The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- North Korea's population is 108.2 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).
North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 19,604,631 | 538,729 |
| 2099 | 19,733,548 | 537,330 |
| 2098 | 19,862,949 | 535,787 |
| 2097 | 19,993,288 | 534,124 |
| 2096 | 20,124,518 | 532,353 |
| 2095 | 20,256,401 | 530,576 |
| 2094 | 20,388,156 | 528,656 |
| 2093 | 20,520,253 | 526,643 |
| 2092 | 20,652,961 | 524,507 |
| 2091 | 20,785,785 | 522,325 |
| 2090 | 20,918,305 | 519,999 |
| 2089 | 21,050,580 | 517,612 |
| 2088 | 21,182,325 | 515,098 |
| 2087 | 21,314,047 | 512,568 |
| 2086 | 21,445,329 | 510,018 |
| 2085 | 21,575,835 | 507,340 |
| 2084 | 21,705,777 | 504,584 |
| 2083 | 21,835,029 | 501,679 |
| 2082 | 21,964,199 | 498,722 |
| 2081 | 22,092,862 | 495,689 |
| 2080 | 22,220,948 | 492,482 |
| 2079 | 22,348,577 | 489,244 |
| 2078 | 22,475,755 | 485,930 |
| 2077 | 22,602,817 | 482,450 |
| 2076 | 22,729,499 | 478,942 |
| 2075 | 22,856,369 | 475,380 |
| 2074 | 22,983,784 | 471,763 |
| 2073 | 23,111,441 | 468,114 |
| 2072 | 23,239,261 | 464,348 |
| 2071 | 23,367,583 | 460,509 |
| 2070 | 23,496,136 | 456,552 |
| 2069 | 23,625,538 | 452,449 |
| 2068 | 23,755,136 | 448,367 |
| 2067 | 23,884,879 | 444,152 |
| 2066 | 24,015,027 | 439,833 |
| 2065 | 24,144,985 | 435,561 |
| 2064 | 24,274,257 | 431,126 |
| 2063 | 24,402,439 | 426,703 |
| 2062 | 24,529,941 | 422,184 |
| 2061 | 24,656,350 | 417,686 |
| 2060 | 24,780,911 | 413,117 |
| 2059 | 24,903,037 | 408,577 |
| 2058 | 25,023,260 | 404,024 |
| 2057 | 25,140,523 | 399,413 |
| 2056 | 25,255,342 | 394,844 |
| 2055 | 25,366,397 | 390,153 |
| 2054 | 25,474,292 | 385,468 |
| 2053 | 25,578,870 | 380,737 |
| 2052 | 25,679,963 | 376,015 |
| 2051 | 25,777,639 | 371,194 |
| 2050 | 25,871,673 | 366,397 |
| 2049 | 25,962,167 | 361,591 |
| 2048 | 26,048,593 | 356,742 |
| 2047 | 26,131,429 | 351,861 |
| 2046 | 26,210,487 | 346,888 |
| 2045 | 26,286,208 | 341,838 |
| 2044 | 26,358,331 | 336,792 |
| 2043 | 26,427,062 | 331,713 |
| 2042 | 26,491,482 | 326,652 |
| 2041 | 26,552,564 | 321,594 |
| 2040 | 26,609,557 | 316,457 |
| 2039 | 26,661,815 | 311,279 |
| 2038 | 26,708,400 | 306,071 |
| 2037 | 26,749,134 | 300,875 |
| 2036 | 26,783,304 | 295,624 |
| 2035 | 26,810,026 | 290,400 |
| 2034 | 26,828,912 | 285,183 |
| 2033 | 26,839,229 | 279,990 |
| 2032 | 26,840,944 | 274,835 |
| 2031 | 26,832,957 | 269,740 |
| 2030 | 26,814,812 | 264,723 |
| 2029 | 26,787,117 | 259,705 |
| 2028 | 26,749,227 | 254,751 |
| 2027 | 26,701,444 | 249,860 |
| 2026 | 26,643,460 | 245,066 |
| 2025 | 26,575,953 | 240,286 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).
North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -0.65% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.65% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.65% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.65% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.65% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.65% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.64% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.64% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.64% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.63% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.62% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.62% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.61% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.6% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.6% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | -0.59% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | -0.59% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.58% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | -0.58% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | -0.57% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | -0.57% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | -0.56% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | -0.56% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | -0.56% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | -0.55% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | -0.55% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | -0.55% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | -0.55% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | -0.55% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | -0.54% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | -0.54% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | -0.54% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | -0.53% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | -0.53% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | -0.52% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | -0.51% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | -0.5% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | -0.49% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | -0.48% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | -0.47% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | -0.45% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | -0.44% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | -0.42% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | -0.41% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | -0.39% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | -0.38% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | -0.36% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | -0.35% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | -0.32% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | -0.29% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | -0.27% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | -0.26% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | -0.23% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | -0.21% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | -0.2% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | -0.17% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | -0.15% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | -0.04% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | -0.006% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 0.03% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 0.07% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 0.1% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 0.14% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 0.18% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 0.22% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 0.25% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 0.29% | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 0.31% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 0.34% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 0.37% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 0.37% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 0.38% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 0.41% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 0.44% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 0.46% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 0.48% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 0.49% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 0.48% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 0.47% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 0.45% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 0.44% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 0.44% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 0.46% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 0.48% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 0.52% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 0.58% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 0.68% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 0.61% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 0.54% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 0.63% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 0.72% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 0.87% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 0.94% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 1% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 1.45% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 1.48% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 1.48% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 1.47% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 1.47% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 1.48% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 1.48% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 1.48% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 1.47% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 1.45% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 1.41% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 1.39% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 1.45% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 1.61% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 1.79% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 1.97% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.35% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.59% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.63% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 2.74% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 2.8% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 2.92% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 2.87% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.65% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.56% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.57% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.48% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.27% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.28% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.
Live population counters
|
North Korea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
26659144
|
246362
|
| Population rank | 57/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.32% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
6.52 minutes
|
1.88 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.54 minutes
|
1.35 hours
|
| One death every |
2.05 minutes
|
6.81 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +221 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +80,619 | +4,665 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.31% | +2.02% |
| Population growth rate rank | 150/197 | 49/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.15 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -2,787 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 104/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 50,439 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 150/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 189/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,787 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | - | -2,473 | - | -604 |
| 2023 | 86,203 | -1,997 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 96,495 | -1,997 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 99,710 | -1,585 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 95,920 | -1,585 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 106,208 | -3,142 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 113,164 | -3,225 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 120,181 | -3,224 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 125,048 | -3,222 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 127,365 | -3,208 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 127,078 | -3,042 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 122,519 | -2,933 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 118,773 | -2,919 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 114,798 | -2,957 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 112,443 | -3,053 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 111,530 | -3,058 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 122,015 | -3,051 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 120,521 | -3,021 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 129,171 | -2,948 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 132,765 | -2,861 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 155,838 | -2,758 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 178,775 | -2,717 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 119,504 | -2,763 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 143,321 | -2,884 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 161,591 | -3,142 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 181,613 | -3,443 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 197,589 | -3,706 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 211,325 | -3,745 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 226,095 | -3,512 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 233,381 | -3,094 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 320,861 | -517 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 320,880 | 0 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 324,002 | 0 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 320,551 | 0 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 312,460 | 0 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 303,078 | 0 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 299,305 | 0 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 296,030 | 0 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 293,227 | 0 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 287,714 | 0 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 282,987 | 0 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 279,046 | 0 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 276,332 | 0 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 273,800 | 0 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 255,206 | 0 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 251,409 | 0 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 243,533 | 0 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 242,870 | 0 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 255,841 | 0 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 288,966 | 0 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 306,902 | 0 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 338,600 | 0 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 411,997 | 0 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 393,220 | 0 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 406,129 | 0 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 404,189 | 0 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 399,837 | 0 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 414,632 | 0 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 363,882 | 0 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 335,587 | 0 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 323,623 | 0 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 321,805 | 0 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 286,534 | 0 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 257,788 | 0 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 277,717 | 0 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).
As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
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 |
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe
|
North Korea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 38 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 37.3 years | 20.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 3.64 births per woman |
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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