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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 1.34 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

North Korea vs Poland: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Poland
2100 19,604,631 18,350,017
2099 19,733,548 18,541,227
2098 19,862,949 18,733,999
2097 19,993,288 18,928,169
2096 20,124,518 19,125,003
2095 20,256,401 19,323,203
2094 20,388,156 19,525,085
2093 20,520,253 19,730,030
2092 20,652,961 19,938,529
2091 20,785,785 20,151,135
2090 20,918,305 20,368,308
2089 21,050,580 20,589,970
2088 21,182,325 20,817,398
2087 21,314,047 21,050,137
2086 21,445,329 21,288,179
2085 21,575,835 21,531,674
2084 21,705,777 21,780,998
2083 21,835,029 22,036,816
2082 21,964,199 22,298,479
2081 22,092,862 22,565,373
2080 22,220,948 22,836,875
2079 22,348,577 23,113,773
2078 22,475,755 23,393,434
2077 22,602,817 23,679,569
2076 22,729,499 23,968,050
2075 22,856,369 24,259,763
2074 22,983,784 24,554,480
2073 23,111,441 24,852,006
2072 23,239,261 25,149,886
2071 23,367,583 25,447,869
2070 23,496,136 25,745,140
2069 23,625,538 26,042,079
2068 23,755,136 26,337,963
2067 23,884,879 26,632,110
2066 24,015,027 26,923,643
2065 24,144,985 27,211,946
2064 24,274,257 27,497,263
2063 24,402,439 27,778,871
2062 24,529,941 28,055,433
2061 24,656,350 28,328,948
2060 24,780,911 28,597,687
2059 24,903,037 28,864,377
2058 25,023,260 29,125,961
2057 25,140,523 29,384,759
2056 25,255,342 29,641,101
2055 25,366,397 29,893,868
2054 25,474,292 30,142,942
2053 25,578,870 30,389,214
2052 25,679,963 30,630,763
2051 25,777,639 30,871,146
2050 25,871,673 31,107,894
2049 25,962,167 31,341,718
2048 26,048,593 31,572,273
2047 26,131,429 31,800,868
2046 26,210,487 32,026,873
2045 26,286,208 32,250,757
2044 26,358,331 32,471,522
2043 26,427,062 32,690,423
2042 26,491,482 32,906,811
2041 26,552,564 33,118,473
2040 26,609,557 33,328,426
2039 26,661,815 33,535,096
2038 26,708,400 33,738,091
2037 26,749,134 33,936,906
2036 26,783,304 34,133,190
2035 26,810,026 34,323,827
2034 26,828,912 34,511,159
2033 26,839,229 34,693,880
2032 26,840,944 34,872,593
2031 26,832,957 35,046,775
2030 26,814,812 35,213,577
2029 26,787,117 35,374,919
2028 26,749,227 35,527,083
2027 26,701,444 35,671,012
2026 26,643,460 35,806,942
2025 26,575,953 36,233,346
2024 26,498,823 36,559,233
2023 26,418,204 36,687,353
2022 26,328,845 36,821,749
2021 26,232,534 36,981,559
2020 26,136,312 37,515,748
2019 26,037,632 37,965,475
2018 25,931,147 37,974,750
2017 25,817,709 37,974,826
2016 25,698,326 37,970,087
2015 25,575,350 37,986,412
2014 25,451,262 38,011,735
2013 25,329,451 38,040,196
2012 25,211,728 38,063,164
2011 25,097,874 38,063,255
2010 24,987,258 38,042,794
2009 24,878,332 38,151,603
2008 24,764,618 38,125,759
2007 24,646,383 38,120,560
2006 24,524,507 38,141,267
2005 24,396,433 38,165,445
2004 24,254,943 38,182,222
2003 24,090,380 38,204,570
2002 23,943,973 38,230,364
2001 23,815,358 38,248,076
2000 23,665,910 38,258,629
1999 23,497,599 38,660,271
1998 23,311,564 38,663,481
1997 23,110,830 38,649,660
1996 22,895,746 38,624,370
1995 22,669,304 38,594,998
1994 22,393,975 38,542,652
1993 22,073,352 38,461,408
1992 21,750,911 38,363,667
1991 21,428,638 38,246,193
1990 21,112,137 38,110,782
1989 20,804,367 37,961,529
1988 20,503,161 37,824,487
1987 20,205,483 37,668,045
1986 19,910,855 37,456,119
1985 19,620,388 37,201,885
1984 19,335,043 36,904,134
1983 19,054,034 36,571,808
1982 18,776,357 36,230,481
1981 18,501,295 35,898,587
1980 18,236,786 35,574,150
1979 17,983,470 35,247,217
1978 17,735,995 34,965,600
1977 17,492,798 34,689,050
1976 17,243,450 34,356,300
1975 16,971,055 34,015,199
1974 16,673,121 33,678,899
1973 16,350,367 33,357,200
1972 15,975,069 33,055,650
1971 15,572,457 32,783,500
1970 15,172,775 32,664,300
1969 14,767,615 32,548,300
1968 14,365,596 32,294,655
1967 13,958,350 31,987,155
1966 13,569,094 31,681,000
1965 13,219,369 31,444,950
1964 12,889,770 31,139,450
1963 12,567,057 30,712,000
1962 12,262,882 30,308,500
1961 11,990,713 29,964,000
1960 11,722,953 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.4M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Poland
2100 -0.65% -1.03%
2099 -0.65% -1.03%
2098 -0.65% -1.03%
2097 -0.65% -1.03%
2096 -0.65% -1.03%
2095 -0.65% -1.03%
2094 -0.64% -1.04%
2093 -0.64% -1.05%
2092 -0.64% -1.06%
2091 -0.63% -1.07%
2090 -0.63% -1.08%
2089 -0.62% -1.09%
2088 -0.62% -1.11%
2087 -0.61% -1.12%
2086 -0.6% -1.13%
2085 -0.6% -1.14%
2084 -0.59% -1.16%
2083 -0.59% -1.17%
2082 -0.58% -1.18%
2081 -0.58% -1.19%
2080 -0.57% -1.2%
2079 -0.57% -1.2%
2078 -0.56% -1.21%
2077 -0.56% -1.2%
2076 -0.56% -1.2%
2075 -0.55% -1.2%
2074 -0.55% -1.2%
2073 -0.55% -1.18%
2072 -0.55% -1.17%
2071 -0.55% -1.15%
2070 -0.55% -1.14%
2069 -0.55% -1.12%
2068 -0.54% -1.1%
2067 -0.54% -1.08%
2066 -0.54% -1.06%
2065 -0.53% -1.04%
2064 -0.53% -1.01%
2063 -0.52% -0.99%
2062 -0.51% -0.97%
2061 -0.5% -0.94%
2060 -0.49% -0.92%
2059 -0.48% -0.9%
2058 -0.47% -0.88%
2057 -0.45% -0.86%
2056 -0.44% -0.85%
2055 -0.42% -0.83%
2054 -0.41% -0.81%
2053 -0.39% -0.79%
2052 -0.38% -0.78%
2051 -0.36% -0.76%
2050 -0.35% -0.75%
2049 -0.33% -0.73%
2048 -0.32% -0.72%
2047 -0.3% -0.71%
2046 -0.29% -0.69%
2045 -0.27% -0.68%
2044 -0.26% -0.67%
2043 -0.24% -0.66%
2042 -0.23% -0.64%
2041 -0.21% -0.63%
2040 -0.2% -0.62%
2039 -0.17% -0.6%
2038 -0.15% -0.59%
2037 -0.13% -0.58%
2036 -0.1% -0.56%
2035 -0.07% -0.54%
2034 -0.04% -0.53%
2033 -0.006% -0.51%
2032 0.03% -0.5%
2031 0.07% -0.47%
2030 0.1% -0.46%
2029 0.14% -0.43%
2028 0.18% -0.4%
2027 0.22% -0.38%
2026 0.25% -1.18%
2025 0.29% -0.89%
2024 0.31% -0.35%
2023 0.34% -0.36%
2022 0.37% -0.43%
2021 0.37% -1.42%
2020 0.38% -1.18%
2019 0.41% -0.02%
2018 0.44% -0%
2017 0.46% 0.01%
2016 0.48% -0.04%
2015 0.49% -0.07%
2014 0.48% -0.07%
2013 0.47% -0.06%
2012 0.45% -0%
2011 0.44% 0.05%
2010 0.44% -0.29%
2009 0.46% 0.07%
2008 0.48% 0.01%
2007 0.5% -0.05%
2006 0.52% -0.06%
2005 0.58% -0.04%
2004 0.68% -0.06%
2003 0.61% -0.07%
2002 0.54% -0.05%
2001 0.63% -0.03%
2000 0.72% -1.04%
1999 0.8% -0.008%
1998 0.87% 0.04%
1997 0.94% 0.07%
1996 1% 0.08%
1995 1.23% 0.14%
1994 1.45% 0.21%
1993 1.48% 0.25%
1992 1.5% 0.31%
1991 1.5% 0.36%
1990 1.48% 0.39%
1989 1.47% 0.36%
1988 1.47% 0.42%
1987 1.48% 0.57%
1986 1.48% 0.68%
1985 1.48% 0.81%
1984 1.47% 0.91%
1983 1.48% 0.94%
1982 1.49% 0.92%
1981 1.45% 0.91%
1980 1.41% 0.93%
1979 1.4% 0.81%
1978 1.39% 0.8%
1977 1.45% 0.97%
1976 1.61% 1%
1975 1.79% 1%
1974 1.97% 0.96%
1973 2.35% 0.91%
1972 2.59% 0.83%
1971 2.63% 0.36%
1970 2.74% 0.36%
1969 2.8% 0.79%
1968 2.92% 0.96%
1967 2.87% 0.97%
1966 2.65% 0.75%
1965 2.56% 0.98%
1964 2.57% 1.39%
1963 2.48% 1.33%
1962 2.27% 1.15%
1961 2.28% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

North Korea Poland
Current population
26659144
35806942
Population rank 57/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.43%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.1 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -351
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 181/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -330,820
Net migration rank 104/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -330,820
2024 - -2,473 - -238,062
2023 86,203 -1,997 -135,743 -7,824
2022 96,495 -1,997 -143,605 967,744
2021 99,710 -1,585 -184,907 2,251
2020 95,920 -1,585 -120,050 3,920
2019 106,208 -3,142 -34,169 7,696
2018 113,164 -3,225 -26,582 -223
2017 120,181 -3,224 0 -21,535
2016 125,048 -3,222 -3,797 -5,675
2015 127,365 -3,208 -26,590 3,887
2014 127,078 -3,042 0 5,525
2013 122,519 -2,933 -19,020 12,402
2012 118,773 -2,919 0 4,635
2011 114,798 -2,957 11,419 45,951
2010 112,443 -3,053 38,043 119,623
2009 111,530 -3,058 30,521 -8,283
2008 122,015 -3,051 34,313 -42,288
2007 120,521 -3,021 11,436 -51,235
2006 129,171 -2,948 3,814 -68,882
2005 132,765 -2,861 -3,817 -41,942
2004 155,838 -2,758 -7,637 -38,216
2003 178,775 -2,717 -15,281 -19,039
2002 119,504 -2,763 -3,823 -16,462
2001 143,321 -2,884 3,825 -16,648
2000 161,591 -3,142 11,478 -15,921
1999 181,613 -3,443 0 -53,035
1998 197,589 -3,706 19,332 -39,509
1997 211,325 -3,745 34,785 -44,230
1996 226,095 -3,512 42,487 -45,349
1995 233,381 -3,094 46,314 -52,989
1994 320,861 -517 96,357 -41,845
1993 320,880 0 103,846 -48,805
1992 324,002 0 118,928 -46,893
1991 320,551 0 141,511 -55,342
1990 312,460 0 160,066 -50,339
1989 303,078 0 182,215 -49,192
1988 299,305 0 215,599 -101,671
1987 296,030 0 226,008 -32,310
1986 293,227 0 258,448 -22,520
1985 287,714 0 297,615 -27,277
1984 282,987 0 332,137 -18,402
1983 279,046 0 373,032 -26,724
1982 276,332 0 369,551 -34,980
1981 273,800 0 351,806 -16,155
1980 255,206 0 348,627 -42,420
1979 251,409 0 366,571 -22,162
1978 243,533 0 339,166 -62,936
1977 242,870 0 353,828 -33,496
1976 255,841 0 367,612 -25,716
1975 288,966 0 350,356 -31,346
1974 306,902 0 346,893 -18,273
1973 338,600 0 320,229 -29,335
1972 411,997 0 314,028 -15,004
1971 393,220 0 278,660 -31,767
1970 406,129 0 280,913 -66,859
1969 404,189 0 270,151 -26,744
1968 399,837 0 280,963 -11,905
1967 414,632 0 275,089 -25,479
1966 363,882 0 297,801 -17,158
1965 335,587 0 314,450 -21,658
1964 323,623 0 326,965 -23,273
1963 321,805 0 359,330 -13,770
1962 286,534 0 360,671 -31,021
1961 257,788 0 398,521 -20,044
1960 277,717 0 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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