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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 1.85 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

North Korea vs Spain: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Spain
2100 19,601,003 34,221,514
2099 19,729,897 34,400,373
2098 19,859,274 34,577,450
2097 19,989,589 34,751,199
2096 20,120,795 34,917,831
2095 20,252,653 35,087,012
2094 20,384,384 35,251,362
2093 20,516,457 35,415,082
2092 20,649,140 35,577,396
2091 20,781,939 35,741,351
2090 20,914,434 35,912,083
2089 21,046,685 36,086,009
2088 21,178,406 36,257,546
2087 21,310,103 36,424,826
2086 21,441,361 36,594,101
2085 21,571,843 36,771,456
2084 21,701,761 36,951,760
2083 21,830,989 37,138,777
2082 21,960,135 37,327,720
2081 22,088,774 37,527,142
2080 22,216,836 37,732,838
2079 22,344,442 37,949,144
2078 22,471,597 38,171,047
2077 22,598,635 38,405,329
2076 22,725,293 38,654,221
2075 22,852,140 38,913,733
2074 22,979,532 39,188,284
2073 23,107,165 39,469,767
2072 23,234,961 39,765,059
2071 23,363,260 40,062,070
2070 23,491,789 40,372,388
2069 23,621,167 40,682,818
2068 23,750,741 41,005,148
2067 23,880,460 41,326,772
2066 24,010,584 41,654,672
2065 24,140,518 41,983,104
2064 24,269,765 42,321,736
2063 24,397,924 42,655,212
2062 24,525,403 42,993,328
2061 24,651,788 43,328,037
2060 24,776,326 43,648,753
2059 24,898,430 43,967,376
2058 25,018,630 44,273,756
2057 25,135,871 44,579,723
2056 25,250,670 44,885,952
2055 25,361,704 45,164,935
2054 25,469,578 45,434,986
2053 25,574,137 45,702,038
2052 25,675,211 45,951,973
2051 25,772,870 46,179,119
2050 25,866,886 46,397,620
2049 25,957,363 46,616,167
2048 26,043,774 46,812,693
2047 26,126,594 47,002,591
2046 26,205,638 47,182,235
2045 26,281,344 47,354,908
2044 26,353,455 47,514,076
2043 26,422,173 47,657,627
2042 26,486,580 47,801,904
2041 26,547,651 47,936,819
2040 26,604,634 48,066,825
2039 26,656,882 48,190,225
2038 26,703,458 48,304,880
2037 26,744,185 48,418,168
2036 26,778,348 48,528,778
2035 26,805,065 48,633,960
2034 26,823,948 48,730,594
2033 26,834,263 48,823,356
2032 26,835,978 48,914,944
2031 26,827,992 49,008,735
2030 26,809,850 49,094,273
2029 26,782,161 49,163,780
2028 26,744,278 49,223,677
2027 26,696,504 49,274,441
2026 26,638,530 49,323,658
2025 26,571,036 49,355,143
2024 26,498,823 48,848,840
2023 26,418,204 48,352,528
2022 26,328,845 47,786,102
2021 26,232,534 47,443,821
2020 26,136,312 47,359,424
2019 26,037,632 47,118,501
2018 25,931,147 46,782,011
2017 25,817,709 46,571,232
2016 25,698,326 46,458,139
2015 25,575,350 46,422,303
2014 25,451,262 46,460,733
2013 25,329,451 46,604,197
2012 25,211,728 46,773,055
2011 25,097,874 46,742,697
2010 24,987,258 46,576,897
2009 24,878,332 46,362,946
2008 24,764,618 45,954,106
2007 24,646,383 45,226,803
2006 24,524,507 44,397,319
2005 24,396,433 43,653,155
2004 24,254,943 42,921,895
2003 24,090,380 42,187,645
2002 23,943,973 41,431,558
2001 23,815,358 40,850,412
2000 23,665,910 40,567,864
1999 23,497,599 40,386,875
1998 23,311,564 40,223,509
1997 23,110,830 40,057,389
1996 22,895,746 39,889,852
1995 22,669,304 39,724,050
1994 22,393,975 39,549,108
1993 22,073,352 39,361,262
1992 21,750,911 39,157,685
1991 21,428,638 38,966,376
1990 21,112,137 38,867,322
1989 20,804,367 38,827,764
1988 20,503,161 38,766,939
1987 20,205,483 38,684,815
1986 19,910,855 38,584,624
1985 19,620,388 38,469,512
1984 19,335,043 38,330,364
1983 19,054,034 38,171,525
1982 18,776,357 37,986,012
1981 18,501,295 37,758,631
1980 18,236,786 37,491,165
1979 17,983,470 37,191,330
1978 17,735,995 36,864,898
1977 17,492,798 36,511,638
1976 17,243,450 36,137,812
1975 16,971,055 35,757,900
1974 16,673,121 35,373,335
1973 16,350,367 34,988,947
1972 15,975,069 34,604,469
1971 15,572,457 34,224,490
1970 15,172,775 33,814,531
1969 14,767,615 33,441,054
1968 14,365,596 33,113,134
1967 13,958,350 32,682,947
1966 13,569,094 32,283,194
1965 13,219,369 31,954,292
1964 12,889,770 31,609,195
1963 12,567,057 31,296,651
1962 12,262,882 31,023,366
1961 11,990,713 30,739,250
1960 11,722,953 30,455,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) North Korea's population will shrink by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Spain
2100 -0.65% -0.52%
2099 -0.65% -0.51%
2098 -0.65% -0.5%
2097 -0.65% -0.48%
2096 -0.65% -0.48%
2095 -0.65% -0.47%
2094 -0.64% -0.46%
2093 -0.64% -0.46%
2092 -0.64% -0.46%
2091 -0.63% -0.48%
2090 -0.63% -0.48%
2089 -0.62% -0.47%
2088 -0.62% -0.46%
2087 -0.61% -0.46%
2086 -0.6% -0.48%
2085 -0.6% -0.49%
2084 -0.59% -0.5%
2083 -0.59% -0.51%
2082 -0.58% -0.53%
2081 -0.58% -0.55%
2080 -0.57% -0.57%
2079 -0.57% -0.58%
2078 -0.56% -0.61%
2077 -0.56% -0.64%
2076 -0.56% -0.67%
2075 -0.55% -0.7%
2074 -0.55% -0.71%
2073 -0.55% -0.74%
2072 -0.55% -0.74%
2071 -0.55% -0.77%
2070 -0.55% -0.76%
2069 -0.55% -0.79%
2068 -0.54% -0.78%
2067 -0.54% -0.79%
2066 -0.54% -0.78%
2065 -0.53% -0.8%
2064 -0.53% -0.78%
2063 -0.52% -0.79%
2062 -0.51% -0.77%
2061 -0.5% -0.73%
2060 -0.49% -0.72%
2059 -0.48% -0.69%
2058 -0.47% -0.69%
2057 -0.45% -0.68%
2056 -0.44% -0.62%
2055 -0.42% -0.59%
2054 -0.41% -0.58%
2053 -0.39% -0.54%
2052 -0.38% -0.49%
2051 -0.36% -0.47%
2050 -0.35% -0.47%
2049 -0.33% -0.42%
2048 -0.32% -0.4%
2047 -0.3% -0.38%
2046 -0.29% -0.36%
2045 -0.27% -0.33%
2044 -0.26% -0.3%
2043 -0.24% -0.3%
2042 -0.23% -0.28%
2041 -0.21% -0.27%
2040 -0.2% -0.26%
2039 -0.17% -0.24%
2038 -0.15% -0.23%
2037 -0.13% -0.23%
2036 -0.1% -0.22%
2035 -0.07% -0.2%
2034 -0.04% -0.19%
2033 -0.006% -0.19%
2032 0.03% -0.19%
2031 0.07% -0.17%
2030 0.1% -0.14%
2029 0.14% -0.12%
2028 0.18% -0.1%
2027 0.22% -0.1%
2026 0.25% -0.06%
2025 0.27% 1.04%
2024 0.31% 1.03%
2023 0.34% 1.19%
2022 0.37% 0.72%
2021 0.37% 0.18%
2020 0.38% 0.51%
2019 0.41% 0.72%
2018 0.44% 0.45%
2017 0.46% 0.24%
2016 0.48% 0.08%
2015 0.49% -0.08%
2014 0.48% -0.31%
2013 0.47% -0.36%
2012 0.45% 0.06%
2011 0.44% 0.36%
2010 0.44% 0.46%
2009 0.46% 0.89%
2008 0.48% 1.61%
2007 0.5% 1.87%
2006 0.52% 1.7%
2005 0.58% 1.7%
2004 0.68% 1.74%
2003 0.61% 1.82%
2002 0.54% 1.42%
2001 0.63% 0.7%
2000 0.72% 0.45%
1999 0.8% 0.41%
1998 0.87% 0.41%
1997 0.94% 0.42%
1996 1% 0.42%
1995 1.23% 0.44%
1994 1.45% 0.48%
1993 1.48% 0.52%
1992 1.5% 0.49%
1991 1.5% 0.25%
1990 1.48% 0.1%
1989 1.47% 0.16%
1988 1.47% 0.21%
1987 1.48% 0.26%
1986 1.48% 0.3%
1985 1.48% 0.36%
1984 1.47% 0.42%
1983 1.48% 0.49%
1982 1.49% 0.6%
1981 1.45% 0.71%
1980 1.41% 0.81%
1979 1.4% 0.89%
1978 1.39% 0.97%
1977 1.45% 1.03%
1976 1.61% 1.06%
1975 1.79% 1.09%
1974 1.97% 1.1%
1973 2.35% 1.11%
1972 2.59% 1.11%
1971 2.63% 1.21%
1970 2.74% 1.12%
1969 2.8% 0.99%
1968 2.92% 1.32%
1967 2.87% 1.24%
1966 2.65% 1.03%
1965 2.56% 1.09%
1964 2.57% 1%
1963 2.48% 0.88%
1962 2.27% 0.92%
1961 2.28% 0.93%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

North Korea Spain
Current population
26668308
49323658
Population rank 57/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.59%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
1.04 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.66 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 98/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +96,630
Net migration rank 104/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 96,630
2024 79,496 -2,473 -117,237 111,674
2023 86,203 -1,997 -116,046 119,099
2022 96,495 -1,997 -133,801 299,779
2021 99,710 -1,585 -113,865 144,385
2020 95,920 -1,585 -151,551 236,854
2019 106,208 -3,142 -56,542 464,783
2018 113,164 -3,225 -56,139 337,467
2017 120,181 -3,224 -32,600 201,135
2016 125,048 -3,222 0 106,474
2015 127,365 -3,208 -4,642 -1,979
2014 127,078 -3,042 32,522 -97,870
2013 122,519 -2,933 37,284 -250,741
2012 118,773 -2,919 51,450 -153,486
2011 114,798 -2,957 84,137 60,761
2010 112,443 -3,053 102,469 69,406
2009 111,530 -3,058 106,635 129,557
2008 122,015 -3,051 133,267 434,135
2007 120,521 -3,021 108,545 772,317
2006 129,171 -2,948 110,994 659,720
2005 132,765 -2,861 78,576 629,803
2004 155,838 -2,758 85,844 661,158
2003 178,775 -2,717 54,844 658,428
2002 119,504 -2,763 53,861 737,880
2001 143,321 -2,884 44,936 181,307
2000 161,591 -3,142 36,512 176,269
1999 181,613 -3,443 8,077 178,559
1998 197,589 -3,706 4,022 182,926
1997 211,325 -3,745 20,028 165,345
1996 226,095 -3,512 11,967 162,704
1995 233,381 -3,094 15,889 162,434
1994 320,861 -517 31,639 160,407
1993 320,880 0 47,234 160,907
1992 324,002 0 62,652 177,544
1991 320,551 0 58,450 122,841
1990 312,460 0 66,075 -30,684
1989 303,078 0 81,538 -25,892
1988 299,305 0 100,794 -17,663
1987 296,030 0 116,054 -12,681
1986 293,227 0 131,188 -13,540
1985 287,714 0 146,184 -589
1984 282,987 0 172,487 2,754
1983 279,046 0 183,223 1,241
1982 276,332 0 231,714 -7,384
1981 273,800 0 237,879 2,563
1980 255,206 0 281,184 20,166
1979 251,409 0 312,407 -5,929
1978 243,533 0 339,157 -2,504
1977 242,870 0 361,465 -1,332
1976 255,841 0 375,834 2,804
1975 288,966 0 371,882 -218
1974 306,902 0 396,182 105,838
1973 338,600 0 374,381 8,624
1972 411,997 0 391,030 7,935
1971 393,220 0 369,625 7,363
1970 406,129 0 378,723 -60,580
1969 404,189 0 367,851 -49,956
1968 399,837 0 387,423 -46,088
1967 414,632 0 402,001 -42,344
1966 363,882 0 397,084 -41,467
1965 335,587 0 405,819 -42,476
1964 323,623 0 429,885 -41,461
1963 321,805 0 394,338 -44,446
1962 286,534 0 384,690 -45,211
1961 257,788 0 396,537 -46,517
1960 277,717 0 398,960 -154,869

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/spain | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 97.6% of the population change in North Korea is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people). In Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/spain | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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