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Population in North Korea compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.95 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

North Korea vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sierra Leone
2100 19,604,631 16,111,324
2099 19,733,548 16,126,181
2098 19,862,949 16,139,280
2097 19,993,288 16,154,153
2096 20,124,518 16,164,923
2095 20,256,401 16,173,557
2094 20,388,156 16,173,155
2093 20,520,253 16,177,864
2092 20,652,961 16,175,032
2091 20,785,785 16,168,153
2090 20,918,305 16,158,415
2089 21,050,580 16,146,773
2088 21,182,325 16,133,018
2087 21,314,047 16,116,823
2086 21,445,329 16,089,780
2085 21,575,835 16,068,438
2084 21,705,777 16,044,782
2083 21,835,029 16,011,134
2082 21,964,199 15,975,073
2081 22,092,862 15,935,071
2080 22,220,948 15,896,846
2079 22,348,577 15,854,898
2078 22,475,755 15,805,607
2077 22,602,817 15,754,551
2076 22,729,499 15,699,439
2075 22,856,369 15,639,458
2074 22,983,784 15,584,377
2073 23,111,441 15,516,736
2072 23,239,261 15,446,543
2071 23,367,583 15,374,790
2070 23,496,136 15,297,449
2069 23,625,538 15,216,666
2068 23,755,136 15,128,048
2067 23,884,879 15,032,144
2066 24,015,027 14,935,222
2065 24,144,985 14,837,697
2064 24,274,257 14,740,749
2063 24,402,439 14,642,031
2062 24,529,941 14,529,557
2061 24,656,350 14,423,861
2060 24,780,911 14,311,215
2059 24,903,037 14,198,706
2058 25,023,260 14,080,827
2057 25,140,523 13,960,869
2056 25,255,342 13,836,132
2055 25,366,397 13,706,113
2054 25,474,292 13,579,802
2053 25,578,870 13,444,465
2052 25,679,963 13,303,409
2051 25,777,639 13,156,370
2050 25,871,673 13,010,109
2049 25,962,167 12,867,021
2048 26,048,593 12,716,015
2047 26,131,429 12,570,250
2046 26,210,487 12,414,307
2045 26,286,208 12,257,874
2044 26,358,331 12,092,075
2043 26,427,062 11,931,531
2042 26,491,482 11,770,467
2041 26,552,564 11,602,993
2040 26,609,557 11,431,337
2039 26,661,815 11,262,807
2038 26,708,400 11,100,099
2037 26,749,134 10,931,629
2036 26,783,304 10,760,758
2035 26,810,026 10,585,702
2034 26,828,912 10,413,826
2033 26,839,229 10,241,196
2032 26,840,944 10,062,575
2031 26,832,957 9,883,708
2030 26,814,812 9,708,038
2029 26,787,117 9,532,000
2028 26,749,227 9,360,873
2027 26,701,444 9,179,702
2026 26,643,460 9,001,269
2025 26,575,953 8,822,114
2024 26,498,823 8,642,022
2023 26,418,204 8,460,512
2022 26,328,845 8,276,807
2021 26,232,534 8,094,602
2020 26,136,312 7,912,558
2019 26,037,632 7,731,991
2018 25,931,147 7,554,563
2017 25,817,709 7,379,299
2016 25,698,326 7,205,328
2015 25,575,350 7,037,655
2014 25,451,262 6,876,385
2013 25,329,451 6,714,051
2012 25,211,728 6,551,080
2011 25,097,874 6,387,251
2010 24,987,258 6,222,714
2009 24,878,332 6,055,646
2008 24,764,618 5,894,722
2007 24,646,383 5,749,352
2006 24,524,507 5,624,466
2005 24,396,433 5,501,712
2004 24,254,943 5,355,717
2003 24,090,380 5,177,687
2002 23,943,973 4,971,435
2001 23,815,358 4,692,716
2000 23,665,910 4,423,611
1999 23,497,599 4,318,043
1998 23,311,564 4,295,785
1997 23,110,830 4,253,716
1996 22,895,746 4,199,210
1995 22,669,304 4,179,179
1994 22,393,975 4,173,105
1993 22,073,352 4,157,130
1992 21,750,911 4,166,366
1991 21,428,638 4,246,267
1990 21,112,137 4,196,828
1989 20,804,367 4,034,037
1988 20,503,161 3,934,517
1987 20,205,483 3,829,718
1986 19,910,855 3,728,380
1985 19,620,388 3,638,438
1984 19,335,043 3,558,758
1983 19,054,034 3,481,646
1982 18,776,357 3,408,183
1981 18,501,295 3,338,940
1980 18,236,786 3,272,089
1979 17,983,470 3,207,499
1978 17,735,995 3,145,517
1977 17,492,798 3,085,354
1976 17,243,450 3,028,820
1975 16,971,055 2,974,657
1974 16,673,121 2,920,459
1973 16,350,367 2,866,955
1972 15,975,069 2,814,388
1971 15,572,457 2,763,222
1970 15,172,775 2,712,286
1969 14,767,615 2,661,365
1968 14,365,596 2,611,532
1967 13,958,350 2,562,384
1966 13,569,094 2,514,638
1965 13,219,369 2,468,666
1964 12,889,770 2,424,390
1963 12,567,057 2,382,258
1962 12,262,882 2,342,242
1961 11,990,713 2,304,227
1960 11,722,953 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Sierra Leone
2100 -0.65% -0.09%
2099 -0.65% -0.08%
2098 -0.65% -0.09%
2097 -0.65% -0.07%
2096 -0.65% -0.05%
2095 -0.65% 0.002%
2094 -0.64% -0.03%
2093 -0.64% 0.02%
2092 -0.64% 0.04%
2091 -0.63% 0.06%
2090 -0.63% 0.07%
2089 -0.62% 0.09%
2088 -0.62% 0.1%
2087 -0.61% 0.17%
2086 -0.6% 0.13%
2085 -0.6% 0.15%
2084 -0.59% 0.21%
2083 -0.59% 0.23%
2082 -0.58% 0.25%
2081 -0.58% 0.24%
2080 -0.57% 0.26%
2079 -0.57% 0.31%
2078 -0.56% 0.32%
2077 -0.56% 0.35%
2076 -0.56% 0.38%
2075 -0.55% 0.35%
2074 -0.55% 0.44%
2073 -0.55% 0.45%
2072 -0.55% 0.47%
2071 -0.55% 0.51%
2070 -0.55% 0.53%
2069 -0.55% 0.59%
2068 -0.54% 0.64%
2067 -0.54% 0.65%
2066 -0.54% 0.66%
2065 -0.53% 0.66%
2064 -0.53% 0.67%
2063 -0.52% 0.77%
2062 -0.51% 0.73%
2061 -0.5% 0.79%
2060 -0.49% 0.79%
2059 -0.48% 0.84%
2058 -0.47% 0.86%
2057 -0.45% 0.9%
2056 -0.44% 0.95%
2055 -0.42% 0.93%
2054 -0.41% 1.01%
2053 -0.39% 1.06%
2052 -0.38% 1.12%
2051 -0.36% 1.12%
2050 -0.35% 1.11%
2049 -0.33% 1.19%
2048 -0.32% 1.16%
2047 -0.3% 1.26%
2046 -0.29% 1.28%
2045 -0.27% 1.37%
2044 -0.26% 1.35%
2043 -0.24% 1.37%
2042 -0.23% 1.44%
2041 -0.21% 1.5%
2040 -0.2% 1.5%
2039 -0.17% 1.47%
2038 -0.15% 1.54%
2037 -0.13% 1.59%
2036 -0.1% 1.65%
2035 -0.07% 1.65%
2034 -0.04% 1.69%
2033 -0.006% 1.78%
2032 0.03% 1.81%
2031 0.07% 1.81%
2030 0.1% 1.85%
2029 0.14% 1.83%
2028 0.18% 1.97%
2027 0.22% 1.98%
2026 0.25% 2.03%
2025 0.29% 2.08%
2024 0.31% 2.15%
2023 0.34% 2.22%
2022 0.37% 2.25%
2021 0.37% 2.3%
2020 0.38% 2.34%
2019 0.41% 2.35%
2018 0.44% 2.38%
2017 0.46% 2.41%
2016 0.48% 2.38%
2015 0.49% 2.35%
2014 0.48% 2.42%
2013 0.47% 2.49%
2012 0.45% 2.56%
2011 0.44% 2.64%
2010 0.44% 2.76%
2009 0.46% 2.73%
2008 0.48% 2.53%
2007 0.5% 2.22%
2006 0.52% 2.23%
2005 0.58% 2.73%
2004 0.68% 3.44%
2003 0.61% 4.15%
2002 0.54% 5.94%
2001 0.63% 6.08%
2000 0.72% 2.44%
1999 0.8% 0.52%
1998 0.87% 0.99%
1997 0.94% 1.3%
1996 1% 0.48%
1995 1.23% 0.15%
1994 1.45% 0.38%
1993 1.48% -0.22%
1992 1.5% -1.88%
1991 1.5% 1.18%
1990 1.48% 4.04%
1989 1.47% 2.53%
1988 1.47% 2.74%
1987 1.48% 2.72%
1986 1.48% 2.47%
1985 1.48% 2.24%
1984 1.47% 2.21%
1983 1.48% 2.16%
1982 1.49% 2.07%
1981 1.45% 2.04%
1980 1.41% 2.01%
1979 1.4% 1.97%
1978 1.39% 1.95%
1977 1.45% 1.87%
1976 1.61% 1.82%
1975 1.79% 1.86%
1974 1.97% 1.87%
1973 2.35% 1.87%
1972 2.59% 1.85%
1971 2.63% 1.88%
1970 2.74% 1.91%
1969 2.8% 1.91%
1968 2.92% 1.92%
1967 2.87% 1.9%
1966 2.65% 1.86%
1965 2.56% 1.83%
1964 2.57% 1.77%
1963 2.48% 1.71%
1962 2.27% 1.65%
1961 2.28% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

North Korea Sierra Leone
Current population
26659144
9049533
Population rank 57/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.11%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +497
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 47/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -11,309
Net migration rank 104/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -11,309
2024 - -2,473 - -11,000
2023 86,203 -1,997 188,788 -4,000
2022 96,495 -1,997 186,625 -4,000
2021 99,710 -1,585 183,326 -1,544
2020 95,920 -1,585 181,015 1,292
2019 106,208 -3,142 181,068 -2,238
2018 113,164 -3,225 178,772 -2,741
2017 120,181 -3,224 173,259 1,234
2016 125,048 -3,222 168,784 4,657
2015 127,365 -3,208 162,275 -356
2014 127,078 -3,042 160,137 485
2013 122,519 -2,933 161,265 2,773
2012 118,773 -2,919 160,915 988
2011 114,798 -2,957 158,858 6,895
2010 112,443 -3,053 155,338 7,983
2009 111,530 -3,058 152,669 18,145
2008 122,015 -3,051 149,855 1,182
2007 120,521 -3,021 145,740 -6,042
2006 129,171 -2,948 144,127 -34,052
2005 132,765 -2,861 137,234 -1,805
2004 155,838 -2,758 132,661 23,897
2003 178,775 -2,717 130,312 69,185
2002 119,504 -2,763 126,429 86,578
2001 143,321 -2,884 116,647 227,791
2000 161,591 -3,142 110,754 83,013
1999 181,613 -3,443 102,295 -84,926
1998 197,589 -3,706 103,906 -76,766
1997 211,325 -3,745 105,433 -48,437
1996 226,095 -3,512 104,140 -52,110
1995 233,381 -3,094 100,885 -112,857
1994 320,861 -517 101,486 -77,371
1993 320,880 0 103,317 -95,476
1992 324,002 0 103,251 -129,565
1991 320,551 0 105,477 -238,965
1990 312,460 0 100,778 131,587
1989 303,078 0 98,298 -5,079
1988 299,305 0 96,344 9,470
1987 296,030 0 94,235 9,558
1986 293,227 0 90,902 7,992
1985 287,714 0 88,869 -7,873
1984 282,987 0 87,072 -8,708
1983 279,046 0 84,628 -8,783
1982 276,332 0 82,457 -11,379
1981 273,800 0 80,111 -12,699
1980 255,206 0 77,932 -11,641
1979 251,409 0 75,992 -13,095
1978 243,533 0 74,130 -13,073
1977 242,870 0 71,663 -12,399
1976 255,841 0 69,506 -15,686
1975 288,966 0 67,560 -13,058
1974 306,902 0 65,357 -11,473
1973 338,600 0 62,443 -9,322
1972 411,997 0 60,279 -8,267
1971 393,220 0 58,484 -8,162
1970 406,129 0 56,513 -4,957
1969 404,189 0 54,768 -4,485
1968 399,837 0 53,126 -3,743
1967 414,632 0 51,734 -2,819
1966 363,882 0 49,486 -2,911
1965 335,587 0 47,223 -1,851
1964 323,623 0 45,487 -2,308
1963 321,805 0 43,569 -2,480
1962 286,534 0 41,603 -2,658
1961 257,788 0 40,022 -2,947
1960 277,717 0 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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