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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 6,036,860 people in Singapore in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 6,125,852 in Singapore.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.35 times bigger than Singapore's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Singapore is the 113th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.07% for Singapore.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.04% in Singapore.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Singapore has grown from 4.4M to 6.13M (39.2% growth).

North Korea vs Singapore: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Singapore
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Singapore
2100 19,604,631 4,344,248
2099 19,733,548 4,387,645
2098 19,862,949 4,435,189
2097 19,993,288 4,483,484
2096 20,124,518 4,533,994
2095 20,256,401 4,585,243
2094 20,388,156 4,639,568
2093 20,520,253 4,692,749
2092 20,652,961 4,745,364
2091 20,785,785 4,802,089
2090 20,918,305 4,859,572
2089 21,050,580 4,919,853
2088 21,182,325 4,977,701
2087 21,314,047 5,036,662
2086 21,445,329 5,096,772
2085 21,575,835 5,155,480
2084 21,705,777 5,212,381
2083 21,835,029 5,269,612
2082 21,964,199 5,327,281
2081 22,092,862 5,383,608
2080 22,220,948 5,438,023
2079 22,348,577 5,491,695
2078 22,475,755 5,541,781
2077 22,602,817 5,589,429
2076 22,729,499 5,632,686
2075 22,856,369 5,679,862
2074 22,983,784 5,725,351
2073 23,111,441 5,764,008
2072 23,239,261 5,799,655
2071 23,367,583 5,833,262
2070 23,496,136 5,864,115
2069 23,625,538 5,896,709
2068 23,755,136 5,927,631
2067 23,884,879 5,955,955
2066 24,015,027 5,988,826
2065 24,144,985 6,020,244
2064 24,274,257 6,046,805
2063 24,402,439 6,069,231
2062 24,529,941 6,093,782
2061 24,656,350 6,116,847
2060 24,780,911 6,142,295
2059 24,903,037 6,163,191
2058 25,023,260 6,185,611
2057 25,140,523 6,203,303
2056 25,255,342 6,221,491
2055 25,366,397 6,240,206
2054 25,474,292 6,261,488
2053 25,578,870 6,277,678
2052 25,679,963 6,290,046
2051 25,777,639 6,307,270
2050 25,871,673 6,325,698
2049 25,962,167 6,342,616
2048 26,048,593 6,355,818
2047 26,131,429 6,373,684
2046 26,210,487 6,387,901
2045 26,286,208 6,399,811
2044 26,358,331 6,412,802
2043 26,427,062 6,420,804
2042 26,491,482 6,427,555
2041 26,552,564 6,433,153
2040 26,609,557 6,434,727
2039 26,661,815 6,431,367
2038 26,708,400 6,422,540
2037 26,749,134 6,410,923
2036 26,783,304 6,398,937
2035 26,810,026 6,382,637
2034 26,828,912 6,360,610
2033 26,839,229 6,333,556
2032 26,840,944 6,306,749
2031 26,832,957 6,277,847
2030 26,814,812 6,250,608
2029 26,787,117 6,221,161
2028 26,749,227 6,186,754
2027 26,701,444 6,150,947
2026 26,643,460 6,116,548
2025 26,575,953 6,078,250
2024 26,498,823 6,036,860
2023 26,418,204 5,917,648
2022 26,328,845 5,637,022
2021 26,232,534 5,453,566
2020 26,136,312 5,685,807
2019 26,037,632 5,703,569
2018 25,931,147 5,638,676
2017 25,817,709 5,612,253
2016 25,698,326 5,607,283
2015 25,575,350 5,535,002
2014 25,451,262 5,469,724
2013 25,329,451 5,399,162
2012 25,211,728 5,312,437
2011 25,097,874 5,183,688
2010 24,987,258 5,076,732
2009 24,878,332 4,987,573
2008 24,764,618 4,839,396
2007 24,646,383 4,588,599
2006 24,524,507 4,401,365
2005 24,396,433 4,265,762
2004 24,254,943 4,166,664
2003 24,090,380 4,114,826
2002 23,943,973 4,175,950
2001 23,815,358 4,138,012
2000 23,665,910 4,027,887
1999 23,497,599 3,958,723
1998 23,311,564 3,927,213
1997 23,110,830 3,796,038
1996 22,895,746 3,670,704
1995 22,669,304 3,524,506
1994 22,393,975 3,419,048
1993 22,073,352 3,313,471
1992 21,750,911 3,230,698
1991 21,428,638 3,135,083
1990 21,112,137 3,047,132
1989 20,804,367 2,930,901
1988 20,503,161 2,846,108
1987 20,205,483 2,774,789
1986 19,910,855 2,733,373
1985 19,620,388 2,735,957
1984 19,335,043 2,732,221
1983 19,054,034 2,681,061
1982 18,776,357 2,646,466
1981 18,501,295 2,532,835
1980 18,236,786 2,413,945
1979 17,983,470 2,383,500
1978 17,735,995 2,353,600
1977 17,492,798 2,325,300
1976 17,243,450 2,293,300
1975 16,971,055 2,262,600
1974 16,673,121 2,229,800
1973 16,350,367 2,193,000
1972 15,975,069 2,152,400
1971 15,572,457 2,112,900
1970 15,172,775 2,074,507
1969 14,767,615 2,042,500
1968 14,365,596 2,012,000
1967 13,958,350 1,977,600
1966 13,569,094 1,934,400
1965 13,219,369 1,886,900
1964 12,889,770 1,841,600
1963 12,567,057 1,795,000
1962 12,262,882 1,750,200
1961 11,990,713 1,702,400
1960 11,722,953 1,646,400

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/singapore | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Singapore gained 1,205,918 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Singapore's population increased by 518,569 people (a 9.25% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Singapore was ranked 117th in 2006 and ranked 113th 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 Singapore will increase by 3.26% to 6,325,698 people and rank change from 113th to 118th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 6.43M people in 2040 for Singapore.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Singapore
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Singapore
2100 -0.65% -0.99%
2099 -0.65% -1.07%
2098 -0.65% -1.08%
2097 -0.65% -1.11%
2096 -0.65% -1.12%
2095 -0.65% -1.17%
2094 -0.64% -1.13%
2093 -0.64% -1.11%
2092 -0.64% -1.18%
2091 -0.63% -1.18%
2090 -0.63% -1.23%
2089 -0.62% -1.16%
2088 -0.62% -1.17%
2087 -0.61% -1.18%
2086 -0.6% -1.14%
2085 -0.6% -1.09%
2084 -0.59% -1.09%
2083 -0.59% -1.08%
2082 -0.58% -1.05%
2081 -0.58% -1%
2080 -0.57% -0.98%
2079 -0.57% -0.9%
2078 -0.56% -0.85%
2077 -0.56% -0.77%
2076 -0.56% -0.83%
2075 -0.55% -0.79%
2074 -0.55% -0.67%
2073 -0.55% -0.61%
2072 -0.55% -0.58%
2071 -0.55% -0.53%
2070 -0.55% -0.55%
2069 -0.55% -0.52%
2068 -0.54% -0.48%
2067 -0.54% -0.55%
2066 -0.54% -0.52%
2065 -0.53% -0.44%
2064 -0.53% -0.37%
2063 -0.52% -0.4%
2062 -0.51% -0.38%
2061 -0.5% -0.41%
2060 -0.49% -0.34%
2059 -0.48% -0.36%
2058 -0.47% -0.29%
2057 -0.45% -0.29%
2056 -0.44% -0.3%
2055 -0.42% -0.34%
2054 -0.41% -0.26%
2053 -0.39% -0.2%
2052 -0.38% -0.27%
2051 -0.36% -0.29%
2050 -0.35% -0.27%
2049 -0.33% -0.21%
2048 -0.32% -0.28%
2047 -0.3% -0.22%
2046 -0.29% -0.19%
2045 -0.27% -0.2%
2044 -0.26% -0.12%
2043 -0.24% -0.11%
2042 -0.23% -0.09%
2041 -0.21% -0.02%
2040 -0.2% 0.05%
2039 -0.17% 0.14%
2038 -0.15% 0.18%
2037 -0.13% 0.19%
2036 -0.1% 0.26%
2035 -0.07% 0.35%
2034 -0.04% 0.43%
2033 -0.006% 0.43%
2032 0.03% 0.46%
2031 0.07% 0.44%
2030 0.1% 0.47%
2029 0.14% 0.56%
2028 0.18% 0.58%
2027 0.22% 0.56%
2026 0.25% 0.63%
2025 0.29% 0.69%
2024 0.31% 2.01%
2023 0.34% 4.98%
2022 0.37% 3.36%
2021 0.37% -4.08%
2020 0.38% -0.31%
2019 0.41% 1.15%
2018 0.44% 0.47%
2017 0.46% 0.09%
2016 0.48% 1.31%
2015 0.49% 1.19%
2014 0.48% 1.31%
2013 0.47% 1.63%
2012 0.45% 2.48%
2011 0.44% 2.11%
2010 0.44% 1.79%
2009 0.46% 3.06%
2008 0.48% 5.47%
2007 0.5% 4.25%
2006 0.52% 3.18%
2005 0.58% 2.38%
2004 0.68% 1.26%
2003 0.61% -1.46%
2002 0.54% 0.92%
2001 0.63% 2.73%
2000 0.72% 1.75%
1999 0.8% 0.8%
1998 0.87% 3.46%
1997 0.94% 3.41%
1996 1% 4.15%
1995 1.23% 3.08%
1994 1.45% 3.19%
1993 1.48% 2.56%
1992 1.5% 3.05%
1991 1.5% 2.89%
1990 1.48% 3.97%
1989 1.47% 2.98%
1988 1.47% 2.57%
1987 1.48% 1.52%
1986 1.48% -0.09%
1985 1.48% 0.14%
1984 1.47% 1.91%
1983 1.48% 1.31%
1982 1.49% 4.49%
1981 1.45% 4.93%
1980 1.41% 1.28%
1979 1.4% 1.27%
1978 1.39% 1.22%
1977 1.45% 1.4%
1976 1.61% 1.36%
1975 1.79% 1.47%
1974 1.97% 1.68%
1973 2.35% 1.89%
1972 2.59% 1.87%
1971 2.63% 1.85%
1970 2.74% 1.57%
1969 2.8% 1.52%
1968 2.92% 1.74%
1967 2.87% 2.23%
1966 2.65% 2.52%
1965 2.56% 2.46%
1964 2.57% 2.6%
1963 2.48% 2.56%
1962 2.27% 2.81%
1961 2.28% 3.4%

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/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Singapore's population grew by 2.01%.

Live population counters

North Korea Singapore
Current population
26659144
6125852
Population rank 57/197 113/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.07%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.41 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
12 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
14.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +327
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +119,212
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +2.01%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 50/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
31.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +16,892
Net migration rank 104/196 36/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 2,841,665
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 26/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 48.7%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 9/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Singapore
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Singapore
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 16,892
2024 - -2,473 - 20,011
2023 86,203 -1,997 7,101 26,996
2022 96,495 -1,997 9,019 214,842
2021 99,710 -1,585 15,270 -44,030
2020 95,920 -1,585 18,763 -145,556
2019 106,208 -3,142 21,674 870
2018 113,164 -3,225 21,427 21,820
2017 120,181 -3,224 21,888 -8,880
2016 125,048 -3,222 25,794 13,737
2015 127,365 -3,208 27,121 41,852
2014 127,078 -3,042 27,896 40,154
2013 122,519 -2,933 25,376 52,176
2012 118,773 -2,919 29,750 78,501
2011 114,798 -2,957 25,919 89,856
2010 112,443 -3,053 24,876 72,571
2009 111,530 -3,058 27,930 95,841
2008 122,015 -3,051 28,068 176,182
2007 120,521 -3,021 26,614 192,292
2006 129,171 -2,948 25,968 135,625
2005 132,765 -2,861 24,741 92,023
2004 155,838 -2,758 24,583 50,487
2003 178,775 -2,717 24,689 -30,012
2002 119,504 -2,763 29,231 -40,023
2001 143,321 -2,884 31,035 45,027
2000 161,591 -3,142 37,057 55,218
1999 181,613 -3,443 32,857 19,681
1998 197,589 -3,706 33,381 51,905
1997 211,325 -3,745 37,960 95,241
1996 226,095 -3,512 38,542 102,018
1995 233,381 -3,094 38,065 91,947
1994 320,861 -517 39,319 71,170
1993 320,880 0 40,425 58,820
1992 324,002 0 39,091 54,359
1991 320,551 0 39,188 57,821
1990 312,460 0 41,136 66,950
1989 303,078 0 36,929 68,031
1988 299,305 0 42,407 40,976
1987 296,030 0 33,020 25,411
1986 293,227 0 27,880 -7,858
1985 287,714 0 32,010 -31,036
1984 282,987 0 31,967 -4,396
1983 279,046 0 30,296 11,699
1982 276,332 0 33,346 41,568
1981 273,800 0 32,167 85,869
1980 255,206 0 30,657 42,433
1979 251,409 0 28,363 -2,384
1978 243,533 0 27,537 436
1977 242,870 0 26,508 2,757
1976 255,841 0 31,189 949
1975 288,966 0 28,509 4,104
1974 306,902 0 31,664 2,748
1973 338,600 0 36,404 -495
1972 411,997 0 38,098 -1,631
1971 393,220 0 35,708 573
1970 406,129 0 35,059 4,024
1969 404,189 0 34,314 6,763
1968 399,837 0 36,216 6,792
1967 414,632 0 40,145 6,006
1966 363,882 0 44,298 3,507
1965 335,587 0 45,474 4,199
1964 323,623 0 47,697 3,043
1963 321,805 0 49,542 2,668
1962 286,534 0 48,830 3,714
1961 257,788 0 49,880 3,490
1960 277,717 0 51,533 2,008

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/singapore | 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 Singapore 54.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 195,953 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a gain of 161,805 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 2,841,665 people or 48.7% in Singapore.

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
Singapore
City Population
Singapore 5.87M
Bukit Merah 152K

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/singapore | 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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