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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Italy was 58,915,656 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Italy's population is 58,708,169 people compared to 26,668,308 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 +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Italy has increased from 58.4M people to 58.7M (0.53% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Italy vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Italy
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Italy North Korea
2100 35,295,729 19,601,003
2099 35,533,045 19,729,897
2098 35,764,971 19,859,274
2097 36,003,567 19,989,589
2096 36,240,310 20,120,795
2095 36,477,183 20,252,653
2094 36,710,370 20,384,384
2093 36,941,728 20,516,457
2092 37,181,889 20,649,140
2091 37,416,123 20,781,939
2090 37,654,289 20,914,434
2089 37,896,069 21,046,685
2088 38,134,560 21,178,406
2087 38,375,540 21,310,103
2086 38,612,968 21,441,361
2085 38,857,421 21,571,843
2084 39,105,783 21,701,761
2083 39,352,795 21,830,989
2082 39,608,119 21,960,135
2081 39,866,527 22,088,774
2080 40,130,426 22,216,836
2079 40,403,049 22,344,442
2078 40,680,460 22,471,597
2077 40,962,463 22,598,635
2076 41,254,005 22,725,293
2075 41,558,635 22,852,140
2074 41,883,296 22,979,532
2073 42,216,283 23,107,165
2072 42,564,739 23,234,961
2071 42,921,274 23,363,260
2070 43,295,245 23,491,789
2069 43,679,714 23,621,167
2068 44,073,736 23,750,741
2067 44,471,480 23,880,460
2066 44,883,154 24,010,584
2065 45,309,461 24,140,518
2064 45,741,985 24,269,765
2063 46,180,658 24,397,924
2062 46,633,125 24,525,403
2061 47,088,290 24,651,788
2060 47,542,648 24,776,326
2059 47,998,659 24,898,430
2058 48,452,892 25,018,630
2057 48,899,246 25,135,871
2056 49,344,799 25,250,670
2055 49,776,680 25,361,704
2054 50,197,999 25,469,578
2053 50,613,632 25,574,137
2052 51,012,772 25,675,211
2051 51,404,003 25,772,870
2050 51,791,523 25,866,886
2049 52,164,254 25,957,363
2048 52,522,170 26,043,774
2047 52,876,346 26,126,594
2046 53,212,697 26,205,638
2045 53,541,344 26,281,344
2044 53,856,790 26,353,455
2043 54,176,580 26,422,173
2042 54,477,632 26,486,580
2041 54,765,213 26,547,651
2040 55,052,803 26,604,634
2039 55,342,225 26,656,882
2038 55,619,470 26,703,458
2037 55,895,913 26,744,185
2036 56,164,408 26,778,348
2035 56,435,468 26,805,065
2034 56,703,168 26,823,948
2033 56,963,528 26,834,263
2032 57,220,334 26,835,978
2031 57,487,786 26,827,992
2030 57,749,232 26,809,850
2029 57,994,812 26,782,161
2028 58,236,078 26,744,278
2027 58,477,957 26,696,504
2026 58,708,169 26,638,530
2025 58,915,656 26,571,036
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 59,877,221 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,407,054 people (a 2.34% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 51,791,523 people with a rank change from 26th to 40th. 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 Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.3M 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 -0.06% 0.27%
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 -0.25% 0.41%
2018 -0.21% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Italy declined by 0.06%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Italy North Korea
Current population
58708169
26668308
Population rank 26/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.32%
One net population change
14.2 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
1.42 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
48.6 seconds
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline -102 +198
Annual growth/decline -37,048 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate -0.06% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 162/197 146/197
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 -277,077 95,246 79,496 -2,473
2023 -294,922 150,189 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 -197,595 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 69.5% of the population change in Italy is from natural causes (a loss of 2,436,565 people) and 30.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,068,695 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/italy/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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