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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 251,269,164 people in Pakistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 260,356,147 in Pakistan.

Population statistics:

  • Pakistan's population is 9.77 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Pakistan is the 5th.
  • The countries together account for 3.46% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 3.14% for Pakistan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.6% in Pakistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Pakistan has grown from 180M to 260M (44.9% growth).

North Korea vs Pakistan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Pakistan
2100 19,604,631 514,531,704
2099 19,733,548 513,655,674
2098 19,862,949 512,727,636
2097 19,993,288 511,735,790
2096 20,124,518 510,636,755
2095 20,256,401 509,437,875
2094 20,388,156 508,130,071
2093 20,520,253 506,765,644
2092 20,652,961 505,327,656
2091 20,785,785 503,824,444
2090 20,918,305 502,264,268
2089 21,050,580 500,660,501
2088 21,182,325 498,935,983
2087 21,314,047 497,190,466
2086 21,445,329 495,313,036
2085 21,575,835 493,366,305
2084 21,705,777 491,354,778
2083 21,835,029 489,225,193
2082 21,964,199 486,984,952
2081 22,092,862 484,673,501
2080 22,220,948 482,257,479
2079 22,348,577 479,813,404
2078 22,475,755 477,277,836
2077 22,602,817 474,593,860
2076 22,729,499 471,779,348
2075 22,856,369 468,855,468
2074 22,983,784 465,875,137
2073 23,111,441 462,811,079
2072 23,239,261 459,656,523
2071 23,367,583 456,423,506
2070 23,496,136 453,095,985
2069 23,625,538 449,655,599
2068 23,755,136 446,126,774
2067 23,884,879 442,540,629
2066 24,015,027 438,879,326
2065 24,144,985 435,169,856
2064 24,274,257 431,394,393
2063 24,402,439 427,575,887
2062 24,529,941 423,636,352
2061 24,656,350 419,672,017
2060 24,780,911 415,638,125
2059 24,903,037 411,576,344
2058 25,023,260 407,429,129
2057 25,140,523 403,233,874
2056 25,255,342 398,948,355
2055 25,366,397 394,645,693
2054 25,474,292 390,303,954
2053 25,578,870 385,922,748
2052 25,679,963 381,488,696
2051 25,777,639 377,018,239
2050 25,871,673 372,476,884
2049 25,962,167 367,909,407
2048 26,048,593 363,310,560
2047 26,131,429 358,659,474
2046 26,210,487 353,929,775
2045 26,286,208 349,156,085
2044 26,358,331 344,371,692
2043 26,427,062 339,561,029
2042 26,491,482 334,731,546
2041 26,552,564 329,875,686
2040 26,609,557 325,039,429
2039 26,661,815 320,137,108
2038 26,708,400 315,207,413
2037 26,749,134 310,312,684
2036 26,783,304 305,408,418
2035 26,810,026 300,541,523
2034 26,828,912 295,686,893
2033 26,839,229 290,851,174
2032 26,840,944 286,070,650
2031 26,832,957 281,351,929
2030 26,814,812 276,708,987
2029 26,787,117 272,189,955
2028 26,749,227 267,728,673
2027 26,701,444 263,390,059
2026 26,643,460 259,231,214
2025 26,575,953 255,166,301
2024 26,498,823 251,269,164
2023 26,418,204 247,504,495
2022 26,328,845 243,700,667
2021 26,232,534 239,477,801
2020 26,136,312 235,001,746
2019 26,037,632 230,800,899
2018 25,931,147 226,928,892
2017 25,817,709 223,273,967
2016 25,698,326 220,138,869
2015 25,575,350 217,290,883
2014 25,451,262 214,264,647
2013 25,329,451 211,073,978
2012 25,211,728 207,667,125
2011 25,097,874 203,746,065
2010 24,987,258 199,239,047
2009 24,878,332 194,376,534
2008 24,764,618 189,499,113
2007 24,646,383 184,493,231
2006 24,524,507 179,682,690
2005 24,396,433 175,453,212
2004 24,254,943 171,286,000
2003 24,090,380 167,110,248
2002 23,943,973 163,222,549
2001 23,815,358 159,270,907
2000 23,665,910 154,879,127
1999 23,497,599 150,565,377
1998 23,311,564 146,522,356
1997 23,110,830 142,531,804
1996 22,895,746 138,557,092
1995 22,669,304 134,582,253
1994 22,393,975 130,748,083
1993 22,073,352 127,020,117
1992 21,750,911 123,546,848
1991 21,428,638 120,060,406
1990 21,112,137 116,155,576
1989 20,804,367 112,336,629
1988 20,503,161 108,724,739
1987 20,205,483 105,130,717
1986 19,910,855 101,606,764
1985 19,620,388 98,229,285
1984 19,335,043 95,164,936
1983 19,054,034 92,227,711
1982 18,776,357 89,089,246
1981 18,501,295 85,802,049
1980 18,236,786 82,291,010
1979 17,983,470 78,997,039
1978 17,735,995 76,307,379
1977 17,492,798 73,901,827
1976 17,243,450 71,620,254
1975 16,971,055 69,461,175
1974 16,673,121 67,415,487
1973 16,350,367 65,461,912
1972 15,975,069 63,583,194
1971 15,572,457 61,847,899
1970 15,172,775 60,166,719
1969 14,767,615 58,460,939
1968 14,365,596 56,810,507
1967 13,958,350 55,214,768
1966 13,569,094 53,678,667
1965 13,219,369 52,209,010
1964 12,889,770 50,799,999
1963 12,567,057 49,447,776
1962 12,262,882 48,156,128
1961 11,990,713 46,921,277
1960 11,722,953 45,709,310

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/pakistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Pakistan gained 40,456,179 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Pakistan's population increased by 40,217,278 people (a 18.3% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Pakistan was ranked 6th in 2006 and ranked 5th 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 Pakistan will increase by 43.1% to 372,476,884 people and rank change from 5th to 4th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 515M people in 2100 for Pakistan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Pakistan
2100 -0.65% 0.17%
2099 -0.65% 0.18%
2098 -0.65% 0.19%
2097 -0.65% 0.22%
2096 -0.65% 0.24%
2095 -0.65% 0.26%
2094 -0.64% 0.27%
2093 -0.64% 0.28%
2092 -0.64% 0.3%
2091 -0.63% 0.31%
2090 -0.63% 0.32%
2089 -0.62% 0.35%
2088 -0.62% 0.35%
2087 -0.61% 0.38%
2086 -0.6% 0.39%
2085 -0.6% 0.41%
2084 -0.59% 0.44%
2083 -0.59% 0.46%
2082 -0.58% 0.48%
2081 -0.58% 0.5%
2080 -0.57% 0.51%
2079 -0.57% 0.53%
2078 -0.56% 0.57%
2077 -0.56% 0.6%
2076 -0.56% 0.62%
2075 -0.55% 0.64%
2074 -0.55% 0.66%
2073 -0.55% 0.69%
2072 -0.55% 0.71%
2071 -0.55% 0.73%
2070 -0.55% 0.77%
2069 -0.55% 0.79%
2068 -0.54% 0.81%
2067 -0.54% 0.83%
2066 -0.54% 0.85%
2065 -0.53% 0.88%
2064 -0.53% 0.89%
2063 -0.52% 0.93%
2062 -0.51% 0.94%
2061 -0.5% 0.97%
2060 -0.49% 0.99%
2059 -0.48% 1.02%
2058 -0.47% 1.04%
2057 -0.45% 1.07%
2056 -0.44% 1.09%
2055 -0.42% 1.11%
2054 -0.41% 1.14%
2053 -0.39% 1.16%
2052 -0.38% 1.19%
2051 -0.36% 1.22%
2050 -0.35% 1.24%
2049 -0.33% 1.27%
2048 -0.32% 1.3%
2047 -0.3% 1.34%
2046 -0.29% 1.37%
2045 -0.27% 1.39%
2044 -0.26% 1.42%
2043 -0.24% 1.44%
2042 -0.23% 1.47%
2041 -0.21% 1.49%
2040 -0.2% 1.53%
2039 -0.17% 1.56%
2038 -0.15% 1.58%
2037 -0.13% 1.61%
2036 -0.1% 1.62%
2035 -0.07% 1.64%
2034 -0.04% 1.66%
2033 -0.006% 1.67%
2032 0.03% 1.68%
2031 0.07% 1.68%
2030 0.1% 1.66%
2029 0.14% 1.67%
2028 0.18% 1.65%
2027 0.22% 1.6%
2026 0.25% 1.59%
2025 0.29% 1.55%
2024 0.31% 1.52%
2023 0.34% 1.56%
2022 0.37% 1.76%
2021 0.37% 1.9%
2020 0.38% 1.82%
2019 0.41% 1.71%
2018 0.44% 1.64%
2017 0.46% 1.42%
2016 0.48% 1.31%
2015 0.49% 1.41%
2014 0.48% 1.51%
2013 0.47% 1.64%
2012 0.45% 1.92%
2011 0.44% 2.26%
2010 0.44% 2.5%
2009 0.46% 2.57%
2008 0.48% 2.71%
2007 0.5% 2.68%
2006 0.52% 2.41%
2005 0.58% 2.43%
2004 0.68% 2.5%
2003 0.61% 2.38%
2002 0.54% 2.48%
2001 0.63% 2.84%
2000 0.72% 2.87%
1999 0.8% 2.76%
1998 0.87% 2.8%
1997 0.94% 2.87%
1996 1% 2.95%
1995 1.23% 2.93%
1994 1.45% 2.93%
1993 1.48% 2.81%
1992 1.5% 2.9%
1991 1.5% 3.36%
1990 1.48% 3.4%
1989 1.47% 3.32%
1988 1.47% 3.42%
1987 1.48% 3.47%
1986 1.48% 3.44%
1985 1.48% 3.22%
1984 1.47% 3.18%
1983 1.48% 3.52%
1982 1.49% 3.83%
1981 1.45% 4.27%
1980 1.41% 4.17%
1979 1.4% 3.52%
1978 1.39% 3.26%
1977 1.45% 3.19%
1976 1.61% 3.11%
1975 1.79% 3.03%
1974 1.97% 2.98%
1973 2.35% 2.95%
1972 2.59% 2.81%
1971 2.63% 2.79%
1970 2.74% 2.92%
1969 2.8% 2.91%
1968 2.92% 2.89%
1967 2.87% 2.86%
1966 2.65% 2.81%
1965 2.56% 2.77%
1964 2.57% 2.73%
1963 2.48% 2.68%
1962 2.27% 2.63%
1961 2.28% 2.65%

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/pakistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Pakistan's population grew by 1.52%.

Live population counters

North Korea Pakistan
Current population
26659144
260356147
Population rank 57/197 5/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 3.14%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
8.38 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
4.58 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
19.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +221 +10,314
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +3,764,669
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.52%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 70/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
25.6 seconds
Annual migration change -2,787 -1,235,336
Net migration rank 104/196 196/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 4,175,958
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 16/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.7%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 141/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Pakistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Pakistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -1,235,336
2024 - -2,473 - -1,401,173
2023 86,203 -1,997 5,281,745 -1,619,557
2022 96,495 -1,997 5,268,077 -1,322,625
2021 99,710 -1,585 5,065,913 -565,673
2020 95,920 -1,585 5,011,177 -559,291
2019 106,208 -3,142 5,127,011 -1,177,220
2018 113,164 -3,225 5,103,858 -1,309,611
2017 120,181 -3,224 5,090,200 -1,574,585
2016 125,048 -3,222 5,044,922 -2,290,411
2015 127,365 -3,208 5,113,507 -2,172,162
2014 127,078 -3,042 5,148,994 -2,037,920
2013 122,519 -2,933 5,176,590 -1,906,319
2012 118,773 -2,919 5,191,263 -1,647,989
2011 114,798 -2,957 5,189,412 -890,633
2010 112,443 -3,053 5,147,142 -431,902
2009 111,530 -3,058 5,028,132 -18,298
2008 122,015 -3,051 4,885,855 -140,746
2007 120,521 -3,021 4,690,187 576,349
2006 129,171 -2,948 4,538,426 -183,933
2005 132,765 -2,861 4,294,393 -189,899
2004 155,838 -2,758 4,294,654 -64,669
2003 178,775 -2,717 4,340,688 -219,118
2002 119,504 -2,763 4,307,607 -653,758
2001 143,321 -2,884 4,304,297 -54,727
2000 161,591 -3,142 4,281,169 252,869
1999 181,613 -3,443 4,228,026 -134,510
1998 197,589 -3,706 4,104,824 -112,191
1997 211,325 -3,745 4,043,912 -55,539
1996 226,095 -3,512 4,021,758 -60,855
1995 233,381 -3,094 3,977,175 11,534
1994 320,861 -517 3,956,699 -277,100
1993 320,880 0 3,915,776 -139,493
1992 324,002 0 3,888,637 -718,387
1991 320,551 0 3,822,363 -19,668
1990 312,460 0 3,731,730 275,242
1989 303,078 0 3,648,132 -17,164
1988 299,305 0 3,554,755 38,139
1987 296,030 0 3,448,813 146,364
1986 293,227 0 3,341,643 111,045
1985 287,714 0 3,233,315 68,860
1984 282,987 0 3,145,772 -319,242
1983 279,046 0 3,052,738 -4,753
1982 276,332 0 2,934,689 294,252
1981 273,800 0 2,790,454 555,032
1980 255,206 0 2,598,421 1,078,229
1979 251,409 0 2,461,311 450,003
1978 243,533 0 2,356,601 111,386
1977 242,870 0 2,257,849 85,250
1976 255,841 0 2,171,812 48,238
1975 288,966 0 2,099,811 -1,710
1974 306,902 0 2,028,061 -34,785
1973 338,600 0 1,971,909 -58,012
1972 411,997 0 1,912,774 -69,209
1971 393,220 0 1,695,374 -68,357
1970 406,129 0 1,793,570 -58,281
1969 404,189 0 1,733,601 -57,406
1968 399,837 0 1,683,296 -58,721
1967 414,632 0 1,626,737 -59,932
1966 363,882 0 1,566,343 -61,025
1965 335,587 0 1,496,050 -62,070
1964 323,623 0 1,447,394 -63,298
1963 321,805 0 1,384,934 -64,552
1962 286,534 0 1,328,675 -65,780
1961 257,788 0 1,273,772 -66,991
1960 277,717 0 1,217,147 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/pakistan | 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 Pakistan 77.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,255,404 people) and 22.2% is from migration (a loss of 14,629,055 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 4,175,958 people or 1.7% in Pakistan.

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
Pakistan
City Population
Karachi 14.9M
Lahore 11.1M
Faisalabad 3.2M
Rawalpindi 2.1M
Gujranwala 2.03M
Peshawar 1.97M
Multan 1.87M
Hyderabad 1.73M
Islamabad 1.01M
Quetta 1M

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/pakistan | 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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