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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.77 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

North Korea vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Rwanda
2100 19,601,003 33,113,283
2099 19,729,897 33,008,545
2098 19,859,274 32,927,982
2097 19,989,589 32,853,307
2096 20,120,795 32,768,037
2095 20,252,653 32,635,508
2094 20,384,384 32,550,001
2093 20,516,457 32,416,870
2092 20,649,140 32,294,333
2091 20,781,939 32,191,262
2090 20,914,434 32,088,747
2089 21,046,685 31,892,591
2088 21,178,406 31,746,789
2087 21,310,103 31,553,150
2086 21,441,361 31,399,004
2085 21,571,843 31,254,597
2084 21,701,761 31,112,448
2083 21,830,989 30,937,106
2082 21,960,135 30,752,861
2081 22,088,774 30,576,992
2080 22,216,836 30,386,351
2079 22,344,442 30,195,560
2078 22,471,597 30,016,688
2077 22,598,635 29,819,259
2076 22,725,293 29,645,610
2075 22,852,140 29,441,964
2074 22,979,532 29,243,980
2073 23,107,165 29,025,977
2072 23,234,961 28,798,822
2071 23,363,260 28,578,302
2070 23,491,789 28,334,300
2069 23,621,167 28,121,174
2068 23,750,741 27,872,383
2067 23,880,460 27,609,059
2066 24,010,584 27,372,823
2065 24,140,518 27,101,698
2064 24,269,765 26,838,144
2063 24,397,924 26,559,838
2062 24,525,403 26,312,631
2061 24,651,788 26,001,660
2060 24,776,326 25,729,037
2059 24,898,430 25,453,407
2058 25,018,630 25,121,995
2057 25,135,871 24,853,512
2056 25,250,670 24,582,198
2055 25,361,704 24,281,895
2054 25,469,578 23,991,958
2053 25,574,137 23,705,290
2052 25,675,211 23,421,032
2051 25,772,870 23,113,700
2050 25,866,886 22,814,556
2049 25,957,363 22,498,806
2048 26,043,774 22,171,841
2047 26,126,594 21,848,486
2046 26,205,638 21,554,082
2045 26,281,344 21,228,573
2044 26,353,455 20,915,810
2043 26,422,173 20,548,490
2042 26,486,580 20,214,283
2041 26,547,651 19,845,021
2040 26,604,634 19,475,227
2039 26,656,882 19,108,842
2038 26,703,458 18,773,398
2037 26,744,185 18,433,422
2036 26,778,348 18,128,058
2035 26,805,065 17,765,049
2034 26,823,948 17,432,165
2033 26,834,263 17,100,072
2032 26,835,978 16,822,053
2031 26,827,992 16,495,903
2030 26,809,850 16,178,061
2029 26,782,161 15,868,812
2028 26,744,278 15,554,713
2027 26,696,504 15,217,275
2026 26,638,530 14,898,118
2025 26,571,036 14,569,341
2024 26,498,823 14,256,567
2023 26,418,204 13,954,471
2022 26,328,845 13,651,030
2021 26,232,534 13,355,260
2020 26,136,312 13,065,837
2019 26,037,632 12,776,103
2018 25,931,147 12,487,996
2017 25,817,709 12,202,060
2016 25,698,326 11,919,183
2015 25,575,350 11,640,022
2014 25,451,262 11,364,757
2013 25,329,451 11,093,340
2012 25,211,728 10,829,901
2011 25,097,874 10,573,733
2010 24,987,258 10,317,553
2009 24,878,332 10,060,432
2008 24,764,618 9,804,269
2007 24,646,383 9,549,933
2006 24,524,507 9,299,246
2005 24,396,433 9,054,528
2004 24,254,943 8,816,844
2003 24,090,380 8,586,875
2002 23,943,973 8,400,180
2001 23,815,358 8,287,094
2000 23,665,910 8,213,931
1999 23,497,599 8,147,912
1998 23,311,564 8,081,681
1997 23,110,830 7,755,238
1996 22,895,746 6,708,764
1995 22,669,304 5,674,118
1994 22,393,975 6,792,352
1993 22,073,352 7,981,132
1992 21,750,911 7,683,266
1991 21,428,638 7,526,966
1990 21,112,137 7,375,307
1989 20,804,367 7,184,706
1988 20,503,161 6,968,071
1987 20,205,483 6,749,493
1986 19,910,855 6,531,881
1985 19,620,388 6,317,228
1984 19,335,043 6,107,627
1983 19,054,034 5,905,311
1982 18,776,357 5,711,549
1981 18,501,295 5,527,230
1980 18,236,786 5,353,259
1979 17,983,470 5,189,541
1978 17,735,995 5,035,171
1977 17,492,798 4,888,240
1976 17,243,450 4,745,954
1975 16,971,055 4,607,728
1974 16,673,121 4,474,228
1973 16,350,367 4,345,047
1972 15,975,069 4,220,335
1971 15,572,457 4,100,044
1970 15,172,775 3,980,669
1969 14,767,615 3,861,271
1968 14,365,596 3,744,010
1967 13,958,350 3,629,577
1966 13,569,094 3,521,626
1965 13,219,369 3,423,210
1964 12,889,770 3,334,834
1963 12,567,057 3,258,890
1962 12,262,882 3,186,025
1961 11,990,713 3,106,779
1960 11,722,953 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Rwanda
2100 -0.65% 0.32%
2099 -0.65% 0.24%
2098 -0.65% 0.23%
2097 -0.65% 0.26%
2096 -0.65% 0.41%
2095 -0.65% 0.26%
2094 -0.64% 0.41%
2093 -0.64% 0.38%
2092 -0.64% 0.32%
2091 -0.63% 0.32%
2090 -0.63% 0.62%
2089 -0.62% 0.46%
2088 -0.62% 0.61%
2087 -0.61% 0.49%
2086 -0.6% 0.46%
2085 -0.6% 0.46%
2084 -0.59% 0.57%
2083 -0.59% 0.6%
2082 -0.58% 0.58%
2081 -0.58% 0.63%
2080 -0.57% 0.63%
2079 -0.57% 0.6%
2078 -0.56% 0.66%
2077 -0.56% 0.59%
2076 -0.56% 0.69%
2075 -0.55% 0.68%
2074 -0.55% 0.75%
2073 -0.55% 0.79%
2072 -0.55% 0.77%
2071 -0.55% 0.86%
2070 -0.55% 0.76%
2069 -0.55% 0.89%
2068 -0.54% 0.95%
2067 -0.54% 0.86%
2066 -0.54% 1%
2065 -0.53% 0.98%
2064 -0.53% 1.05%
2063 -0.52% 0.94%
2062 -0.51% 1.2%
2061 -0.5% 1.06%
2060 -0.49% 1.08%
2059 -0.48% 1.32%
2058 -0.47% 1.08%
2057 -0.45% 1.1%
2056 -0.44% 1.24%
2055 -0.42% 1.21%
2054 -0.41% 1.21%
2053 -0.39% 1.21%
2052 -0.38% 1.33%
2051 -0.36% 1.31%
2050 -0.35% 1.4%
2049 -0.33% 1.47%
2048 -0.32% 1.48%
2047 -0.3% 1.37%
2046 -0.29% 1.53%
2045 -0.27% 1.5%
2044 -0.26% 1.79%
2043 -0.24% 1.65%
2042 -0.23% 1.86%
2041 -0.21% 1.9%
2040 -0.2% 1.92%
2039 -0.17% 1.79%
2038 -0.15% 1.84%
2037 -0.13% 1.68%
2036 -0.1% 2.04%
2035 -0.07% 1.91%
2034 -0.04% 1.94%
2033 -0.006% 1.65%
2032 0.03% 1.98%
2031 0.07% 1.96%
2030 0.1% 1.95%
2029 0.14% 2.02%
2028 0.18% 2.22%
2027 0.22% 2.14%
2026 0.25% 2.26%
2025 0.27% 2.19%
2024 0.31% 2.16%
2023 0.34% 2.22%
2022 0.37% 2.21%
2021 0.37% 2.22%
2020 0.38% 2.27%
2019 0.41% 2.31%
2018 0.44% 2.34%
2017 0.46% 2.37%
2016 0.48% 2.4%
2015 0.49% 2.42%
2014 0.48% 2.45%
2013 0.47% 2.43%
2012 0.45% 2.42%
2011 0.44% 2.48%
2010 0.44% 2.56%
2009 0.46% 2.61%
2008 0.48% 2.66%
2007 0.5% 2.7%
2006 0.52% 2.7%
2005 0.58% 2.7%
2004 0.68% 2.68%
2003 0.61% 2.22%
2002 0.54% 1.36%
2001 0.63% 0.89%
2000 0.72% 0.81%
1999 0.8% 0.82%
1998 0.87% 4.21%
1997 0.94% 15.6%
1996 1% 18.2%
1995 1.23% -16.5%
1994 1.45% -14.9%
1993 1.48% 3.88%
1992 1.5% 2.08%
1991 1.5% 2.06%
1990 1.48% 2.65%
1989 1.47% 3.11%
1988 1.47% 3.24%
1987 1.48% 3.33%
1986 1.48% 3.4%
1985 1.48% 3.43%
1984 1.47% 3.43%
1983 1.48% 3.39%
1982 1.49% 3.33%
1981 1.45% 3.25%
1980 1.41% 3.15%
1979 1.4% 3.07%
1978 1.39% 3.01%
1977 1.45% 3%
1976 1.61% 3%
1975 1.79% 2.98%
1974 1.97% 2.97%
1973 2.35% 2.96%
1972 2.59% 2.93%
1971 2.63% 3%
1970 2.74% 3.09%
1969 2.8% 3.13%
1968 2.92% 3.15%
1967 2.87% 3.07%
1966 2.65% 2.87%
1965 2.56% 2.65%
1964 2.57% 2.33%
1963 2.48% 2.29%
1962 2.27% 2.55%
1961 2.28% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

North Korea Rwanda
Current population
26668308
15062056
Population rank 57/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.18%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +857
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 40/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 +6,282
Net migration rank 104/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 6,282
2024 79,496 -2,473 316,025 -15,582
2023 86,203 -1,997 312,762 -9,001
2022 96,495 -1,997 312,145 -9,001
2021 99,710 -1,585 309,895 -21,492
2020 95,920 -1,585 312,692 -22,251
2019 106,208 -3,142 313,525 -24,492
2018 113,164 -3,225 312,512 -25,323
2017 120,181 -3,224 310,323 -25,634
2016 125,048 -3,222 305,549 -24,474
2015 127,365 -3,208 299,114 -21,862
2014 127,078 -3,042 292,779 -19,505
2013 122,519 -2,933 286,331 -16,779
2012 118,773 -2,919 282,584 -25,260
2011 114,798 -2,957 282,922 -27,915
2010 112,443 -3,053 286,848 -29,501
2009 111,530 -3,058 287,034 -30,128
2008 122,015 -3,051 287,334 -31,913
2007 120,521 -3,021 285,791 -32,537
2006 129,171 -2,948 282,149 -34,008
2005 132,765 -2,861 275,121 -33,830
2004 155,838 -2,758 265,273 -31,214
2003 178,775 -2,717 251,243 -25,355
2002 119,504 -2,763 239,036 -91,518
2001 143,321 -2,884 230,845 -152,197
2000 161,591 -3,142 221,276 -153,588
1999 181,613 -3,443 210,518 -146,162
1998 197,589 -3,706 197,185 -129,089
1997 211,325 -3,745 174,687 410,106
1996 226,095 -3,512 140,455 1,367,700
1995 233,381 -3,094 121,137 439,995
1994 320,861 -517 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 320,880 0 183,926 236,110
1992 324,002 0 188,025 -12,334
1991 320,551 0 196,431 -59,519
1990 312,460 0 207,895 -41,483
1989 303,078 0 217,632 -2,826
1988 299,305 0 223,759 -5,285
1987 296,030 0 225,744 -7,062
1986 293,227 0 225,526 -8,982
1985 287,714 0 223,794 -11,031
1984 282,987 0 219,337 -12,899
1983 279,046 0 212,750 -14,560
1982 276,332 0 205,147 -15,818
1981 273,800 0 195,769 -16,453
1980 255,206 0 184,988 -16,359
1979 251,409 0 174,477 -15,669
1978 243,533 0 163,779 -13,838
1977 242,870 0 155,011 -11,084
1976 255,841 0 147,665 -7,027
1975 288,966 0 140,596 -4,791
1974 306,902 0 135,743 -4,535
1973 338,600 0 131,021 -3,862
1972 411,997 0 126,403 -4,156
1971 393,220 0 122,567 -4,230
1970 406,129 0 119,273 1,149
1969 404,189 0 115,394 2,983
1968 399,837 0 111,422 4,728
1967 414,632 0 108,053 4,655
1966 363,882 0 105,128 -1,930
1965 335,587 0 103,422 -9,774
1964 323,623 0 102,562 -19,458
1963 321,805 0 94,296 -25,524
1962 286,534 0 102,548 -25,594
1961 257,788 0 102,051 -20,508
1960 277,717 0 100,627 -13,198

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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