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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.38 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% 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 19,604,631 74,230,118
2099 19,733,548 73,760,045
2098 19,862,949 73,287,526
2097 19,993,288 72,813,125
2096 20,124,518 72,336,039
2095 20,256,401 71,858,206
2094 20,388,156 71,379,928
2093 20,520,253 70,900,460
2092 20,652,961 70,420,464
2091 20,785,785 69,940,749
2090 20,918,305 69,462,214
2089 21,050,580 68,985,976
2088 21,182,325 68,510,277
2087 21,314,047 68,035,545
2086 21,445,329 67,562,521
2085 21,575,835 67,091,615
2084 21,705,777 66,621,667
2083 21,835,029 66,152,653
2082 21,964,199 65,684,321
2081 22,092,862 65,216,102
2080 22,220,948 64,749,128
2079 22,348,577 64,282,393
2078 22,475,755 63,815,918
2077 22,602,817 63,348,712
2076 22,729,499 62,880,120
2075 22,856,369 62,409,793
2074 22,983,784 61,937,628
2073 23,111,441 61,462,662
2072 23,239,261 60,984,202
2071 23,367,583 60,502,791
2070 23,496,136 60,018,216
2069 23,625,538 59,529,456
2068 23,755,136 59,036,086
2067 23,884,879 58,539,487
2066 24,015,027 58,039,687
2065 24,144,985 57,537,106
2064 24,274,257 57,032,172
2063 24,402,439 56,524,331
2062 24,529,941 56,014,549
2061 24,656,350 55,501,467
2060 24,780,911 54,986,901
2059 24,903,037 54,469,809
2058 25,023,260 53,950,469
2057 25,140,523 53,430,639
2056 25,255,342 52,909,061
2055 25,366,397 52,386,571
2054 25,474,292 51,862,312
2053 25,578,870 51,336,335
2052 25,679,963 50,809,100
2051 25,777,639 50,280,719
2050 25,871,673 49,751,739
2049 25,962,167 49,221,828
2048 26,048,593 48,690,143
2047 26,131,429 48,157,605
2046 26,210,487 47,623,246
2045 26,286,208 47,087,215
2044 26,358,331 46,550,306
2043 26,427,062 46,013,232
2042 26,491,482 45,475,200
2041 26,552,564 44,936,131
2040 26,609,557 44,396,093
2039 26,661,815 43,856,006
2038 26,708,400 43,314,707
2037 26,749,134 42,773,375
2036 26,783,304 42,231,639
2035 26,810,026 41,690,245
2034 26,828,912 41,150,029
2033 26,839,229 40,611,021
2032 26,840,944 40,073,144
2031 26,832,957 39,535,357
2030 26,814,812 38,998,581
2029 26,787,117 38,417,447
2028 26,749,227 37,810,902
2027 26,701,444 37,189,969
2026 26,643,460 36,566,201
2025 26,575,953 35,932,673
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% 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 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 74.2M 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 0.29% 1.79%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

North Korea Saudi Arabia
Current population
26659144
36734925
Population rank 57/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.44%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 4/197
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 - -2,473 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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