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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.42 times bigger than Romania's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

North Korea vs Romania: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Romania
2100 19,604,631 10,801,385
2099 19,733,548 10,885,505
2098 19,862,949 10,969,050
2097 19,993,288 11,052,086
2096 20,124,518 11,134,776
2095 20,256,401 11,217,462
2094 20,388,156 11,299,298
2093 20,520,253 11,382,352
2092 20,652,961 11,464,817
2091 20,785,785 11,546,872
2090 20,918,305 11,630,335
2089 21,050,580 11,713,468
2088 21,182,325 11,796,733
2087 21,314,047 11,880,373
2086 21,445,329 11,966,550
2085 21,575,835 12,052,744
2084 21,705,777 12,140,454
2083 21,835,029 12,229,714
2082 21,964,199 12,319,480
2081 22,092,862 12,412,385
2080 22,220,948 12,507,333
2079 22,348,577 12,603,302
2078 22,475,755 12,700,870
2077 22,602,817 12,799,985
2076 22,729,499 12,900,610
2075 22,856,369 13,002,848
2074 22,983,784 13,107,513
2073 23,111,441 13,213,407
2072 23,239,261 13,323,211
2071 23,367,583 13,435,661
2070 23,496,136 13,550,449
2069 23,625,538 13,667,892
2068 23,755,136 13,786,771
2067 23,884,879 13,909,141
2066 24,015,027 14,034,214
2065 24,144,985 14,163,381
2064 24,274,257 14,293,294
2063 24,402,439 14,424,068
2062 24,529,941 14,557,025
2061 24,656,350 14,689,897
2060 24,780,911 14,821,441
2059 24,903,037 14,952,855
2058 25,023,260 15,082,857
2057 25,140,523 15,211,914
2056 25,255,342 15,340,213
2055 25,366,397 15,467,019
2054 25,474,292 15,590,545
2053 25,578,870 15,712,155
2052 25,679,963 15,834,374
2051 25,777,639 15,954,507
2050 25,871,673 16,073,070
2049 25,962,167 16,192,498
2048 26,048,593 16,311,535
2047 26,131,429 16,430,565
2046 26,210,487 16,547,661
2045 26,286,208 16,665,026
2044 26,358,331 16,783,383
2043 26,427,062 16,900,955
2042 26,491,482 17,018,000
2041 26,552,564 17,136,818
2040 26,609,557 17,253,674
2039 26,661,815 17,370,310
2038 26,708,400 17,488,193
2037 26,749,134 17,604,853
2036 26,783,304 17,721,511
2035 26,810,026 17,837,396
2034 26,828,912 17,950,976
2033 26,839,229 18,064,449
2032 26,840,944 18,176,399
2031 26,832,957 18,288,437
2030 26,814,812 18,399,699
2029 26,787,117 18,511,331
2028 26,749,227 18,621,197
2027 26,701,444 18,730,482
2026 26,643,460 18,839,108
2025 26,575,953 18,946,392
2024 26,498,823 19,051,804
2023 26,418,204 19,061,062
2022 26,328,845 19,048,502
2021 26,232,534 19,122,059
2020 26,136,312 19,265,250
2019 26,037,632 19,371,648
2018 25,931,147 19,473,970
2017 25,817,709 19,588,715
2016 25,698,326 19,702,267
2015 25,575,350 19,815,616
2014 25,451,262 19,908,979
2013 25,329,451 19,983,693
2012 25,211,728 20,058,035
2011 25,097,874 20,147,528
2010 24,987,258 20,246,871
2009 24,878,332 20,367,487
2008 24,764,618 20,537,875
2007 24,646,383 20,882,982
2006 24,524,507 21,193,760
2005 24,396,433 21,319,685
2004 24,254,943 21,451,748
2003 24,090,380 21,574,326
2002 23,943,973 21,730,496
2001 23,815,358 22,131,970
2000 23,665,910 22,442,971
1999 23,497,599 22,472,040
1998 23,311,564 22,507,344
1997 23,110,830 22,553,978
1996 22,895,746 22,619,004
1995 22,669,304 22,684,270
1994 22,393,975 22,730,211
1993 22,073,352 22,763,280
1992 21,750,911 22,794,284
1991 21,428,638 23,001,155
1990 21,112,137 23,201,835
1989 20,804,367 23,161,458
1988 20,503,161 23,057,662
1987 20,205,483 22,949,430
1986 19,910,855 22,836,841
1985 19,620,388 22,732,999
1984 19,335,043 22,640,547
1983 19,054,034 22,560,478
1982 18,776,357 22,475,741
1981 18,501,295 22,353,070
1980 18,236,786 22,207,282
1979 17,983,470 22,090,488
1978 17,735,995 21,951,464
1977 17,492,798 21,756,096
1976 17,243,450 21,551,634
1975 16,971,055 21,293,583
1974 16,673,121 21,029,429
1973 16,350,367 20,835,681
1972 15,975,069 20,657,957
1971 15,572,457 20,461,567
1970 15,172,775 20,250,398
1969 14,767,615 20,009,141
1968 14,365,596 19,799,831
1967 13,958,350 19,534,242
1966 13,569,094 19,215,450
1965 13,219,369 19,031,576
1964 12,889,770 18,919,126
1963 12,567,057 18,797,850
1962 12,262,882 18,676,550
1961 11,990,713 18,555,250
1960 11,722,953 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Romania
2100 -0.65% -0.77%
2099 -0.65% -0.76%
2098 -0.65% -0.75%
2097 -0.65% -0.74%
2096 -0.65% -0.74%
2095 -0.65% -0.72%
2094 -0.64% -0.73%
2093 -0.64% -0.72%
2092 -0.64% -0.71%
2091 -0.63% -0.72%
2090 -0.63% -0.71%
2089 -0.62% -0.71%
2088 -0.62% -0.7%
2087 -0.61% -0.72%
2086 -0.6% -0.72%
2085 -0.6% -0.72%
2084 -0.59% -0.73%
2083 -0.59% -0.73%
2082 -0.58% -0.75%
2081 -0.58% -0.76%
2080 -0.57% -0.76%
2079 -0.57% -0.77%
2078 -0.56% -0.77%
2077 -0.56% -0.78%
2076 -0.56% -0.79%
2075 -0.55% -0.8%
2074 -0.55% -0.8%
2073 -0.55% -0.82%
2072 -0.55% -0.84%
2071 -0.55% -0.85%
2070 -0.55% -0.86%
2069 -0.55% -0.86%
2068 -0.54% -0.88%
2067 -0.54% -0.89%
2066 -0.54% -0.91%
2065 -0.53% -0.91%
2064 -0.53% -0.91%
2063 -0.52% -0.91%
2062 -0.51% -0.9%
2061 -0.5% -0.89%
2060 -0.49% -0.88%
2059 -0.48% -0.86%
2058 -0.47% -0.85%
2057 -0.45% -0.84%
2056 -0.44% -0.82%
2055 -0.42% -0.79%
2054 -0.41% -0.77%
2053 -0.39% -0.77%
2052 -0.38% -0.75%
2051 -0.36% -0.74%
2050 -0.35% -0.74%
2049 -0.33% -0.73%
2048 -0.32% -0.72%
2047 -0.3% -0.71%
2046 -0.29% -0.7%
2045 -0.27% -0.71%
2044 -0.26% -0.7%
2043 -0.24% -0.69%
2042 -0.23% -0.69%
2041 -0.21% -0.68%
2040 -0.2% -0.67%
2039 -0.17% -0.67%
2038 -0.15% -0.66%
2037 -0.13% -0.66%
2036 -0.1% -0.65%
2035 -0.07% -0.63%
2034 -0.04% -0.63%
2033 -0.006% -0.62%
2032 0.03% -0.61%
2031 0.07% -0.6%
2030 0.1% -0.6%
2029 0.14% -0.59%
2028 0.18% -0.58%
2027 0.22% -0.58%
2026 0.25% -0.57%
2025 0.29% -0.55%
2024 0.31% -0.05%
2023 0.34% 0.07%
2022 0.37% -0.38%
2021 0.37% -0.74%
2020 0.38% -0.55%
2019 0.41% -0.53%
2018 0.44% -0.59%
2017 0.46% -0.58%
2016 0.48% -0.57%
2015 0.49% -0.47%
2014 0.48% -0.37%
2013 0.47% -0.37%
2012 0.45% -0.44%
2011 0.44% -0.49%
2010 0.44% -0.59%
2009 0.46% -0.83%
2008 0.48% -1.65%
2007 0.5% -1.47%
2006 0.52% -0.59%
2005 0.58% -0.62%
2004 0.68% -0.57%
2003 0.61% -0.72%
2002 0.54% -1.81%
2001 0.63% -1.39%
2000 0.72% -0.13%
1999 0.8% -0.16%
1998 0.87% -0.21%
1997 0.94% -0.29%
1996 1% -0.29%
1995 1.23% -0.2%
1994 1.45% -0.15%
1993 1.48% -0.14%
1992 1.5% -0.9%
1991 1.5% -0.86%
1990 1.48% 0.17%
1989 1.47% 0.45%
1988 1.47% 0.47%
1987 1.48% 0.49%
1986 1.48% 0.46%
1985 1.48% 0.41%
1984 1.47% 0.35%
1983 1.48% 0.38%
1982 1.49% 0.55%
1981 1.45% 0.66%
1980 1.41% 0.53%
1979 1.4% 0.63%
1978 1.39% 0.9%
1977 1.45% 0.95%
1976 1.61% 1.21%
1975 1.79% 1.26%
1974 1.97% 0.93%
1973 2.35% 0.86%
1972 2.59% 0.96%
1971 2.63% 1.04%
1970 2.74% 1.21%
1969 2.8% 1.06%
1968 2.92% 1.36%
1967 2.87% 1.66%
1966 2.65% 0.97%
1965 2.56% 0.59%
1964 2.57% 0.65%
1963 2.48% 0.65%
1962 2.27% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

North Korea Romania
Current population
26659144
18839108
Population rank 57/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.23%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -25
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 169/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -29,041
Net migration rank 104/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -29,041
2024 - -2,473 - -28,466
2023 86,203 -1,997 -89,587 -27,780
2022 96,495 -1,997 -93,338 89,076
2021 99,710 -1,585 -141,504 -17,731
2020 95,920 -1,585 -100,179 -13,202
2019 106,208 -3,142 -60,053 -27,909
2018 113,164 -3,225 -62,316 -33,018
2017 120,181 -3,224 -50,930 -33,081
2016 125,048 -3,222 -53,196 -33,073
2015 127,365 -3,208 -59,447 -35,751
2014 127,078 -3,042 -55,745 -35,448
2013 122,519 -2,933 -59,951 -34,910
2012 118,773 -2,919 -54,157 -37,589
2011 114,798 -2,957 -56,413 -102,769
2010 112,443 -3,053 -46,567 -122,364
2009 111,530 -3,058 -34,625 -137,953
2008 122,015 -3,051 -30,806 -144,368
2007 120,521 -3,021 -37,590 -133,089
2006 129,171 -2,948 -38,148 -132,777
2005 132,765 -2,861 -40,508 -131,176
2004 155,838 -2,758 -42,904 -117,432
2003 178,775 -2,717 -56,093 -107,139
2002 119,504 -2,763 -58,673 -106,585
2001 143,321 -2,884 -37,625 -91,154
2000 161,591 -3,142 -22,443 -92,451
1999 181,613 -3,443 -31,461 -82,590
1998 197,589 -3,706 -33,761 -81,366
1997 211,325 -3,745 -42,853 -88,734
1996 226,095 -3,512 -56,548 -70,799
1995 233,381 -3,094 -36,295 -73,779
1994 320,861 -517 -18,184 -76,246
1993 320,880 0 -13,658 -73,475
1992 324,002 0 -4,559 -63,200
1991 320,551 0 25,301 -36,824
1990 312,460 0 69,605 -38,157
1989 303,078 0 122,756 -33,866
1988 299,305 0 126,817 -48,911
1987 296,030 0 128,517 -42,868
1986 293,227 0 134,737 -50,450
1985 287,714 0 111,392 -28,108
1984 282,987 0 117,731 -24,629
1983 279,046 0 87,986 3,093
1982 276,332 0 119,121 -4,725
1981 273,800 0 156,472 -20,870
1980 255,206 0 168,776 -16,668
1979 251,409 0 194,397 -29,600
1978 243,533 0 204,148 -31,427
1977 242,870 0 215,385 -28,135
1976 255,841 0 213,361 18,748
1975 288,966 0 219,324 9,125
1974 306,902 0 235,530 6,725
1973 338,600 0 175,020 58,651
1972 411,997 0 198,316 61,920
1971 393,220 0 206,662 74,473
1970 406,129 0 234,905 71,919
1969 404,189 0 264,120 74,851
1968 399,837 0 338,577 33,601
1967 414,632 0 347,709 37,282
1966 363,882 0 115,293 -25,458
1965 335,587 0 114,190 -60,430
1964 323,623 0 134,326 -59,500
1963 321,805 0 139,104 -58,076
1962 286,534 0 130,736 -56,152
1961 257,788 0 163,286 -54,642
1960 277,717 0 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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