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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 33,977 people in San Marino in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 33,967 in San Marino.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 785 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 +0.41% per year vs +0.26% in San Marino.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while San Marino has grown from 30.2K to 34K (12.5% 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 19,604,631 31,516
2099 19,733,548 31,536
2098 19,862,949 31,548
2097 19,993,288 31,591
2096 20,124,518 31,608
2095 20,256,401 31,590
2094 20,388,156 31,583
2093 20,520,253 31,554
2092 20,652,961 31,576
2091 20,785,785 31,564
2090 20,918,305 31,575
2089 21,050,580 31,561
2088 21,182,325 31,553
2087 21,314,047 31,538
2086 21,445,329 31,512
2085 21,575,835 31,465
2084 21,705,777 31,452
2083 21,835,029 31,441
2082 21,964,199 31,425
2081 22,092,862 31,384
2080 22,220,948 31,402
2079 22,348,577 31,398
2078 22,475,755 31,395
2077 22,602,817 31,409
2076 22,729,499 31,441
2075 22,856,369 31,481
2074 22,983,784 31,532
2073 23,111,441 31,591
2072 23,239,261 31,653
2071 23,367,583 31,723
2070 23,496,136 31,792
2069 23,625,538 31,885
2068 23,755,136 31,986
2067 23,884,879 32,115
2066 24,015,027 32,219
2065 24,144,985 32,351
2064 24,274,257 32,487
2063 24,402,439 32,605
2062 24,529,941 32,740
2061 24,656,350 32,868
2060 24,780,911 32,991
2059 24,903,037 33,129
2058 25,023,260 33,266
2057 25,140,523 33,402
2056 25,255,342 33,535
2055 25,366,397 33,646
2054 25,474,292 33,770
2053 25,578,870 33,883
2052 25,679,963 33,976
2051 25,777,639 34,049
2050 25,871,673 34,083
2049 25,962,167 34,138
2048 26,048,593 34,196
2047 26,131,429 34,234
2046 26,210,487 34,277
2045 26,286,208 34,310
2044 26,358,331 34,359
2043 26,427,062 34,365
2042 26,491,482 34,334
2041 26,552,564 34,338
2040 26,609,557 34,348
2039 26,661,815 34,333
2038 26,708,400 34,296
2037 26,749,134 34,243
2036 26,783,304 34,217
2035 26,810,026 34,182
2034 26,828,912 34,162
2033 26,839,229 34,155
2032 26,840,944 34,130
2031 26,832,957 34,122
2030 26,814,812 34,104
2029 26,787,117 34,082
2028 26,749,227 34,030
2027 26,701,444 33,990
2026 26,643,460 33,959
2025 26,575,953 33,924
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while San Marino's population increased by 866 people (a 2.62% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of San Marino will increase by 0.34% to 34,083 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 31.5K 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 0.29% -0.15%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/san-marino | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while San Marino's population grew by 0.35%.

Live population counters

North Korea San Marino
Current population
26659144
33967
Population rank 57/197 193/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.0004%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
3.12 days
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.93 days
One death every
2.05 minutes
1.3 days
Daily growth/decline +221 +0
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +117
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.35%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 145/197
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 - -2,473 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/san-marino | 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 San Marino 40.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 358 people) and 59.1% is from migration (a gain of 517 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 (1960–2024, 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/san-marino | 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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