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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.3 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

North Korea vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Somalia
2100 19,604,631 68,384,185
2099 19,733,548 68,040,371
2098 19,862,949 67,702,230
2097 19,993,288 67,362,336
2096 20,124,518 66,972,933
2095 20,256,401 66,585,659
2094 20,388,156 66,179,819
2093 20,520,253 65,760,590
2092 20,652,961 65,324,261
2091 20,785,785 64,852,843
2090 20,918,305 64,362,727
2089 21,050,580 63,922,797
2088 21,182,325 63,464,036
2087 21,314,047 62,987,028
2086 21,445,329 62,447,029
2085 21,575,835 61,873,597
2084 21,705,777 61,318,916
2083 21,835,029 60,761,800
2082 21,964,199 60,187,980
2081 22,092,862 59,676,722
2080 22,220,948 59,100,915
2079 22,348,577 58,477,428
2078 22,475,755 57,852,528
2077 22,602,817 57,211,821
2076 22,729,499 56,602,463
2075 22,856,369 56,005,600
2074 22,983,784 55,330,165
2073 23,111,441 54,651,918
2072 23,239,261 53,978,548
2071 23,367,583 53,284,016
2070 23,496,136 52,573,210
2069 23,625,538 51,878,214
2068 23,755,136 51,197,653
2067 23,884,879 50,493,028
2066 24,015,027 49,779,172
2065 24,144,985 49,024,665
2064 24,274,257 48,265,876
2063 24,402,439 47,522,361
2062 24,529,941 46,785,920
2061 24,656,350 46,037,526
2060 24,780,911 45,220,507
2059 24,903,037 44,397,936
2058 25,023,260 43,659,021
2057 25,140,523 42,897,422
2056 25,255,342 42,121,542
2055 25,366,397 41,318,179
2054 25,474,292 40,513,141
2053 25,578,870 39,744,995
2052 25,679,963 38,992,177
2051 25,777,639 38,228,872
2050 25,871,673 37,471,735
2049 25,962,167 36,739,905
2048 26,048,593 35,984,999
2047 26,131,429 35,218,863
2046 26,210,487 34,462,403
2045 26,286,208 33,717,596
2044 26,358,331 32,977,674
2043 26,427,062 32,247,710
2042 26,491,482 31,537,272
2041 26,552,564 30,794,853
2040 26,609,557 30,032,324
2039 26,661,815 29,312,883
2038 26,708,400 28,583,386
2037 26,749,134 27,838,646
2036 26,783,304 27,114,453
2035 26,810,026 26,385,421
2034 26,828,912 25,687,629
2033 26,839,229 25,018,509
2032 26,840,944 24,338,597
2031 26,832,957 23,657,353
2030 26,814,812 22,965,742
2029 26,787,117 22,299,610
2028 26,749,227 21,651,582
2027 26,701,444 20,991,860
2026 26,643,460 20,322,668
2025 26,575,953 19,666,990
2024 26,498,823 19,009,151
2023 26,418,204 18,358,615
2022 26,328,845 17,801,897
2021 26,232,534 17,271,431
2020 26,136,312 16,651,191
2019 26,037,632 16,030,971
2018 25,931,147 15,452,487
2017 25,817,709 14,916,629
2016 25,698,326 14,348,740
2015 25,575,350 13,806,963
2014 25,451,262 13,339,491
2013 25,329,451 12,869,594
2012 25,211,728 12,461,160
2011 25,097,874 12,348,830
2010 24,987,258 12,261,756
2009 24,878,332 11,961,201
2008 24,764,618 11,663,084
2007 24,646,383 11,322,582
2006 24,524,507 10,975,502
2005 24,396,433 10,644,228
2004 24,254,943 10,280,998
2003 24,090,380 9,909,157
2002 23,943,973 9,550,063
2001 23,815,358 9,198,493
2000 23,665,910 8,838,713
1999 23,497,599 8,492,059
1998 23,311,564 8,155,417
1997 23,110,830 7,824,525
1996 22,895,746 7,554,474
1995 22,669,304 7,285,007
1994 22,393,975 7,026,797
1993 22,073,352 6,681,399
1992 21,750,911 6,495,107
1991 21,428,638 6,813,760
1990 21,112,137 7,082,811
1989 20,804,367 7,114,817
1988 20,503,161 7,235,360
1987 20,205,483 7,228,302
1986 19,910,855 6,974,788
1985 19,620,388 6,693,289
1984 19,335,043 6,428,389
1983 19,054,034 6,198,430
1982 18,776,357 6,003,840
1981 18,501,295 5,982,849
1980 18,236,786 5,936,154
1979 17,983,470 5,449,117
1978 17,735,995 4,814,892
1977 17,492,798 4,484,050
1976 17,243,450 4,365,812
1975 16,971,055 4,257,535
1974 16,673,121 4,151,842
1973 16,350,367 4,045,592
1972 15,975,069 3,939,436
1971 15,572,457 3,837,691
1970 15,172,775 3,738,448
1969 14,767,615 3,641,015
1968 14,365,596 3,546,590
1967 13,958,350 3,454,537
1966 13,569,094 3,365,106
1965 13,219,369 3,277,874
1964 12,889,770 3,192,796
1963 12,567,057 3,110,361
1962 12,262,882 3,030,091
1961 11,990,713 2,952,054
1960 11,722,953 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Somalia
2100 -0.65% 0.51%
2099 -0.65% 0.5%
2098 -0.65% 0.5%
2097 -0.65% 0.58%
2096 -0.65% 0.58%
2095 -0.65% 0.61%
2094 -0.64% 0.64%
2093 -0.64% 0.67%
2092 -0.64% 0.73%
2091 -0.63% 0.76%
2090 -0.63% 0.69%
2089 -0.62% 0.72%
2088 -0.62% 0.76%
2087 -0.61% 0.86%
2086 -0.6% 0.93%
2085 -0.6% 0.9%
2084 -0.59% 0.92%
2083 -0.59% 0.95%
2082 -0.58% 0.86%
2081 -0.58% 0.97%
2080 -0.57% 1.07%
2079 -0.57% 1.08%
2078 -0.56% 1.12%
2077 -0.56% 1.08%
2076 -0.56% 1.07%
2075 -0.55% 1.22%
2074 -0.55% 1.24%
2073 -0.55% 1.25%
2072 -0.55% 1.3%
2071 -0.55% 1.35%
2070 -0.55% 1.34%
2069 -0.55% 1.33%
2068 -0.54% 1.4%
2067 -0.54% 1.43%
2066 -0.54% 1.54%
2065 -0.53% 1.57%
2064 -0.53% 1.56%
2063 -0.52% 1.57%
2062 -0.51% 1.63%
2061 -0.5% 1.81%
2060 -0.49% 1.85%
2059 -0.48% 1.69%
2058 -0.47% 1.78%
2057 -0.45% 1.84%
2056 -0.44% 1.94%
2055 -0.42% 1.99%
2054 -0.41% 1.93%
2053 -0.39% 1.93%
2052 -0.38% 2%
2051 -0.36% 2.02%
2050 -0.35% 1.99%
2049 -0.33% 2.1%
2048 -0.32% 2.18%
2047 -0.3% 2.2%
2046 -0.29% 2.21%
2045 -0.27% 2.24%
2044 -0.26% 2.26%
2043 -0.24% 2.25%
2042 -0.23% 2.41%
2041 -0.21% 2.54%
2040 -0.2% 2.45%
2039 -0.17% 2.55%
2038 -0.15% 2.68%
2037 -0.13% 2.67%
2036 -0.1% 2.76%
2035 -0.07% 2.72%
2034 -0.04% 2.67%
2033 -0.006% 2.79%
2032 0.03% 2.88%
2031 0.07% 3.01%
2030 0.1% 2.99%
2029 0.14% 2.99%
2028 0.18% 3.14%
2027 0.22% 3.29%
2026 0.25% 3.33%
2025 0.29% 3.46%
2024 0.31% 3.54%
2023 0.34% 3.13%
2022 0.37% 3.07%
2021 0.37% 3.72%
2020 0.38% 3.87%
2019 0.41% 3.74%
2018 0.44% 3.59%
2017 0.46% 3.96%
2016 0.48% 3.92%
2015 0.49% 3.5%
2014 0.48% 3.65%
2013 0.47% 3.28%
2012 0.45% 0.91%
2011 0.44% 0.71%
2010 0.44% 2.51%
2009 0.46% 2.56%
2008 0.48% 3.01%
2007 0.5% 3.16%
2006 0.52% 3.11%
2005 0.58% 3.53%
2004 0.68% 3.75%
2003 0.61% 3.76%
2002 0.54% 3.82%
2001 0.63% 4.07%
2000 0.72% 4.08%
1999 0.8% 4.13%
1998 0.87% 4.23%
1997 0.94% 3.57%
1996 1% 3.7%
1995 1.23% 3.67%
1994 1.45% 5.17%
1993 1.48% 2.87%
1992 1.5% -4.68%
1991 1.5% -3.8%
1990 1.48% -0.45%
1989 1.47% -1.67%
1988 1.47% 0.1%
1987 1.48% 3.63%
1986 1.48% 4.21%
1985 1.48% 4.12%
1984 1.47% 3.71%
1983 1.48% 3.24%
1982 1.49% 0.35%
1981 1.45% 0.79%
1980 1.41% 8.94%
1979 1.4% 13.2%
1978 1.39% 7.38%
1977 1.45% 2.71%
1976 1.61% 2.54%
1975 1.79% 2.55%
1974 1.97% 2.63%
1973 2.35% 2.69%
1972 2.59% 2.65%
1971 2.63% 2.65%
1970 2.74% 2.68%
1969 2.8% 2.66%
1968 2.92% 2.66%
1967 2.87% 2.66%
1966 2.65% 2.66%
1965 2.56% 2.66%
1964 2.57% 2.65%
1963 2.48% 2.65%
1962 2.27% 2.64%
1961 2.28% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

North Korea Somalia
Current population
26659144
20503678
Population rank 57/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.25%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 8/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +12,077
Net migration rank 104/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 12,077
2024 - -2,473 - 26,859
2023 86,203 -1,997 608,203 46,217
2022 96,495 -1,997 551,450 -92,434
2021 99,710 -1,585 566,399 35,506
2020 95,920 -1,585 561,311 77,259
2019 106,208 -3,142 548,756 53,124
2018 113,164 -3,225 514,244 40,844
2017 120,181 -3,224 478,556 38,067
2016 125,048 -3,222 495,132 124,017
2015 127,365 -3,208 481,573 -17,178
2014 127,078 -3,042 464,481 6,065
2013 122,519 -2,933 448,518 20,723
2012 118,773 -2,919 399,468 -51,833
2011 114,798 -2,957 203,213 -326,192
2010 112,443 -3,053 385,571 -88,448
2009 111,530 -3,058 405,784 -101,795
2008 122,015 -3,051 394,258 -102,035
2007 120,521 -3,021 380,303 8,476
2006 129,171 -2,948 372,597 -67,200
2005 132,765 -2,861 363,117 -5,955
2004 155,838 -2,758 351,959 17,353
2003 178,775 -2,717 341,192 33,174
2002 119,504 -2,763 331,215 12,603
2001 143,321 -2,884 319,059 40,274
2000 161,591 -3,142 306,651 53,580
1999 181,613 -3,443 295,523 37,548
1998 197,589 -3,706 284,779 55,426
1997 211,325 -3,745 271,894 49,692
1996 226,095 -3,512 264,807 -46,291
1995 233,381 -3,094 254,509 65,888
1994 320,861 -517 246,950 -50,921
1993 320,880 0 232,960 261,815
1992 324,002 0 57,495 -179,675
1991 320,551 0 53,052 -568,166
1990 312,460 0 225,162 -248,155
1989 303,078 0 225,255 -266,281
1988 299,305 0 215,599 -415,660
1987 296,030 0 231,580 -17,391
1986 293,227 0 218,416 74,424
1985 287,714 0 207,960 62,183
1984 282,987 0 199,017 60,630
1983 279,046 0 190,775 9,505
1982 276,332 0 182,793 6,115
1981 273,800 0 185,211 -332,129
1980 255,206 0 174,790 65,519
1979 251,409 0 151,016 582,746
1978 243,533 0 132,689 402,005
1977 242,870 0 124,818 2,170
1976 255,841 0 113,319 -3,831
1975 288,966 0 108,998 -1,934
1974 306,902 0 104,813 -495
1973 338,600 0 108,038 143
1972 411,997 0 104,493 -351
1971 393,220 0 101,196 -1,850
1970 406,129 0 98,025 1,104
1969 404,189 0 95,045 690
1968 399,837 0 92,208 906
1967 414,632 0 89,497 1,498
1966 363,882 0 86,930 941
1965 335,587 0 84,448 2,142
1964 323,623 0 82,042 1,518
1963 321,805 0 79,859 1,449
1962 286,534 0 77,737 1,496
1961 257,788 0 75,513 1,336
1960 277,717 0 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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