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Population in North Korea compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.41 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

North Korea vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Papua New Guinea
2100 19,601,003 18,798,240
2099 19,729,897 18,786,145
2098 19,859,274 18,772,372
2097 19,989,589 18,755,008
2096 20,120,795 18,733,822
2095 20,252,653 18,710,340
2094 20,384,384 18,683,383
2093 20,516,457 18,654,365
2092 20,649,140 18,621,911
2091 20,781,939 18,586,147
2090 20,914,434 18,545,656
2089 21,046,685 18,506,626
2088 21,178,406 18,464,999
2087 21,310,103 18,420,558
2086 21,441,361 18,372,233
2085 21,571,843 18,321,842
2084 21,701,761 18,270,605
2083 21,830,989 18,214,932
2082 21,960,135 18,159,412
2081 22,088,774 18,100,531
2080 22,216,836 18,035,268
2079 22,344,442 17,972,052
2078 22,471,597 17,904,957
2077 22,598,635 17,837,082
2076 22,725,293 17,768,107
2075 22,852,140 17,695,759
2074 22,979,532 17,621,390
2073 23,107,165 17,544,490
2072 23,234,961 17,463,028
2071 23,363,260 17,377,995
2070 23,491,789 17,291,519
2069 23,621,167 17,201,936
2068 23,750,741 17,108,606
2067 23,880,460 17,011,562
2066 24,010,584 16,911,929
2065 24,140,518 16,809,460
2064 24,269,765 16,705,205
2063 24,397,924 16,600,853
2062 24,525,403 16,493,872
2061 24,651,788 16,383,508
2060 24,776,326 16,267,162
2059 24,898,430 16,149,265
2058 25,018,630 16,029,360
2057 25,135,871 15,906,350
2056 25,250,670 15,781,247
2055 25,361,704 15,653,296
2054 25,469,578 15,519,925
2053 25,574,137 15,386,054
2052 25,675,211 15,247,553
2051 25,772,870 15,107,257
2050 25,866,886 14,965,427
2049 25,957,363 14,818,793
2048 26,043,774 14,670,417
2047 26,126,594 14,519,915
2046 26,205,638 14,367,141
2045 26,281,344 14,210,639
2044 26,353,455 14,053,122
2043 26,422,173 13,894,884
2042 26,486,580 13,735,841
2041 26,547,651 13,574,567
2040 26,604,634 13,410,615
2039 26,656,882 13,244,740
2038 26,703,458 13,076,640
2037 26,744,185 12,907,059
2036 26,778,348 12,735,582
2035 26,805,065 12,563,938
2034 26,823,948 12,389,907
2033 26,834,263 12,215,713
2032 26,835,978 12,039,848
2031 26,827,992 11,862,856
2030 26,809,850 11,683,177
2029 26,782,161 11,502,504
2028 26,744,278 11,320,226
2027 26,696,504 11,136,100
2026 26,638,530 10,950,183
2025 26,571,036 10,762,817
2024 26,498,823 10,576,502
2023 26,418,204 10,389,635
2022 26,328,845 10,203,169
2021 26,232,534 10,012,896
2020 26,136,312 9,815,746
2019 26,037,632 9,609,010
2018 25,931,147 9,394,513
2017 25,817,709 9,178,714
2016 25,698,326 8,961,718
2015 25,575,350 8,743,246
2014 25,451,262 8,523,441
2013 25,329,451 8,302,698
2012 25,211,728 8,081,390
2011 25,097,874 7,859,346
2010 24,987,258 7,633,523
2009 24,878,332 7,406,438
2008 24,764,618 7,183,002
2007 24,646,383 6,963,345
2006 24,524,507 6,747,720
2005 24,396,433 6,535,905
2004 24,254,943 6,328,041
2003 24,090,380 6,123,997
2002 23,943,973 5,924,003
2001 23,815,358 5,728,435
2000 23,665,910 5,537,064
1999 23,497,599 5,349,333
1998 23,311,564 5,166,390
1997 23,110,830 4,987,883
1996 22,895,746 4,813,361
1995 22,669,304 4,644,278
1994 22,393,975 4,480,208
1993 22,073,352 4,320,872
1992 21,750,911 4,166,699
1991 21,428,638 4,021,837
1990 21,112,137 3,896,481
1989 20,804,367 3,796,078
1988 20,503,161 3,711,880
1987 20,205,483 3,632,543
1986 19,910,855 3,554,793
1985 19,620,388 3,478,936
1984 19,335,043 3,405,198
1983 19,054,034 3,333,633
1982 18,776,357 3,264,291
1981 18,501,295 3,197,019
1980 18,236,786 3,131,512
1979 17,983,470 3,067,341
1978 17,735,995 3,003,714
1977 17,492,798 2,940,327
1976 17,243,450 2,877,327
1975 16,971,055 2,814,820
1974 16,673,121 2,752,671
1973 16,350,367 2,690,629
1972 15,975,069 2,628,432
1971 15,572,457 2,566,421
1970 15,172,775 2,505,628
1969 14,767,615 2,446,927
1968 14,365,596 2,390,803
1967 13,958,350 2,337,532
1966 13,569,094 2,285,774
1965 13,219,369 2,235,820
1964 12,889,770 2,188,325
1963 12,567,057 2,141,376
1962 12,262,882 2,093,919
1961 11,990,713 2,046,127
1960 11,722,953 1,995,110

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) North Korea's population will shrink by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.65% 0.06%
2099 -0.65% 0.07%
2098 -0.65% 0.09%
2097 -0.65% 0.11%
2096 -0.65% 0.13%
2095 -0.65% 0.14%
2094 -0.64% 0.16%
2093 -0.64% 0.17%
2092 -0.64% 0.19%
2091 -0.63% 0.22%
2090 -0.63% 0.21%
2089 -0.62% 0.23%
2088 -0.62% 0.24%
2087 -0.61% 0.26%
2086 -0.6% 0.28%
2085 -0.6% 0.28%
2084 -0.59% 0.31%
2083 -0.59% 0.31%
2082 -0.58% 0.33%
2081 -0.58% 0.36%
2080 -0.57% 0.35%
2079 -0.57% 0.37%
2078 -0.56% 0.38%
2077 -0.56% 0.39%
2076 -0.56% 0.41%
2075 -0.55% 0.42%
2074 -0.55% 0.44%
2073 -0.55% 0.47%
2072 -0.55% 0.49%
2071 -0.55% 0.5%
2070 -0.55% 0.52%
2069 -0.55% 0.55%
2068 -0.54% 0.57%
2067 -0.54% 0.59%
2066 -0.54% 0.61%
2065 -0.53% 0.62%
2064 -0.53% 0.63%
2063 -0.52% 0.65%
2062 -0.51% 0.67%
2061 -0.5% 0.72%
2060 -0.49% 0.73%
2059 -0.48% 0.75%
2058 -0.47% 0.77%
2057 -0.45% 0.79%
2056 -0.44% 0.82%
2055 -0.42% 0.86%
2054 -0.41% 0.87%
2053 -0.39% 0.91%
2052 -0.38% 0.93%
2051 -0.36% 0.95%
2050 -0.35% 0.99%
2049 -0.33% 1.01%
2048 -0.32% 1.04%
2047 -0.3% 1.06%
2046 -0.29% 1.1%
2045 -0.27% 1.12%
2044 -0.26% 1.14%
2043 -0.24% 1.16%
2042 -0.23% 1.19%
2041 -0.21% 1.22%
2040 -0.2% 1.25%
2039 -0.17% 1.29%
2038 -0.15% 1.31%
2037 -0.13% 1.35%
2036 -0.1% 1.37%
2035 -0.07% 1.4%
2034 -0.04% 1.43%
2033 -0.006% 1.46%
2032 0.03% 1.49%
2031 0.07% 1.54%
2030 0.1% 1.57%
2029 0.14% 1.61%
2028 0.18% 1.65%
2027 0.22% 1.7%
2026 0.25% 1.74%
2025 0.27% 1.76%
2024 0.31% 1.8%
2023 0.34% 1.83%
2022 0.37% 1.9%
2021 0.37% 2.01%
2020 0.38% 2.15%
2019 0.41% 2.28%
2018 0.44% 2.35%
2017 0.46% 2.42%
2016 0.48% 2.5%
2015 0.49% 2.58%
2014 0.48% 2.66%
2013 0.47% 2.74%
2012 0.45% 2.83%
2011 0.44% 2.96%
2010 0.44% 3.07%
2009 0.46% 3.11%
2008 0.48% 3.15%
2007 0.5% 3.2%
2006 0.52% 3.24%
2005 0.58% 3.28%
2004 0.68% 3.33%
2003 0.61% 3.38%
2002 0.54% 3.41%
2001 0.63% 3.46%
2000 0.72% 3.51%
1999 0.8% 3.54%
1998 0.87% 3.58%
1997 0.94% 3.63%
1996 1% 3.64%
1995 1.23% 3.66%
1994 1.45% 3.69%
1993 1.48% 3.7%
1992 1.5% 3.6%
1991 1.5% 3.22%
1990 1.48% 2.64%
1989 1.47% 2.27%
1988 1.47% 2.18%
1987 1.48% 2.19%
1986 1.48% 2.18%
1985 1.48% 2.17%
1984 1.47% 2.15%
1983 1.48% 2.12%
1982 1.49% 2.1%
1981 1.45% 2.09%
1980 1.41% 2.09%
1979 1.4% 2.12%
1978 1.39% 2.16%
1977 1.45% 2.19%
1976 1.61% 2.22%
1975 1.79% 2.26%
1974 1.97% 2.31%
1973 2.35% 2.37%
1972 2.59% 2.42%
1971 2.63% 2.43%
1970 2.74% 2.4%
1969 2.8% 2.35%
1968 2.92% 2.28%
1967 2.87% 2.26%
1966 2.65% 2.23%
1965 2.56% 2.17%
1964 2.57% 2.19%
1963 2.48% 2.27%
1962 2.27% 2.34%
1961 2.28% 2.56%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

North Korea Papua New Guinea
Current population
26668308
11045681
Population rank 57/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +510
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 59/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -2,787 -284
Net migration rank 104/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -284
2024 79,496 -2,473 187,595 -707
2023 86,203 -1,997 187,637 -787
2022 96,495 -1,997 186,861 -787
2021 99,710 -1,585 183,766 10,703
2020 95,920 -1,585 189,130 10,703
2019 106,208 -3,142 190,662 22,978
2018 113,164 -3,225 190,662 24,684
2017 120,181 -3,224 189,715 26,513
2016 125,048 -3,222 189,281 28,473
2015 127,365 -3,208 188,600 30,580
2014 127,078 -3,042 187,592 32,840
2013 122,519 -2,933 185,790 35,280
2012 118,773 -2,919 183,658 37,893
2011 114,798 -2,957 181,842 40,690
2010 112,443 -3,053 178,998 50,106
2009 111,530 -3,058 175,421 49,647
2008 122,015 -3,051 172,823 48,985
2007 120,521 -3,021 169,306 48,203
2006 129,171 -2,948 166,540 47,191
2005 132,765 -2,861 163,888 46,014
2004 155,838 -2,758 161,023 44,811
2003 178,775 -2,717 158,611 43,639
2002 119,504 -2,763 155,091 42,657
2001 143,321 -2,884 151,431 41,962
2000 161,591 -3,142 147,496 41,855
1999 181,613 -3,443 143,592 42,519
1998 197,589 -3,706 136,677 43,091
1997 211,325 -3,745 134,458 42,787
1996 226,095 -3,512 129,802 41,994
1995 233,381 -3,094 125,410 40,962
1994 320,861 -517 122,113 39,669
1993 320,880 0 118,668 38,220
1992 324,002 0 114,818 36,622
1991 320,551 0 111,453 26,830
1990 312,460 0 110,033 2,398
1989 303,078 0 108,199 -19,824
1988 299,305 0 106,256 -26,232
1987 296,030 0 104,367 -25,720
1986 293,227 0 102,346 -25,495
1985 287,714 0 100,333 -25,470
1984 282,987 0 98,103 -25,487
1983 279,046 0 95,982 -25,465
1982 276,332 0 93,522 -25,355
1981 273,800 0 91,767 -25,383
1980 255,206 0 90,266 -25,638
1979 251,409 0 89,330 -25,618
1978 243,533 0 88,747 -25,208
1977 242,870 0 87,954 -24,722
1976 255,841 0 86,965 -24,198
1975 288,966 0 85,809 -23,562
1974 306,902 0 84,829 -22,771
1973 338,600 0 83,821 -21,803
1972 411,997 0 82,672 -20,303
1971 393,220 0 80,599 -18,945
1970 406,129 0 78,712 -18,773
1969 404,189 0 76,454 -18,994
1968 399,837 0 73,983 -19,188
1967 414,632 0 71,519 -19,767
1966 363,882 0 69,206 -17,454
1965 335,587 0 66,693 -18,532
1964 323,623 0 64,558 -17,730
1963 321,805 0 62,260 -15,189
1962 286,534 0 59,974 -12,141
1961 257,788 0 58,151 -10,409
1960 277,717 0 56,326 -2,034

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 97.6% of the population change in North Korea is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people). In Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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