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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.42 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 +0.41% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 19,604,631 18,802,138
2099 19,733,548 18,790,040
2098 19,862,949 18,776,265
2097 19,993,288 18,758,897
2096 20,124,518 18,737,707
2095 20,256,401 18,714,219
2094 20,388,156 18,687,257
2093 20,520,253 18,658,233
2092 20,652,961 18,625,772
2091 20,785,785 18,590,001
2090 20,918,305 18,549,501
2089 21,050,580 18,510,463
2088 21,182,325 18,468,827
2087 21,314,047 18,424,378
2086 21,445,329 18,376,043
2085 21,575,835 18,325,641
2084 21,705,777 18,274,394
2083 21,835,029 18,218,709
2082 21,964,199 18,163,177
2081 22,092,862 18,104,285
2080 22,220,948 18,039,008
2079 22,348,577 17,975,778
2078 22,475,755 17,908,670
2077 22,602,817 17,840,781
2076 22,729,499 17,771,791
2075 22,856,369 17,699,428
2074 22,983,784 17,625,044
2073 23,111,441 17,548,128
2072 23,239,261 17,466,649
2071 23,367,583 17,381,598
2070 23,496,136 17,295,105
2069 23,625,538 17,205,503
2068 23,755,136 17,112,154
2067 23,884,879 17,015,090
2066 24,015,027 16,915,436
2065 24,144,985 16,812,946
2064 24,274,257 16,708,669
2063 24,402,439 16,604,296
2062 24,529,941 16,497,292
2061 24,656,350 16,386,905
2060 24,780,911 16,270,535
2059 24,903,037 16,152,614
2058 25,023,260 16,032,684
2057 25,140,523 15,909,649
2056 25,255,342 15,784,519
2055 25,366,397 15,656,542
2054 25,474,292 15,523,143
2053 25,578,870 15,389,244
2052 25,679,963 15,250,715
2051 25,777,639 15,110,389
2050 25,871,673 14,968,530
2049 25,962,167 14,821,865
2048 26,048,593 14,673,459
2047 26,131,429 14,522,926
2046 26,210,487 14,370,120
2045 26,286,208 14,213,585
2044 26,358,331 14,056,036
2043 26,427,062 13,897,765
2042 26,491,482 13,738,690
2041 26,552,564 13,577,382
2040 26,609,557 13,413,396
2039 26,661,815 13,247,486
2038 26,708,400 13,079,352
2037 26,749,134 12,909,735
2036 26,783,304 12,738,223
2035 26,810,026 12,566,543
2034 26,828,912 12,392,476
2033 26,839,229 12,218,246
2032 26,840,944 12,042,345
2031 26,832,957 11,865,316
2030 26,814,812 11,685,599
2029 26,787,117 11,504,890
2028 26,749,227 11,322,573
2027 26,701,444 11,138,409
2026 26,643,460 10,952,454
2025 26,575,953 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

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 0.29% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

North Korea Papua New Guinea
Current population
26659144
11002753
Population rank 57/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +512
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 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 - -2,473 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 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 (1960–2024, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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