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Population in North Korea compared to San Marino: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 34,109 people in San Marino in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 34,159 in San Marino.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 781 times bigger than San Marino's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while San Marino is the 193rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.0004% for San Marino.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +0.4% in San Marino.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while San Marino has grown from 30.2K to 34.2K (13.2% growth).

North Korea vs San Marino: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
San Marino
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea San Marino
2100 19,601,003 31,687
2099 19,729,897 31,708
2098 19,859,274 31,720
2097 19,989,589 31,762
2096 20,120,795 31,780
2095 20,252,653 31,761
2094 20,384,384 31,755
2093 20,516,457 31,726
2092 20,649,140 31,748
2091 20,781,939 31,736
2090 20,914,434 31,747
2089 21,046,685 31,733
2088 21,178,406 31,725
2087 21,310,103 31,710
2086 21,441,361 31,683
2085 21,571,843 31,636
2084 21,701,761 31,623
2083 21,830,989 31,612
2082 21,960,135 31,596
2081 22,088,774 31,555
2080 22,216,836 31,573
2079 22,344,442 31,569
2078 22,471,597 31,566
2077 22,598,635 31,579
2076 22,725,293 31,612
2075 22,852,140 31,653
2074 22,979,532 31,703
2073 23,107,165 31,762
2072 23,234,961 31,825
2071 23,363,260 31,896
2070 23,491,789 31,965
2069 23,621,167 32,058
2068 23,750,741 32,160
2067 23,880,460 32,290
2066 24,010,584 32,395
2065 24,140,518 32,527
2064 24,269,765 32,664
2063 24,397,924 32,782
2062 24,525,403 32,918
2061 24,651,788 33,047
2060 24,776,326 33,170
2059 24,898,430 33,310
2058 25,018,630 33,447
2057 25,135,871 33,584
2056 25,250,670 33,717
2055 25,361,704 33,829
2054 25,469,578 33,954
2053 25,574,137 34,068
2052 25,675,211 34,161
2051 25,772,870 34,235
2050 25,866,886 34,268
2049 25,957,363 34,324
2048 26,043,774 34,382
2047 26,126,594 34,421
2046 26,205,638 34,463
2045 26,281,344 34,497
2044 26,353,455 34,546
2043 26,422,173 34,552
2042 26,486,580 34,521
2041 26,547,651 34,525
2040 26,604,634 34,534
2039 26,656,882 34,520
2038 26,703,458 34,483
2037 26,744,185 34,430
2036 26,778,348 34,403
2035 26,805,065 34,368
2034 26,823,948 34,347
2033 26,834,263 34,341
2032 26,835,978 34,316
2031 26,827,992 34,308
2030 26,809,850 34,289
2029 26,782,161 34,267
2028 26,744,278 34,215
2027 26,696,504 34,175
2026 26,638,530 34,144
2025 26,571,036 34,109
2024 26,498,823 33,977
2023 26,418,204 33,860
2022 26,328,845 33,755
2021 26,232,534 34,252
2020 26,136,312 34,770
2019 26,037,632 34,663
2018 25,931,147 34,522
2017 25,817,709 33,825
2016 25,698,326 33,101
2015 25,575,350 32,897
2014 25,451,262 32,655
2013 25,329,451 33,041
2012 25,211,728 33,469
2011 25,097,874 32,620
2010 24,987,258 33,270
2009 24,878,332 33,066
2008 24,764,618 31,662
2007 24,646,383 31,211
2006 24,524,507 30,184
2005 24,396,433 29,836
2004 24,254,943 29,457
2003 24,090,380 27,843
2002 23,943,973 27,491
2001 23,815,358 27,143
2000 23,665,910 26,799
1999 23,497,599 26,459
1998 23,311,564 26,125
1997 23,110,830 25,800
1996 22,895,746 25,482
1995 22,669,304 25,158
1994 22,393,975 24,823
1993 22,073,352 24,472
1992 21,750,911 24,125
1991 21,428,638 23,797
1990 21,112,137 23,475
1989 20,804,367 23,154
1988 20,503,161 22,843
1987 20,205,483 22,686
1986 19,910,855 22,636
1985 19,620,388 22,485
1984 19,335,043 22,346
1983 19,054,034 22,229
1982 18,776,357 22,055
1981 18,501,295 21,840
1980 18,236,786 21,585
1979 17,983,470 21,320
1978 17,735,995 21,026
1977 17,492,798 20,017
1976 17,243,450 19,110
1975 16,971,055 19,046
1974 16,673,121 19,030
1973 16,350,367 18,992
1972 15,975,069 18,787
1971 15,572,457 18,419
1970 15,172,775 18,168
1969 14,767,615 18,026
1968 14,365,596 17,861
1967 13,958,350 17,688
1966 13,569,094 17,523
1965 13,219,369 17,305
1964 12,889,770 16,977
1963 12,567,057 16,580
1962 12,262,882 16,183
1961 11,990,713 15,799
1960 11,722,953 15,428

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/san-marino | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while San Marino gained 2,917 people (a 9.66% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while San Marino's population increased by 1,058 people (a 3.2% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. San Marino was ranked 193rd in 2006 and still ranked 193rd 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 San Marino will increase by 0.32% to 34,268 people and rank change from 193rd to 192nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while San Marino's population already peaked in 2020 at 34.8K people and is projected to decrease to 31.7K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
San Marino
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea San Marino
2100 -0.65% -0.06%
2099 -0.65% -0.04%
2098 -0.65% -0.13%
2097 -0.65% -0.05%
2096 -0.65% 0.06%
2095 -0.65% 0.02%
2094 -0.64% 0.09%
2093 -0.64% -0.07%
2092 -0.64% 0.04%
2091 -0.63% -0.04%
2090 -0.63% 0.04%
2089 -0.62% 0.03%
2088 -0.62% 0.05%
2087 -0.61% 0.08%
2086 -0.6% 0.15%
2085 -0.6% 0.04%
2084 -0.59% 0.04%
2083 -0.59% 0.05%
2082 -0.58% 0.13%
2081 -0.58% -0.06%
2080 -0.57% 0.01%
2079 -0.57% 0.01%
2078 -0.56% -0.04%
2077 -0.56% -0.1%
2076 -0.56% -0.13%
2075 -0.55% -0.16%
2074 -0.55% -0.19%
2073 -0.55% -0.2%
2072 -0.55% -0.22%
2071 -0.55% -0.22%
2070 -0.55% -0.29%
2069 -0.55% -0.32%
2068 -0.54% -0.4%
2067 -0.54% -0.32%
2066 -0.54% -0.41%
2065 -0.53% -0.42%
2064 -0.53% -0.36%
2063 -0.52% -0.41%
2062 -0.51% -0.39%
2061 -0.5% -0.37%
2060 -0.49% -0.42%
2059 -0.48% -0.41%
2058 -0.47% -0.41%
2057 -0.45% -0.39%
2056 -0.44% -0.33%
2055 -0.42% -0.37%
2054 -0.41% -0.33%
2053 -0.39% -0.27%
2052 -0.38% -0.21%
2051 -0.36% -0.1%
2050 -0.35% -0.16%
2049 -0.33% -0.17%
2048 -0.32% -0.11%
2047 -0.3% -0.12%
2046 -0.29% -0.1%
2045 -0.27% -0.14%
2044 -0.26% -0.02%
2043 -0.24% 0.09%
2042 -0.23% -0.01%
2041 -0.21% -0.03%
2040 -0.2% 0.04%
2039 -0.17% 0.11%
2038 -0.15% 0.15%
2037 -0.13% 0.08%
2036 -0.1% 0.1%
2035 -0.07% 0.06%
2034 -0.04% 0.02%
2033 -0.006% 0.07%
2032 0.03% 0.02%
2031 0.07% 0.05%
2030 0.1% 0.07%
2029 0.14% 0.15%
2028 0.18% 0.12%
2027 0.22% 0.09%
2026 0.25% 0.1%
2025 0.27% 0.39%
2024 0.31% 0.35%
2023 0.34% 0.31%
2022 0.37% -1.45%
2021 0.37% -1.49%
2020 0.38% 0.31%
2019 0.41% 0.41%
2018 0.44% 2.06%
2017 0.46% 2.19%
2016 0.48% 0.62%
2015 0.49% 0.74%
2014 0.48% -1.17%
2013 0.47% -1.28%
2012 0.45% 2.6%
2011 0.44% -1.95%
2010 0.44% 0.62%
2009 0.46% 4.43%
2008 0.48% 1.45%
2007 0.5% 3.4%
2006 0.52% 1.17%
2005 0.58% 1.29%
2004 0.68% 5.8%
2003 0.61% 1.28%
2002 0.54% 1.28%
2001 0.63% 1.28%
2000 0.72% 1.29%
1999 0.8% 1.28%
1998 0.87% 1.26%
1997 0.94% 1.25%
1996 1% 1.29%
1995 1.23% 1.35%
1994 1.45% 1.43%
1993 1.48% 1.44%
1992 1.5% 1.38%
1991 1.5% 1.37%
1990 1.48% 1.39%
1989 1.47% 1.36%
1988 1.47% 0.69%
1987 1.48% 0.22%
1986 1.48% 0.67%
1985 1.48% 0.62%
1984 1.47% 0.53%
1983 1.48% 0.79%
1982 1.49% 0.98%
1981 1.45% 1.18%
1980 1.41% 1.24%
1979 1.4% 1.4%
1978 1.39% 5.04%
1977 1.45% 4.75%
1976 1.61% 0.34%
1975 1.79% 0.08%
1974 1.97% 0.2%
1973 2.35% 1.09%
1972 2.59% 2%
1971 2.63% 1.38%
1970 2.74% 0.79%
1969 2.8% 0.92%
1968 2.92% 0.98%
1967 2.87% 0.94%
1966 2.65% 1.26%
1965 2.56% 1.93%
1964 2.57% 2.39%
1963 2.48% 2.45%
1962 2.27% 2.43%
1961 2.28% 2.4%

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/san-marino | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while San Marino's population grew by 0.39%.

Live population counters

North Korea San Marino
Current population
26668308
34159
Population rank 57/197 193/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.0004%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
2.77 days
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.57 days
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.44 days
Daily growth/decline +198 +0
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +0.39%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 140/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
3 days
Annual migration change -2,787 +122
Net migration rank 104/196 72/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 5,838
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 183/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 17.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 35/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
San Marino
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea San Marino
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 122
2024 79,496 -2,473 -112 37
2023 86,203 -1,997 -92 -190
2022 96,495 -1,997 -58 -403
2021 99,710 -1,585 -99 -368
2020 95,920 -1,585 -122 247
2019 106,208 -3,142 -17 187
2018 113,164 -3,225 -11 172
2017 120,181 -3,224 -51 234
2016 125,048 -3,222 10 291
2015 127,365 -3,208 36 273
2014 127,078 -3,042 46 74
2013 122,519 -2,933 73 57
2012 118,773 -2,919 54 143
2011 114,798 -2,957 105 2,325
2010 112,443 -3,053 126 592
2009 111,530 -3,058 145 311
2008 122,015 -3,051 159 268
2007 120,521 -3,021 69 314
2006 129,171 -2,948 75 310
2005 132,765 -2,861 66 314
2004 155,838 -2,758 121 285
2003 178,775 -2,717 79 277
2002 119,504 -2,763 112 241
2001 143,321 -2,884 132 215
2000 161,591 -3,142 107 233
1999 181,613 -3,443 80 256
1998 197,589 -3,706 74 257
1997 211,325 -3,745 71 255
1996 226,095 -3,512 63 257
1995 233,381 -3,094 51 262
1994 320,861 -517 43 300
1993 320,880 0 38 325
1992 324,002 0 42 285
1991 320,551 0 45 278
1990 312,460 0 41 289
1989 303,078 0 36 285
1988 299,305 0 34 268
1987 296,030 0 31 -20
1986 293,227 0 40 44
1985 287,714 0 44 166
1984 282,987 0 46 32
1983 279,046 0 54 115
1982 276,332 0 61 117
1981 273,800 0 76 169
1980 255,206 0 90 169
1979 251,409 0 104 164
1978 243,533 0 121 199
1977 242,870 0 117 1,577
1976 255,841 0 126 0
1975 288,966 0 141 -133
1974 306,902 0 153 -131
1973 338,600 0 167 -124
1972 411,997 0 173 191
1971 393,220 0 174 201
1970 406,129 0 173 -39
1969 404,189 0 173 -29
1968 399,837 0 171 8
1967 414,632 0 171 -3
1966 363,882 0 173 -9
1965 335,587 0 169 99
1964 323,623 0 163 233
1963 321,805 0 158 242
1962 286,534 0 155 238
1961 257,788 0 174 206
1960 277,717 0 139 229

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/san-marino | 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 San Marino 51.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 516 people) and 48.2% is from migration (a gain of 480 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 5,838 people or 17.4% in San Marino.

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
San Marino
City Population
Dogana 7K
San Marino 4.04K

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/san-marino | 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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