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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 14.8 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

North Korea vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea North Macedonia
2100 19,604,631 866,884
2099 19,733,548 877,788
2098 19,862,949 888,715
2097 19,993,288 899,716
2096 20,124,518 910,709
2095 20,256,401 921,559
2094 20,388,156 932,633
2093 20,520,253 943,984
2092 20,652,961 955,335
2091 20,785,785 966,773
2090 20,918,305 978,130
2089 21,050,580 989,666
2088 21,182,325 1,001,224
2087 21,314,047 1,012,831
2086 21,445,329 1,024,787
2085 21,575,835 1,036,668
2084 21,705,777 1,048,876
2083 21,835,029 1,061,031
2082 21,964,199 1,073,408
2081 22,092,862 1,085,823
2080 22,220,948 1,098,127
2079 22,348,577 1,110,614
2078 22,475,755 1,123,398
2077 22,602,817 1,136,448
2076 22,729,499 1,149,787
2075 22,856,369 1,163,080
2074 22,983,784 1,176,671
2073 23,111,441 1,190,351
2072 23,239,261 1,204,015
2071 23,367,583 1,217,691
2070 23,496,136 1,231,978
2069 23,625,538 1,246,408
2068 23,755,136 1,260,869
2067 23,884,879 1,275,289
2066 24,015,027 1,289,439
2065 24,144,985 1,303,917
2064 24,274,257 1,318,161
2063 24,402,439 1,332,807
2062 24,529,941 1,347,540
2061 24,656,350 1,362,299
2060 24,780,911 1,376,807
2059 24,903,037 1,390,921
2058 25,023,260 1,404,982
2057 25,140,523 1,419,185
2056 25,255,342 1,433,595
2055 25,366,397 1,447,857
2054 25,474,292 1,462,210
2053 25,578,870 1,476,351
2052 25,679,963 1,489,905
2051 25,777,639 1,503,526
2050 25,871,673 1,516,629
2049 25,962,167 1,529,608
2048 26,048,593 1,542,390
2047 26,131,429 1,555,085
2046 26,210,487 1,568,151
2045 26,286,208 1,581,115
2044 26,358,331 1,593,878
2043 26,427,062 1,606,930
2042 26,491,482 1,619,941
2041 26,552,564 1,632,704
2040 26,609,557 1,645,446
2039 26,661,815 1,658,034
2038 26,708,400 1,670,347
2037 26,749,134 1,682,850
2036 26,783,304 1,695,204
2035 26,810,026 1,707,302
2034 26,828,912 1,719,193
2033 26,839,229 1,730,723
2032 26,840,944 1,742,288
2031 26,832,957 1,753,729
2030 26,814,812 1,765,162
2029 26,787,117 1,775,815
2028 26,749,227 1,786,051
2027 26,701,444 1,795,945
2026 26,643,460 1,805,954
2025 26,575,953 1,815,368
2024 26,498,823 1,824,359
2023 26,418,204 1,827,816
2022 26,328,845 1,831,712
2021 26,232,534 1,837,114
2020 26,136,312 1,856,124
2019 26,037,632 1,876,262
2018 25,931,147 1,889,051
2017 25,817,709 1,898,657
2016 25,698,326 1,906,313
2015 25,575,350 1,912,430
2014 25,451,262 1,917,557
2013 25,329,451 1,922,716
2012 25,211,728 1,929,821
2011 25,097,874 1,937,398
2010 24,987,258 1,946,298
2009 24,878,332 1,958,782
2008 24,764,618 1,971,493
2007 24,646,383 1,982,933
2006 24,524,507 1,994,287
2005 24,396,433 2,005,330
2004 24,254,943 2,016,186
2003 24,090,380 2,022,725
2002 23,943,973 2,020,157
2001 23,815,358 2,034,882
2000 23,665,910 2,026,350
1999 23,497,599 2,017,142
1998 23,311,564 2,007,523
1997 23,110,830 1,996,869
1996 22,895,746 2,012,553
1995 22,669,304 1,998,534
1994 22,393,975 1,992,666
1993 22,073,352 2,006,854
1992 21,750,911 2,032,523
1991 21,428,638 2,055,994
1990 21,112,137 2,063,689
1989 20,804,367 2,055,649
1988 20,503,161 2,045,737
1987 20,205,483 2,035,157
1986 19,910,855 2,024,732
1985 19,620,388 2,014,331
1984 19,335,043 2,003,399
1983 19,054,034 1,991,901
1982 18,776,357 1,978,956
1981 18,501,295 1,959,065
1980 18,236,786 1,933,038
1979 17,983,470 1,906,523
1978 17,735,995 1,879,847
1977 17,492,798 1,853,138
1976 17,243,450 1,825,830
1975 16,971,055 1,797,972
1974 16,673,121 1,770,545
1973 16,350,367 1,743,816
1972 15,975,069 1,717,395
1971 15,572,457 1,691,216
1970 15,172,775 1,664,208
1969 14,767,615 1,636,345
1968 14,365,596 1,608,930
1967 13,958,350 1,582,492
1966 13,569,094 1,557,349
1965 13,219,369 1,533,466
1964 12,889,770 1,510,900
1963 12,567,057 1,488,737
1962 12,262,882 1,471,745
1961 11,990,713 1,455,171
1960 11,722,953 1,435,059

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/north-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) North Korea's population will shrink by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of North Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea North Macedonia
2100 -0.65% -1.24%
2099 -0.65% -1.23%
2098 -0.65% -1.22%
2097 -0.65% -1.21%
2096 -0.65% -1.18%
2095 -0.65% -1.19%
2094 -0.64% -1.2%
2093 -0.64% -1.19%
2092 -0.64% -1.18%
2091 -0.63% -1.16%
2090 -0.63% -1.17%
2089 -0.62% -1.15%
2088 -0.62% -1.15%
2087 -0.61% -1.17%
2086 -0.6% -1.15%
2085 -0.6% -1.16%
2084 -0.59% -1.15%
2083 -0.59% -1.15%
2082 -0.58% -1.14%
2081 -0.58% -1.12%
2080 -0.57% -1.12%
2079 -0.57% -1.14%
2078 -0.56% -1.15%
2077 -0.56% -1.16%
2076 -0.56% -1.14%
2075 -0.55% -1.15%
2074 -0.55% -1.15%
2073 -0.55% -1.13%
2072 -0.55% -1.12%
2071 -0.55% -1.16%
2070 -0.55% -1.16%
2069 -0.55% -1.15%
2068 -0.54% -1.13%
2067 -0.54% -1.1%
2066 -0.54% -1.11%
2065 -0.53% -1.08%
2064 -0.53% -1.1%
2063 -0.52% -1.09%
2062 -0.51% -1.08%
2061 -0.5% -1.05%
2060 -0.49% -1.01%
2059 -0.48% -1%
2058 -0.47% -1%
2057 -0.45% -1.01%
2056 -0.44% -0.99%
2055 -0.42% -0.98%
2054 -0.41% -0.96%
2053 -0.39% -0.91%
2052 -0.38% -0.91%
2051 -0.36% -0.86%
2050 -0.35% -0.85%
2049 -0.33% -0.83%
2048 -0.32% -0.82%
2047 -0.3% -0.83%
2046 -0.29% -0.82%
2045 -0.27% -0.8%
2044 -0.26% -0.81%
2043 -0.24% -0.8%
2042 -0.23% -0.78%
2041 -0.21% -0.77%
2040 -0.2% -0.76%
2039 -0.17% -0.74%
2038 -0.15% -0.74%
2037 -0.13% -0.73%
2036 -0.1% -0.71%
2035 -0.07% -0.69%
2034 -0.04% -0.67%
2033 -0.006% -0.66%
2032 0.03% -0.65%
2031 0.07% -0.65%
2030 0.1% -0.6%
2029 0.14% -0.57%
2028 0.18% -0.55%
2027 0.22% -0.55%
2026 0.25% -0.52%
2025 0.29% -0.49%
2024 0.31% -0.19%
2023 0.34% -0.21%
2022 0.37% -0.29%
2021 0.37% -1.02%
2020 0.38% -1.07%
2019 0.41% -0.68%
2018 0.44% -0.51%
2017 0.46% -0.4%
2016 0.48% -0.32%
2015 0.49% -0.27%
2014 0.48% -0.27%
2013 0.47% -0.37%
2012 0.45% -0.39%
2011 0.44% -0.46%
2010 0.44% -0.64%
2009 0.46% -0.64%
2008 0.48% -0.58%
2007 0.5% -0.57%
2006 0.52% -0.55%
2005 0.58% -0.54%
2004 0.68% -0.32%
2003 0.61% 0.13%
2002 0.54% -0.72%
2001 0.63% 0.42%
2000 0.72% 0.46%
1999 0.8% 0.48%
1998 0.87% 0.53%
1997 0.94% -0.78%
1996 1% 0.7%
1995 1.23% 0.29%
1994 1.45% -0.71%
1993 1.48% -1.26%
1992 1.5% -1.14%
1991 1.5% -0.37%
1990 1.48% 0.39%
1989 1.47% 0.48%
1988 1.47% 0.52%
1987 1.48% 0.51%
1986 1.48% 0.52%
1985 1.48% 0.55%
1984 1.47% 0.58%
1983 1.48% 0.65%
1982 1.49% 1.02%
1981 1.45% 1.35%
1980 1.41% 1.39%
1979 1.4% 1.42%
1978 1.39% 1.44%
1977 1.45% 1.5%
1976 1.61% 1.55%
1975 1.79% 1.55%
1974 1.97% 1.53%
1973 2.35% 1.54%
1972 2.59% 1.55%
1971 2.63% 1.62%
1970 2.74% 1.7%
1969 2.8% 1.7%
1968 2.92% 1.67%
1967 2.87% 1.61%
1966 2.65% 1.56%
1965 2.56% 1.49%
1964 2.57% 1.49%
1963 2.48% 1.15%
1962 2.27% 1.14%
1961 2.28% 1.4%

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/north-korea/north-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

North Korea North Macedonia
Current population
26659144
1805954
Population rank 57/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.02%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.53 hours
One birth every
1.54 minutes
31.3 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -9
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 176/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 -5,645
Net migration rank 104/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -5,645
2024 - -2,473 - -5,728
2023 86,203 -1,997 -3,290 -5,597
2022 96,495 -1,997 -4,397 -5,296
2021 99,710 -1,585 -9,737 -5,483
2020 95,920 -1,585 -5,939 -23,458
2019 106,208 -3,142 -375 -24,204
2018 113,164 -3,225 1,512 -24,878
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,329 -24,227
2016 125,048 -3,222 2,374 -24,144
2015 127,365 -3,208 2,294 -23,010
2014 127,078 -3,042 3,644 -22,132
2013 122,519 -2,933 3,653 -20,297
2012 118,773 -2,919 3,087 -19,083
2011 114,798 -2,957 3,100 -17,871
2010 112,443 -3,053 4,866 -16,668
2009 111,530 -3,058 4,309 -15,455
2008 122,015 -3,051 3,746 -17,645
2007 120,521 -3,021 2,974 -15,705
2006 129,171 -2,948 3,988 -9,632
2005 132,765 -2,861 4,011 -2,244
2004 155,838 -2,758 5,444 -2,640
2003 178,775 -2,717 8,900 -2,880
2002 119,504 -2,763 9,697 -2,858
2001 143,321 -2,884 10,174 -922
2000 161,591 -3,142 12,159 -2,824
1999 181,613 -3,443 10,489 -1,261
1998 197,589 -3,706 12,446 -589
1997 211,325 -3,745 12,979 -477
1996 226,095 -3,512 14,806 -397
1995 233,381 -3,094 17,239 -3,603
1994 320,861 -517 19,103 -21,006
1993 320,880 0 20,797 -47,273
1992 324,002 0 21,659 -46,509
1991 320,551 0 23,387 -45,484
1990 312,460 0 22,868 -16,174
1989 303,078 0 22,912 -13,528
1988 299,305 0 24,064 -13,621
1987 296,030 0 24,359 -13,635
1986 293,227 0 23,720 -13,589
1985 287,714 0 24,167 -13,492
1984 282,987 0 24,436 -13,251
1983 279,046 0 24,690 -12,884
1982 276,332 0 25,810 -11,716
1981 273,800 0 25,689 0
1980 255,206 0 26,547 -189
1979 251,409 0 27,096 -426
1978 243,533 0 27,150 -462
1977 242,870 0 27,410 -683
1976 255,841 0 28,799 -911
1975 288,966 0 28,983 -1,147
1974 306,902 0 28,400 -1,376
1973 338,600 0 28,032 -1,600
1972 411,997 0 28,236 -1,834
1971 393,220 0 28,010 -2,064
1970 406,129 0 28,022 60
1969 404,189 0 27,464 181
1968 399,837 0 28,378 -1,201
1967 414,632 0 28,401 -2,696
1966 363,882 0 28,766 -4,176
1965 335,587 0 28,564 -5,385
1964 323,623 0 27,889 -5,938
1963 321,805 0 28,124 -5,759
1962 286,534 0 25,317 -13,702
1961 257,788 0 27,846 -6,309
1960 277,717 0 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/north-macedonia | 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). In North Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

Biggest cities by population

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
North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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/north-korea/north-macedonia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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