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Population in North Korea compared to the Philippines: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 116,786,962 people in the Philippines in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 118,213,646 in the Philippines.

Population statistics:

  • The Philippines' population is 4.43 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while the Philippines is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 1.42% for the Philippines.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +1.08% in the Philippines.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while the Philippines has grown from 89.5M to 118M (32.1% growth).

North Korea vs Philippines: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Philippines
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Philippines
2100 19,601,003 115,059,775
2099 19,729,897 115,816,309
2098 19,859,274 116,573,828
2097 19,989,589 117,333,883
2096 20,120,795 118,100,419
2095 20,252,653 118,866,742
2094 20,384,384 119,626,818
2093 20,516,457 120,388,122
2092 20,649,140 121,147,462
2091 20,781,939 121,904,917
2090 20,914,434 122,652,199
2089 21,046,685 123,391,846
2088 21,178,406 124,122,345
2087 21,310,103 124,843,149
2086 21,441,361 125,552,213
2085 21,571,843 126,246,777
2084 21,701,761 126,918,902
2083 21,830,989 127,566,644
2082 21,960,135 128,196,192
2081 22,088,774 128,799,883
2080 22,216,836 129,384,776
2079 22,344,442 129,937,788
2078 22,471,597 130,470,163
2077 22,598,635 130,981,766
2076 22,725,293 131,455,691
2075 22,852,140 131,899,779
2074 22,979,532 132,321,868
2073 23,107,165 132,712,554
2072 23,234,961 133,078,198
2071 23,363,260 133,413,261
2070 23,491,789 133,726,740
2069 23,621,167 134,013,962
2068 23,750,741 134,276,965
2067 23,880,460 134,521,893
2066 24,010,584 134,738,123
2065 24,140,518 134,943,069
2064 24,269,765 135,121,691
2063 24,397,924 135,278,856
2062 24,525,403 135,418,302
2061 24,651,788 135,533,003
2060 24,776,326 135,624,320
2059 24,898,430 135,691,307
2058 25,018,630 135,723,393
2057 25,135,871 135,729,299
2056 25,250,670 135,713,449
2055 25,361,704 135,658,483
2054 25,469,578 135,564,032
2053 25,574,137 135,433,969
2052 25,675,211 135,267,110
2051 25,772,870 135,047,521
2050 25,866,886 134,786,831
2049 25,957,363 134,476,341
2048 26,043,774 134,125,026
2047 26,126,594 133,725,025
2046 26,205,638 133,275,028
2045 26,281,344 132,781,283
2044 26,353,455 132,246,145
2043 26,422,173 131,672,273
2042 26,486,580 131,060,574
2041 26,547,651 130,412,807
2040 26,604,634 129,728,924
2039 26,656,882 129,013,931
2038 26,703,458 128,259,977
2037 26,744,185 127,475,872
2036 26,778,348 126,664,807
2035 26,805,065 125,834,749
2034 26,823,948 124,984,319
2033 26,834,263 124,117,657
2032 26,835,978 123,239,893
2031 26,827,992 122,353,079
2030 26,809,850 121,447,264
2029 26,782,161 120,532,209
2028 26,744,278 119,603,538
2027 26,696,504 118,669,567
2026 26,638,530 117,732,112
2025 26,571,036 116,786,962
2024 26,498,823 115,843,670
2023 26,418,204 114,891,199
2022 26,328,845 113,964,338
2021 26,232,534 113,100,950
2020 26,136,312 112,081,264
2019 26,037,632 110,804,683
2018 25,931,147 109,465,287
2017 25,817,709 108,119,693
2016 25,698,326 106,735,719
2015 25,575,350 105,312,992
2014 25,451,262 103,767,130
2013 25,329,451 102,076,336
2012 25,211,728 100,175,512
2011 25,097,874 98,248,614
2010 24,987,258 96,337,125
2009 24,878,332 94,384,250
2008 24,764,618 92,699,095
2007 24,646,383 91,075,184
2006 24,524,507 89,508,986
2005 24,396,433 88,015,962
2004 24,254,943 86,394,504
2003 24,090,380 84,731,835
2002 23,943,973 83,068,889
2001 23,815,358 81,401,488
2000 23,665,910 79,625,397
1999 23,497,599 77,753,257
1998 23,311,564 75,791,024
1997 23,110,830 73,908,810
1996 22,895,746 72,190,242
1995 22,669,304 70,546,246
1994 22,393,975 69,019,291
1993 22,073,352 67,530,621
1992 21,750,911 65,926,125
1991 21,428,638 64,382,249
1990 21,112,137 62,854,666
1989 20,804,367 61,265,260
1988 20,503,161 59,739,052
1987 20,205,483 58,157,496
1986 19,910,855 56,645,077
1985 19,620,388 55,213,006
1984 19,335,043 53,726,181
1983 19,054,034 52,194,620
1982 18,776,357 50,695,707
1981 18,501,295 49,311,727
1980 18,236,786 48,043,740
1979 17,983,470 46,807,103
1978 17,735,995 45,575,281
1977 17,492,798 44,367,962
1976 17,243,450 43,201,488
1975 16,971,055 42,120,826
1974 16,673,121 41,174,341
1973 16,350,367 40,294,130
1972 15,975,069 39,408,560
1971 15,572,457 38,518,659
1970 15,172,775 37,622,204
1969 14,767,615 36,660,799
1968 14,365,596 35,638,342
1967 13,958,350 34,621,320
1966 13,569,094 33,617,170
1965 13,219,369 32,625,316
1964 12,889,770 31,643,032
1963 12,567,057 30,674,731
1962 12,262,882 29,723,536
1961 11,990,713 28,792,621
1960 11,722,953 27,891,897

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/philippines | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while the Philippines gained 17,226,733 people (a 19.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while the Philippines' population increased by 11,477,927 people (a 10.8% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. The Philippines was ranked 12th in 2006 and ranked 15th 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 the Philippines will increase by 14% to 134,786,831 people and rank change from 15th to 14th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 136M people in 2057 for the Philippines.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Philippines
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Philippines
2100 -0.65% -0.65%
2099 -0.65% -0.65%
2098 -0.65% -0.65%
2097 -0.65% -0.65%
2096 -0.65% -0.64%
2095 -0.65% -0.64%
2094 -0.64% -0.63%
2093 -0.64% -0.63%
2092 -0.64% -0.62%
2091 -0.63% -0.61%
2090 -0.63% -0.6%
2089 -0.62% -0.59%
2088 -0.62% -0.58%
2087 -0.61% -0.56%
2086 -0.6% -0.55%
2085 -0.6% -0.53%
2084 -0.59% -0.51%
2083 -0.59% -0.49%
2082 -0.58% -0.47%
2081 -0.58% -0.45%
2080 -0.57% -0.43%
2079 -0.57% -0.41%
2078 -0.56% -0.39%
2077 -0.56% -0.36%
2076 -0.56% -0.34%
2075 -0.55% -0.32%
2074 -0.55% -0.29%
2073 -0.55% -0.27%
2072 -0.55% -0.25%
2071 -0.55% -0.23%
2070 -0.55% -0.21%
2069 -0.55% -0.2%
2068 -0.54% -0.18%
2067 -0.54% -0.16%
2066 -0.54% -0.15%
2065 -0.53% -0.13%
2064 -0.53% -0.12%
2063 -0.52% -0.1%
2062 -0.51% -0.08%
2061 -0.5% -0.07%
2060 -0.49% -0.05%
2059 -0.48% -0.02%
2058 -0.47% -0.004%
2057 -0.45% 0.01%
2056 -0.44% 0.04%
2055 -0.42% 0.07%
2054 -0.41% 0.1%
2053 -0.39% 0.12%
2052 -0.38% 0.16%
2051 -0.36% 0.19%
2050 -0.35% 0.23%
2049 -0.33% 0.26%
2048 -0.32% 0.3%
2047 -0.3% 0.34%
2046 -0.29% 0.37%
2045 -0.27% 0.4%
2044 -0.26% 0.44%
2043 -0.24% 0.47%
2042 -0.23% 0.5%
2041 -0.21% 0.53%
2040 -0.2% 0.55%
2039 -0.17% 0.59%
2038 -0.15% 0.62%
2037 -0.13% 0.64%
2036 -0.1% 0.66%
2035 -0.07% 0.68%
2034 -0.04% 0.7%
2033 -0.006% 0.71%
2032 0.03% 0.72%
2031 0.07% 0.75%
2030 0.1% 0.76%
2029 0.14% 0.78%
2028 0.18% 0.79%
2027 0.22% 0.8%
2026 0.25% 0.81%
2025 0.27% 0.81%
2024 0.31% 0.83%
2023 0.34% 0.81%
2022 0.37% 0.76%
2021 0.37% 0.91%
2020 0.38% 1.15%
2019 0.41% 1.22%
2018 0.44% 1.24%
2017 0.46% 1.3%
2016 0.48% 1.35%
2015 0.49% 1.49%
2014 0.48% 1.66%
2013 0.47% 1.9%
2012 0.45% 1.96%
2011 0.44% 1.98%
2010 0.44% 2.07%
2009 0.46% 1.82%
2008 0.48% 1.78%
2007 0.5% 1.75%
2006 0.52% 1.7%
2005 0.58% 1.88%
2004 0.68% 1.96%
2003 0.61% 2%
2002 0.54% 2.05%
2001 0.63% 2.23%
2000 0.72% 2.41%
1999 0.8% 2.59%
1998 0.87% 2.55%
1997 0.94% 2.38%
1996 1% 2.33%
1995 1.23% 2.21%
1994 1.45% 2.2%
1993 1.48% 2.43%
1992 1.5% 2.4%
1991 1.5% 2.43%
1990 1.48% 2.59%
1989 1.47% 2.55%
1988 1.47% 2.72%
1987 1.48% 2.67%
1986 1.48% 2.59%
1985 1.48% 2.77%
1984 1.47% 2.93%
1983 1.48% 2.96%
1982 1.49% 2.81%
1981 1.45% 2.64%
1980 1.41% 2.64%
1979 1.4% 2.7%
1978 1.39% 2.72%
1977 1.45% 2.7%
1976 1.61% 2.57%
1975 1.79% 2.3%
1974 1.97% 2.18%
1973 2.35% 2.25%
1972 2.59% 2.31%
1971 2.63% 2.38%
1970 2.74% 2.62%
1969 2.8% 2.87%
1968 2.92% 2.94%
1967 2.87% 2.99%
1966 2.65% 3.04%
1965 2.56% 3.1%
1964 2.57% 3.16%
1963 2.48% 3.2%
1962 2.27% 3.23%
1961 2.28% 3.23%

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/philippines | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while the Philippines' population grew by 0.81%.

Live population counters

North Korea Philippines
Current population
26668308
118213646
Population rank 57/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 1.42%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
33.5 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
17.1 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
42.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +198 +2,584
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +943,292
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +0.81%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 110/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
3.53 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -149,315
Net migration rank 104/196 185/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 87,212
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 135/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 195/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Philippines
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Philippines
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -149,315
2024 79,496 -2,473 1,105,612 -160,373
2023 86,203 -1,997 1,123,981 -164,284
2022 96,495 -1,997 1,115,825 -221,754
2021 99,710 -1,585 917,928 -85,185
2020 95,920 -1,585 1,253,741 -47,014
2019 106,208 -3,142 1,352,703 -6,208
2018 113,164 -3,225 1,495,843 -163,602
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,622,444 -263,593
2016 125,048 -3,222 1,718,232 -309,251
2015 127,365 -3,208 1,827,180 -390,702
2014 127,078 -3,042 1,851,828 -196,524
2013 122,519 -2,933 1,944,758 -218,439
2012 118,773 -2,919 1,979,568 95,702
2011 114,798 -2,957 2,018,419 -240,005
2010 112,443 -3,053 2,030,979 13,556
2009 111,530 -3,058 2,025,580 -164,411
2008 122,015 -3,051 2,007,584 -498,480
2007 120,521 -3,021 1,964,673 -225,977
2006 129,171 -2,948 1,960,246 -566,647
2005 132,765 -2,861 1,918,484 -326,063
2004 155,838 -2,758 1,924,265 -273,743
2003 178,775 -2,717 1,922,904 -248,066
2002 119,504 -2,763 1,919,556 -268,520
2001 143,321 -2,884 1,931,169 -247,496
2000 161,591 -3,142 1,902,330 -33,868
1999 181,613 -3,443 1,894,147 -18,323
1998 197,589 -3,706 1,870,371 178,274
1997 211,325 -3,745 1,861,098 -145,334
1996 226,095 -3,512 1,849,587 -128,251
1995 233,381 -3,094 1,846,900 -280,327
1994 320,861 -517 1,813,827 -326,539
1993 320,880 0 1,788,414 -298,337
1992 324,002 0 1,769,259 -50,338
1991 320,551 0 1,782,165 -413,300
1990 312,460 0 1,749,622 -63,296
1989 303,078 0 1,728,354 -235,884
1988 299,305 0 1,707,402 -147,523
1987 296,030 0 1,671,330 -68,149
1986 293,227 0 1,631,491 -209,835
1985 287,714 0 1,614,042 -171,539
1984 282,987 0 1,579,872 -48,739
1983 279,046 0 1,542,194 -10,229
1982 276,332 0 1,485,790 -19,912
1981 273,800 0 1,436,599 -134,484
1980 255,206 0 1,413,735 -179,832
1979 251,409 0 1,394,056 -154,684
1978 243,533 0 1,364,661 -140,372
1977 242,870 0 1,314,002 -123,608
1976 255,841 0 1,258,286 -115,730
1975 288,966 0 1,239,069 -220,296
1974 306,902 0 1,218,884 -344,674
1973 338,600 0 1,206,285 -320,091
1972 411,997 0 1,206,414 -321,491
1971 393,220 0 1,210,256 -315,363
1970 406,129 0 1,198,944 -300,923
1969 404,189 0 1,186,306 -161,517
1968 399,837 0 1,172,146 -152,017
1967 414,632 0 1,166,704 -152,812
1966 363,882 0 1,156,498 -162,127
1965 335,587 0 1,146,094 -156,782
1964 323,623 0 1,131,586 -156,342
1963 321,805 0 1,116,591 -155,267
1962 286,534 0 1,091,953 -150,903
1961 257,788 0 1,064,377 -143,597
1960 277,717 0 1,036,017 -155,354

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/philippines | 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 the Philippines 88.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,533,489 people) and 11.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,811,966 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 87,212 people or 0.1% in the Philippines.

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
Philippines
City Population
Quezon 3.08M
Manila 1.9M
Davao 1.85M
Caloocan 1.71M
Taguig 1.31M
Zamboanga 1.02M
Palawan 969K
Cebu 965K
Antipolo 914K
Pasig 853K

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/philippines | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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