Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 5.74 times bigger than Panama's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

North Korea vs Panama: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Panama
2100 19,604,631 5,947,731
2099 19,733,548 5,958,919
2098 19,862,949 5,969,676
2097 19,993,288 5,979,860
2096 20,124,518 5,989,615
2095 20,256,401 5,998,960
2094 20,388,156 6,007,655
2093 20,520,253 6,015,893
2092 20,652,961 6,023,482
2091 20,785,785 6,030,584
2090 20,918,305 6,037,116
2089 21,050,580 6,043,194
2088 21,182,325 6,048,506
2087 21,314,047 6,053,252
2086 21,445,329 6,057,347
2085 21,575,835 6,060,940
2084 21,705,777 6,063,735
2083 21,835,029 6,065,863
2082 21,964,199 6,067,171
2081 22,092,862 6,067,635
2080 22,220,948 6,067,317
2079 22,348,577 6,066,164
2078 22,475,755 6,064,127
2077 22,602,817 6,061,297
2076 22,729,499 6,057,645
2075 22,856,369 6,053,134
2074 22,983,784 6,047,620
2073 23,111,441 6,041,318
2072 23,239,261 6,034,065
2071 23,367,583 6,026,051
2070 23,496,136 6,017,288
2069 23,625,538 6,007,621
2068 23,755,136 5,997,109
2067 23,884,879 5,985,932
2066 24,015,027 5,973,853
2065 24,144,985 5,961,039
2064 24,274,257 5,947,320
2063 24,402,439 5,932,822
2062 24,529,941 5,917,367
2061 24,656,350 5,900,972
2060 24,780,911 5,883,654
2059 24,903,037 5,865,433
2058 25,023,260 5,846,037
2057 25,140,523 5,825,696
2056 25,255,342 5,804,369
2055 25,366,397 5,781,900
2054 25,474,292 5,758,339
2053 25,578,870 5,733,538
2052 25,679,963 5,707,562
2051 25,777,639 5,680,231
2050 25,871,673 5,651,617
2049 25,962,167 5,621,841
2048 26,048,593 5,590,701
2047 26,131,429 5,558,382
2046 26,210,487 5,524,843
2045 26,286,208 5,490,228
2044 26,358,331 5,454,371
2043 26,427,062 5,417,316
2042 26,491,482 5,379,169
2041 26,552,564 5,339,872
2040 26,609,557 5,299,492
2039 26,661,815 5,257,983
2038 26,708,400 5,215,284
2037 26,749,134 5,171,497
2036 26,783,304 5,126,814
2035 26,810,026 5,081,210
2034 26,828,912 5,034,708
2033 26,839,229 4,987,247
2032 26,840,944 4,938,646
2031 26,832,957 4,889,260
2030 26,814,812 4,838,970
2029 26,787,117 4,787,654
2028 26,749,227 4,735,214
2027 26,701,444 4,681,847
2026 26,643,460 4,627,497
2025 26,575,953 4,572,106
2024 26,498,823 4,515,577
2023 26,418,204 4,458,759
2022 26,328,845 4,400,773
2021 26,232,534 4,345,405
2020 26,136,312 4,293,261
2019 26,037,632 4,234,700
2018 25,931,147 4,167,860
2017 25,817,709 4,098,707
2016 25,698,326 4,029,086
2015 25,575,350 3,960,035
2014 25,451,262 3,892,101
2013 25,329,451 3,825,329
2012 25,211,728 3,759,256
2011 25,097,874 3,693,505
2010 24,987,258 3,628,535
2009 24,878,332 3,564,381
2008 24,764,618 3,500,648
2007 24,646,383 3,437,490
2006 24,524,507 3,375,024
2005 24,396,433 3,313,026
2004 24,254,943 3,251,155
2003 24,090,380 3,189,807
2002 23,943,973 3,129,344
2001 23,815,358 3,069,537
2000 23,665,910 3,010,369
1999 23,497,599 2,951,822
1998 23,311,564 2,893,914
1997 23,110,830 2,836,695
1996 22,895,746 2,780,227
1995 22,669,304 2,724,557
1994 22,393,975 2,669,546
1993 22,073,352 2,615,099
1992 21,750,911 2,561,336
1991 21,428,638 2,508,265
1990 21,112,137 2,455,583
1989 20,804,367 2,403,820
1988 20,503,161 2,352,848
1987 20,205,483 2,301,970
1986 19,910,855 2,251,325
1985 19,620,388 2,200,915
1984 19,335,043 2,150,782
1983 19,054,034 2,101,106
1982 18,776,357 2,052,271
1981 18,501,295 2,004,418
1980 18,236,786 1,957,534
1979 17,983,470 1,911,552
1978 17,735,995 1,866,311
1977 17,492,798 1,821,543
1976 17,243,450 1,776,935
1975 16,971,055 1,732,389
1974 16,673,121 1,687,926
1973 16,350,367 1,643,690
1972 15,975,069 1,599,723
1971 15,572,457 1,556,081
1970 15,172,775 1,513,070
1969 14,767,615 1,470,886
1968 14,365,596 1,429,447
1967 13,958,350 1,388,628
1966 13,569,094 1,348,388
1965 13,219,369 1,308,835
1964 12,889,770 1,270,065
1963 12,567,057 1,232,124
1962 12,262,882 1,195,301
1961 11,990,713 1,159,870
1960 11,722,953 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th 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 Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Panama
2100 -0.65% -0.19%
2099 -0.65% -0.18%
2098 -0.65% -0.17%
2097 -0.65% -0.16%
2096 -0.65% -0.16%
2095 -0.65% -0.14%
2094 -0.64% -0.14%
2093 -0.64% -0.13%
2092 -0.64% -0.12%
2091 -0.63% -0.11%
2090 -0.63% -0.1%
2089 -0.62% -0.09%
2088 -0.62% -0.08%
2087 -0.61% -0.07%
2086 -0.6% -0.06%
2085 -0.6% -0.05%
2084 -0.59% -0.04%
2083 -0.59% -0.02%
2082 -0.58% -0.008%
2081 -0.58% 0.005%
2080 -0.57% 0.02%
2079 -0.57% 0.03%
2078 -0.56% 0.05%
2077 -0.56% 0.06%
2076 -0.56% 0.07%
2075 -0.55% 0.09%
2074 -0.55% 0.1%
2073 -0.55% 0.12%
2072 -0.55% 0.13%
2071 -0.55% 0.15%
2070 -0.55% 0.16%
2069 -0.55% 0.18%
2068 -0.54% 0.19%
2067 -0.54% 0.2%
2066 -0.54% 0.21%
2065 -0.53% 0.23%
2064 -0.53% 0.24%
2063 -0.52% 0.26%
2062 -0.51% 0.28%
2061 -0.5% 0.29%
2060 -0.49% 0.31%
2059 -0.48% 0.33%
2058 -0.47% 0.35%
2057 -0.45% 0.37%
2056 -0.44% 0.39%
2055 -0.42% 0.41%
2054 -0.41% 0.43%
2053 -0.39% 0.46%
2052 -0.38% 0.48%
2051 -0.36% 0.51%
2050 -0.35% 0.53%
2049 -0.33% 0.56%
2048 -0.32% 0.58%
2047 -0.3% 0.61%
2046 -0.29% 0.63%
2045 -0.27% 0.66%
2044 -0.26% 0.68%
2043 -0.24% 0.71%
2042 -0.23% 0.74%
2041 -0.21% 0.76%
2040 -0.2% 0.79%
2039 -0.17% 0.82%
2038 -0.15% 0.85%
2037 -0.13% 0.87%
2036 -0.1% 0.9%
2035 -0.07% 0.92%
2034 -0.04% 0.95%
2033 -0.006% 0.98%
2032 0.03% 1.01%
2031 0.07% 1.04%
2030 0.1% 1.07%
2029 0.14% 1.11%
2028 0.18% 1.14%
2027 0.22% 1.17%
2026 0.25% 1.21%
2025 0.29% 1.25%
2024 0.31% 1.27%
2023 0.34% 1.32%
2022 0.37% 1.27%
2021 0.37% 1.21%
2020 0.38% 1.38%
2019 0.41% 1.6%
2018 0.44% 1.69%
2017 0.46% 1.73%
2016 0.48% 1.74%
2015 0.49% 1.75%
2014 0.48% 1.75%
2013 0.47% 1.76%
2012 0.45% 1.78%
2011 0.44% 1.79%
2010 0.44% 1.8%
2009 0.46% 1.82%
2008 0.48% 1.84%
2007 0.5% 1.85%
2006 0.52% 1.87%
2005 0.58% 1.9%
2004 0.68% 1.92%
2003 0.61% 1.93%
2002 0.54% 1.95%
2001 0.63% 1.97%
2000 0.72% 1.98%
1999 0.8% 2%
1998 0.87% 2.02%
1997 0.94% 2.03%
1996 1% 2.04%
1995 1.23% 2.06%
1994 1.45% 2.08%
1993 1.48% 2.1%
1992 1.5% 2.12%
1991 1.5% 2.15%
1990 1.48% 2.15%
1989 1.47% 2.17%
1988 1.47% 2.21%
1987 1.48% 2.25%
1986 1.48% 2.29%
1985 1.48% 2.33%
1984 1.47% 2.36%
1983 1.48% 2.38%
1982 1.49% 2.39%
1981 1.45% 2.4%
1980 1.41% 2.41%
1979 1.4% 2.42%
1978 1.39% 2.46%
1977 1.45% 2.51%
1976 1.61% 2.57%
1975 1.79% 2.63%
1974 1.97% 2.69%
1973 2.35% 2.75%
1972 2.59% 2.8%
1971 2.63% 2.84%
1970 2.74% 2.87%
1969 2.8% 2.9%
1968 2.92% 2.94%
1967 2.87% 2.98%
1966 2.65% 3.02%
1965 2.56% 3.05%
1964 2.57% 3.08%
1963 2.48% 3.08%
1962 2.27% 3.05%
1961 2.28% 3.01%

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/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

North Korea Panama
Current population
26659144
4642198
Population rank 57/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.06%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
9.25 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
7.35 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +156
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 83/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 +6,151
Net migration rank 104/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 6,151
2024 - -2,473 - 6,706
2023 86,203 -1,997 50,197 7,262
2022 96,495 -1,997 50,556 7,967
2021 99,710 -1,585 46,747 5,473
2020 95,920 -1,585 46,599 5,473
2019 106,208 -3,142 54,420 10,623
2018 113,164 -3,225 57,508 11,130
2017 120,181 -3,224 58,607 11,059
2016 125,048 -3,222 59,454 10,109
2015 127,365 -3,208 59,896 8,648
2014 127,078 -3,042 60,227 7,105
2013 122,519 -2,933 60,295 5,926
2012 118,773 -2,919 60,471 5,447
2011 114,798 -2,957 60,411 5,167
2010 112,443 -3,053 59,418 4,953
2009 111,530 -3,058 59,168 4,765
2008 122,015 -3,051 58,961 4,568
2007 120,521 -3,021 58,454 4,330
2006 129,171 -2,948 58,067 4,087
2005 132,765 -2,861 58,014 3,843
2004 155,838 -2,758 58,281 3,596
2003 178,775 -2,717 57,458 3,352
2002 119,504 -2,763 57,011 3,099
2001 143,321 -2,884 56,654 2,856
2000 161,591 -3,142 56,236 2,602
1999 181,613 -3,443 55,911 2,341
1998 197,589 -3,706 55,482 2,084
1997 211,325 -3,745 55,060 1,820
1996 226,095 -3,512 54,512 1,533
1995 233,381 -3,094 54,069 1,221
1994 320,861 -517 53,845 899
1993 320,880 0 53,591 560
1992 324,002 0 53,186 182
1991 320,551 0 53,079 -305
1990 312,460 0 53,451 -854
1989 303,078 0 52,295 -1,368
1988 299,305 0 52,767 -1,750
1987 296,030 0 52,690 -1,953
1986 293,227 0 52,681 -2,136
1985 287,714 0 52,573 -2,297
1984 282,987 0 52,436 -2,435
1983 279,046 0 51,880 -2,518
1982 276,332 0 50,858 -2,554
1981 273,800 0 50,018 -2,620
1980 255,206 0 49,077 -2,701
1979 251,409 0 48,362 -2,772
1978 243,533 0 47,694 -2,811
1977 242,870 0 47,438 -2,792
1976 255,841 0 47,307 -2,727
1975 288,966 0 47,149 -2,635
1974 306,902 0 46,932 -2,531
1973 338,600 0 46,540 -2,464
1972 411,997 0 46,311 -2,448
1971 393,220 0 45,867 -2,454
1970 406,129 0 45,075 -2,476
1969 404,189 0 44,278 -2,510
1968 399,837 0 43,641 -2,528
1967 414,632 0 43,054 -2,528
1966 363,882 0 42,457 -2,500
1965 335,587 0 41,604 -2,454
1964 323,623 0 40,806 -2,418
1963 321,805 0 39,872 -2,380
1962 286,534 0 38,537 -2,377
1961 257,788 0 37,100 -2,394
1960 277,717 0 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/panama | 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 Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

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
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/panama | 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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.