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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 4.6 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 1.8% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Japan vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan North Korea
2100 76,978,998 19,604,631
2099 77,363,458 19,733,548
2098 77,742,445 19,862,949
2097 78,118,375 19,993,288
2096 78,498,614 20,124,518
2095 78,875,245 20,256,401
2094 79,250,325 20,388,156
2093 79,628,057 20,520,253
2092 80,007,967 20,652,961
2091 80,383,529 20,785,785
2090 80,760,724 20,918,305
2089 81,140,553 21,050,580
2088 81,521,696 21,182,325
2087 81,908,373 21,314,047
2086 82,304,497 21,445,329
2085 82,709,534 21,575,835
2084 83,123,058 21,705,777
2083 83,544,006 21,835,029
2082 83,980,325 21,964,199
2081 84,429,305 22,092,862
2080 84,899,768 22,220,948
2079 85,387,247 22,348,577
2078 85,897,934 22,475,755
2077 86,434,291 22,602,817
2076 86,993,007 22,729,499
2075 87,577,777 22,856,369
2074 88,190,392 22,983,784
2073 88,834,763 23,111,441
2072 89,499,356 23,239,261
2071 90,184,464 23,367,583
2070 90,899,136 23,496,136
2069 91,625,421 23,625,538
2068 92,367,969 23,755,136
2067 93,113,499 23,884,879
2066 93,869,240 24,015,027
2065 94,633,430 24,144,985
2064 95,391,433 24,274,257
2063 96,148,081 24,402,439
2062 96,902,907 24,529,941
2061 97,654,031 24,656,350
2060 98,400,894 24,780,911
2059 99,144,216 24,903,037
2058 99,868,968 25,023,260
2057 100,585,601 25,140,523
2056 101,295,868 25,255,342
2055 101,989,736 25,366,397
2054 102,683,462 25,474,292
2053 103,359,083 25,578,870
2052 104,036,901 25,679,963
2051 104,706,698 25,777,639
2050 105,377,283 25,871,673
2049 106,053,011 25,962,167
2048 106,731,207 26,048,593
2047 107,419,237 26,131,429
2046 108,115,358 26,210,487
2045 108,820,982 26,286,208
2044 109,529,333 26,358,331
2043 110,245,586 26,427,062
2042 110,968,174 26,491,482
2041 111,704,629 26,552,564
2040 112,438,759 26,609,557
2039 113,175,948 26,661,815
2038 113,915,783 26,708,400
2037 114,662,374 26,749,134
2036 115,410,956 26,783,304
2035 116,162,381 26,810,026
2034 116,911,001 26,828,912
2033 117,652,676 26,839,229
2032 118,393,188 26,840,944
2031 119,127,425 26,832,957
2030 119,856,131 26,814,812
2029 120,574,242 26,787,117
2028 121,287,543 26,749,227
2027 121,989,133 26,701,444
2026 122,677,250 26,643,460
2025 123,339,586 26,575,953
2024 123,975,371 26,498,823
2023 124,516,650 26,418,204
2022 125,124,989 26,328,845
2021 125,681,593 26,232,534
2020 126,261,000 26,136,312
2019 126,633,000 26,037,632
2018 126,811,000 25,931,147
2017 126,972,000 25,817,709
2016 127,076,000 25,698,326
2015 127,141,000 25,575,350
2014 127,276,000 25,451,262
2013 127,445,000 25,329,451
2012 127,629,000 25,211,728
2011 127,833,000 25,097,874
2010 128,070,000 24,987,258
2009 128,047,000 24,878,332
2008 128,063,000 24,764,618
2007 128,001,000 24,646,383
2006 127,854,000 24,524,507
2005 127,773,000 24,396,433
2004 127,761,000 24,254,943
2003 127,718,000 24,090,380
2002 127,445,000 23,943,973
2001 127,149,000 23,815,358
2000 126,843,000 23,665,910
1999 126,631,000 23,497,599
1998 126,400,000 23,311,564
1997 126,057,000 23,110,830
1996 125,757,000 22,895,746
1995 125,472,000 22,669,304
1994 125,178,000 22,393,975
1993 124,829,000 22,073,352
1992 124,425,000 21,750,911
1991 123,964,000 21,428,638
1990 123,478,000 21,112,137
1989 123,069,000 20,804,367
1988 122,578,000 20,503,161
1987 122,069,000 20,205,483
1986 121,482,000 19,910,855
1985 120,837,000 19,620,388
1984 120,083,000 19,335,043
1983 119,307,000 19,054,034
1982 118,480,000 18,776,357
1981 117,661,000 18,501,295
1980 116,807,000 18,236,786
1979 115,890,000 17,983,470
1978 114,913,000 17,735,995
1977 113,872,000 17,492,798
1976 112,775,000 17,243,450
1975 111,573,000 16,971,055
1974 110,162,000 16,673,121
1973 108,707,000 16,350,367
1972 107,188,000 15,975,069
1971 105,697,000 15,572,457
1970 103,403,000 15,172,775
1969 102,219,000 14,767,615
1968 101,011,000 14,365,596
1967 99,879,000 13,958,350
1966 98,851,000 13,569,094
1965 97,952,000 13,219,369
1964 96,903,000 12,889,770
1963 95,900,000 12,567,057
1962 94,933,000 12,262,882
1961 94,055,000 11,990,713
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. 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 Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan North Korea
2100 -0.5% -0.65%
2099 -0.49% -0.65%
2098 -0.48% -0.65%
2097 -0.48% -0.65%
2096 -0.48% -0.65%
2095 -0.47% -0.65%
2094 -0.47% -0.64%
2093 -0.47% -0.64%
2092 -0.47% -0.64%
2091 -0.47% -0.63%
2090 -0.47% -0.63%
2089 -0.47% -0.62%
2088 -0.47% -0.62%
2087 -0.48% -0.61%
2086 -0.49% -0.6%
2085 -0.5% -0.6%
2084 -0.5% -0.59%
2083 -0.52% -0.59%
2082 -0.53% -0.58%
2081 -0.55% -0.58%
2080 -0.57% -0.57%
2079 -0.59% -0.57%
2078 -0.62% -0.56%
2077 -0.64% -0.56%
2076 -0.67% -0.56%
2075 -0.69% -0.55%
2074 -0.73% -0.55%
2073 -0.74% -0.55%
2072 -0.76% -0.55%
2071 -0.79% -0.55%
2070 -0.79% -0.55%
2069 -0.8% -0.55%
2068 -0.8% -0.54%
2067 -0.81% -0.54%
2066 -0.81% -0.54%
2065 -0.79% -0.53%
2064 -0.79% -0.53%
2063 -0.78% -0.52%
2062 -0.77% -0.51%
2061 -0.76% -0.5%
2060 -0.75% -0.49%
2059 -0.73% -0.48%
2058 -0.71% -0.47%
2057 -0.7% -0.45%
2056 -0.68% -0.44%
2055 -0.68% -0.42%
2054 -0.65% -0.41%
2053 -0.65% -0.39%
2052 -0.64% -0.38%
2051 -0.64% -0.36%
2050 -0.64% -0.35%
2049 -0.64% -0.33%
2048 -0.64% -0.32%
2047 -0.64% -0.3%
2046 -0.65% -0.29%
2045 -0.65% -0.27%
2044 -0.65% -0.26%
2043 -0.65% -0.24%
2042 -0.66% -0.23%
2041 -0.65% -0.21%
2040 -0.65% -0.2%
2039 -0.65% -0.17%
2038 -0.65% -0.15%
2037 -0.65% -0.13%
2036 -0.65% -0.1%
2035 -0.64% -0.07%
2034 -0.63% -0.04%
2033 -0.63% -0.006%
2032 -0.62% 0.03%
2031 -0.61% 0.07%
2030 -0.6% 0.1%
2029 -0.59% 0.14%
2028 -0.58% 0.18%
2027 -0.56% 0.22%
2026 -0.54% 0.25%
2025 -0.51% 0.29%
2024 -0.43% 0.31%
2023 -0.49% 0.34%
2022 -0.44% 0.37%
2021 -0.46% 0.37%
2020 -0.29% 0.38%
2019 -0.14% 0.41%
2018 -0.13% 0.44%
2017 -0.08% 0.46%
2016 -0.05% 0.48%
2015 -0.11% 0.49%
2014 -0.13% 0.48%
2013 -0.14% 0.47%
2012 -0.16% 0.45%
2011 -0.19% 0.44%
2010 0.02% 0.44%
2009 -0.01% 0.46%
2008 0.05% 0.48%
2007 0.11% 0.5%
2006 0.06% 0.52%
2005 0.009% 0.58%
2004 0.03% 0.68%
2003 0.21% 0.61%
2002 0.23% 0.54%
2001 0.24% 0.63%
2000 0.17% 0.72%
1999 0.18% 0.8%
1998 0.27% 0.87%
1997 0.24% 0.94%
1996 0.23% 1%
1995 0.23% 1.23%
1994 0.28% 1.45%
1993 0.32% 1.48%
1992 0.37% 1.5%
1991 0.39% 1.5%
1990 0.33% 1.48%
1989 0.4% 1.47%
1988 0.42% 1.47%
1987 0.48% 1.48%
1986 0.53% 1.48%
1985 0.63% 1.48%
1984 0.65% 1.47%
1983 0.7% 1.48%
1982 0.7% 1.49%
1981 0.73% 1.45%
1980 0.79% 1.41%
1979 0.85% 1.4%
1978 0.91% 1.39%
1977 0.97% 1.45%
1976 1.08% 1.61%
1975 1.28% 1.79%
1974 1.34% 1.97%
1973 1.42% 2.35%
1972 1.41% 2.59%
1971 2.22% 2.63%
1970 1.16% 2.74%
1969 1.2% 2.8%
1968 1.13% 2.92%
1967 1.04% 2.87%
1966 0.92% 2.65%
1965 1.08% 2.56%
1964 1.05% 2.57%
1963 1.02% 2.48%
1962 0.93% 2.27%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Japan North Korea
Current population
122677250
26659144
Population rank 12/197 57/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.32%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +221
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 150/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 -2,787
Net migration rank 10/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -2,787
2024 - 153,357 - -2,473
2023 -871,617 175,003 86,203 -1,997
2022 -825,825 175,003 96,495 -1,997
2021 -640,976 -34,996 99,710 -1,585
2020 -542,923 42,001 95,920 -1,585
2019 -531,858 318,190 106,208 -3,142
2018 -456,520 320,601 113,164 -3,225
2017 -406,310 322,564 120,181 -3,224
2016 -343,106 314,732 125,048 -3,222
2015 -292,424 168,896 127,365 -3,208
2014 -267,279 58,109 127,078 -3,042
2013 -242,146 66,449 122,519 -2,933
2012 -229,733 67,904 118,773 -2,919
2011 -204,533 97,720 114,798 -2,957
2010 -128,070 131,860 112,443 -3,053
2009 -76,828 125,450 111,530 -3,058
2008 -51,225 142,605 122,015 -3,051
2007 -25,600 138,024 120,521 -3,021
2006 12,785 130,065 129,171 -2,948
2005 -25,554 113,017 132,765 -2,861
2004 76,656 69,014 155,838 -2,758
2003 114,946 74,875 178,775 -2,717
2002 178,423 60,864 119,504 -2,763
2001 203,438 59,563 143,321 -2,884
2000 228,317 23,468 161,591 -3,142
1999 202,610 56,901 181,613 -3,443
1998 265,440 45,912 197,589 -3,706
1997 277,325 43,366 211,325 -3,745
1996 314,392 25,030 226,095 -3,512
1995 276,039 87,714 233,381 -3,094
1994 363,017 154,214 320,861 -517
1993 312,073 168,836 320,880 0
1992 360,833 170,878 324,002 0
1991 396,685 161,331 320,551 0
1990 407,478 124,582 312,460 0
1989 467,662 31,202 303,078 0
1988 527,085 51,154 299,305 0
1987 598,138 28,001 296,030 0
1986 631,706 27,987 293,227 0
1985 676,687 -141,323 287,714 0
1984 756,523 -273,686 282,987 0
1983 775,495 -269,755 279,046 0
1982 805,664 -288,550 276,332 0
1981 811,861 -278,525 273,800 0
1980 864,372 -92,314 255,206 0
1979 950,298 -57,692 251,409 0
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 243,533 0
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 242,870 0
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 255,841 0
1975 1,204,989 107 288,966 0
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 306,902 0
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 338,600 0
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 411,997 0
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 393,220 0
1970 1,230,496 33,731 406,129 0
1969 1,195,962 49,447 404,189 0
1968 1,191,930 43,593 399,837 0
1967 1,258,475 29,632 414,632 0
1966 682,072 68,934 363,882 0
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 335,587 0
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 323,623 0
1963 987,770 -100,742 321,805 0
1962 901,864 -57,075 286,534 0
1961 893,522 -58,882 257,788 0
1960 894,874 -150,371 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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