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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.13 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

North Korea vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea South Sudan
2100 19,604,631 24,086,901
2099 19,733,548 24,081,477
2098 19,862,949 24,063,461
2097 19,993,288 24,065,268
2096 20,124,518 24,054,483
2095 20,256,401 24,046,345
2094 20,388,156 24,047,776
2093 20,520,253 24,039,017
2092 20,652,961 24,019,054
2091 20,785,785 24,000,308
2090 20,918,305 23,978,496
2089 21,050,580 23,937,487
2088 21,182,325 23,892,166
2087 21,314,047 23,857,250
2086 21,445,329 23,803,312
2085 21,575,835 23,759,178
2084 21,705,777 23,687,109
2083 21,835,029 23,617,646
2082 21,964,199 23,541,119
2081 22,092,862 23,466,449
2080 22,220,948 23,391,758
2079 22,348,577 23,294,252
2078 22,475,755 23,197,067
2077 22,602,817 23,086,584
2076 22,729,499 22,987,331
2075 22,856,369 22,868,587
2074 22,983,784 22,726,189
2073 23,111,441 22,583,672
2072 23,239,261 22,438,943
2071 23,367,583 22,288,026
2070 23,496,136 22,151,650
2069 23,625,538 22,003,659
2068 23,755,136 21,829,800
2067 23,884,879 21,662,211
2066 24,015,027 21,496,881
2065 24,144,985 21,317,455
2064 24,274,257 21,142,002
2063 24,402,439 20,965,122
2062 24,529,941 20,785,055
2061 24,656,350 20,608,964
2060 24,780,911 20,430,857
2059 24,903,037 20,235,022
2058 25,023,260 20,048,974
2057 25,140,523 19,853,696
2056 25,255,342 19,659,362
2055 25,366,397 19,464,297
2054 25,474,292 19,257,481
2053 25,578,870 19,060,517
2052 25,679,963 18,840,461
2051 25,777,639 18,633,198
2050 25,871,673 18,434,212
2049 25,962,167 18,230,881
2048 26,048,593 18,021,026
2047 26,131,429 17,806,282
2046 26,210,487 17,579,173
2045 26,286,208 17,355,041
2044 26,358,331 17,121,972
2043 26,427,062 16,888,278
2042 26,491,482 16,645,354
2041 26,552,564 16,396,768
2040 26,609,557 16,142,816
2039 26,661,815 15,889,952
2038 26,708,400 15,628,043
2037 26,749,134 15,363,975
2036 26,783,304 15,091,275
2035 26,810,026 14,815,307
2034 26,828,912 14,543,511
2033 26,839,229 14,278,180
2032 26,840,944 14,007,134
2031 26,832,957 13,730,637
2030 26,814,812 13,465,615
2029 26,787,117 13,206,477
2028 26,749,227 12,947,082
2027 26,701,444 12,692,769
2026 26,643,460 12,439,296
2025 26,575,953 12,193,102
2024 26,498,823 11,943,408
2023 26,418,204 11,483,374
2022 26,328,845 11,021,177
2021 26,232,534 10,865,780
2020 26,136,312 10,698,467
2019 26,037,632 10,423,384
2018 25,931,147 10,122,977
2017 25,817,709 10,259,154
2016 25,698,326 10,830,102
2015 25,575,350 11,107,561
2014 25,451,262 11,235,073
2013 25,329,451 11,166,275
2012 25,211,728 10,756,240
2011 25,097,874 10,288,109
2010 24,987,258 9,745,953
2009 24,878,332 9,243,556
2008 24,764,618 8,817,647
2007 24,646,383 8,388,788
2006 24,524,507 7,976,526
2005 24,396,433 7,590,143
2004 24,254,943 7,233,041
2003 24,090,380 6,903,127
2002 23,943,973 6,596,806
2001 23,815,358 6,308,391
2000 23,665,910 6,032,267
1999 23,497,599 5,771,628
1998 23,311,564 5,620,068
1997 23,110,830 5,509,136
1996 22,895,746 5,356,925
1995 22,669,304 5,225,836
1994 22,393,975 5,071,184
1993 22,073,352 4,956,002
1992 21,750,911 4,909,749
1991 21,428,638 4,836,677
1990 21,112,137 4,737,633
1989 20,804,367 4,713,229
1988 20,503,161 4,848,029
1987 20,205,483 4,962,395
1986 19,910,855 4,921,240
1985 19,620,388 4,834,296
1984 19,335,043 4,750,627
1983 19,054,034 4,661,574
1982 18,776,357 4,557,686
1981 18,501,295 4,447,272
1980 18,236,786 4,339,030
1979 17,983,470 4,232,605
1978 17,735,995 4,127,657
1977 17,492,798 4,024,032
1976 17,243,450 3,921,910
1975 16,971,055 3,821,494
1974 16,673,121 3,723,259
1973 16,350,367 3,627,383
1972 15,975,069 3,542,497
1971 15,572,457 3,468,646
1970 15,172,775 3,409,614
1969 14,767,615 3,365,533
1968 14,365,596 3,321,528
1967 13,958,350 3,277,648
1966 13,569,094 3,236,423
1965 13,219,369 3,189,835
1964 12,889,770 3,129,918
1963 12,567,057 3,072,669
1962 12,262,882 3,024,308
1961 11,990,713 2,976,724
1960 11,722,953 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea South Sudan
2100 -0.65% 0.02%
2099 -0.65% 0.07%
2098 -0.65% -0.008%
2097 -0.65% 0.04%
2096 -0.65% 0.03%
2095 -0.65% -0.006%
2094 -0.64% 0.04%
2093 -0.64% 0.08%
2092 -0.64% 0.08%
2091 -0.63% 0.09%
2090 -0.63% 0.17%
2089 -0.62% 0.19%
2088 -0.62% 0.15%
2087 -0.61% 0.23%
2086 -0.6% 0.19%
2085 -0.6% 0.3%
2084 -0.59% 0.29%
2083 -0.59% 0.33%
2082 -0.58% 0.32%
2081 -0.58% 0.32%
2080 -0.57% 0.42%
2079 -0.57% 0.42%
2078 -0.56% 0.48%
2077 -0.56% 0.43%
2076 -0.56% 0.52%
2075 -0.55% 0.63%
2074 -0.55% 0.63%
2073 -0.55% 0.64%
2072 -0.55% 0.68%
2071 -0.55% 0.62%
2070 -0.55% 0.67%
2069 -0.55% 0.8%
2068 -0.54% 0.77%
2067 -0.54% 0.77%
2066 -0.54% 0.84%
2065 -0.53% 0.83%
2064 -0.53% 0.84%
2063 -0.52% 0.87%
2062 -0.51% 0.85%
2061 -0.5% 0.87%
2060 -0.49% 0.97%
2059 -0.48% 0.93%
2058 -0.47% 0.98%
2057 -0.45% 0.99%
2056 -0.44% 1%
2055 -0.42% 1.07%
2054 -0.41% 1.03%
2053 -0.39% 1.17%
2052 -0.38% 1.11%
2051 -0.36% 1.08%
2050 -0.35% 1.12%
2049 -0.33% 1.16%
2048 -0.32% 1.21%
2047 -0.3% 1.29%
2046 -0.29% 1.29%
2045 -0.27% 1.36%
2044 -0.26% 1.38%
2043 -0.24% 1.46%
2042 -0.23% 1.52%
2041 -0.21% 1.57%
2040 -0.2% 1.59%
2039 -0.17% 1.68%
2038 -0.15% 1.72%
2037 -0.13% 1.81%
2036 -0.1% 1.86%
2035 -0.07% 1.87%
2034 -0.04% 1.86%
2033 -0.006% 1.94%
2032 0.03% 2.01%
2031 0.07% 1.97%
2030 0.1% 1.96%
2029 0.14% 2%
2028 0.18% 2%
2027 0.22% 2.04%
2026 0.25% 2.02%
2025 0.29% 2.09%
2024 0.31% 4.01%
2023 0.34% 4.19%
2022 0.37% 1.43%
2021 0.37% 1.56%
2020 0.38% 2.64%
2019 0.41% 2.97%
2018 0.44% -1.33%
2017 0.46% -5.27%
2016 0.48% -2.5%
2015 0.49% -1.13%
2014 0.48% 0.62%
2013 0.47% 3.81%
2012 0.45% 4.55%
2011 0.44% 5.56%
2010 0.44% 5.44%
2009 0.46% 4.83%
2008 0.48% 5.11%
2007 0.5% 5.17%
2006 0.52% 5.09%
2005 0.58% 4.94%
2004 0.68% 4.78%
2003 0.61% 4.64%
2002 0.54% 4.57%
2001 0.63% 4.58%
2000 0.72% 4.52%
1999 0.8% 2.7%
1998 0.87% 2.01%
1997 0.94% 2.84%
1996 1% 2.51%
1995 1.23% 3.05%
1994 1.45% 2.32%
1993 1.48% 0.94%
1992 1.5% 1.51%
1991 1.5% 2.09%
1990 1.48% 0.52%
1989 1.47% -2.78%
1988 1.47% -2.3%
1987 1.48% 0.84%
1986 1.48% 1.8%
1985 1.48% 1.76%
1984 1.47% 1.91%
1983 1.48% 2.28%
1982 1.49% 2.48%
1981 1.45% 2.49%
1980 1.41% 2.51%
1979 1.4% 2.54%
1978 1.39% 2.58%
1977 1.45% 2.6%
1976 1.61% 2.63%
1975 1.79% 2.64%
1974 1.97% 2.64%
1973 2.35% 2.4%
1972 2.59% 2.13%
1971 2.63% 1.73%
1970 2.74% 1.31%
1969 2.8% 1.32%
1968 2.92% 1.34%
1967 2.87% 1.27%
1966 2.65% 1.46%
1965 2.56% 1.91%
1964 2.57% 1.86%
1963 2.48% 1.6%
1962 2.27% 1.6%
1961 2.28% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

North Korea South Sudan
Current population
26659144
12507858
Population rank 57/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.15%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 7/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 +6,145
Net migration rank 104/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 6,145
2024 - -2,473 - 15,374
2023 86,203 -1,997 217,966 455,000
2022 96,495 -1,997 211,166 40,259
2021 99,710 -1,585 213,567 -154,359
2020 95,920 -1,585 212,332 62,935
2019 106,208 -3,142 209,708 65,198
2018 113,164 -3,225 168,497 157,408
2017 120,181 -3,224 72,193 -670,477
2016 125,048 -3,222 110,553 -654,225
2015 127,365 -3,208 148,542 -159,822
2014 127,078 -3,042 227,611 -471,523
2013 122,519 -2,933 315,983 65,337
2012 118,773 -2,919 312,974 125,771
2011 114,798 -2,957 303,181 194,325
2010 112,443 -3,053 287,409 299,402
2009 111,530 -3,058 278,859 139,129
2008 122,015 -3,051 268,268 165,557
2007 120,521 -3,021 256,546 167,350
2006 129,171 -2,948 246,706 153,926
2005 132,765 -2,861 239,272 132,869
2004 155,838 -2,758 231,877 110,182
2003 178,775 -2,717 225,822 91,951
2002 119,504 -2,763 212,014 82,847
2001 143,321 -2,884 204,108 77,856
2000 161,591 -3,142 196,055 74,227
1999 181,613 -3,443 180,721 70,271
1998 197,589 -3,706 -12,157 64,285
1997 211,325 -3,745 121,454 48,280
1996 226,095 -3,512 116,728 17,953
1995 233,381 -3,094 110,417 17,077
1994 320,861 -517 165,407 16,407
1993 320,880 0 32,779 15,772
1992 324,002 0 28,874 15,077
1991 320,551 0 87,873 14,327
1990 312,460 0 82,900 12,988
1989 303,078 0 83,735 -130,821
1988 299,305 0 -125,447 -97,065
1987 296,030 0 5,756 -11,976
1986 293,227 0 99,502 -10,973
1985 287,714 0 95,342 -9,986
1984 282,987 0 90,970 -8,984
1983 279,046 0 104,107 -7,986
1982 276,332 0 118,641 -6,983
1981 273,800 0 115,163 -5,994
1980 255,206 0 112,307 -4,997
1979 251,409 0 109,540 -3,997
1978 243,533 0 107,352 -2,998
1977 242,870 0 104,886 -1,997
1976 255,841 0 102,346 -995
1975 288,966 0 99,882 -395
1974 306,902 0 97,181 -192
1973 338,600 0 94,765 0
1972 411,997 0 74,803 193
1971 393,220 0 72,308 394
1970 406,129 0 44,776 587
1969 404,189 0 42,015 786
1968 399,837 0 44,213 995
1967 414,632 0 41,357 1,194
1966 363,882 0 38,523 1,386
1965 335,587 0 51,682 1,591
1964 323,623 0 64,786 1,785
1963 321,805 0 46,333 1,591
1962 286,534 0 47,406 1,386
1961 257,788 0 45,186 1,194
1960 277,717 0 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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