16,980 7,825 296,030 0
1986 11,319 -6,206 293,227 0
1985 28,297 6,911 287,714 0
1984 50,919 203 282,987 0
1983 33,939 -3,733 279,046 0
1982 79,161 -24,223 276,332 0
1981 73,452 7,182 273,800 0
1980 84,650 295,642 255,206 0
1979 129,531 42,637 251,409 0
1978 168,465 43,932 243,533 0
1977 190,248 42,246 242,870 0
1976 228,445 40,885 255,841 0
1975 271,660 43,051 288,966 0
1974 336,176 42,487 306,902 0
1973 328,508 41,631 338,600 0
1972 364,355 43,182 411,997 0
1971 383,922 -58,627 393,220 0
1970 376,753 -62,216 406,129 0
1969 390,827 -45,346 404,189 0
1968 399,268 -50,149 399,837 0
1967 439,074 -37,992 414,632 0
1966 488,427 -35,352 363,882 0
1965 474,222 -36,267 335,587 0
1964 527,089 -27,368 323,623 0
1963 440,767 -28,198 321,805 0
1962 427,387 -25,840 286,534 0
1961 459,880 -129,761 257,788 0
1960 426,697 -140,765 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.6% of the population change in Italy is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 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, 6,553,671 residents or 11% of the population were not native-born in Italy, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K
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/italy/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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