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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.78 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 +0.41% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

North Korea vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Rwanda
2100 19,604,631 33,092,520
2099 19,733,548 32,987,847
2098 19,862,949 32,907,335
2097 19,993,288 32,832,706
2096 20,124,518 32,747,490
2095 20,256,401 32,615,044
2094 20,388,156 32,529,590
2093 20,520,253 32,396,544
2092 20,652,961 32,274,083
2091 20,785,785 32,171,077
2090 20,918,305 32,068,626
2089 21,050,580 31,872,593
2088 21,182,325 31,726,882
2087 21,314,047 31,533,364
2086 21,445,329 31,379,315
2085 21,575,835 31,235,000
2084 21,705,777 31,092,940
2083 21,835,029 30,917,707
2082 21,964,199 30,733,578
2081 22,092,862 30,557,819
2080 22,220,948 30,367,298
2079 22,348,577 30,176,627
2078 22,475,755 29,997,866
2077 22,602,817 29,800,561
2076 22,729,499 29,627,021
2075 22,856,369 29,423,503
2074 22,983,784 29,225,643
2073 23,111,441 29,007,777
2072 23,239,261 28,780,763
2071 23,367,583 28,560,382
2070 23,496,136 28,316,533
2069 23,625,538 28,103,541
2068 23,755,136 27,854,906
2067 23,884,879 27,591,747
2066 24,015,027 27,355,659
2065 24,144,985 27,084,704
2064 24,274,257 26,821,315
2063 24,402,439 26,543,184
2062 24,529,941 26,296,132
2061 24,656,350 25,985,356
2060 24,780,911 25,712,904
2059 24,903,037 25,437,446
2058 25,023,260 25,106,242
2057 25,140,523 24,837,928
2056 25,255,342 24,566,784
2055 25,366,397 24,266,669
2054 25,474,292 23,976,914
2053 25,578,870 23,690,426
2052 25,679,963 23,406,346
2051 25,777,639 23,099,207
2050 25,871,673 22,800,250
2049 25,962,167 22,484,698
2048 26,048,593 22,157,938
2047 26,131,429 21,834,786
2046 26,210,487 21,540,566
2045 26,286,208 21,215,262
2044 26,358,331 20,902,695
2043 26,427,062 20,535,605
2042 26,491,482 20,201,608
2041 26,552,564 19,832,577
2040 26,609,557 19,463,015
2039 26,661,815 19,096,860
2038 26,708,400 18,761,626
2037 26,749,134 18,421,864
2036 26,783,304 18,116,691
2035 26,810,026 17,753,910
2034 26,828,912 17,421,234
2033 26,839,229 17,089,349
2032 26,840,944 16,811,505
2031 26,832,957 16,485,559
2030 26,814,812 16,167,916
2029 26,787,117 15,858,862
2028 26,749,227 15,544,959
2027 26,701,444 15,207,733
2026 26,643,460 14,888,776
2025 26,575,953 14,560,205
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 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 0.29% 2.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

North Korea Rwanda
Current population
26659144
14975051
Population rank 57/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.18%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +828
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 45/197
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 - -2,473 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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 (1960–2024, 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/rwanda | 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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