Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 12,025 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,139 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2,197 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 +1.03% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (21% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Nauru vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Nauru
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nauru North Korea
2100 20,708 19,601,003
2099 20,677 19,729,897
2098 20,636 19,859,274
2097 20,596 19,989,589
2096 20,561 20,120,795
2095 20,526 20,252,653
2094 20,479 20,384,384
2093 20,423 20,516,457
2092 20,377 20,649,140
2091 20,332 20,781,939
2090 20,276 20,914,434
2089 20,210 21,046,685
2088 20,143 21,178,406
2087 20,087 21,310,103
2086 20,019 21,441,361
2085 19,950 21,571,843
2084 19,872 21,701,761
2083 19,787 21,830,989
2082 19,700 21,960,135
2081 19,603 22,088,774
2080 19,517 22,216,836
2079 19,411 22,344,442
2078 19,304 22,471,597
2077 19,198 22,598,635
2076 19,089 22,725,293
2075 18,978 22,852,140
2074 18,866 22,979,532
2073 18,750 23,107,165
2072 18,630 23,234,961
2071 18,527 23,363,260
2070 18,388 23,491,789
2069 18,281 23,621,167
2068 18,160 23,750,741
2067 18,017 23,880,460
2066 17,896 24,010,584
2065 17,769 24,140,518
2064 17,641 24,269,765
2063 17,516 24,397,924
2062 17,394 24,525,403
2061 17,260 24,651,788
2060 17,129 24,776,326
2059 17,006 24,898,430
2058 16,874 25,018,630
2057 16,745 25,135,871
2056 16,605 25,250,670
2055 16,465 25,361,704
2054 16,328 25,469,578
2053 16,186 25,574,137
2052 16,042 25,675,211
2051 15,881 25,772,870
2050 15,731 25,866,886
2049 15,565 25,957,363
2048 15,405 26,043,774
2047 15,234 26,126,594
2046 15,058 26,205,638
2045 14,888 26,281,344
2044 14,712 26,353,455
2043 14,539 26,422,173
2042 14,357 26,486,580
2041 14,174 26,547,651
2040 13,990 26,604,634
2039 13,821 26,656,882
2038 13,666 26,703,458
2037 13,507 26,744,185
2036 13,358 26,778,348
2035 13,190 26,805,065
2034 13,035 26,823,948
2033 12,888 26,834,263
2032 12,753 26,835,978
2031 12,619 26,827,992
2030 12,499 26,809,850
2029 12,381 26,782,161
2028 12,286 26,744,278
2027 12,177 26,696,504
2026 12,100 26,638,530
2025 12,025 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 989 people (a 8.87% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 29.6% to 15,731 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 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 0.65% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nauru grew by 0.65%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Nauru North Korea
Current population
12139
26668308
Population rank 195/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.0001% 0.32%
One net population change
4.69 days
7.3 minutes
One birth every
1.25 days
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.06 days
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +0 +198
Annual growth/decline +78 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 146/197
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 203 -121 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 64.6% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,503 people) and 35.4% is from migration (a loss of 1,372 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/nauru/north-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.