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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 2,857,822 people in Qatar in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 2,999,260 in Qatar.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 8.89 times bigger than Qatar's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Qatar is the 136th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.04% for Qatar.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +3.86% in Qatar.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Qatar has grown from 973K to 3M (208.3% growth).

North Korea vs Qatar: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Qatar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Qatar
2100 19,604,631 6,864,512
2099 19,733,548 6,795,697
2098 19,862,949 6,726,889
2097 19,993,288 6,658,115
2096 20,124,518 6,589,399
2095 20,256,401 6,520,903
2094 20,388,156 6,452,670
2093 20,520,253 6,384,792
2092 20,652,961 6,317,235
2091 20,785,785 6,249,912
2090 20,918,305 6,182,993
2089 21,050,580 6,116,439
2088 21,182,325 6,050,282
2087 21,314,047 5,984,646
2086 21,445,329 5,919,506
2085 21,575,835 5,854,810
2084 21,705,777 5,790,733
2083 21,835,029 5,727,107
2082 21,964,199 5,663,726
2081 22,092,862 5,600,872
2080 22,220,948 5,538,952
2079 22,348,577 5,477,309
2078 22,475,755 5,416,092
2077 22,602,817 5,355,430
2076 22,729,499 5,295,298
2075 22,856,369 5,235,611
2074 22,983,784 5,176,349
2073 23,111,441 5,117,758
2072 23,239,261 5,059,696
2071 23,367,583 5,002,249
2070 23,496,136 4,945,273
2069 23,625,538 4,888,911
2068 23,755,136 4,833,090
2067 23,884,879 4,777,814
2066 24,015,027 4,723,056
2065 24,144,985 4,668,810
2064 24,274,257 4,614,957
2063 24,402,439 4,561,622
2062 24,529,941 4,509,442
2061 24,656,350 4,457,910
2060 24,780,911 4,406,963
2059 24,903,037 4,356,604
2058 25,023,260 4,306,842
2057 25,140,523 4,257,533
2056 25,255,342 4,208,980
2055 25,366,397 4,160,635
2054 25,474,292 4,113,078
2053 25,578,870 4,065,870
2052 25,679,963 4,019,393
2051 25,777,639 3,973,445
2050 25,871,673 3,927,949
2049 25,962,167 3,882,963
2048 26,048,593 3,838,380
2047 26,131,429 3,794,282
2046 26,210,487 3,750,671
2045 26,286,208 3,707,573
2044 26,358,331 3,665,008
2043 26,427,062 3,623,031
2042 26,491,482 3,581,673
2041 26,552,564 3,540,989
2040 26,609,557 3,500,991
2039 26,661,815 3,461,758
2038 26,708,400 3,423,310
2037 26,749,134 3,385,696
2036 26,783,304 3,348,948
2035 26,810,026 3,313,100
2034 26,828,912 3,278,067
2033 26,839,229 3,243,892
2032 26,840,944 3,210,644
2031 26,832,957 3,178,257
2030 26,814,812 3,146,733
2029 26,787,117 3,112,748
2028 26,749,227 3,075,676
2027 26,701,444 3,035,492
2026 26,643,460 2,985,826
2025 26,575,953 2,926,071
2024 26,498,823 2,857,822
2023 26,418,204 2,656,032
2022 26,328,845 2,657,333
2021 26,232,534 2,504,910
2020 26,136,312 2,794,148
2019 26,037,632 2,638,657
2018 25,931,147 2,580,734
2017 25,817,709 2,545,820
2016 25,698,326 2,477,113
2015 25,575,350 2,344,557
2014 25,451,262 2,151,745
2013 25,329,451 1,916,426
2012 25,211,728 1,722,438
2011 25,097,874 1,624,761
2010 24,987,258 1,616,832
2009 24,878,332 1,608,903
2008 24,764,618 1,426,938
2007 24,646,383 1,208,595
2006 24,524,507 972,831
2005 24,396,433 825,408
2004 24,254,943 773,332
2003 24,090,380 744,682
2002 23,943,973 711,205
2001 23,815,358 677,925
2000 23,665,910 644,989
1999 23,497,599 612,500
1998 23,311,564 580,540
1997 23,110,830 550,500
1996 22,895,746 529,019
1995 22,669,304 514,325
1994 22,393,975 499,459
1993 22,073,352 484,545
1992 21,750,911 469,657
1991 21,428,638 454,853
1990 21,112,137 440,175
1989 20,804,367 425,646
1988 20,503,161 411,264
1987 20,205,483 397,005
1986 19,910,855 382,422
1985 19,620,388 365,940
1984 19,335,043 347,878
1983 19,054,034 329,709
1982 18,776,357 311,537
1981 18,501,295 293,553
1980 18,236,786 275,913
1979 17,983,470 258,670
1978 17,735,995 241,808
1977 17,492,798 225,285
1976 17,243,450 209,052
1975 16,971,055 193,087
1974 16,673,121 177,362
1973 16,350,367 161,841
1972 15,975,069 146,506
1971 15,572,457 131,346
1970 15,172,775 116,350
1969 14,767,615 103,025
1968 14,365,596 91,749
1967 13,958,350 81,439
1966 13,569,094 72,192
1965 13,219,369 64,065
1964 12,889,770 56,867
1963 12,567,057 50,380
1962 12,262,882 44,630
1961 11,990,713 39,680
1960 11,722,953 36,010

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/qatar | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Qatar gained 1,504,282 people (a 154.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Qatar's population increased by 522,147 people (a 21.1% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Qatar was ranked 156th in 2006 and ranked 136th 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 Qatar will increase by 31% to 3,927,949 people and rank change from 136th to 134th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 6.86M people in 2100 for Qatar.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Qatar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Qatar
2100 -0.65% 1.01%
2099 -0.65% 1.02%
2098 -0.65% 1.03%
2097 -0.65% 1.04%
2096 -0.65% 1.05%
2095 -0.65% 1.06%
2094 -0.64% 1.06%
2093 -0.64% 1.07%
2092 -0.64% 1.08%
2091 -0.63% 1.08%
2090 -0.63% 1.09%
2089 -0.62% 1.09%
2088 -0.62% 1.1%
2087 -0.61% 1.1%
2086 -0.6% 1.11%
2085 -0.6% 1.11%
2084 -0.59% 1.11%
2083 -0.59% 1.12%
2082 -0.58% 1.12%
2081 -0.58% 1.12%
2080 -0.57% 1.13%
2079 -0.57% 1.13%
2078 -0.56% 1.13%
2077 -0.56% 1.14%
2076 -0.56% 1.14%
2075 -0.55% 1.14%
2074 -0.55% 1.14%
2073 -0.55% 1.15%
2072 -0.55% 1.15%
2071 -0.55% 1.15%
2070 -0.55% 1.15%
2069 -0.55% 1.15%
2068 -0.54% 1.16%
2067 -0.54% 1.16%
2066 -0.54% 1.16%
2065 -0.53% 1.17%
2064 -0.53% 1.17%
2063 -0.52% 1.16%
2062 -0.51% 1.16%
2061 -0.5% 1.16%
2060 -0.49% 1.16%
2059 -0.48% 1.16%
2058 -0.47% 1.16%
2057 -0.45% 1.15%
2056 -0.44% 1.16%
2055 -0.42% 1.16%
2054 -0.41% 1.16%
2053 -0.39% 1.16%
2052 -0.38% 1.16%
2051 -0.36% 1.16%
2050 -0.35% 1.16%
2049 -0.33% 1.16%
2048 -0.32% 1.16%
2047 -0.3% 1.16%
2046 -0.29% 1.16%
2045 -0.27% 1.16%
2044 -0.26% 1.16%
2043 -0.24% 1.15%
2042 -0.23% 1.15%
2041 -0.21% 1.14%
2040 -0.2% 1.13%
2039 -0.17% 1.12%
2038 -0.15% 1.11%
2037 -0.13% 1.1%
2036 -0.1% 1.08%
2035 -0.07% 1.07%
2034 -0.04% 1.05%
2033 -0.006% 1.04%
2032 0.03% 1.02%
2031 0.07% 1%
2030 0.1% 1.09%
2029 0.14% 1.21%
2028 0.18% 1.32%
2027 0.22% 1.66%
2026 0.25% 2.04%
2025 0.29% 2.39%
2024 0.31% 7.6%
2023 0.34% -0.05%
2022 0.37% 6.08%
2021 0.37% -10.4%
2020 0.38% 5.89%
2019 0.41% 2.24%
2018 0.44% 1.37%
2017 0.46% 2.77%
2016 0.48% 5.65%
2015 0.49% 8.96%
2014 0.48% 12.3%
2013 0.47% 11.3%
2012 0.45% 6.01%
2011 0.44% 0.49%
2010 0.44% 0.49%
2009 0.46% 12.8%
2008 0.48% 18.1%
2007 0.5% 24.2%
2006 0.52% 17.9%
2005 0.58% 6.73%
2004 0.68% 3.85%
2003 0.61% 4.71%
2002 0.54% 4.91%
2001 0.63% 5.11%
2000 0.72% 5.3%
1999 0.8% 5.51%
1998 0.87% 5.46%
1997 0.94% 4.06%
1996 1% 2.86%
1995 1.23% 2.98%
1994 1.45% 3.08%
1993 1.48% 3.17%
1992 1.5% 3.25%
1991 1.5% 3.33%
1990 1.48% 3.41%
1989 1.47% 3.5%
1988 1.47% 3.59%
1987 1.48% 3.81%
1986 1.48% 4.5%
1985 1.48% 5.19%
1984 1.47% 5.51%
1983 1.48% 5.83%
1982 1.49% 6.13%
1981 1.45% 6.39%
1980 1.41% 6.67%
1979 1.4% 6.97%
1978 1.39% 7.33%
1977 1.45% 7.77%
1976 1.61% 8.27%
1975 1.79% 8.87%
1974 1.97% 9.59%
1973 2.35% 10.5%
1972 2.59% 11.5%
1971 2.63% 12.9%
1970 2.74% 12.9%
1969 2.8% 12.3%
1968 2.92% 12.7%
1967 2.87% 12.8%
1966 2.65% 12.7%
1965 2.56% 12.7%
1964 2.57% 12.9%
1963 2.48% 12.9%
1962 2.27% 12.5%
1961 2.28% 10.2%

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/qatar | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Qatar's population grew by 7.6%.

Live population counters

North Korea Qatar
Current population
26659144
2999260
Population rank 57/197 136/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.04%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.6 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
20 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
3.55 hours
Daily growth/decline +221 +553
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +201,790
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +7.6%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 1/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
14.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +36,288
Net migration rank 104/196 26/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 2,337,000
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 31/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 76.7%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 1/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Qatar
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Qatar
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 36,288
2024 - -2,473 - 46,105
2023 86,203 -1,997 23,845 39,995
2022 96,495 -1,997 24,360 80,004
2021 99,710 -1,585 21,297 24,501
2020 95,920 -1,585 25,128 -50,433
2019 106,208 -3,142 24,112 10,557
2018 113,164 -3,225 23,340 12,465
2017 120,181 -3,224 23,244 46,719
2016 125,048 -3,222 22,416 119,725
2015 127,365 -3,208 22,568 177,467
2014 127,078 -3,042 21,699 194,712
2013 122,519 -2,933 19,669 133,520
2012 118,773 -2,919 17,681 77,091
2011 114,798 -2,957 16,543 77,228
2010 112,443 -3,053 16,225 90,620
2009 111,530 -3,058 15,595 123,217
2008 122,015 -3,051 14,062 165,572
2007 120,521 -3,021 11,351 245,703
2006 129,171 -2,948 10,225 204,236
2005 132,765 -2,861 11,392 68,993
2004 155,838 -2,758 11,242 12,531
2003 178,775 -2,717 11,291 22,234
2002 119,504 -2,763 11,062 22,356
2001 143,321 -2,884 10,683 22,456
2000 161,591 -3,142 9,974 22,769
1999 181,613 -3,443 9,431 22,815
1998 197,589 -3,706 9,055 22,618
1997 211,325 -3,745 8,846 19,547
1996 226,095 -3,512 9,049 5,517
1995 233,381 -3,094 9,186 5,634
1994 320,861 -517 9,257 5,660
1993 320,880 0 9,250 5,670
1992 324,002 0 9,189 5,670
1991 320,551 0 9,182 5,562
1990 312,460 0 9,388 5,216
1989 303,078 0 9,407 5,045
1988 299,305 0 9,198 5,118
1987 296,030 0 8,806 5,405
1986 293,227 0 8,439 6,512
1985 287,714 0 8,212 9,797
1984 282,987 0 7,997 10,113
1983 279,046 0 7,765 10,462
1982 276,332 0 7,489 10,634
1981 273,800 0 7,202 10,644
1980 255,206 0 6,894 10,540
1979 251,409 0 6,579 10,466
1978 243,533 0 6,246 10,434
1977 242,870 0 5,925 10,445
1976 255,841 0 5,598 10,494
1975 288,966 0 5,289 10,549
1974 306,902 0 5,015 10,603
1973 338,600 0 4,780 10,641
1972 411,997 0 4,581 10,663
1971 393,220 0 4,433 10,644
1970 406,129 0 4,346 10,579
1969 404,189 0 3,941 7,790
1968 399,837 0 3,547 7,266
1967 414,632 0 3,167 6,637
1966 363,882 0 2,811 5,880
1965 335,587 0 2,472 5,083
1964 323,623 0 2,150 4,686
1963 321,805 0 1,854 4,283
1962 286,534 0 1,589 3,773
1961 257,788 0 1,357 3,186
1960 277,717 0 1,220 1,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/qatar | 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 Qatar 26.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 232,009 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 655,712 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 2,337,000 people or 76.7% in Qatar.

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
Qatar
City Population
Doha 1.19M
Al Khor 31.5K

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/qatar | 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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