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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.7 times bigger than Norway's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

North Korea vs Norway: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Norway
2100 19,604,631 5,441,855
2099 19,733,548 5,454,583
2098 19,862,949 5,466,669
2097 19,993,288 5,478,174
2096 20,124,518 5,490,010
2095 20,256,401 5,502,418
2094 20,388,156 5,514,598
2093 20,520,253 5,527,174
2092 20,652,961 5,539,172
2091 20,785,785 5,551,172
2090 20,918,305 5,564,044
2089 21,050,580 5,576,715
2088 21,182,325 5,590,047
2087 21,314,047 5,604,159
2086 21,445,329 5,617,935
2085 21,575,835 5,631,413
2084 21,705,777 5,645,116
2083 21,835,029 5,658,044
2082 21,964,199 5,670,485
2081 22,092,862 5,682,427
2080 22,220,948 5,694,199
2079 22,348,577 5,705,317
2078 22,475,755 5,715,984
2077 22,602,817 5,726,145
2076 22,729,499 5,735,898
2075 22,856,369 5,745,619
2074 22,983,784 5,755,683
2073 23,111,441 5,765,642
2072 23,239,261 5,775,295
2071 23,367,583 5,784,119
2070 23,496,136 5,793,594
2069 23,625,538 5,802,341
2068 23,755,136 5,811,630
2067 23,884,879 5,821,550
2066 24,015,027 5,831,535
2065 24,144,985 5,841,333
2064 24,274,257 5,851,085
2063 24,402,439 5,860,548
2062 24,529,941 5,869,700
2061 24,656,350 5,877,754
2060 24,780,911 5,885,488
2059 24,903,037 5,892,036
2058 25,023,260 5,897,922
2057 25,140,523 5,904,330
2056 25,255,342 5,910,291
2055 25,366,397 5,915,286
2054 25,474,292 5,919,312
2053 25,578,870 5,922,325
2052 25,679,963 5,923,483
2051 25,777,639 5,923,938
2050 25,871,673 5,923,557
2049 25,962,167 5,922,138
2048 26,048,593 5,919,215
2047 26,131,429 5,916,146
2046 26,210,487 5,912,426
2045 26,286,208 5,907,334
2044 26,358,331 5,902,175
2043 26,427,062 5,896,614
2042 26,491,482 5,889,741
2041 26,552,564 5,881,692
2040 26,609,557 5,873,512
2039 26,661,815 5,864,063
2038 26,708,400 5,853,639
2037 26,749,134 5,842,734
2036 26,783,304 5,830,991
2035 26,810,026 5,818,882
2034 26,828,912 5,805,966
2033 26,839,229 5,792,030
2032 26,840,944 5,777,062
2031 26,832,957 5,760,828
2030 26,814,812 5,743,814
2029 26,787,117 5,725,891
2028 26,749,227 5,706,765
2027 26,701,444 5,686,336
2026 26,643,460 5,665,477
2025 26,575,953 5,626,258
2024 26,498,823 5,572,279
2023 26,418,204 5,519,601
2022 26,328,845 5,457,127
2021 26,232,534 5,408,320
2020 26,136,312 5,379,475
2019 26,037,632 5,347,896
2018 25,931,147 5,311,916
2017 25,817,709 5,276,968
2016 25,698,326 5,234,519
2015 25,575,350 5,188,607
2014 25,451,262 5,137,232
2013 25,329,451 5,079,623
2012 25,211,728 5,018,573
2011 25,097,874 4,953,088
2010 24,987,258 4,889,252
2009 24,878,332 4,828,726
2008 24,764,618 4,768,212
2007 24,646,383 4,709,153
2006 24,524,507 4,660,677
2005 24,396,433 4,623,291
2004 24,254,943 4,591,910
2003 24,090,380 4,564,855
2002 23,943,973 4,538,159
2001 23,815,358 4,513,751
2000 23,665,910 4,490,967
1999 23,497,599 4,461,913
1998 23,311,564 4,431,464
1997 23,110,830 4,405,157
1996 22,895,746 4,381,336
1995 22,669,304 4,359,184
1994 22,393,975 4,336,613
1993 22,073,352 4,311,991
1992 21,750,911 4,286,401
1991 21,428,638 4,261,732
1990 21,112,137 4,241,473
1989 20,804,367 4,226,901
1988 20,503,161 4,209,488
1987 20,205,483 4,186,905
1986 19,910,855 4,167,354
1985 19,620,388 4,152,516
1984 19,335,043 4,140,099
1983 19,054,034 4,128,432
1982 18,776,357 4,114,787
1981 18,501,295 4,099,702
1980 18,236,786 4,085,620
1979 17,983,470 4,072,517
1978 17,735,995 4,058,671
1977 17,492,798 4,043,205
1976 17,243,450 4,026,152
1975 16,971,055 4,007,313
1974 16,673,121 3,985,258
1973 16,350,367 3,960,612
1972 15,975,069 3,933,004
1971 15,572,457 3,903,039
1970 15,172,775 3,875,763
1969 14,767,615 3,847,707
1968 14,365,596 3,816,486
1967 13,958,350 3,784,539
1966 13,569,094 3,753,012
1965 13,219,369 3,723,168
1964 12,889,770 3,694,339
1963 12,567,057 3,666,537
1962 12,262,882 3,638,918
1961 11,990,713 3,609,800
1960 11,722,953 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 5.92M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Norway
2100 -0.65% -0.23%
2099 -0.65% -0.22%
2098 -0.65% -0.21%
2097 -0.65% -0.22%
2096 -0.65% -0.23%
2095 -0.65% -0.22%
2094 -0.64% -0.23%
2093 -0.64% -0.22%
2092 -0.64% -0.22%
2091 -0.63% -0.23%
2090 -0.63% -0.23%
2089 -0.62% -0.24%
2088 -0.62% -0.25%
2087 -0.61% -0.25%
2086 -0.6% -0.24%
2085 -0.6% -0.24%
2084 -0.59% -0.23%
2083 -0.59% -0.22%
2082 -0.58% -0.21%
2081 -0.58% -0.21%
2080 -0.57% -0.19%
2079 -0.57% -0.19%
2078 -0.56% -0.18%
2077 -0.56% -0.17%
2076 -0.56% -0.17%
2075 -0.55% -0.17%
2074 -0.55% -0.17%
2073 -0.55% -0.17%
2072 -0.55% -0.15%
2071 -0.55% -0.16%
2070 -0.55% -0.15%
2069 -0.55% -0.16%
2068 -0.54% -0.17%
2067 -0.54% -0.17%
2066 -0.54% -0.17%
2065 -0.53% -0.17%
2064 -0.53% -0.16%
2063 -0.52% -0.16%
2062 -0.51% -0.14%
2061 -0.5% -0.13%
2060 -0.49% -0.11%
2059 -0.48% -0.1%
2058 -0.47% -0.11%
2057 -0.45% -0.1%
2056 -0.44% -0.08%
2055 -0.42% -0.07%
2054 -0.41% -0.05%
2053 -0.39% -0.02%
2052 -0.38% -0.008%
2051 -0.36% 0.006%
2050 -0.35% 0.02%
2049 -0.33% 0.05%
2048 -0.32% 0.05%
2047 -0.3% 0.06%
2046 -0.29% 0.09%
2045 -0.27% 0.09%
2044 -0.26% 0.09%
2043 -0.24% 0.12%
2042 -0.23% 0.14%
2041 -0.21% 0.14%
2040 -0.2% 0.16%
2039 -0.17% 0.18%
2038 -0.15% 0.19%
2037 -0.13% 0.2%
2036 -0.1% 0.21%
2035 -0.07% 0.22%
2034 -0.04% 0.24%
2033 -0.006% 0.26%
2032 0.03% 0.28%
2031 0.07% 0.3%
2030 0.1% 0.31%
2029 0.14% 0.34%
2028 0.18% 0.36%
2027 0.22% 0.37%
2026 0.25% 0.7%
2025 0.29% 0.97%
2024 0.31% 0.95%
2023 0.34% 1.14%
2022 0.37% 0.9%
2021 0.37% 0.54%
2020 0.38% 0.59%
2019 0.41% 0.68%
2018 0.44% 0.66%
2017 0.46% 0.81%
2016 0.48% 0.88%
2015 0.49% 1%
2014 0.48% 1.13%
2013 0.47% 1.22%
2012 0.45% 1.32%
2011 0.44% 1.31%
2010 0.44% 1.25%
2009 0.46% 1.27%
2008 0.48% 1.25%
2007 0.5% 1.04%
2006 0.52% 0.81%
2005 0.58% 0.68%
2004 0.68% 0.59%
2003 0.61% 0.59%
2002 0.54% 0.54%
2001 0.63% 0.51%
2000 0.72% 0.65%
1999 0.8% 0.69%
1998 0.87% 0.6%
1997 0.94% 0.54%
1996 1% 0.51%
1995 1.23% 0.52%
1994 1.45% 0.57%
1993 1.48% 0.6%
1992 1.5% 0.58%
1991 1.5% 0.48%
1990 1.48% 0.34%
1989 1.47% 0.41%
1988 1.47% 0.54%
1987 1.48% 0.47%
1986 1.48% 0.36%
1985 1.48% 0.3%
1984 1.47% 0.28%
1983 1.48% 0.33%
1982 1.49% 0.37%
1981 1.45% 0.34%
1980 1.41% 0.32%
1979 1.4% 0.34%
1978 1.39% 0.38%
1977 1.45% 0.42%
1976 1.61% 0.47%
1975 1.79% 0.55%
1974 1.97% 0.62%
1973 2.35% 0.7%
1972 2.59% 0.77%
1971 2.63% 0.7%
1970 2.74% 0.73%
1969 2.8% 0.82%
1968 2.92% 0.84%
1967 2.87% 0.84%
1966 2.65% 0.8%
1965 2.56% 0.78%
1964 2.57% 0.76%
1963 2.48% 0.76%
1962 2.27% 0.81%
1961 2.28% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

North Korea Norway
Current population
26659144
5671119
Population rank 57/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.07%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
9.98 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +144
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 105/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +29,798
Net migration rank 104/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 29,798
2024 - -2,473 - 44,356
2023 86,203 -1,997 8,280 53,806
2022 96,495 -1,997 5,457 58,040
2021 99,710 -1,585 14,062 19,804
2020 95,920 -1,585 12,372 11,277
2019 106,208 -3,142 13,904 25,707
2018 113,164 -3,225 14,342 18,473
2017 120,181 -3,224 15,831 21,657
2016 125,048 -3,222 17,797 26,417
2015 127,365 -3,208 18,160 30,242
2014 127,078 -3,042 18,494 38,522
2013 122,519 -2,933 17,779 40,690
2012 118,773 -2,919 18,066 47,883
2011 114,798 -2,957 18,822 47,454
2010 112,443 -3,053 20,046 42,865
2009 111,530 -3,058 20,280 39,316
2008 122,015 -3,051 19,073 44,002
2007 120,521 -3,021 16,482 40,111
2006 129,171 -2,948 17,244 24,054
2005 132,765 -2,861 15,719 18,588
2004 155,838 -2,758 15,612 13,412
2003 178,775 -2,717 14,151 11,389
2002 119,504 -2,763 10,892 17,279
2001 143,321 -2,884 13,090 7,906
2000 161,591 -3,142 15,269 9,805
1999 181,613 -3,443 14,278 19,147
1998 197,589 -3,706 14,181 13,519
1997 211,325 -3,745 15,418 9,744
1996 226,095 -3,512 17,087 5,671
1995 233,381 -3,094 14,821 6,343
1994 320,861 -517 16,045 7,580
1993 320,880 0 12,936 12,567
1992 324,002 0 15,431 10,218
1991 320,551 0 16,194 7,949
1990 312,460 0 14,845 1,818
1989 303,078 0 13,949 -1,730
1988 299,305 0 12,207 10,380
1987 296,030 0 9,212 13,907
1986 293,227 0 8,751 7,616
1985 287,714 0 6,644 6,725
1984 282,987 0 7,452 3,856
1983 279,046 0 7,844 4,120
1982 276,332 0 9,875 5,749
1981 273,800 0 9,020 6,010
1980 255,206 0 9,806 3,763
1979 251,409 0 10,181 2,839
1978 243,533 0 11,364 3,823
1977 242,870 0 11,321 4,845
1976 255,841 0 13,286 4,779
1975 288,966 0 16,430 3,312
1974 306,902 0 20,324 4,425
1973 338,600 0 21,387 3,414
1972 411,997 0 24,777 5,603
1971 393,220 0 26,541 3,031
1970 406,129 0 25,968 -1,034
1969 404,189 0 28,858 2,230
1968 399,837 0 29,387 1,761
1967 414,632 0 30,276 2,460
1966 363,882 0 31,150 -888
1965 335,587 0 31,275 -1,525
1964 323,623 0 30,293 -1,571
1963 321,805 0 26,766 1,061
1962 286,534 0 28,020 655
1961 257,788 0 29,239 1,437
1960 277,717 0 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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