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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.5 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

North Korea vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Portugal
2100 19,604,631 8,977,781
2099 19,733,548 8,983,042
2098 19,862,949 8,987,129
2097 19,993,288 8,992,549
2096 20,124,518 8,998,689
2095 20,256,401 9,006,394
2094 20,388,156 9,011,158
2093 20,520,253 9,016,023
2092 20,652,961 9,021,257
2091 20,785,785 9,025,345
2090 20,918,305 9,029,722
2089 21,050,580 9,034,399
2088 21,182,325 9,039,122
2087 21,314,047 9,045,400
2086 21,445,329 9,050,153
2085 21,575,835 9,055,552
2084 21,705,777 9,062,369
2083 21,835,029 9,068,714
2082 21,964,199 9,077,003
2081 22,092,862 9,087,394
2080 22,220,948 9,098,423
2079 22,348,577 9,111,057
2078 22,475,755 9,125,056
2077 22,602,817 9,140,039
2076 22,729,499 9,158,661
2075 22,856,369 9,178,289
2074 22,983,784 9,201,245
2073 23,111,441 9,225,478
2072 23,239,261 9,248,867
2071 23,367,583 9,275,782
2070 23,496,136 9,304,137
2069 23,625,538 9,334,425
2068 23,755,136 9,367,211
2067 23,884,879 9,399,389
2066 24,015,027 9,432,609
2065 24,144,985 9,466,860
2064 24,274,257 9,503,941
2063 24,402,439 9,540,829
2062 24,529,941 9,578,098
2061 24,656,350 9,614,549
2060 24,780,911 9,652,893
2059 24,903,037 9,691,151
2058 25,023,260 9,731,557
2057 25,140,523 9,769,285
2056 25,255,342 9,807,403
2055 25,366,397 9,847,280
2054 25,474,292 9,885,446
2053 25,578,870 9,924,814
2052 25,679,963 9,963,090
2051 25,777,639 9,999,372
2050 25,871,673 10,035,796
2049 25,962,167 10,072,922
2048 26,048,593 10,106,403
2047 26,131,429 10,140,325
2046 26,210,487 10,173,871
2045 26,286,208 10,206,046
2044 26,358,331 10,237,224
2043 26,427,062 10,268,090
2042 26,491,482 10,296,167
2041 26,552,564 10,322,968
2040 26,609,557 10,351,965
2039 26,661,815 10,379,824
2038 26,708,400 10,405,843
2037 26,749,134 10,430,143
2036 26,783,304 10,454,779
2035 26,810,026 10,478,501
2034 26,828,912 10,502,828
2033 26,839,229 10,525,638
2032 26,840,944 10,548,736
2031 26,832,957 10,569,489
2030 26,814,812 10,588,717
2029 26,787,117 10,609,556
2028 26,749,227 10,631,437
2027 26,701,444 10,649,916
2026 26,643,460 10,667,081
2025 26,575,953 10,683,692
2024 26,498,823 10,694,681
2023 26,418,204 10,578,174
2022 26,328,845 10,434,332
2021 26,232,534 10,361,831
2020 26,136,312 10,297,081
2019 26,037,632 10,286,263
2018 25,931,147 10,283,822
2017 25,817,709 10,300,300
2016 25,698,326 10,325,452
2015 25,575,350 10,358,076
2014 25,451,262 10,401,062
2013 25,329,451 10,457,295
2012 25,211,728 10,514,844
2011 25,097,874 10,557,560
2010 24,987,258 10,573,100
2009 24,878,332 10,568,247
2008 24,764,618 10,558,177
2007 24,646,383 10,542,964
2006 24,524,507 10,522,288
2005 24,396,433 10,503,330
2004 24,254,943 10,483,861
2003 24,090,380 10,458,821
2002 23,943,973 10,419,631
2001 23,815,358 10,362,722
2000 23,665,910 10,289,898
1999 23,497,599 10,217,828
1998 23,311,564 10,160,196
1997 23,110,830 10,108,977
1996 22,895,746 10,063,945
1995 22,669,304 10,026,176
1994 22,393,975 9,991,525
1993 22,073,352 9,964,675
1992 21,750,911 9,952,494
1991 21,428,638 9,960,235
1990 21,112,137 9,983,218
1989 20,804,367 10,005,000
1988 20,503,161 10,019,610
1987 20,205,483 10,030,031
1986 19,910,855 10,032,734
1985 19,620,388 10,023,613
1984 19,335,043 9,996,232
1983 19,054,034 9,957,865
1982 18,776,357 9,911,771
1981 18,501,295 9,851,362
1980 18,236,786 9,766,312
1979 17,983,470 9,661,265
1978 17,735,995 9,558,250
1977 17,492,798 9,455,675
1976 17,243,450 9,355,810
1975 16,971,055 9,093,470
1974 16,673,121 8,754,365
1973 16,350,367 8,633,100
1972 15,975,069 8,630,430
1971 15,572,457 8,643,756
1970 15,172,775 8,680,431
1969 14,767,615 8,757,705
1968 14,365,596 8,836,650
1967 13,958,350 8,874,520
1966 13,569,094 8,930,990
1965 13,219,369 8,998,595
1964 12,889,770 9,035,365
1963 12,567,057 9,030,355
1962 12,262,882 8,993,985
1961 11,990,713 8,929,316
1960 11,722,953 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Portugal
2100 -0.65% -0.06%
2099 -0.65% -0.05%
2098 -0.65% -0.06%
2097 -0.65% -0.07%
2096 -0.65% -0.09%
2095 -0.65% -0.05%
2094 -0.64% -0.05%
2093 -0.64% -0.06%
2092 -0.64% -0.05%
2091 -0.63% -0.05%
2090 -0.63% -0.05%
2089 -0.62% -0.05%
2088 -0.62% -0.07%
2087 -0.61% -0.05%
2086 -0.6% -0.06%
2085 -0.6% -0.08%
2084 -0.59% -0.07%
2083 -0.59% -0.09%
2082 -0.58% -0.11%
2081 -0.58% -0.12%
2080 -0.57% -0.14%
2079 -0.57% -0.15%
2078 -0.56% -0.16%
2077 -0.56% -0.2%
2076 -0.56% -0.21%
2075 -0.55% -0.25%
2074 -0.55% -0.26%
2073 -0.55% -0.25%
2072 -0.55% -0.29%
2071 -0.55% -0.3%
2070 -0.55% -0.32%
2069 -0.55% -0.35%
2068 -0.54% -0.34%
2067 -0.54% -0.35%
2066 -0.54% -0.36%
2065 -0.53% -0.39%
2064 -0.53% -0.39%
2063 -0.52% -0.39%
2062 -0.51% -0.38%
2061 -0.5% -0.4%
2060 -0.49% -0.39%
2059 -0.48% -0.42%
2058 -0.47% -0.39%
2057 -0.45% -0.39%
2056 -0.44% -0.4%
2055 -0.42% -0.39%
2054 -0.41% -0.4%
2053 -0.39% -0.38%
2052 -0.38% -0.36%
2051 -0.36% -0.36%
2050 -0.35% -0.37%
2049 -0.33% -0.33%
2048 -0.32% -0.33%
2047 -0.3% -0.33%
2046 -0.29% -0.32%
2045 -0.27% -0.3%
2044 -0.26% -0.3%
2043 -0.24% -0.27%
2042 -0.23% -0.26%
2041 -0.21% -0.28%
2040 -0.2% -0.27%
2039 -0.17% -0.25%
2038 -0.15% -0.23%
2037 -0.13% -0.24%
2036 -0.1% -0.23%
2035 -0.07% -0.23%
2034 -0.04% -0.22%
2033 -0.006% -0.22%
2032 0.03% -0.2%
2031 0.07% -0.18%
2030 0.1% -0.2%
2029 0.14% -0.21%
2028 0.18% -0.17%
2027 0.22% -0.16%
2026 0.25% -0.16%
2025 0.29% -0.1%
2024 0.31% 1.1%
2023 0.34% 1.38%
2022 0.37% 0.7%
2021 0.37% 0.63%
2020 0.38% 0.11%
2019 0.41% 0.02%
2018 0.44% -0.16%
2017 0.46% -0.24%
2016 0.48% -0.31%
2015 0.49% -0.41%
2014 0.48% -0.54%
2013 0.47% -0.55%
2012 0.45% -0.4%
2011 0.44% -0.15%
2010 0.44% 0.05%
2009 0.46% 0.1%
2008 0.48% 0.14%
2007 0.5% 0.2%
2006 0.52% 0.18%
2005 0.58% 0.19%
2004 0.68% 0.24%
2003 0.61% 0.38%
2002 0.54% 0.55%
2001 0.63% 0.71%
2000 0.72% 0.71%
1999 0.8% 0.57%
1998 0.87% 0.51%
1997 0.94% 0.45%
1996 1% 0.38%
1995 1.23% 0.35%
1994 1.45% 0.27%
1993 1.48% 0.12%
1992 1.5% -0.08%
1991 1.5% -0.23%
1990 1.48% -0.22%
1989 1.47% -0.15%
1988 1.47% -0.1%
1987 1.48% -0.03%
1986 1.48% 0.09%
1985 1.48% 0.27%
1984 1.47% 0.39%
1983 1.48% 0.47%
1982 1.49% 0.61%
1981 1.45% 0.87%
1980 1.41% 1.09%
1979 1.4% 1.08%
1978 1.39% 1.08%
1977 1.45% 1.07%
1976 1.61% 2.88%
1975 1.79% 3.87%
1974 1.97% 1.4%
1973 2.35% 0.03%
1972 2.59% -0.15%
1971 2.63% -0.42%
1970 2.74% -0.88%
1969 2.8% -0.89%
1968 2.92% -0.43%
1967 2.87% -0.63%
1966 2.65% -0.75%
1965 2.56% -0.41%
1964 2.57% 0.06%
1963 2.48% 0.4%
1962 2.27% 0.72%
1961 2.28% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

North Korea Portugal
Current population
26659144
10667081
Population rank 57/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +319
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 94/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +16,472
Net migration rank 104/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 16,472
2024 - -2,473 - 20,648
2023 86,203 -1,997 -32,792 29,102
2022 96,495 -1,997 -40,694 68,696
2021 99,710 -1,585 -45,592 69,606
2020 95,920 -1,585 -39,129 54,076
2019 106,208 -3,142 -24,687 63,031
2018 113,164 -3,225 -25,709 22,495
2017 120,181 -3,224 -23,691 13,979
2016 125,048 -3,222 -23,749 -775
2015 127,365 -3,208 -23,823 -3,209
2014 127,078 -3,042 -22,882 -26,447
2013 122,519 -2,933 -24,052 -36,342
2012 118,773 -2,919 -17,875 -37,083
2011 114,798 -2,957 -5,279 -31,513
2010 112,443 -3,053 -4,230 -5,627
2009 111,530 -3,058 -5,284 14,532
2008 122,015 -3,051 0 9,478
2007 120,521 -3,021 -1,055 21,064
2006 129,171 -2,948 3,156 16,754
2005 132,765 -2,861 2,101 15,537
2004 155,838 -2,758 7,339 13,928
2003 178,775 -2,717 4,184 24,740
2002 119,504 -2,763 8,335 42,169
2001 143,321 -2,884 8,290 55,565
2000 161,591 -3,142 15,435 60,586
1999 181,613 -3,443 8,175 49,572
1998 197,589 -3,706 7,112 40,931
1997 211,325 -3,745 8,087 36,922
1996 226,095 -3,512 4,026 32,640
1995 233,381 -3,094 4,011 26,971
1994 320,861 -517 9,991 20,761
1993 320,880 0 7,972 8,561
1992 324,002 0 13,933 -11,847
1991 320,551 0 12,948 -37,914
1990 312,460 0 13,976 -34,855
1989 303,078 0 22,011 -30,615
1988 299,305 0 24,047 -26,595
1987 296,030 0 28,084 -23,142
1986 293,227 0 31,102 -20,000
1985 287,714 0 33,077 -19,183
1984 282,987 0 45,983 -16,658
1983 279,046 0 47,798 -16,568
1982 276,332 0 58,479 -15,006
1981 273,800 0 56,152 -7,938
1980 255,206 0 63,481 29,881
1979 251,409 0 67,628 32,434
1978 243,533 0 70,731 34,345
1977 242,870 0 84,156 37,779
1976 255,841 0 85,138 40,490
1975 288,966 0 81,841 42,262
1974 306,902 0 74,412 41,254
1973 338,600 0 76,835 39,748
1972 411,997 0 83,715 39,058
1971 393,220 0 82,980 48,944
1970 406,129 0 87,672 -191,862
1969 404,189 0 89,329 -161,114
1968 399,837 0 100,737 -145,200
1967 414,632 0 106,495 -136,232
1966 363,882 0 107,171 -129,233
1965 335,587 0 115,182 -123,855
1964 323,623 0 120,170 -118,763
1963 321,805 0 113,783 -116,874
1962 286,534 0 123,217 -113,947
1961 257,788 0 117,867 -112,768
1960 277,717 0 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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