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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 5.23 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Kuwait vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait North Korea
2100 9,589,440 19,604,631
2099 9,513,152 19,733,548
2098 9,437,521 19,862,949
2097 9,362,225 19,993,288
2096 9,287,200 20,124,518
2095 9,212,523 20,256,401
2094 9,138,210 20,388,156
2093 9,064,241 20,520,253
2092 8,990,676 20,652,961
2091 8,917,547 20,785,785
2090 8,844,888 20,918,305
2089 8,772,503 21,050,580
2088 8,700,563 21,182,325
2087 8,629,117 21,314,047
2086 8,558,199 21,445,329
2085 8,487,764 21,575,835
2084 8,417,828 21,705,777
2083 8,348,353 21,835,029
2082 8,279,354 21,964,199
2081 8,210,772 22,092,862
2080 8,142,636 22,220,948
2079 8,075,101 22,348,577
2078 8,008,036 22,475,755
2077 7,941,463 22,602,817
2076 7,875,406 22,729,499
2075 7,809,930 22,856,369
2074 7,745,028 22,983,784
2073 7,680,639 23,111,441
2072 7,616,806 23,239,261
2071 7,553,744 23,367,583
2070 7,491,390 23,496,136
2069 7,429,571 23,625,538
2068 7,368,423 23,755,136
2067 7,307,932 23,884,879
2066 7,248,116 24,015,027
2065 7,188,899 24,144,985
2064 7,130,298 24,274,257
2063 7,072,099 24,402,439
2062 7,014,494 24,529,941
2061 6,957,511 24,656,350
2060 6,901,153 24,780,911
2059 6,845,293 24,903,037
2058 6,789,909 25,023,260
2057 6,734,955 25,140,523
2056 6,680,523 25,255,342
2055 6,626,403 25,366,397
2054 6,572,580 25,474,292
2053 6,518,885 25,578,870
2052 6,465,284 25,679,963
2051 6,411,692 25,777,639
2050 6,358,029 25,871,673
2049 6,304,394 25,962,167
2048 6,250,650 26,048,593
2047 6,196,914 26,131,429
2046 6,143,120 26,210,487
2045 6,089,197 26,286,208
2044 6,035,156 26,358,331
2043 5,981,241 26,427,062
2042 5,927,307 26,491,482
2041 5,873,587 26,552,564
2040 5,820,161 26,609,557
2039 5,767,029 26,661,815
2038 5,714,211 26,708,400
2037 5,661,929 26,749,134
2036 5,610,194 26,783,304
2035 5,559,069 26,810,026
2034 5,508,623 26,828,912
2033 5,458,935 26,839,229
2032 5,410,081 26,840,944
2031 5,362,063 26,832,957
2030 5,314,935 26,814,812
2029 5,265,492 26,787,117
2028 5,212,438 26,749,227
2027 5,152,065 26,701,444
2026 5,080,894 26,643,460
2025 4,998,262 26,575,953
2024 4,897,263 26,498,823
2023 4,853,420 26,418,204
2022 4,589,643 26,328,845
2021 4,360,865 26,232,534
2020 4,400,267 26,136,312
2019 4,442,316 26,037,632
2018 4,323,515 25,931,147
2017 4,154,812 25,817,709
2016 4,004,096 25,698,326
2015 3,834,574 25,575,350
2014 3,665,876 25,451,262
2013 3,507,844 25,329,451
2012 3,337,109 25,211,728
2011 3,132,814 25,097,874
2010 2,943,372 24,987,258
2009 2,795,484 24,878,332
2008 2,651,421 24,764,618
2007 2,507,887 24,646,383
2006 2,364,733 24,524,507
2005 2,236,788 24,396,433
2004 2,157,320 24,254,943
2003 2,109,881 24,090,380
2002 2,059,974 23,943,973
2001 2,008,121 23,815,358
2000 1,954,709 23,665,910
1999 1,900,030 23,497,599
1998 1,844,302 23,311,564
1997 1,787,683 23,110,830
1996 1,730,246 22,895,746
1995 1,681,513 22,669,304
1994 1,664,361 22,393,975
1993 1,672,151 22,073,352
1992 1,634,961 21,750,911
1991 1,351,399 21,428,638
1990 1,684,819 21,112,137
1989 2,217,468 20,804,367
1988 2,134,707 20,503,161
1987 2,052,994 20,205,483
1986 1,972,520 19,910,855
1985 1,894,242 19,620,388
1984 1,820,688 19,335,043
1983 1,744,295 19,054,034
1982 1,662,480 18,776,357
1981 1,583,426 18,501,295
1980 1,504,782 18,236,786
1979 1,423,514 17,983,470
1978 1,340,319 17,735,995
1977 1,258,023 17,492,798
1976 1,178,711 17,243,450
1975 1,104,863 16,971,055
1974 1,038,346 16,673,121
1973 977,654 16,350,367
1972 920,352 15,975,069
1971 865,076 15,572,457
1970 809,114 15,172,775
1969 749,452 14,767,615
1968 687,716 14,365,596
1967 628,089 13,958,350
1966 572,590 13,569,094
1965 521,174 13,219,369
1964 473,115 12,889,770
1963 427,694 12,567,057
1962 384,995 12,262,882
1961 345,945 11,990,713
1960 311,060 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/kuwait/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th 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) Kuwait's population will grow by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people with a rank change from 127th to 117th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait North Korea
2100 0.8% -0.65%
2099 0.8% -0.65%
2098 0.8% -0.65%
2097 0.81% -0.65%
2096 0.81% -0.65%
2095 0.81% -0.65%
2094 0.82% -0.64%
2093 0.82% -0.64%
2092 0.82% -0.64%
2091 0.82% -0.63%
2090 0.83% -0.63%
2089 0.83% -0.62%
2088 0.83% -0.62%
2087 0.83% -0.61%
2086 0.83% -0.6%
2085 0.83% -0.6%
2084 0.83% -0.59%
2083 0.83% -0.59%
2082 0.84% -0.58%
2081 0.84% -0.58%
2080 0.84% -0.57%
2079 0.84% -0.57%
2078 0.84% -0.56%
2077 0.84% -0.56%
2076 0.84% -0.56%
2075 0.84% -0.55%
2074 0.84% -0.55%
2073 0.84% -0.55%
2072 0.83% -0.55%
2071 0.83% -0.55%
2070 0.83% -0.55%
2069 0.83% -0.55%
2068 0.83% -0.54%
2067 0.83% -0.54%
2066 0.82% -0.54%
2065 0.82% -0.53%
2064 0.82% -0.53%
2063 0.82% -0.52%
2062 0.82% -0.51%
2061 0.82% -0.5%
2060 0.82% -0.49%
2059 0.82% -0.48%
2058 0.82% -0.47%
2057 0.81% -0.45%
2056 0.82% -0.44%
2055 0.82% -0.42%
2054 0.82% -0.41%
2053 0.83% -0.39%
2052 0.84% -0.38%
2051 0.84% -0.36%
2050 0.85% -0.35%
2049 0.86% -0.33%
2048 0.87% -0.32%
2047 0.88% -0.3%
2046 0.89% -0.29%
2045 0.9% -0.27%
2044 0.9% -0.26%
2043 0.91% -0.24%
2042 0.91% -0.23%
2041 0.92% -0.21%
2040 0.92% -0.2%
2039 0.92% -0.17%
2038 0.92% -0.15%
2037 0.92% -0.13%
2036 0.92% -0.1%
2035 0.92% -0.07%
2034 0.91% -0.04%
2033 0.9% -0.006%
2032 0.9% 0.03%
2031 0.89% 0.07%
2030 0.94% 0.1%
2029 1.02% 0.14%
2028 1.17% 0.18%
2027 1.4% 0.22%
2026 1.65% 0.25%
2025 2.06% 0.29%
2024 0.9% 0.31%
2023 5.75% 0.34%
2022 5.25% 0.37%
2021 -0.9% 0.37%
2020 -0.95% 0.38%
2019 2.75% 0.41%
2018 4.06% 0.44%
2017 3.76% 0.46%
2016 4.42% 0.48%
2015 4.6% 0.49%
2014 4.51% 0.48%
2013 5.12% 0.47%
2012 6.52% 0.45%
2011 6.44% 0.44%
2010 5.29% 0.44%
2009 5.43% 0.46%
2008 5.72% 0.48%
2007 6.05% 0.5%
2006 5.72% 0.52%
2005 3.68% 0.58%
2004 2.25% 0.68%
2003 2.42% 0.61%
2002 2.58% 0.54%
2001 2.73% 0.63%
2000 2.88% 0.72%
1999 3.02% 0.8%
1998 3.17% 0.87%
1997 3.32% 0.94%
1996 2.9% 1%
1995 1.03% 1.23%
1994 -0.47% 1.45%
1993 2.27% 1.48%
1992 21% 1.5%
1991 -19.8% 1.5%
1990 -24% 1.48%
1989 3.88% 1.47%
1988 3.98% 1.47%
1987 4.08% 1.48%
1986 4.13% 1.48%
1985 4.04% 1.48%
1984 4.38% 1.47%
1983 4.92% 1.48%
1982 4.99% 1.49%
1981 5.23% 1.45%
1980 5.71% 1.41%
1979 6.21% 1.4%
1978 6.54% 1.39%
1977 6.73% 1.45%
1976 6.68% 1.61%
1975 6.41% 1.79%
1974 6.21% 1.97%
1973 6.23% 2.35%
1972 6.39% 2.59%
1971 6.92% 2.63%
1970 7.96% 2.74%
1969 8.98% 2.8%
1968 9.49% 2.92%
1967 9.69% 2.87%
1966 9.87% 2.65%
1965 10.2% 2.56%
1964 10.6% 2.57%
1963 11.1% 2.48%
1962 11.3% 2.27%
1961 11.2% 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/kuwait/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Kuwait North Korea
Current population
5100145
26659144
Population rank 127/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
12 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
10.5 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +221
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 150/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +42,775 -2,787
Net migration rank 24/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - -2,787
2024 - 61,624 - -2,473
2023 42,568 50,008 86,203 -1,997
2022 41,752 368,560 96,495 -1,997
2021 42,057 19,678 99,710 -1,585
2020 41,083 -168,379 95,920 -1,585
2019 46,268 181 106,208 -3,142
2018 47,222 145,973 113,164 -3,225
2017 51,498 92,717 120,181 -3,224
2016 51,397 105,818 125,048 -3,222
2015 52,127 129,695 127,365 -3,208
2014 54,673 100,891 127,078 -3,042
2013 52,666 107,821 122,519 -2,933
2012 53,181 127,777 118,773 -2,919
2011 50,733 176,732 114,798 -2,957
2010 49,838 101,566 112,443 -3,053
2009 48,879 95,483 111,530 -3,058
2008 47,505 96,268 122,015 -3,051
2007 46,539 96,765 120,521 -3,021
2006 45,911 97,087 129,171 -2,948
2005 45,243 67,638 132,765 -2,861
2004 44,341 1,713 155,838 -2,758
2003 42,934 5,895 178,775 -2,717
2002 41,651 9,335 119,504 -2,763
2001 40,662 12,055 143,321 -2,884
2000 39,811 14,296 161,591 -3,142
1999 39,342 15,912 181,613 -3,443
1998 39,324 16,878 197,589 -3,706
1997 39,581 17,457 211,325 -3,745
1996 39,920 17,914 226,095 -3,512
1995 39,198 438 233,381 -3,094
1994 36,533 -41,862 320,861 -517
1993 33,239 -43,501 320,880 0
1992 32,016 52,620 324,002 0
1991 21,867 460,628 320,551 0
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 312,460 0
1989 49,390 34,643 303,078 0
1988 50,037 31,455 299,305 0
1987 50,690 31,243 296,030 0
1986 51,824 27,187 293,227 0
1985 51,772 25,777 287,714 0
1984 52,539 17,020 282,987 0
1983 51,460 31,758 279,046 0
1982 49,981 30,437 276,332 0
1981 48,098 29,600 273,800 0
1980 47,096 32,483 255,206 0
1979 45,569 37,383 251,409 0
1978 44,277 39,159 243,533 0
1977 42,922 38,225 242,870 0
1976 41,439 36,050 255,841 0
1975 39,295 30,909 288,966 0
1974 37,425 25,398 306,902 0
1973 35,741 22,830 338,600 0
1972 34,045 21,984 411,997 0
1971 32,339 22,182 393,220 0
1970 30,789 26,614 406,129 0
1969 28,774 33,143 404,189 0
1968 26,161 35,399 399,837 0
1967 23,520 34,177 414,632 0
1966 20,914 32,383 363,882 0
1965 18,952 30,580 335,587 0
1964 17,064 29,537 323,623 0
1963 15,357 28,889 321,805 0
1962 13,730 27,417 286,534 0
1961 12,327 24,618 257,788 0
1960 11,054 21,769 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 35.8% of the population change in Kuwait is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 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, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
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/kuwait/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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