The current population of North Korea is 26,659,144 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 26,498,823 in 2024.
- North Korea is ranked 57/197 by population and was ranked 46th in 2006.
- North Korea is projected to reach 26.8M people in 2032.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth in 20 years).
- North Korea accounts for 0.32% of the world's population.
- For the last 20 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of 0.44% per year.
North Korea population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 19,604,631 | -0.65% |
| 2099 | 19,733,548 | -0.65% |
| 2098 | 19,862,949 | -0.65% |
| 2097 | 19,993,288 | -0.65% |
| 2096 | 20,124,518 | -0.65% |
| 2095 | 20,256,401 | -0.65% |
| 2094 | 20,388,156 | -0.64% |
| 2093 | 20,520,253 | -0.64% |
| 2092 | 20,652,961 | -0.64% |
| 2091 | 20,785,785 | -0.63% |
| 2090 | 20,918,305 | -0.63% |
| 2089 | 21,050,580 | -0.62% |
| 2088 | 21,182,325 | -0.62% |
| 2087 | 21,314,047 | -0.61% |
| 2086 | 21,445,329 | -0.6% |
| 2085 | 21,575,835 | -0.6% |
| 2084 | 21,705,777 | -0.59% |
| 2083 | 21,835,029 | -0.59% |
| 2082 | 21,964,199 | -0.58% |
| 2081 | 22,092,862 | -0.58% |
| 2080 | 22,220,948 | -0.57% |
| 2079 | 22,348,577 | -0.57% |
| 2078 | 22,475,755 | -0.56% |
| 2077 | 22,602,817 | -0.56% |
| 2076 | 22,729,499 | -0.56% |
| 2075 | 22,856,369 | -0.55% |
| 2074 | 22,983,784 | -0.55% |
| 2073 | 23,111,441 | -0.55% |
| 2072 | 23,239,261 | -0.55% |
| 2071 | 23,367,583 | -0.55% |
| 2070 | 23,496,136 | -0.55% |
| 2069 | 23,625,538 | -0.55% |
| 2068 | 23,755,136 | -0.54% |
| 2067 | 23,884,879 | -0.54% |
| 2066 | 24,015,027 | -0.54% |
| 2065 | 24,144,985 | -0.53% |
| 2064 | 24,274,257 | -0.53% |
| 2063 | 24,402,439 | -0.52% |
| 2062 | 24,529,941 | -0.51% |
| 2061 | 24,656,350 | -0.5% |
| 2060 | 24,780,911 | -0.49% |
| 2059 | 24,903,037 | -0.48% |
| 2058 | 25,023,260 | -0.47% |
| 2057 | 25,140,523 | -0.45% |
| 2056 | 25,255,342 | -0.44% |
| 2055 | 25,366,397 | -0.42% |
| 2054 | 25,474,292 | -0.41% |
| 2053 | 25,578,870 | -0.39% |
| 2052 | 25,679,963 | -0.38% |
| 2051 | 25,777,639 | -0.36% |
| 2050 | 25,871,673 | -0.35% |
| 2049 | 25,962,167 | -0.33% |
| 2048 | 26,048,593 | -0.32% |
| 2047 | 26,131,429 | -0.3% |
| 2046 | 26,210,487 | -0.29% |
| 2045 | 26,286,208 | -0.27% |
| 2044 | 26,358,331 | -0.26% |
| 2043 | 26,427,062 | -0.24% |
| 2042 | 26,491,482 | -0.23% |
| 2041 | 26,552,564 | -0.21% |
| 2040 | 26,609,557 | -0.2% |
| 2039 | 26,661,815 | -0.17% |
| 2038 | 26,708,400 | -0.15% |
| 2037 | 26,749,134 | -0.13% |
| 2036 | 26,783,304 | -0.1% |
| 2035 | 26,810,026 | -0.07% |
| 2034 | 26,828,912 | -0.04% |
| 2033 | 26,839,229 | -0.006% |
| 2032 | 26,840,944 | 0.03% |
| 2031 | 26,832,957 | 0.07% |
| 2030 | 26,814,812 | 0.1% |
| 2029 | 26,787,117 | 0.14% |
| 2028 | 26,749,227 | 0.18% |
| 2027 | 26,701,444 | 0.22% |
| 2026 | 26,643,460 | 0.25% |
| 2025 | 26,575,953 | 0.29% |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 0.31% |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 0.34% |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 0.37% |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 0.38% |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 0.41% |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 0.44% |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 0.46% |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 0.48% |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 0.49% |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 0.48% |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 0.47% |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 0.45% |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 0.44% |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 0.44% |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 0.46% |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 0.48% |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 0.5% |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 0.52% |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 0.58% |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 0.54% |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 0.63% |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 0.72% |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 0.8% |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 0.87% |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 1% |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 1.23% |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 1.45% |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 1.48% |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 1.5% |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 1.5% |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 1.47% |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 1.47% |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 1.48% |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 1.48% |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 1.48% |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 1.47% |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 1.48% |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 1.49% |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 1.45% |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 1.41% |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 1.4% |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 1.39% |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 1.45% |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 1.79% |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 1.97% |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 2.35% |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 2.59% |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 2.63% |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 2.74% |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 2.8% |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 2.92% |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 2.87% |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 2.65% |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 2.56% |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 2.57% |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 2.27% |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 2.28% |
| 1960 | 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/north-korea | CC BY 
North Korea has a population of 26.7M as of 2026, compared to 25.7M in 2016, 24.5M in 2006, and 22.9M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.37% per year. North Korea is ranked 143rd out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) North Korea will have 26,210,487 people (-1.68% decline) with a rank change from 57th to 64th.
By the year 2100, North Korea's population is projected to decline by 26.5% from its current level to 19.6M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -2,787 |
| 2024 | - | - | -2,473 |
| 2023 | 84,206 | 86,203 | -1,997 |
| 2022 | 94,498 | 96,495 | -1,997 |
| 2021 | 98,125 | 99,710 | -1,585 |
| 2020 | 94,335 | 95,920 | -1,585 |
| 2019 | 103,066 | 106,208 | -3,142 |
| 2018 | 109,939 | 113,164 | -3,225 |
| 2017 | 116,957 | 120,181 | -3,224 |
| 2016 | 121,826 | 125,048 | -3,222 |
| 2015 | 124,157 | 127,365 | -3,208 |
| 2014 | 124,036 | 127,078 | -3,042 |
| 2013 | 119,586 | 122,519 | -2,933 |
| 2012 | 115,854 | 118,773 | -2,919 |
| 2011 | 111,841 | 114,798 | -2,957 |
| 2010 | 109,390 | 112,443 | -3,053 |
| 2009 | 108,472 | 111,530 | -3,058 |
| 2008 | 118,964 | 122,015 | -3,051 |
| 2007 | 117,500 | 120,521 | -3,021 |
| 2006 | 126,223 | 129,171 | -2,948 |
| 2005 | 129,904 | 132,765 | -2,861 |
| 2004 | 153,080 | 155,838 | -2,758 |
| 2003 | 176,058 | 178,775 | -2,717 |
| 2002 | 116,741 | 119,504 | -2,763 |
| 2001 | 140,437 | 143,321 | -2,884 |
| 2000 | 158,449 | 161,591 | -3,142 |
| 1999 | 178,170 | 181,613 | -3,443 |
| 1998 | 193,883 | 197,589 | -3,706 |
| 1997 | 207,580 | 211,325 | -3,745 |
| 1996 | 222,583 | 226,095 | -3,512 |
| 1995 | 230,287 | 233,381 | -3,094 |
| 1994 | 320,344 | 320,861 | -517 |
| 1993 | 320,880 | 320,880 | 0 |
| 1992 | 324,002 | 324,002 | 0 |
| 1991 | 320,551 | 320,551 | 0 |
| 1990 | 312,460 | 312,460 | 0 |
| 1989 | 303,078 | 303,078 | 0 |
| 1988 | 299,305 | 299,305 | 0 |
| 1987 | 296,030 | 296,030 | 0 |
| 1986 | 293,227 | 293,227 | 0 |
| 1985 | 287,714 | 287,714 | 0 |
| 1984 | 282,987 | 282,987 | 0 |
| 1983 | 279,046 | 279,046 | 0 |
| 1982 | 276,332 | 276,332 | 0 |
| 1981 | 273,800 | 273,800 | 0 |
| 1980 | 255,206 | 255,206 | 0 |
| 1979 | 251,409 | 251,409 | 0 |
| 1978 | 243,533 | 243,533 | 0 |
| 1977 | 242,870 | 242,870 | 0 |
| 1976 | 255,841 | 255,841 | 0 |
| 1975 | 288,966 | 288,966 | 0 |
| 1974 | 306,902 | 306,902 | 0 |
| 1973 | 338,600 | 338,600 | 0 |
| 1972 | 411,997 | 411,997 | 0 |
| 1971 | 393,220 | 393,220 | 0 |
| 1970 | 406,129 | 406,129 | 0 |
| 1969 | 404,189 | 404,189 | 0 |
| 1968 | 399,837 | 399,837 | 0 |
| 1967 | 414,632 | 414,632 | 0 |
| 1966 | 363,882 | 363,882 | 0 |
| 1965 | 335,587 | 335,587 | 0 |
| 1964 | 323,623 | 323,623 | 0 |
| 1963 | 321,805 | 321,805 | 0 |
| 1962 | 286,534 | 286,534 | 0 |
| 1961 | 257,788 | 257,788 | 0 |
| 1960 | 277,717 | 277,717 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 97.7% of the population change in North Korea 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, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 44,010 and 0.2% in 2010.
North Korea population clock
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
26659144
|
57/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.32% | 57/197 |
| One net population change |
6.52 minutes
|
96/197 |
| One birth every |
1.54 minutes
|
67/196 |
| One death every |
2.05 minutes
|
36/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +221 | 96/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +80,619 | 96/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.31% | 150/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.15 hours
|
104/196 |
| Annual migration change | -2,787 | 104/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 50,439 | 150/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 189/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
North Korea population statistics
|
North Korea
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 38 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 37.3 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/north-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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