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Population in North Korea compared to Serbia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.1 times bigger than Serbia's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

North Korea vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Serbia
2100 19,604,631 3,621,418
2099 19,733,548 3,649,584
2098 19,862,949 3,677,789
2097 19,993,288 3,706,279
2096 20,124,518 3,734,933
2095 20,256,401 3,763,769
2094 20,388,156 3,792,851
2093 20,520,253 3,822,147
2092 20,652,961 3,851,865
2091 20,785,785 3,881,833
2090 20,918,305 3,911,964
2089 21,050,580 3,942,571
2088 21,182,325 3,973,274
2087 21,314,047 4,004,485
2086 21,445,329 4,036,066
2085 21,575,835 4,068,021
2084 21,705,777 4,100,403
2083 21,835,029 4,133,391
2082 21,964,199 4,166,924
2081 22,092,862 4,200,811
2080 22,220,948 4,235,306
2079 22,348,577 4,270,442
2078 22,475,755 4,306,246
2077 22,602,817 4,342,382
2076 22,729,499 4,378,754
2075 22,856,369 4,415,505
2074 22,983,784 4,452,888
2073 23,111,441 4,490,589
2072 23,239,261 4,528,672
2071 23,367,583 4,567,167
2070 23,496,136 4,606,212
2069 23,625,538 4,645,524
2068 23,755,136 4,685,090
2067 23,884,879 4,724,796
2066 24,015,027 4,764,445
2065 24,144,985 4,804,405
2064 24,274,257 4,844,434
2063 24,402,439 4,884,574
2062 24,529,941 4,924,899
2061 24,656,350 4,964,985
2060 24,780,911 5,005,138
2059 24,903,037 5,045,125
2058 25,023,260 5,085,292
2057 25,140,523 5,125,901
2056 25,255,342 5,166,530
2055 25,366,397 5,207,137
2054 25,474,292 5,247,793
2053 25,578,870 5,288,369
2052 25,679,963 5,329,487
2051 25,777,639 5,371,281
2050 25,871,673 5,413,067
2049 25,962,167 5,455,402
2048 26,048,593 5,498,031
2047 26,131,429 5,541,158
2046 26,210,487 5,584,824
2045 26,286,208 5,629,108
2044 26,358,331 5,673,908
2043 26,427,062 5,719,287
2042 26,491,482 5,765,400
2041 26,552,564 5,811,936
2040 26,609,557 5,858,464
2039 26,661,815 5,905,404
2038 26,708,400 5,952,107
2037 26,749,134 5,998,763
2036 26,783,304 6,045,097
2035 26,810,026 6,091,385
2034 26,828,912 6,137,447
2033 26,839,229 6,183,536
2032 26,840,944 6,229,136
2031 26,832,957 6,274,395
2030 26,814,812 6,319,422
2029 26,787,117 6,363,799
2028 26,749,227 6,407,914
2027 26,701,444 6,451,609
2026 26,643,460 6,494,521
2025 26,575,953 6,543,364
2024 26,498,823 6,586,476
2023 26,418,204 6,623,183
2022 26,328,845 6,664,449
2021 26,232,534 6,834,326
2020 26,136,312 6,899,126
2019 26,037,632 6,945,235
2018 25,931,147 6,982,604
2017 25,817,709 7,020,858
2016 25,698,326 7,058,322
2015 25,575,350 7,095,383
2014 25,451,262 7,131,787
2013 25,329,451 7,166,553
2012 25,211,728 7,201,497
2011 25,097,874 7,236,519
2010 24,987,258 7,291,436
2009 24,878,332 7,320,807
2008 24,764,618 7,350,222
2007 24,646,383 7,381,579
2006 24,524,507 7,411,569
2005 24,396,433 7,440,769
2004 24,254,943 7,463,157
2003 24,090,380 7,480,591
2002 23,943,973 7,500,031
2001 23,815,358 7,503,433
2000 23,665,910 7,516,346
1999 23,497,599 7,540,401
1998 23,311,564 7,567,745
1997 23,110,830 7,598,538
1996 22,895,746 7,622,185
1995 22,669,304 7,628,264
1994 22,393,975 7,622,711
1993 22,073,352 7,614,328
1992 21,750,911 7,604,063
1991 21,428,638 7,595,636
1990 21,112,137 7,897,937
1989 20,804,367 7,893,787
1988 20,503,161 7,884,218
1987 20,205,483 7,868,027
1986 19,910,855 7,853,824
1985 19,620,388 7,835,902
1984 19,335,043 7,813,549
1983 19,054,034 7,788,100
1982 18,776,357 7,763,335
1981 18,501,295 7,736,787
1980 18,236,786 7,709,544
1979 17,983,470 7,541,997
1978 17,735,995 7,504,017
1977 17,492,798 7,462,783
1976 17,243,450 7,418,973
1975 16,971,055 7,368,717
1974 16,673,121 7,326,043
1973 16,350,367 7,283,902
1972 15,975,069 7,252,012
1971 15,572,457 7,211,716
1970 15,172,775 7,164,993
1969 14,767,615 7,123,249
1968 14,365,596 7,007,586
1967 13,958,350 6,966,522
1966 13,569,094 6,927,969
1965 13,219,369 6,876,624
1964 12,889,770 6,832,855
1963 12,567,057 6,787,950
1962 12,262,882 6,740,264
1961 11,990,713 6,689,077
1960 11,722,953 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Serbia
2100 -0.65% -0.77%
2099 -0.65% -0.77%
2098 -0.65% -0.77%
2097 -0.65% -0.77%
2096 -0.65% -0.77%
2095 -0.65% -0.77%
2094 -0.64% -0.77%
2093 -0.64% -0.77%
2092 -0.64% -0.77%
2091 -0.63% -0.77%
2090 -0.63% -0.78%
2089 -0.62% -0.77%
2088 -0.62% -0.78%
2087 -0.61% -0.78%
2086 -0.6% -0.79%
2085 -0.6% -0.79%
2084 -0.59% -0.8%
2083 -0.59% -0.8%
2082 -0.58% -0.81%
2081 -0.58% -0.81%
2080 -0.57% -0.82%
2079 -0.57% -0.83%
2078 -0.56% -0.83%
2077 -0.56% -0.83%
2076 -0.56% -0.83%
2075 -0.55% -0.84%
2074 -0.55% -0.84%
2073 -0.55% -0.84%
2072 -0.55% -0.84%
2071 -0.55% -0.85%
2070 -0.55% -0.85%
2069 -0.55% -0.84%
2068 -0.54% -0.84%
2067 -0.54% -0.83%
2066 -0.54% -0.83%
2065 -0.53% -0.83%
2064 -0.53% -0.82%
2063 -0.52% -0.82%
2062 -0.51% -0.81%
2061 -0.5% -0.8%
2060 -0.49% -0.79%
2059 -0.48% -0.79%
2058 -0.47% -0.79%
2057 -0.45% -0.79%
2056 -0.44% -0.78%
2055 -0.42% -0.77%
2054 -0.41% -0.77%
2053 -0.39% -0.77%
2052 -0.38% -0.78%
2051 -0.36% -0.77%
2050 -0.35% -0.78%
2049 -0.33% -0.78%
2048 -0.32% -0.78%
2047 -0.3% -0.78%
2046 -0.29% -0.79%
2045 -0.27% -0.79%
2044 -0.26% -0.79%
2043 -0.24% -0.8%
2042 -0.23% -0.8%
2041 -0.21% -0.79%
2040 -0.2% -0.79%
2039 -0.17% -0.78%
2038 -0.15% -0.78%
2037 -0.13% -0.77%
2036 -0.1% -0.76%
2035 -0.07% -0.75%
2034 -0.04% -0.75%
2033 -0.006% -0.73%
2032 0.03% -0.72%
2031 0.07% -0.71%
2030 0.1% -0.7%
2029 0.14% -0.69%
2028 0.18% -0.68%
2027 0.22% -0.66%
2026 0.25% -0.75%
2025 0.29% -0.65%
2024 0.31% -0.55%
2023 0.34% -0.62%
2022 0.37% -2.49%
2021 0.37% -0.94%
2020 0.38% -0.66%
2019 0.41% -0.54%
2018 0.44% -0.54%
2017 0.46% -0.53%
2016 0.48% -0.52%
2015 0.49% -0.51%
2014 0.48% -0.49%
2013 0.47% -0.49%
2012 0.45% -0.48%
2011 0.44% -0.75%
2010 0.44% -0.4%
2009 0.46% -0.4%
2008 0.48% -0.42%
2007 0.5% -0.4%
2006 0.52% -0.39%
2005 0.58% -0.3%
2004 0.68% -0.23%
2003 0.61% -0.26%
2002 0.54% -0.05%
2001 0.63% -0.17%
2000 0.72% -0.32%
1999 0.8% -0.36%
1998 0.87% -0.41%
1997 0.94% -0.31%
1996 1% -0.08%
1995 1.23% 0.07%
1994 1.45% 0.11%
1993 1.48% 0.13%
1992 1.5% 0.11%
1991 1.5% -3.83%
1990 1.48% 0.05%
1989 1.47% 0.12%
1988 1.47% 0.21%
1987 1.48% 0.18%
1986 1.48% 0.23%
1985 1.48% 0.29%
1984 1.47% 0.33%
1983 1.48% 0.32%
1982 1.49% 0.34%
1981 1.45% 0.35%
1980 1.41% 2.22%
1979 1.4% 0.51%
1978 1.39% 0.55%
1977 1.45% 0.59%
1976 1.61% 0.68%
1975 1.79% 0.58%
1974 1.97% 0.58%
1973 2.35% 0.44%
1972 2.59% 0.56%
1971 2.63% 0.65%
1970 2.74% 0.59%
1969 2.8% 1.65%
1968 2.92% 0.59%
1967 2.87% 0.56%
1966 2.65% 0.75%
1965 2.56% 0.64%
1964 2.57% 0.66%
1963 2.48% 0.71%
1962 2.27% 0.77%
1961 2.28% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

North Korea Serbia
Current population
26659144
6494521
Population rank 57/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.08%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -101
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 189/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -13,086
Net migration rank 104/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -13,086
2024 - -2,473 - -8,132
2023 86,203 -1,997 -36,427 4,348
2022 96,495 -1,997 -46,651 40,118
2021 99,710 -1,585 -74,494 -8,974
2020 95,920 -1,585 -55,193 -10,220
2019 106,208 -3,142 -36,810 -18,891
2018 113,164 -3,225 -37,707 -18,883
2017 120,181 -3,224 -39,317 -18,651
2016 125,048 -3,222 -35,998 -18,322
2015 127,365 -3,208 -37,605 -18,789
2014 127,078 -3,042 -34,946 -18,846
2013 122,519 -2,933 -34,399 -17,866
2012 118,773 -2,919 -35,288 -18,513
2011 114,798 -2,957 -36,906 611
2010 112,443 -3,053 -34,999 3,632
2009 111,530 -3,058 -33,676 6,043
2008 122,015 -3,051 -33,590 7,070
2007 120,521 -3,021 -34,693 7,045
2006 129,171 -2,948 -31,870 8,018
2005 132,765 -2,861 -34,227 7,945
2004 155,838 -2,758 -26,121 7,300
2003 178,775 -2,717 -24,686 6,854
2002 119,504 -2,763 -24,750 1,562
2001 143,321 -2,884 -20,259 -12,007
2000 161,591 -3,142 -30,065 -14,368
1999 181,613 -3,443 -29,408 -4,073
1998 197,589 -3,706 -23,006 -5,665
1997 211,325 -3,745 -18,389 -5,817
1996 226,095 -3,512 -16,007 -5,598
1995 233,381 -3,094 -7,628 -6,019
1994 320,861 -517 -7,157 -5,934
1993 320,880 0 -5,703 -5,972
1992 324,002 0 -3,779 -4,415
1991 320,551 0 2,210 -8,483
1990 312,460 0 7,416 -16,260
1989 303,078 0 11,872 -16,360
1988 299,305 0 13,852 -15,715
1987 296,030 0 16,711 -16,686
1986 293,227 0 19,407 -17,990
1985 287,714 0 22,090 -17,646
1984 282,987 0 23,815 -15,567
1983 279,046 0 27,515 -15,301
1982 276,332 0 30,603 -13,550
1981 273,800 0 34,304 -8,531
1980 255,206 0 36,273 287
1979 251,409 0 39,022 -960
1978 243,533 0 43,636 -1,481
1977 242,870 0 48,105 -1,953
1976 255,841 0 51,399 -2,744
1975 288,966 0 52,502 -3,490
1974 306,902 0 51,583 -3,525
1973 338,600 0 49,596 -2,396
1972 411,997 0 48,248 -348
1971 393,220 0 47,424 1,655
1970 406,129 0 48,343 1,861
1969 404,189 0 50,304 4,112
1968 399,837 0 51,653 5,430
1967 414,632 0 53,120 6,114
1966 363,882 0 53,338 7,037
1965 335,587 0 53,383 7,957
1964 323,623 0 54,185 8,045
1963 321,805 0 55,580 8,276
1962 286,534 0 59,307 6,064
1961 257,788 0 61,065 6,422
1960 277,717 0 63,642 4,377

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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