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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 1.35 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 +0.39% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

North Korea vs Poland: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Poland
2100 19,601,003 18,452,579
2099 19,729,897 18,644,857
2098 19,859,274 18,838,707
2097 19,989,589 19,033,962
2096 20,120,795 19,231,896
2095 20,252,653 19,431,204
2094 20,384,384 19,634,214
2093 20,516,457 19,840,304
2092 20,649,140 20,049,969
2091 20,781,939 20,263,764
2090 20,914,434 20,482,150
2089 21,046,685 20,705,051
2088 21,178,406 20,933,750
2087 21,310,103 21,167,790
2086 21,441,361 21,407,163
2085 21,571,843 21,652,018
2084 21,701,761 21,902,736
2083 21,830,989 22,159,983
2082 21,960,135 22,423,109
2081 22,088,774 22,691,495
2080 22,216,836 22,964,515
2079 22,344,442 23,242,960
2078 22,471,597 23,524,184
2077 22,598,635 23,811,918
2076 22,725,293 24,102,012
2075 22,852,140 24,395,355
2074 22,979,532 24,691,719
2073 23,107,165 24,990,908
2072 23,234,961 25,290,453
2071 23,363,260 25,590,102
2070 23,491,789 25,889,034
2069 23,621,167 26,187,633
2068 23,750,741 26,485,171
2067 23,880,460 26,780,961
2066 24,010,584 27,074,124
2065 24,140,518 27,364,039
2064 24,269,765 27,650,950
2063 24,397,924 27,934,132
2062 24,525,403 28,212,240
2061 24,651,788 28,487,283
2060 24,776,326 28,757,525
2059 24,898,430 29,025,705
2058 25,018,630 29,288,751
2057 25,135,871 29,548,996
2056 25,250,670 29,806,770
2055 25,361,704 30,060,951
2054 25,469,578 30,311,416
2053 25,574,137 30,559,065
2052 25,675,211 30,801,964
2051 25,772,870 31,043,690
2050 25,866,886 31,281,762
2049 25,957,363 31,516,893
2048 26,043,774 31,748,736
2047 26,126,594 31,978,608
2046 26,205,638 32,205,877
2045 26,281,344 32,431,013
2044 26,353,455 32,653,012
2043 26,422,173 32,873,136
2042 26,486,580 33,090,733
2041 26,547,651 33,303,578
2040 26,604,634 33,514,705
2039 26,656,882 33,722,530
2038 26,703,458 33,926,660
2037 26,744,185 34,126,585
2036 26,778,348 34,323,967
2035 26,805,065 34,515,669
2034 26,823,948 34,704,048
2033 26,834,263 34,887,791
2032 26,835,978 35,067,502
2031 26,827,992 35,242,658
2030 26,809,850 35,410,392
2029 26,782,161 35,572,635
2028 26,744,278 35,725,650
2027 26,696,504 35,870,384
2026 26,638,530 36,007,074
2025 26,571,036 36,435,861
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% 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 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

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 18.5M 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 0.27% -0.34%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

North Korea Poland
Current population
26668308
36007074
Population rank 57/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.43%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
4.27 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 -338
Annual growth/decline +72,213 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 179/197
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 79,496 -2,473 -157,205 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 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 (1960–2025, 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/poland | 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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