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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.94 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.94% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

North Korea vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea South Korea
2100 19,604,631 22,012,503
2099 19,733,548 22,335,528
2098 19,862,949 22,668,719
2097 19,993,288 23,009,661
2096 20,124,518 23,360,151
2095 20,256,401 23,722,747
2094 20,388,156 24,093,391
2093 20,520,253 24,473,038
2092 20,652,961 24,860,975
2091 20,785,785 25,255,379
2090 20,918,305 25,655,577
2089 21,050,580 26,060,945
2088 21,182,325 26,470,073
2087 21,314,047 26,884,813
2086 21,445,329 27,301,913
2085 21,575,835 27,723,736
2084 21,705,777 28,147,480
2083 21,835,029 28,578,182
2082 21,964,199 29,012,953
2081 22,092,862 29,456,022
2080 22,220,948 29,901,880
2079 22,348,577 30,352,062
2078 22,475,755 30,809,176
2077 22,602,817 31,273,700
2076 22,729,499 31,744,480
2075 22,856,369 32,221,226
2074 22,983,784 32,706,020
2073 23,111,441 33,196,556
2072 23,239,261 33,696,490
2071 23,367,583 34,203,935
2070 23,496,136 34,719,324
2069 23,625,538 35,241,850
2068 23,755,136 35,762,799
2067 23,884,879 36,292,307
2066 24,015,027 36,826,655
2065 24,144,985 37,368,086
2064 24,274,257 37,916,439
2063 24,402,439 38,469,051
2062 24,529,941 39,028,473
2061 24,656,350 39,584,621
2060 24,780,911 40,149,830
2059 24,903,037 40,712,514
2058 25,023,260 41,277,134
2057 25,140,523 41,833,887
2056 25,255,342 42,377,427
2055 25,366,397 42,909,302
2054 25,474,292 43,427,254
2053 25,578,870 43,938,741
2052 25,679,963 44,441,106
2051 25,777,639 44,923,604
2050 25,871,673 45,385,311
2049 25,962,167 45,832,153
2048 26,048,593 46,258,529
2047 26,131,429 46,668,898
2046 26,210,487 47,056,404
2045 26,286,208 47,433,205
2044 26,358,331 47,797,411
2043 26,427,062 48,144,730
2042 26,491,482 48,478,991
2041 26,552,564 48,806,273
2040 26,609,557 49,115,658
2039 26,661,815 49,412,830
2038 26,708,400 49,694,340
2037 26,749,134 49,957,504
2036 26,783,304 50,200,702
2035 26,810,026 50,426,000
2034 26,828,912 50,632,962
2033 26,839,229 50,821,090
2032 26,840,944 50,987,020
2031 26,832,957 51,134,940
2030 26,814,812 51,267,908
2029 26,787,117 51,385,868
2028 26,749,227 51,486,791
2027 26,701,444 51,576,746
2026 26,643,460 51,649,918
2025 26,575,953 51,710,062
2024 26,498,823 51,751,065
2023 26,418,204 51,712,619
2022 26,328,845 51,672,569
2021 26,232,534 51,769,539
2020 26,136,312 51,836,239
2019 26,037,632 51,764,822
2018 25,931,147 51,585,058
2017 25,817,709 51,361,911
2016 25,698,326 51,217,803
2015 25,575,350 51,014,947
2014 25,451,262 50,746,659
2013 25,329,451 50,428,893
2012 25,211,728 50,199,853
2011 25,097,874 49,936,638
2010 24,987,258 49,554,112
2009 24,878,332 49,307,835
2008 24,764,618 49,054,708
2007 24,646,383 48,683,638
2006 24,524,507 48,438,292
2005 24,396,433 48,184,561
2004 24,254,943 48,082,519
2003 24,090,380 47,892,330
2002 23,943,973 47,644,736
2001 23,815,358 47,370,164
2000 23,665,910 47,008,111
1999 23,497,599 46,616,677
1998 23,311,564 46,286,503
1997 23,110,830 45,953,580
1996 22,895,746 45,524,681
1995 22,669,304 45,092,991
1994 22,393,975 44,641,540
1993 22,073,352 44,194,628
1992 21,750,911 43,747,962
1991 21,428,638 43,295,704
1990 21,112,137 42,869,283
1989 20,804,367 42,449,038
1988 20,503,161 42,031,247
1987 20,205,483 41,621,690
1986 19,910,855 41,213,674
1985 19,620,388 40,805,744
1984 19,335,043 40,405,956
1983 19,054,034 39,910,403
1982 18,776,357 39,326,352
1981 18,501,295 38,723,248
1980 18,236,786 38,123,775
1979 17,983,470 37,534,236
1978 17,735,995 36,969,185
1977 17,492,798 36,411,795
1976 17,243,450 35,848,523
1975 16,971,055 35,280,725
1974 16,673,121 34,692,266
1973 16,350,367 34,103,149
1972 15,975,069 33,505,406
1971 15,572,457 32,882,704
1970 15,172,775 32,240,827
1969 14,767,615 31,544,266
1968 14,365,596 30,838,302
1967 13,958,350 30,130,983
1966 13,569,094 29,435,571
1965 13,219,369 28,704,674
1964 12,889,770 27,984,155
1963 12,567,057 27,261,747
1962 12,262,882 26,513,030
1961 11,990,713 25,765,673
1960 11,722,953 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea South Korea
2100 -0.65% -1.45%
2099 -0.65% -1.47%
2098 -0.65% -1.48%
2097 -0.65% -1.5%
2096 -0.65% -1.53%
2095 -0.65% -1.54%
2094 -0.64% -1.55%
2093 -0.64% -1.56%
2092 -0.64% -1.56%
2091 -0.63% -1.56%
2090 -0.63% -1.56%
2089 -0.62% -1.55%
2088 -0.62% -1.54%
2087 -0.61% -1.53%
2086 -0.6% -1.52%
2085 -0.6% -1.51%
2084 -0.59% -1.51%
2083 -0.59% -1.5%
2082 -0.58% -1.5%
2081 -0.58% -1.49%
2080 -0.57% -1.48%
2079 -0.57% -1.48%
2078 -0.56% -1.49%
2077 -0.56% -1.48%
2076 -0.56% -1.48%
2075 -0.55% -1.48%
2074 -0.55% -1.48%
2073 -0.55% -1.48%
2072 -0.55% -1.48%
2071 -0.55% -1.48%
2070 -0.55% -1.48%
2069 -0.55% -1.46%
2068 -0.54% -1.46%
2067 -0.54% -1.45%
2066 -0.54% -1.45%
2065 -0.53% -1.45%
2064 -0.53% -1.44%
2063 -0.52% -1.43%
2062 -0.51% -1.4%
2061 -0.5% -1.41%
2060 -0.49% -1.38%
2059 -0.48% -1.37%
2058 -0.47% -1.33%
2057 -0.45% -1.28%
2056 -0.44% -1.24%
2055 -0.42% -1.19%
2054 -0.41% -1.16%
2053 -0.39% -1.13%
2052 -0.38% -1.07%
2051 -0.36% -1.02%
2050 -0.35% -0.97%
2049 -0.33% -0.92%
2048 -0.32% -0.88%
2047 -0.3% -0.82%
2046 -0.29% -0.79%
2045 -0.27% -0.76%
2044 -0.26% -0.72%
2043 -0.24% -0.69%
2042 -0.23% -0.67%
2041 -0.21% -0.63%
2040 -0.2% -0.6%
2039 -0.17% -0.57%
2038 -0.15% -0.53%
2037 -0.13% -0.48%
2036 -0.1% -0.45%
2035 -0.07% -0.41%
2034 -0.04% -0.37%
2033 -0.006% -0.33%
2032 0.03% -0.29%
2031 0.07% -0.26%
2030 0.1% -0.23%
2029 0.14% -0.2%
2028 0.18% -0.17%
2027 0.22% -0.14%
2026 0.25% -0.12%
2025 0.29% -0.08%
2024 0.31% 0.07%
2023 0.34% 0.08%
2022 0.37% -0.19%
2021 0.37% -0.13%
2020 0.38% 0.14%
2019 0.41% 0.35%
2018 0.44% 0.43%
2017 0.46% 0.28%
2016 0.48% 0.4%
2015 0.49% 0.53%
2014 0.48% 0.63%
2013 0.47% 0.46%
2012 0.45% 0.53%
2011 0.44% 0.77%
2010 0.44% 0.5%
2009 0.46% 0.52%
2008 0.48% 0.76%
2007 0.5% 0.51%
2006 0.52% 0.53%
2005 0.58% 0.21%
2004 0.68% 0.4%
2003 0.61% 0.52%
2002 0.54% 0.58%
2001 0.63% 0.77%
2000 0.72% 0.84%
1999 0.8% 0.71%
1998 0.87% 0.72%
1997 0.94% 0.94%
1996 1% 0.96%
1995 1.23% 1.01%
1994 1.45% 1.01%
1993 1.48% 1.02%
1992 1.5% 1.04%
1991 1.5% 0.99%
1990 1.48% 0.99%
1989 1.47% 0.99%
1988 1.47% 0.98%
1987 1.48% 0.99%
1986 1.48% 1%
1985 1.48% 0.99%
1984 1.47% 1.24%
1983 1.48% 1.49%
1982 1.49% 1.56%
1981 1.45% 1.57%
1980 1.41% 1.57%
1979 1.4% 1.53%
1978 1.39% 1.53%
1977 1.45% 1.57%
1976 1.61% 1.61%
1975 1.79% 1.7%
1974 1.97% 1.73%
1973 2.35% 1.78%
1972 2.59% 1.89%
1971 2.63% 1.99%
1970 2.74% 2.21%
1969 2.8% 2.29%
1968 2.92% 2.35%
1967 2.87% 2.36%
1966 2.65% 2.55%
1965 2.56% 2.57%
1964 2.57% 2.65%
1963 2.48% 2.82%
1962 2.27% 2.9%
1961 2.28% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

North Korea South Korea
Current population
26659144
51649918
Population rank 57/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.62%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +105
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 160/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +65,731
Net migration rank 104/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 65,731
2024 - -2,473 - 75,963
2023 86,203 -1,997 -77,569 87,800
2022 96,495 -1,997 -124,014 87,800
2021 99,710 -1,585 -56,947 -16,778
2020 95,920 -1,585 -31,101 112,631
2019 106,208 -3,142 10,353 128,622
2018 113,164 -3,225 30,951 118,220
2017 120,181 -3,224 71,907 104,029
2016 125,048 -3,222 122,923 91,568
2015 127,365 -3,208 163,248 276,427
2014 127,078 -3,042 167,464 308,037
2013 122,519 -2,933 166,415 301,926
2012 118,773 -2,919 215,859 281,866
2011 114,798 -2,957 214,728 269,958
2010 112,443 -3,053 213,083 52,042
2009 111,530 -3,058 197,231 5,308
2008 122,015 -3,051 215,841 -19,630
2007 120,521 -3,021 248,286 -42,293
2006 129,171 -2,948 203,441 -28,434
2005 132,765 -2,861 187,920 -47,821
2004 155,838 -2,758 225,988 -42,549
2003 178,775 -2,717 244,251 -31,994
2002 119,504 -2,763 247,752 -18,105
2001 143,321 -2,884 312,643 -28,006
2000 161,591 -3,142 390,167 -84,960
1999 181,613 -3,443 368,272 -107,448
1998 197,589 -3,706 393,436 -98,044
1997 211,325 -3,745 422,773 -109,130
1996 226,095 -3,512 446,142 -115,705
1995 233,381 -3,094 468,967 -208,491
1994 320,861 -517 473,200 -208,309
1993 320,880 0 477,302 -222,802
1992 324,002 0 494,352 -265,849
1991 320,551 0 467,594 -270,754
1990 312,460 0 411,546 79,294
1989 303,078 0 403,266 186,120
1988 299,305 0 399,297 192,534
1987 296,030 0 378,758 198,057
1986 293,227 0 395,651 189,782
1985 287,714 0 416,219 97,949
1984 282,987 0 436,384 101,394
1983 279,046 0 514,844 102,167
1982 276,332 0 605,626 48,638
1981 273,800 0 631,189 18,442
1980 255,206 0 583,294 -148,341
1979 251,409 0 623,068 -139,566
1978 243,533 0 499,084 -85,721
1977 242,870 0 578,947 -90,737
1976 255,841 0 530,558 -92,314
1975 288,966 0 603,300 -52,332
1974 306,902 0 673,030 27,005
1973 338,600 0 699,115 35,779
1972 411,997 0 740,469 25,382
1971 393,220 0 789,185 -6,326
1970 406,129 0 747,987 -27,999
1969 404,189 0 694,227 -21,175
1968 399,837 0 684,487 -16,868
1967 414,632 0 692,169 -16,484
1966 363,882 0 623,534 -16,688
1965 335,587 0 641,090 -146,386
1964 323,623 0 655,501 -102,284
1963 321,805 0 685,824 -80,226
1962 286,534 0 712,590 -94,606
1961 257,788 0 730,173 -93,179
1960 277,717 0 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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