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Population in North Korea compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.42 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.78% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

North Korea vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Saudi Arabia
2100 19,601,003 76,380,382
2099 19,729,897 75,896,692
2098 19,859,274 75,410,485
2097 19,989,589 74,922,342
2096 20,120,795 74,431,436
2095 20,252,653 73,939,761
2094 20,384,384 73,447,628
2093 20,516,457 72,954,272
2092 20,649,140 72,460,372
2091 20,781,939 71,966,760
2090 20,914,434 71,474,363
2089 21,046,685 70,984,330
2088 21,178,406 70,494,851
2087 21,310,103 70,006,368
2086 21,441,361 69,519,641
2085 21,571,843 69,035,093
2084 21,701,761 68,551,533
2083 21,830,989 68,068,933
2082 21,960,135 67,587,034
2081 22,088,774 67,105,252
2080 22,216,836 66,624,751
2079 22,344,442 66,144,495
2078 22,471,597 65,664,508
2077 22,598,635 65,183,768
2076 22,725,293 64,701,603
2075 22,852,140 64,217,651
2074 22,979,532 63,731,809
2073 23,107,165 63,243,084
2072 23,234,961 62,750,764
2071 23,363,260 62,255,408
2070 23,491,789 61,756,796
2069 23,621,167 61,253,878
2068 23,750,741 60,746,216
2067 23,880,460 60,235,232
2066 24,010,584 59,720,954
2065 24,140,518 59,203,814
2064 24,269,765 58,684,254
2063 24,397,924 58,161,702
2062 24,525,403 57,637,152
2061 24,651,788 57,109,207
2060 24,776,326 56,579,736
2059 24,898,430 56,047,666
2058 25,018,630 55,513,281
2057 25,135,871 54,978,393
2056 25,250,670 54,441,706
2055 25,361,704 53,904,081
2054 25,469,578 53,364,635
2053 25,574,137 52,823,422
2052 25,675,211 52,280,914
2051 25,772,870 51,737,228
2050 25,866,886 51,192,924
2049 25,957,363 50,647,663
2048 26,043,774 50,100,576
2047 26,126,594 49,552,613
2046 26,205,638 49,002,774
2045 26,281,344 48,451,215
2044 26,353,455 47,898,754
2043 26,422,173 47,346,122
2042 26,486,580 46,792,504
2041 26,547,651 46,237,820
2040 26,604,634 45,682,139
2039 26,656,882 45,126,407
2038 26,703,458 44,569,427
2037 26,744,185 44,012,415
2036 26,778,348 43,454,985
2035 26,805,065 42,897,909
2034 26,823,948 42,342,044
2033 26,834,263 41,787,423
2032 26,835,978 41,233,964
2031 26,827,992 40,680,599
2030 26,809,850 40,128,273
2029 26,782,161 39,530,306
2028 26,744,278 38,906,191
2027 26,696,504 38,267,271
2026 26,638,530 37,625,434
2025 26,571,036 36,973,555
2024 26,498,823 35,300,280
2023 26,418,204 33,702,731
2022 26,328,845 32,175,224
2021 26,232,534 30,784,383
2020 26,136,312 31,552,510
2019 26,037,632 30,063,799
2018 25,931,147 30,196,281
2017 25,817,709 30,977,355
2016 25,698,326 30,954,198
2015 25,575,350 29,816,382
2014 25,451,262 28,309,273
2013 25,329,451 27,624,004
2012 25,211,728 26,168,861
2011 25,097,874 25,091,867
2010 24,987,258 23,978,487
2009 24,878,332 24,217,654
2008 24,764,618 23,287,877
2007 24,646,383 22,368,313
2006 24,524,507 21,459,144
2005 24,396,433 20,559,890
2004 24,254,943 19,669,480
2003 24,090,380 18,786,767
2002 23,943,973 17,910,910
2001 23,815,358 17,041,397
2000 23,665,910 16,177,722
1999 23,497,599 15,472,075
1998 23,311,564 14,922,185
1997 23,110,830 14,374,943
1996 22,895,746 13,831,009
1995 22,669,304 13,289,245
1994 22,393,975 12,750,040
1993 22,073,352 12,215,862
1992 21,750,911 11,686,676
1991 21,428,638 11,160,744
1990 21,112,137 10,640,691
1989 20,804,367 10,128,394
1988 20,503,161 9,629,165
1987 20,205,483 9,130,194
1986 19,910,855 8,628,639
1985 19,620,388 8,151,779
1984 19,335,043 7,697,307
1983 19,054,034 7,252,941
1982 18,776,357 6,824,486
1981 18,501,295 6,420,551
1980 18,236,786 6,047,997
1979 17,983,470 5,703,698
1978 17,735,995 5,381,902
1977 17,492,798 5,083,048
1976 17,243,450 4,807,933
1975 16,971,055 4,556,287
1974 16,673,121 4,323,632
1973 16,350,367 4,106,344
1972 15,975,069 3,905,722
1971 15,572,457 3,724,031
1970 15,172,775 3,562,470
1969 14,767,615 3,417,114
1968 14,365,596 3,282,711
1967 13,958,350 3,157,242
1966 13,569,094 3,039,887
1965 13,219,369 2,928,771
1964 12,889,770 2,821,968
1963 12,567,057 2,719,341
1962 12,262,882 2,620,910
1961 11,990,713 2,526,347
1960 11,722,953 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.65% 0.64%
2099 -0.65% 0.64%
2098 -0.65% 0.65%
2097 -0.65% 0.66%
2096 -0.65% 0.66%
2095 -0.65% 0.67%
2094 -0.64% 0.68%
2093 -0.64% 0.68%
2092 -0.64% 0.69%
2091 -0.63% 0.69%
2090 -0.63% 0.69%
2089 -0.62% 0.69%
2088 -0.62% 0.7%
2087 -0.61% 0.7%
2086 -0.6% 0.7%
2085 -0.6% 0.71%
2084 -0.59% 0.71%
2083 -0.59% 0.71%
2082 -0.58% 0.72%
2081 -0.58% 0.72%
2080 -0.57% 0.73%
2079 -0.57% 0.73%
2078 -0.56% 0.74%
2077 -0.56% 0.75%
2076 -0.56% 0.75%
2075 -0.55% 0.76%
2074 -0.55% 0.77%
2073 -0.55% 0.78%
2072 -0.55% 0.8%
2071 -0.55% 0.81%
2070 -0.55% 0.82%
2069 -0.55% 0.84%
2068 -0.54% 0.85%
2067 -0.54% 0.86%
2066 -0.54% 0.87%
2065 -0.53% 0.89%
2064 -0.53% 0.9%
2063 -0.52% 0.91%
2062 -0.51% 0.92%
2061 -0.5% 0.94%
2060 -0.49% 0.95%
2059 -0.48% 0.96%
2058 -0.47% 0.97%
2057 -0.45% 0.99%
2056 -0.44% 1%
2055 -0.42% 1.01%
2054 -0.41% 1.02%
2053 -0.39% 1.04%
2052 -0.38% 1.05%
2051 -0.36% 1.06%
2050 -0.35% 1.08%
2049 -0.33% 1.09%
2048 -0.32% 1.11%
2047 -0.3% 1.12%
2046 -0.29% 1.14%
2045 -0.27% 1.15%
2044 -0.26% 1.17%
2043 -0.24% 1.18%
2042 -0.23% 1.2%
2041 -0.21% 1.22%
2040 -0.2% 1.23%
2039 -0.17% 1.25%
2038 -0.15% 1.27%
2037 -0.13% 1.28%
2036 -0.1% 1.3%
2035 -0.07% 1.31%
2034 -0.04% 1.33%
2033 -0.006% 1.34%
2032 0.03% 1.36%
2031 0.07% 1.38%
2030 0.1% 1.51%
2029 0.14% 1.6%
2028 0.18% 1.67%
2027 0.22% 1.71%
2026 0.25% 1.76%
2025 0.27% 4.74%
2024 0.31% 4.74%
2023 0.34% 4.75%
2022 0.37% 4.52%
2021 0.37% -2.43%
2020 0.38% 4.95%
2019 0.41% -0.44%
2018 0.44% -2.52%
2017 0.46% 0.07%
2016 0.48% 3.82%
2015 0.49% 5.32%
2014 0.48% 2.48%
2013 0.47% 5.56%
2012 0.45% 4.29%
2011 0.44% 4.64%
2010 0.44% -0.99%
2009 0.46% 3.99%
2008 0.48% 4.11%
2007 0.5% 4.24%
2006 0.52% 4.37%
2005 0.58% 4.53%
2004 0.68% 4.7%
2003 0.61% 4.89%
2002 0.54% 5.1%
2001 0.63% 5.34%
2000 0.72% 4.56%
1999 0.8% 3.69%
1998 0.87% 3.81%
1997 0.94% 3.93%
1996 1% 4.08%
1995 1.23% 4.23%
1994 1.45% 4.37%
1993 1.48% 4.53%
1992 1.5% 4.71%
1991 1.5% 4.89%
1990 1.48% 5.06%
1989 1.47% 5.18%
1988 1.47% 5.47%
1987 1.48% 5.81%
1986 1.48% 5.85%
1985 1.48% 5.9%
1984 1.47% 6.13%
1983 1.48% 6.28%
1982 1.49% 6.29%
1981 1.45% 6.16%
1980 1.41% 6.04%
1979 1.4% 5.98%
1978 1.39% 5.88%
1977 1.45% 5.72%
1976 1.61% 5.52%
1975 1.79% 5.38%
1974 1.97% 5.29%
1973 2.35% 5.14%
1972 2.59% 4.88%
1971 2.63% 4.54%
1970 2.74% 4.25%
1969 2.8% 4.09%
1968 2.92% 3.97%
1967 2.87% 3.86%
1966 2.65% 3.79%
1965 2.56% 3.78%
1964 2.57% 3.77%
1963 2.48% 3.76%
1962 2.27% 3.74%
1961 2.28% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

North Korea Saudi Arabia
Current population
26668308
37955120
Population rank 57/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.46%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 2/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +119,738
Net migration rank 104/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 119,738
2024 79,496 -2,473 499,782 122,170
2023 86,203 -1,997 474,366 325,691
2022 96,495 -1,997 406,920 977,072
2021 99,710 -1,585 409,032 -106,287
2020 95,920 -1,585 447,036 -74,725
2019 106,208 -3,142 474,407 191,582
2018 113,164 -3,225 528,767 -988,751
2017 120,181 -3,224 546,751 -920,812
2016 125,048 -3,222 537,829 -26,997
2015 127,365 -3,208 511,023 465,292
2014 127,078 -3,042 493,431 469,144
2013 122,519 -2,933 475,299 485,794
2012 118,773 -2,919 465,649 479,206
2011 114,798 -2,957 443,675 491,253
2010 112,443 -3,053 418,641 504,955
2009 111,530 -3,058 438,557 496,229
2008 122,015 -3,051 433,457 491,337
2007 120,521 -3,021 425,199 489,136
2006 129,171 -2,948 399,333 504,661
2005 132,765 -2,861 375,938 518,565
2004 155,838 -2,758 362,843 523,472
2003 178,775 -2,717 364,520 514,606
2002 119,504 -2,763 372,099 500,508
2001 143,321 -2,884 382,153 484,252
2000 161,591 -3,142 392,407 468,515
1999 181,613 -3,443 390,112 160,263
1998 197,589 -3,706 389,499 159,898
1997 211,325 -3,745 385,033 160,066
1996 226,095 -3,512 382,248 160,532
1995 233,381 -3,094 380,231 160,512
1994 320,861 -517 377,351 160,306
1993 320,880 0 372,621 158,074
1992 324,002 0 366,763 160,908
1991 320,551 0 361,329 162,857
1990 312,460 0 355,495 160,416
1989 303,078 0 349,399 159,273
1988 299,305 0 342,865 146,918
1987 296,030 0 333,088 175,075
1986 293,227 0 322,340 172,606
1985 287,714 0 310,558 148,208
1984 282,987 0 296,615 153,562
1983 279,046 0 280,616 157,930
1982 276,332 0 264,831 153,528
1981 273,800 0 249,156 140,355
1980 255,206 0 234,372 121,220
1979 251,409 0 220,186 112,826
1978 243,533 0 205,331 105,263
1977 242,870 0 191,103 96,015
1976 255,841 0 178,024 85,083
1975 288,966 0 166,223 73,960
1974 306,902 0 155,478 69,653
1973 338,600 0 145,450 63,995
1972 411,997 0 136,360 55,439
1971 393,220 0 127,600 43,989
1970 406,129 0 120,440 31,097
1969 404,189 0 113,859 25,312
1968 399,837 0 108,281 21,366
1967 414,632 0 103,343 17,947
1966 363,882 0 98,361 15,054
1965 335,587 0 93,820 15,000
1964 323,623 0 89,776 15,000
1963 321,805 0 85,480 15,000
1962 286,534 0 81,393 15,000
1961 257,788 0 77,743 15,000
1960 277,717 0 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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

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