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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,360,527 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,328,600 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 11.5 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.72% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.33M (19.2% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Moldova vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova North Korea
2100 1,169,570 19,601,003
2099 1,180,272 19,729,897
2098 1,191,113 19,859,274
2097 1,201,972 19,989,589
2096 1,212,932 20,120,795
2095 1,223,967 20,252,653
2094 1,234,876 20,384,384
2093 1,245,808 20,516,457
2092 1,256,689 20,649,140
2091 1,267,532 20,781,939
2090 1,278,123 20,914,434
2089 1,288,741 21,046,685
2088 1,299,412 21,178,406
2087 1,309,994 21,310,103
2086 1,320,672 21,441,361
2085 1,331,516 21,571,843
2084 1,342,188 21,701,761
2083 1,353,031 21,830,989
2082 1,363,961 21,960,135
2081 1,375,027 22,088,774
2080 1,386,252 22,216,836
2079 1,397,755 22,344,442
2078 1,409,455 22,471,597
2077 1,421,568 22,598,635
2076 1,433,504 22,725,293
2075 1,445,874 22,852,140
2074 1,458,696 22,979,532
2073 1,471,729 23,107,165
2072 1,485,296 23,234,961
2071 1,499,224 23,363,260
2070 1,513,979 23,491,789
2069 1,528,841 23,621,167
2068 1,544,390 23,750,741
2067 1,560,256 23,880,460
2066 1,576,276 24,010,584
2065 1,592,761 24,140,518
2064 1,609,631 24,269,765
2063 1,626,510 24,397,924
2062 1,643,849 24,525,403
2061 1,661,290 24,651,788
2060 1,679,059 24,776,326
2059 1,696,440 24,898,430
2058 1,713,694 25,018,630
2057 1,730,910 25,135,871
2056 1,748,393 25,250,670
2055 1,765,554 25,361,704
2054 1,782,642 25,469,578
2053 1,799,510 25,574,137
2052 1,816,030 25,675,211
2051 1,832,448 25,772,870
2050 1,848,307 25,866,886
2049 1,864,603 25,957,363
2048 1,880,438 26,043,774
2047 1,896,381 26,126,594
2046 1,912,640 26,205,638
2045 1,929,525 26,281,344
2044 1,946,354 26,353,455
2043 1,964,017 26,422,173
2042 1,982,068 26,486,580
2041 2,000,545 26,547,651
2040 2,019,832 26,604,634
2039 2,040,153 26,656,882
2038 2,060,750 26,703,458
2037 2,081,833 26,744,185
2036 2,103,318 26,778,348
2035 2,125,527 26,805,065
2034 2,147,859 26,823,948
2033 2,170,311 26,834,263
2032 2,192,598 26,835,978
2031 2,215,052 26,827,992
2030 2,237,961 26,809,850
2029 2,260,762 26,782,161
2028 2,283,416 26,744,278
2027 2,305,981 26,696,504
2026 2,328,600 26,638,530
2025 2,360,527 26,571,036
2024 2,402,306 26,498,823
2023 2,457,783 26,418,204
2022 2,528,654 26,328,845
2021 2,595,809 26,232,534
2020 2,635,130 26,136,312
2019 2,664,224 26,037,632
2018 2,707,203 25,931,147
2017 2,755,189 25,817,709
2016 2,803,186 25,698,326
2015 2,835,978 25,575,350
2014 2,857,815 25,451,262
2013 2,859,558 25,329,451
2012 2,860,324 25,211,728
2011 2,860,699 25,097,874
2010 2,862,354 24,987,258
2009 2,865,213 24,878,332
2008 2,868,833 24,764,618
2007 2,874,299 24,646,383
2006 2,880,967 24,524,507
2005 2,888,985 24,396,433
2004 2,896,023 24,254,943
2003 2,903,198 24,090,380
2002 2,911,385 23,943,973
2001 2,918,135 23,815,358
2000 2,924,668 23,665,910
1999 2,930,622 23,497,599
1998 2,935,227 23,311,564
1997 2,936,413 23,110,830
1996 2,947,293 22,895,746
1995 2,953,200 22,669,304
1994 2,966,745 22,393,975
1993 2,975,966 22,073,352
1992 2,980,965 21,750,911
1991 2,981,566 21,428,638
1990 2,977,912 21,112,137
1989 2,970,039 20,804,367
1988 2,948,891 20,503,161
1987 2,916,306 20,205,483
1986 2,883,057 19,910,855
1985 2,850,787 19,620,388
1984 2,820,518 19,335,043
1983 2,791,207 19,054,034
1982 2,763,101 18,776,357
1981 2,735,987 18,501,295
1980 2,708,675 18,236,786
1979 2,683,035 17,983,470
1978 2,656,211 17,735,995
1977 2,626,298 17,492,798
1976 2,596,491 17,243,450
1975 2,566,998 16,971,055
1974 2,538,164 16,673,121
1973 2,510,584 16,350,367
1972 2,484,742 15,975,069
1971 2,460,611 15,572,457
1970 2,437,590 15,172,775
1969 2,408,469 14,767,615
1968 2,373,073 14,365,596
1967 2,337,695 13,958,350
1966 2,301,871 13,569,094
1965 2,265,287 13,219,369
1964 2,228,000 12,889,770
1963 2,188,895 12,567,057
1962 2,147,227 12,262,882
1961 2,103,327 11,990,713
1960 2,058,020 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/moldova/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. 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 Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova North Korea
2100 -0.91% -0.65%
2099 -0.91% -0.65%
2098 -0.9% -0.65%
2097 -0.9% -0.65%
2096 -0.9% -0.65%
2095 -0.88% -0.65%
2094 -0.88% -0.64%
2093 -0.87% -0.64%
2092 -0.86% -0.64%
2091 -0.83% -0.63%
2090 -0.82% -0.63%
2089 -0.82% -0.62%
2088 -0.81% -0.62%
2087 -0.81% -0.61%
2086 -0.81% -0.6%
2085 -0.8% -0.6%
2084 -0.8% -0.59%
2083 -0.8% -0.59%
2082 -0.8% -0.58%
2081 -0.81% -0.58%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.83% -0.57%
2078 -0.85% -0.56%
2077 -0.83% -0.56%
2076 -0.86% -0.56%
2075 -0.88% -0.55%
2074 -0.89% -0.55%
2073 -0.91% -0.55%
2072 -0.93% -0.55%
2071 -0.97% -0.55%
2070 -0.97% -0.55%
2069 -1.01% -0.55%
2068 -1.02% -0.54%
2067 -1.02% -0.54%
2066 -1.03% -0.54%
2065 -1.05% -0.53%
2064 -1.04% -0.53%
2063 -1.05% -0.52%
2062 -1.05% -0.51%
2061 -1.06% -0.5%
2060 -1.02% -0.49%
2059 -1.01% -0.48%
2058 -0.99% -0.47%
2057 -1% -0.45%
2056 -0.97% -0.44%
2055 -0.96% -0.42%
2054 -0.94% -0.41%
2053 -0.91% -0.39%
2052 -0.9% -0.38%
2051 -0.86% -0.36%
2050 -0.87% -0.35%
2049 -0.84% -0.33%
2048 -0.84% -0.32%
2047 -0.85% -0.3%
2046 -0.88% -0.29%
2045 -0.86% -0.27%
2044 -0.9% -0.26%
2043 -0.91% -0.24%
2042 -0.92% -0.23%
2041 -0.95% -0.21%
2040 -1% -0.2%
2039 -1% -0.17%
2038 -1.01% -0.15%
2037 -1.02% -0.13%
2036 -1.04% -0.1%
2035 -1.04% -0.07%
2034 -1.03% -0.04%
2033 -1.02% -0.006%
2032 -1.01% 0.03%
2031 -1.02% 0.07%
2030 -1.01% 0.1%
2029 -0.99% 0.14%
2028 -0.98% 0.18%
2027 -0.97% 0.22%
2026 -1.35% 0.25%
2025 -1.74% 0.27%
2024 -2.26% 0.31%
2023 -2.8% 0.34%
2022 -2.59% 0.37%
2021 -1.49% 0.37%
2020 -1.09% 0.38%
2019 -1.59% 0.41%
2018 -1.74% 0.44%
2017 -1.71% 0.46%
2016 -1.16% 0.48%
2015 -0.76% 0.49%
2014 -0.06% 0.48%
2013 -0.03% 0.47%
2012 -0.01% 0.45%
2011 -0.06% 0.44%
2010 -0.1% 0.44%
2009 -0.13% 0.46%
2008 -0.19% 0.48%
2007 -0.23% 0.5%
2006 -0.28% 0.52%
2005 -0.24% 0.58%
2004 -0.25% 0.68%
2003 -0.28% 0.61%
2002 -0.23% 0.54%
2001 -0.22% 0.63%
2000 -0.2% 0.72%
1999 -0.16% 0.8%
1998 -0.04% 0.87%
1997 -0.37% 0.94%
1996 -0.2% 1%
1995 -0.46% 1.23%
1994 -0.31% 1.45%
1993 -0.17% 1.48%
1992 -0.02% 1.5%
1991 0.12% 1.5%
1990 0.27% 1.48%
1989 0.72% 1.47%
1988 1.12% 1.47%
1987 1.15% 1.48%
1986 1.13% 1.48%
1985 1.07% 1.48%
1984 1.05% 1.47%
1983 1.02% 1.48%
1982 0.99% 1.49%
1981 1.01% 1.45%
1980 0.96% 1.41%
1979 1.01% 1.4%
1978 1.14% 1.39%
1977 1.15% 1.45%
1976 1.15% 1.61%
1975 1.14% 1.79%
1974 1.1% 1.97%
1973 1.04% 2.35%
1972 0.98% 2.59%
1971 0.94% 2.63%
1970 1.21% 2.74%
1969 1.49% 2.8%
1968 1.51% 2.92%
1967 1.56% 2.87%
1966 1.61% 2.65%
1965 1.67% 2.56%
1964 1.79% 2.57%
1963 1.94% 2.48%
1962 2.09% 2.27%
1961 2.2% 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/moldova/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Moldova declined by 1.74%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Moldova North Korea
Current population
2328600
26668308
Population rank 145/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
12.6 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
20.7 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
15.8 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline -114 +198
Annual growth/decline -41,779 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate -1.74% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 146/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -29,766 -2,787
Net migration rank 164/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - -2,787
2024 -7,767 -27,088 79,496 -2,473
2023 -7,007 -18,570 86,203 -1,997
2022 -6,385 89,154 96,495 -1,997
2021 -13,444 -33,405 99,710 -1,585
2020 -7,067 -33,405 95,920 -1,585
2019 -3,416 -41,233 106,208 -3,142
2018 -961 -36,085 113,164 -3,225
2017 1,402 -43,871 120,181 -3,224
2016 4,580 -51,642 125,048 -3,222
2015 6,049 -59,399 127,365 -3,208
2014 7,248 -67,175 127,078 -3,042
2013 3,537 -77,571 122,519 -2,933
2012 5,581 -81,215 118,773 -2,919
2011 5,948 -82,271 114,798 -2,957
2010 7,456 -84,039 112,443 -3,053
2009 7,492 -83,546 111,530 -3,058
2008 5,210 -79,593 122,015 -3,051
2007 3,490 -75,734 120,521 -3,021
2006 2,406 -72,061 129,171 -2,948
2005 2,005 -68,681 132,765 -2,861
2004 1,714 -52,491 155,838 -2,758
2003 -322 -46,947 178,775 -2,717
2002 -1,249 -45,833 119,504 -2,763
2001 -718 -45,043 143,321 -2,884
2000 -324 -43,854 161,591 -3,142
1999 642 -43,111 181,613 -3,443
1998 2,140 -41,975 197,589 -3,706
1997 4,669 -41,743 211,325 -3,745
1996 2,655 -33,369 226,095 -3,512
1995 5,534 -31,975 233,381 -3,094
1994 9,921 -31,616 320,861 -517
1993 13,886 -31,526 320,880 0
1992 17,373 -30,136 324,002 0
1991 21,127 -29,204 320,551 0
1990 25,824 -30,053 312,460 0
1989 29,638 -29,307 303,078 0
1988 35,608 -4,989 299,305 0
1987 40,122 -10,796 296,030 0
1986 39,463 -8,769 293,227 0
1985 38,060 -10,627 287,714 0
1984 38,108 -12,732 282,987 0
1983 36,076 -10,543 279,046 0
1982 32,814 -8,412 276,332 0
1981 31,360 -6,452 273,800 0
1980 30,053 -3,693 255,206 0
1979 28,322 -6,912 251,409 0
1978 27,622 3,483 243,533 0
1977 27,707 3,245 242,870 0
1976 27,801 2,885 255,841 0
1975 27,677 2,355 288,966 0
1974 27,219 1,785 306,902 0
1973 25,967 1,156 338,600 0
1972 24,626 481 411,997 0
1971 23,359 -61 393,220 0
1970 22,314 606 406,129 0
1969 21,768 20,561 404,189 0
1968 22,005 19,830 399,837 0
1967 22,654 19,175 414,632 0
1966 23,720 18,601 363,882 0
1965 24,916 18,066 335,587 0
1964 25,860 17,509 323,623 0
1963 29,382 16,816 321,805 0
1962 32,082 15,884 286,534 0
1961 35,180 14,818 257,788 0
1960 36,352 13,697 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 11.7% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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