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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 11,947 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,125 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2,199 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Nauru is ranked the 195th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.0001% for Nauru vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nauru has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (20.8% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Nauru vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Nauru
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nauru North Korea
2100 20,717 19,604,631
2099 20,686 19,733,548
2098 20,645 19,862,949
2097 20,605 19,993,288
2096 20,570 20,124,518
2095 20,535 20,256,401
2094 20,488 20,388,156
2093 20,432 20,520,253
2092 20,386 20,652,961
2091 20,341 20,785,785
2090 20,285 20,918,305
2089 20,219 21,050,580
2088 20,152 21,182,325
2087 20,096 21,314,047
2086 20,028 21,445,329
2085 19,959 21,575,835
2084 19,880 21,705,777
2083 19,796 21,835,029
2082 19,709 21,964,199
2081 19,611 22,092,862
2080 19,525 22,220,948
2079 19,420 22,348,577
2078 19,312 22,475,755
2077 19,206 22,602,817
2076 19,098 22,729,499
2075 18,986 22,856,369
2074 18,874 22,983,784
2073 18,758 23,111,441
2072 18,638 23,239,261
2071 18,535 23,367,583
2070 18,396 23,496,136
2069 18,289 23,625,538
2068 18,168 23,755,136
2067 18,025 23,884,879
2066 17,903 24,015,027
2065 17,777 24,144,985
2064 17,649 24,274,257
2063 17,524 24,402,439
2062 17,402 24,529,941
2061 17,267 24,656,350
2060 17,137 24,780,911
2059 17,013 24,903,037
2058 16,882 25,023,260
2057 16,752 25,140,523
2056 16,612 25,255,342
2055 16,472 25,366,397
2054 16,335 25,474,292
2053 16,193 25,578,870
2052 16,049 25,679,963
2051 15,888 25,777,639
2050 15,738 25,871,673
2049 15,572 25,962,167
2048 15,412 26,048,593
2047 15,241 26,131,429
2046 15,064 26,210,487
2045 14,895 26,286,208
2044 14,718 26,358,331
2043 14,546 26,427,062
2042 14,363 26,491,482
2041 14,180 26,552,564
2040 13,996 26,609,557
2039 13,827 26,661,815
2038 13,672 26,708,400
2037 13,513 26,749,134
2036 13,363 26,783,304
2035 13,196 26,810,026
2034 13,040 26,828,912
2033 12,894 26,839,229
2032 12,758 26,840,944
2031 12,625 26,832,957
2030 12,504 26,814,812
2029 12,386 26,787,117
2028 12,292 26,749,227
2027 12,182 26,701,444
2026 12,105 26,643,460
2025 12,030 26,575,953
2024 11,947 26,498,823
2023 11,875 26,418,204
2022 11,801 26,328,845
2021 11,709 26,232,534
2020 11,643 26,136,312
2019 11,587 26,037,632
2018 11,477 25,931,147
2017 11,324 25,817,709
2016 11,150 25,698,326
2015 10,954 25,575,350
2014 10,742 25,451,262
2013 10,517 25,329,451
2012 10,267 25,211,728
2011 10,098 25,097,874
2010 10,043 24,987,258
2009 10,016 24,878,332
2008 10,009 24,764,618
2007 10,020 24,646,383
2006 10,034 24,524,507
2005 10,049 24,396,433
2004 10,060 24,254,943
2003 10,059 24,090,380
2002 10,082 23,943,973
2001 10,130 23,815,358
2000 10,168 23,665,910
1999 10,187 23,497,599
1998 10,198 23,311,564
1997 10,197 23,110,830
1996 10,183 22,895,746
1995 10,165 22,669,304
1994 10,137 22,393,975
1993 10,102 22,073,352
1992 10,021 21,750,911
1991 9,850 21,428,638
1990 9,622 21,112,137
1989 9,390 20,804,367
1988 9,165 20,503,161
1987 8,946 20,205,483
1986 8,742 19,910,855
1985 8,551 19,620,388
1984 8,377 19,335,043
1983 8,216 19,054,034
1982 8,040 18,776,357
1981 7,839 18,501,295
1980 7,649 18,236,786
1979 7,468 17,983,470
1978 7,298 17,735,995
1977 7,163 17,492,798
1976 7,064 17,243,450
1975 6,987 16,971,055
1974 6,923 16,673,121
1973 6,866 16,350,367
1972 6,812 15,975,069
1971 6,762 15,572,457
1970 6,710 15,172,775
1969 6,581 14,767,615
1968 6,328 14,365,596
1967 6,135 13,958,350
1966 6,043 13,569,094
1965 5,832 13,219,369
1964 5,515 12,889,770
1963 5,226 12,567,057
1962 4,979 12,262,882
1961 4,774 11,990,713
1960 4,607 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/nauru/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nauru increased by 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nauru gained 975 people (a 8.74% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Nauru was ranked 196th most populous country in 2006 and is 195th 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) Nauru's population will grow by 29.8% to 15,738 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Nauru
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nauru North Korea
2100 0.15% -0.65%
2099 0.2% -0.65%
2098 0.19% -0.65%
2097 0.17% -0.65%
2096 0.17% -0.65%
2095 0.23% -0.65%
2094 0.27% -0.64%
2093 0.23% -0.64%
2092 0.22% -0.64%
2091 0.28% -0.63%
2090 0.33% -0.63%
2089 0.33% -0.62%
2088 0.28% -0.62%
2087 0.34% -0.61%
2086 0.35% -0.6%
2085 0.39% -0.6%
2084 0.43% -0.59%
2083 0.44% -0.59%
2082 0.5% -0.58%
2081 0.44% -0.58%
2080 0.54% -0.57%
2079 0.56% -0.57%
2078 0.55% -0.56%
2077 0.57% -0.56%
2076 0.59% -0.56%
2075 0.6% -0.55%
2074 0.62% -0.55%
2073 0.65% -0.55%
2072 0.56% -0.55%
2071 0.75% -0.55%
2070 0.59% -0.55%
2069 0.66% -0.55%
2068 0.8% -0.54%
2067 0.68% -0.54%
2066 0.71% -0.54%
2065 0.73% -0.53%
2064 0.71% -0.53%
2063 0.7% -0.52%
2062 0.78% -0.51%
2061 0.76% -0.5%
2060 0.73% -0.49%
2059 0.78% -0.48%
2058 0.77% -0.47%
2057 0.85% -0.45%
2056 0.85% -0.44%
2055 0.84% -0.42%
2054 0.87% -0.41%
2053 0.9% -0.39%
2052 1.01% -0.38%
2051 0.96% -0.36%
2050 1.06% -0.35%
2049 1.04% -0.33%
2048 1.12% -0.32%
2047 1.17% -0.3%
2046 1.14% -0.29%
2045 1.2% -0.27%
2044 1.19% -0.26%
2043 1.27% -0.24%
2042 1.29% -0.23%
2041 1.32% -0.21%
2040 1.22% -0.2%
2039 1.14% -0.17%
2038 1.17% -0.15%
2037 1.12% -0.13%
2036 1.27% -0.1%
2035 1.19% -0.07%
2034 1.14% -0.04%
2033 1.06% -0.006%
2032 1.06% 0.03%
2031 0.96% 0.07%
2030 0.96% 0.1%
2029 0.77% 0.14%
2028 0.9% 0.18%
2027 0.64% 0.22%
2026 0.63% 0.25%
2025 0.7% 0.29%
2024 0.61% 0.31%
2023 0.63% 0.34%
2022 0.79% 0.37%
2021 0.57% 0.37%
2020 0.48% 0.38%
2019 0.96% 0.41%
2018 1.35% 0.44%
2017 1.56% 0.46%
2016 1.79% 0.48%
2015 1.97% 0.49%
2014 2.14% 0.48%
2013 2.43% 0.47%
2012 1.67% 0.45%
2011 0.55% 0.44%
2010 0.27% 0.44%
2009 0.07% 0.46%
2008 -0.11% 0.48%
2007 -0.14% 0.5%
2006 -0.15% 0.52%
2005 -0.11% 0.58%
2004 0.01% 0.68%
2003 -0.23% 0.61%
2002 -0.47% 0.54%
2001 -0.37% 0.63%
2000 -0.19% 0.72%
1999 -0.11% 0.8%
1998 0.01% 0.87%
1997 0.14% 0.94%
1996 0.18% 1%
1995 0.28% 1.23%
1994 0.35% 1.45%
1993 0.81% 1.48%
1992 1.74% 1.5%
1991 2.37% 1.5%
1990 2.47% 1.48%
1989 2.45% 1.47%
1988 2.45% 1.47%
1987 2.33% 1.48%
1986 2.23% 1.48%
1985 2.08% 1.48%
1984 1.96% 1.47%
1983 2.19% 1.48%
1982 2.56% 1.49%
1981 2.48% 1.45%
1980 2.42% 1.41%
1979 2.33% 1.4%
1978 1.88% 1.39%
1977 1.4% 1.45%
1976 1.1% 1.61%
1975 0.92% 1.79%
1974 0.83% 1.97%
1973 0.79% 2.35%
1972 0.74% 2.59%
1971 0.77% 2.63%
1970 1.96% 2.74%
1969 4% 2.8%
1968 3.15% 2.92%
1967 1.52% 2.87%
1966 3.62% 2.65%
1965 5.75% 2.56%
1964 5.53% 2.57%
1963 4.96% 2.48%
1962 4.29% 2.27%
1961 3.62% 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/nauru/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nauru grew by 0.61%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Nauru North Korea
Current population
12125
26659144
Population rank 195/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.0001% 0.32%
One net population change
5.07 days
6.52 minutes
One birth every
1.21 days
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.1 days
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +0 +221
Annual growth/decline +72 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.61% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 126/197 150/197
One migration net change every
3 days
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -122 -2,787
Net migration rank 82/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 2,548 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 191/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 21.3% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 29/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nauru
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nauru North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -122 - -2,787
2024 - -121 - -2,473
2023 213 -148 86,203 -1,997
2022 226 -144 96,495 -1,997
2021 236 -137 99,710 -1,585
2020 246 -214 95,920 -1,585
2019 255 -171 106,208 -3,142
2018 265 -131 113,164 -3,225
2017 279 -115 120,181 -3,224
2016 289 -105 125,048 -3,222
2015 291 -86 127,365 -3,208
2014 290 -69 127,078 -3,042
2013 291 -53 122,519 -2,933
2012 292 -38 118,773 -2,919
2011 291 -206 114,798 -2,957
2010 281 -246 112,443 -3,053
2009 261 -249 111,530 -3,058
2008 240 -243 122,015 -3,051
2007 222 -235 120,521 -3,021
2006 209 -224 129,171 -2,948
2005 204 -217 132,765 -2,861
2004 202 -210 155,838 -2,758
2003 201 -199 178,775 -2,717
2002 200 -247 119,504 -2,763
2001 203 -252 143,321 -2,884
2000 207 -236 161,591 -3,142
1999 212 -227 181,613 -3,443
1998 214 -217 197,589 -3,706
1997 218 -209 211,325 -3,745
1996 221 -204 226,095 -3,512
1995 225 -201 233,381 -3,094
1994 229 -196 320,861 -517
1993 235 -194 320,880 0
1992 237 -121 324,002 0
1991 225 0 320,551 0
1990 214 20 312,460 0
1989 204 24 303,078 0
1988 195 29 299,305 0
1987 186 27 296,030 0
1986 178 21 293,227 0
1985 171 8 287,714 0
1984 166 -2 282,987 0
1983 163 -5 279,046 0
1982 162 30 276,332 0
1981 157 44 273,800 0
1980 145 44 255,206 0
1979 130 48 251,409 0
1978 111 40 243,533 0
1977 89 32 242,870 0
1976 79 0 255,841 0
1975 70 0 288,966 0
1974 63 0 306,902 0
1973 57 0 338,600 0
1972 53 0 411,997 0
1971 50 0 393,220 0
1970 49 0 406,129 0
1969 71 132 404,189 0
1968 116 180 399,837 0
1967 117 -28 414,632 0
1966 123 -32 363,882 0
1965 113 218 335,587 0
1964 100 203 323,623 0
1963 88 181 321,805 0
1962 75 158 286,534 0
1961 70 120 257,788 0
1960 72 76 277,717 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.2% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 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, 2,548 residents or 21.3% of the population were not native-born in Nauru, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747
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/nauru/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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