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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,847,785 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,826,986 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 14.6 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Latvia is ranked the 149th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.02% for Latvia vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Latvia has had an average growth rate of -0.69% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.6% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Latvia vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia North Korea
2100 922,007 19,601,003
2099 931,466 19,729,897
2098 940,927 19,859,274
2097 950,258 19,989,589
2096 959,655 20,120,795
2095 968,997 20,252,653
2094 978,324 20,384,384
2093 987,606 20,516,457
2092 996,982 20,649,140
2091 1,006,431 20,781,939
2090 1,015,921 20,914,434
2089 1,025,435 21,046,685
2088 1,035,083 21,178,406
2087 1,044,938 21,310,103
2086 1,054,879 21,441,361
2085 1,064,880 21,571,843
2084 1,075,183 21,701,761
2083 1,085,772 21,830,989
2082 1,096,487 21,960,135
2081 1,107,392 22,088,774
2080 1,118,511 22,216,836
2079 1,129,885 22,344,442
2078 1,141,268 22,471,597
2077 1,152,706 22,598,635
2076 1,164,352 22,725,293
2075 1,176,176 22,852,140
2074 1,188,082 22,979,532
2073 1,199,974 23,107,165
2072 1,211,961 23,234,961
2071 1,224,298 23,363,260
2070 1,236,755 23,491,789
2069 1,249,300 23,621,167
2068 1,262,278 23,750,741
2067 1,275,443 23,880,460
2066 1,288,533 24,010,584
2065 1,302,103 24,140,518
2064 1,315,729 24,269,765
2063 1,329,295 24,397,924
2062 1,342,898 24,525,403
2061 1,356,597 24,651,788
2060 1,370,646 24,776,326
2059 1,384,579 24,898,430
2058 1,398,610 25,018,630
2057 1,412,764 25,135,871
2056 1,426,866 25,250,670
2055 1,440,673 25,361,704
2054 1,454,475 25,469,578
2053 1,468,103 25,574,137
2052 1,481,591 25,675,211
2051 1,494,244 25,772,870
2050 1,506,958 25,866,886
2049 1,519,679 25,957,363
2048 1,532,326 26,043,774
2047 1,544,855 26,126,594
2046 1,557,274 26,205,638
2045 1,570,010 26,281,344
2044 1,582,416 26,353,455
2043 1,594,893 26,422,173
2042 1,607,225 26,486,580
2041 1,620,006 26,547,651
2040 1,632,650 26,604,634
2039 1,645,713 26,656,882
2038 1,658,653 26,703,458
2037 1,671,596 26,744,185
2036 1,684,899 26,778,348
2035 1,698,177 26,805,065
2034 1,711,808 26,823,948
2033 1,725,938 26,834,263
2032 1,740,330 26,835,978
2031 1,754,642 26,827,992
2030 1,769,574 26,809,850
2029 1,784,112 26,782,161
2028 1,798,494 26,744,278
2027 1,812,843 26,696,504
2026 1,826,986 26,638,530
2025 1,847,785 26,571,036
2024 1,866,124 26,498,823
2023 1,883,710 26,418,204
2022 1,879,383 26,328,845
2021 1,884,490 26,232,534
2020 1,900,449 26,136,312
2019 1,913,822 26,037,632
2018 1,927,174 25,931,147
2017 1,942,248 25,817,709
2016 1,959,537 25,698,326
2015 1,977,527 25,575,350
2014 1,993,782 25,451,262
2013 2,012,647 25,329,451
2012 2,034,319 25,211,728
2011 2,059,709 25,097,874
2010 2,097,555 24,987,258
2009 2,141,669 24,878,332
2008 2,177,322 24,764,618
2007 2,200,325 24,646,383
2006 2,218,357 24,524,507
2005 2,238,799 24,396,433
2004 2,263,122 24,254,943
2003 2,287,955 24,090,380
2002 2,310,173 23,943,973
2001 2,337,170 23,815,358
2000 2,367,550 23,665,910
1999 2,390,482 23,497,599
1998 2,410,019 23,311,564
1997 2,432,851 23,110,830
1996 2,457,222 22,895,746
1995 2,485,056 22,669,304
1994 2,520,742 22,393,975
1993 2,563,290 22,073,352
1992 2,614,338 21,750,911
1991 2,650,581 21,428,638
1990 2,663,151 21,112,137
1989 2,666,955 20,804,367
1988 2,653,434 20,503,161
1987 2,626,583 20,205,483
1986 2,599,892 19,910,855
1985 2,578,873 19,620,388
1984 2,562,047 19,335,043
1983 2,546,011 19,054,034
1982 2,531,080 18,776,357
1981 2,519,421 18,501,295
1980 2,511,701 18,236,786
1979 2,505,953 17,983,470
1978 2,497,921 17,735,995
1977 2,485,073 17,492,798
1976 2,470,989 17,243,450
1975 2,456,130 16,971,055
1974 2,437,186 16,673,121
1973 2,415,819 16,350,367
1972 2,395,674 15,975,069
1971 2,376,389 15,572,457
1970 2,359,164 15,172,775
1969 2,343,173 14,767,615
1968 2,323,619 14,365,596
1967 2,301,220 13,958,350
1966 2,283,217 13,569,094
1965 2,265,919 13,219,369
1964 2,240,623 12,889,770
1963 2,210,919 12,567,057
1962 2,181,586 12,262,882
1961 2,152,681 11,990,713
1960 2,120,979 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/latvia/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Latvia decreased by 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Latvia lost 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Latvia was ranked 140th most populous country in 2006 and is 149th 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) Latvia's population will shrink by 17.5% to 1,506,958 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. 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 Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 922K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Latvia
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Latvia North Korea
2100 -1.02% -0.65%
2099 -1.01% -0.65%
2098 -0.98% -0.65%
2097 -0.98% -0.65%
2096 -0.96% -0.65%
2095 -0.95% -0.65%
2094 -0.94% -0.64%
2093 -0.94% -0.64%
2092 -0.94% -0.64%
2091 -0.93% -0.63%
2090 -0.93% -0.63%
2089 -0.93% -0.62%
2088 -0.94% -0.62%
2087 -0.94% -0.61%
2086 -0.94% -0.6%
2085 -0.96% -0.6%
2084 -0.98% -0.59%
2083 -0.98% -0.59%
2082 -0.98% -0.58%
2081 -0.99% -0.58%
2080 -1.01% -0.57%
2079 -1% -0.57%
2078 -0.99% -0.56%
2077 -1% -0.56%
2076 -1.01% -0.56%
2075 -1% -0.55%
2074 -0.99% -0.55%
2073 -0.99% -0.55%
2072 -1.01% -0.55%
2071 -1.01% -0.55%
2070 -1% -0.55%
2069 -1.03% -0.55%
2068 -1.03% -0.54%
2067 -1.02% -0.54%
2066 -1.04% -0.54%
2065 -1.04% -0.53%
2064 -1.02% -0.53%
2063 -1.01% -0.52%
2062 -1.01% -0.51%
2061 -1.03% -0.5%
2060 -1.01% -0.49%
2059 -1% -0.48%
2058 -1% -0.47%
2057 -0.99% -0.45%
2056 -0.96% -0.44%
2055 -0.95% -0.42%
2054 -0.93% -0.41%
2053 -0.91% -0.39%
2052 -0.85% -0.38%
2051 -0.84% -0.36%
2050 -0.84% -0.35%
2049 -0.83% -0.33%
2048 -0.81% -0.32%
2047 -0.8% -0.3%
2046 -0.81% -0.29%
2045 -0.78% -0.27%
2044 -0.78% -0.26%
2043 -0.77% -0.24%
2042 -0.79% -0.23%
2041 -0.77% -0.21%
2040 -0.79% -0.2%
2039 -0.78% -0.17%
2038 -0.77% -0.15%
2037 -0.79% -0.13%
2036 -0.78% -0.1%
2035 -0.8% -0.07%
2034 -0.82% -0.04%
2033 -0.83% -0.006%
2032 -0.82% 0.03%
2031 -0.84% 0.07%
2030 -0.81% 0.1%
2029 -0.8% 0.14%
2028 -0.79% 0.18%
2027 -0.77% 0.22%
2026 -1.13% 0.25%
2025 -0.98% 0.27%
2024 -0.93% 0.31%
2023 0.23% 0.34%
2022 -0.27% 0.37%
2021 -0.84% 0.37%
2020 -0.7% 0.38%
2019 -0.69% 0.41%
2018 -0.78% 0.44%
2017 -0.88% 0.46%
2016 -0.91% 0.48%
2015 -0.82% 0.49%
2014 -0.94% 0.48%
2013 -1.07% 0.47%
2012 -1.23% 0.45%
2011 -1.8% 0.44%
2010 -2.06% 0.44%
2009 -1.64% 0.46%
2008 -1.05% 0.48%
2007 -0.81% 0.5%
2006 -0.91% 0.52%
2005 -1.07% 0.58%
2004 -1.09% 0.68%
2003 -0.96% 0.61%
2002 -1.16% 0.54%
2001 -1.28% 0.63%
2000 -0.96% 0.72%
1999 -0.81% 0.8%
1998 -0.94% 0.87%
1997 -0.99% 0.94%
1996 -1.12% 1%
1995 -1.42% 1.23%
1994 -1.66% 1.45%
1993 -1.95% 1.48%
1992 -1.37% 1.5%
1991 -0.47% 1.5%
1990 -0.14% 1.48%
1989 0.51% 1.47%
1988 1.02% 1.47%
1987 1.03% 1.48%
1986 0.82% 1.48%
1985 0.66% 1.48%
1984 0.63% 1.47%
1983 0.59% 1.48%
1982 0.46% 1.49%
1981 0.31% 1.45%
1980 0.23% 1.41%
1979 0.32% 1.4%
1978 0.52% 1.39%
1977 0.57% 1.45%
1976 0.6% 1.61%
1975 0.78% 1.79%
1974 0.88% 1.97%
1973 0.84% 2.35%
1972 0.81% 2.59%
1971 0.73% 2.63%
1970 0.68% 2.74%
1969 0.84% 2.8%
1968 0.97% 2.92%
1967 0.79% 2.87%
1966 0.76% 2.65%
1965 1.13% 2.56%
1964 1.34% 2.57%
1963 1.34% 2.48%
1962 1.34% 2.27%
1961 1.49% 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/latvia/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Latvia declined by 0.98%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Latvia North Korea
Current population
1826986
26668308
Population rank 149/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
28.7 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
40.8 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
19.7 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline -50 +198
Annual growth/decline -18,339 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate -0.98% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 146/197
One migration net change every
1.2 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -7,330 -2,787
Net migration rank 125/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 220,471 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 108/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 11.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 57/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Latvia
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Latvia North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,330 - -2,787
2024 -13,809 -2,225 79,496 -2,473
2023 -13,563 7,966 86,203 -1,997
2022 -14,847 22,027 96,495 -1,997
2021 -17,337 -280 99,710 -1,585
2020 -11,402 -3,147 95,920 -1,585
2019 -8,995 -3,416 106,208 -3,142
2018 -9,636 -4,972 113,164 -3,225
2017 -7,963 -7,867 120,181 -3,224
2016 -6,663 -12,327 125,048 -3,222
2015 -6,526 -10,826 127,365 -3,208
2014 -6,779 -8,799 127,078 -3,042
2013 -8,252 -14,386 122,519 -2,933
2012 -9,154 -11,914 118,773 -2,919
2011 -9,886 -20,202 114,798 -2,957
2010 -10,278 -36,128 112,443 -3,053
2009 -7,924 -34,807 111,530 -3,058
2008 -6,531 -22,445 122,015 -3,051
2007 -9,021 -8,027 120,521 -3,021
2006 -10,204 -9,211 129,171 -2,948
2005 -10,746 -11,134 132,765 -2,861
2004 -11,542 -15,136 155,838 -2,758
2003 -11,439 -11,422 178,775 -2,717
2002 -12,475 -9,160 119,504 -2,763
2001 -13,322 -18,634 143,321 -2,884
2000 -11,838 -15,679 161,591 -3,142
1999 -13,387 -3,229 181,613 -3,443
1998 -15,906 -5,504 197,589 -3,706
1997 -14,841 -9,183 211,325 -3,745
1996 -14,498 -9,888 226,095 -3,512
1995 -17,396 -13,288 233,381 -3,094
1994 -17,645 -21,446 320,861 -517
1993 -12,560 -32,914 320,880 0
1992 -3,660 -52,180 324,002 0
1991 0 -12,020 320,551 0
1990 2,929 -13,196 312,460 0
1989 6,401 -4,960 303,078 0
1988 9,022 15,784 299,305 0
1987 9,981 19,249 296,030 0
1986 10,660 13,972 293,227 0
1985 5,673 12,037 287,714 0
1984 7,430 8,847 282,987 0
1983 8,147 8,115 279,046 0
1982 6,327 8,116 276,332 0
1981 3,779 6,536 273,800 0
1980 3,265 3,099 255,206 0
1979 2,506 3,661 251,409 0
1978 2,997 7,399 243,533 0
1977 3,480 11,992 242,870 0
1976 4,200 8,870 255,841 0
1975 4,913 12,166 288,966 0
1974 6,824 14,420 306,902 0
1973 6,040 15,997 338,600 0
1972 7,666 11,077 411,997 0
1971 8,793 10,846 393,220 0
1970 7,785 12,494 406,129 0
1969 6,561 13,718 404,189 0
1968 7,668 13,465 399,837 0
1967 7,825 14,177 414,632 0
1966 8,677 13,465 363,882 0
1965 8,384 13,218 335,587 0
1964 12,100 13,010 323,623 0
1963 11,055 12,308 321,805 0
1962 11,562 12,344 286,534 0
1961 14,207 12,364 257,788 0
1960 14,211 11,420 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 88% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 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, 220,471 residents or 11.8% of the population were not native-born in Latvia, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K
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/latvia/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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