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Population in North Korea compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.2 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

North Korea vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sri Lanka
2100 19,604,631 20,270,496
2099 19,733,548 20,383,669
2098 19,862,949 20,498,567
2097 19,993,288 20,611,123
2096 20,124,518 20,723,560
2095 20,256,401 20,834,629
2094 20,388,156 20,943,809
2093 20,520,253 21,052,131
2092 20,652,961 21,158,833
2091 20,785,785 21,263,961
2090 20,918,305 21,371,263
2089 21,050,580 21,475,426
2088 21,182,325 21,577,177
2087 21,314,047 21,677,510
2086 21,445,329 21,777,420
2085 21,575,835 21,876,464
2084 21,705,777 21,970,336
2083 21,835,029 22,062,801
2082 21,964,199 22,151,745
2081 22,092,862 22,240,834
2080 22,220,948 22,326,555
2079 22,348,577 22,411,438
2078 22,475,755 22,489,772
2077 22,602,817 22,565,028
2076 22,729,499 22,637,463
2075 22,856,369 22,707,112
2074 22,983,784 22,778,489
2073 23,111,441 22,844,703
2072 23,239,261 22,905,707
2071 23,367,583 22,964,866
2070 23,496,136 23,022,515
2069 23,625,538 23,076,310
2068 23,755,136 23,129,541
2067 23,884,879 23,184,596
2066 24,015,027 23,234,419
2065 24,144,985 23,285,901
2064 24,274,257 23,331,390
2063 24,402,439 23,372,184
2062 24,529,941 23,409,522
2061 24,656,350 23,441,893
2060 24,780,911 23,474,032
2059 24,903,037 23,502,132
2058 25,023,260 23,528,076
2057 25,140,523 23,550,580
2056 25,255,342 23,570,923
2055 25,366,397 23,582,432
2054 25,474,292 23,591,414
2053 25,578,870 23,601,371
2052 25,679,963 23,605,361
2051 25,777,639 23,606,194
2050 25,871,673 23,603,330
2049 25,962,167 23,597,604
2048 26,048,593 23,587,307
2047 26,131,429 23,570,881
2046 26,210,487 23,547,409
2045 26,286,208 23,515,133
2044 26,358,331 23,483,546
2043 26,427,062 23,446,242
2042 26,491,482 23,404,983
2041 26,552,564 23,357,358
2040 26,609,557 23,306,148
2039 26,661,815 23,248,341
2038 26,708,400 23,187,512
2037 26,749,134 23,120,775
2036 26,783,304 23,053,427
2035 26,810,026 22,981,808
2034 26,828,912 22,906,587
2033 26,839,229 22,826,414
2032 26,840,944 22,742,267
2031 26,832,957 22,655,907
2030 26,814,812 22,564,038
2029 26,787,117 22,470,759
2028 26,749,227 22,370,999
2027 26,701,444 22,266,017
2026 26,643,460 22,155,543
2025 26,575,953 22,039,908
2024 26,498,823 21,916,000
2023 26,418,204 22,037,000
2022 26,328,845 22,181,000
2021 26,232,534 22,156,000
2020 26,136,312 21,919,000
2019 26,037,632 21,803,000
2018 25,931,147 21,670,000
2017 25,817,709 21,453,000
2016 25,698,326 21,209,000
2015 25,575,350 20,970,000
2014 25,451,262 20,778,000
2013 25,329,451 20,585,000
2012 25,211,728 21,169,458
2011 25,097,874 21,009,048
2010 24,987,258 20,879,089
2009 24,878,332 20,756,435
2008 24,764,618 20,629,378
2007 24,646,383 20,492,545
2006 24,524,507 20,352,411
2005 24,396,433 20,216,524
2004 24,254,943 20,087,605
2003 24,090,380 19,951,521
2002 23,943,973 19,805,752
2001 23,815,358 19,600,362
2000 23,665,910 19,293,054
1999 23,497,599 18,944,731
1998 23,311,564 18,596,003
1997 23,110,830 18,248,200
1996 22,895,746 17,905,018
1995 22,669,304 17,564,068
1994 22,393,975 17,275,773
1993 22,073,352 17,025,918
1992 21,750,911 16,739,284
1991 21,428,638 16,475,354
1990 21,112,137 16,352,458
1989 20,804,367 16,248,557
1988 20,503,161 16,078,621
1987 20,205,483 15,916,576
1986 19,910,855 15,731,256
1985 19,620,388 15,544,154
1984 19,335,043 15,441,860
1983 19,054,034 15,388,794
1982 18,776,357 15,286,567
1981 18,501,295 15,099,414
1980 18,236,786 14,847,974
1979 17,983,470 14,579,614
1978 17,735,995 14,310,128
1977 17,492,798 14,049,371
1976 17,243,450 13,796,770
1975 16,971,055 13,548,984
1974 16,673,121 13,305,693
1973 16,350,367 13,060,916
1972 15,975,069 12,809,205
1971 15,572,457 12,551,910
1970 15,172,775 12,287,110
1969 14,767,615 12,013,858
1968 14,365,596 11,736,088
1967 13,958,350 11,457,328
1966 13,569,094 11,183,928
1965 13,219,369 10,916,965
1964 12,889,770 10,653,397
1963 12,567,057 10,395,040
1962 12,262,882 10,143,754
1961 11,990,713 9,899,372
1960 11,722,953 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Sri Lanka
2100 -0.65% -0.56%
2099 -0.65% -0.56%
2098 -0.65% -0.55%
2097 -0.65% -0.54%
2096 -0.65% -0.53%
2095 -0.65% -0.52%
2094 -0.64% -0.51%
2093 -0.64% -0.5%
2092 -0.64% -0.49%
2091 -0.63% -0.5%
2090 -0.63% -0.49%
2089 -0.62% -0.47%
2088 -0.62% -0.46%
2087 -0.61% -0.46%
2086 -0.6% -0.45%
2085 -0.6% -0.43%
2084 -0.59% -0.42%
2083 -0.59% -0.4%
2082 -0.58% -0.4%
2081 -0.58% -0.38%
2080 -0.57% -0.38%
2079 -0.57% -0.35%
2078 -0.56% -0.33%
2077 -0.56% -0.32%
2076 -0.56% -0.31%
2075 -0.55% -0.31%
2074 -0.55% -0.29%
2073 -0.55% -0.27%
2072 -0.55% -0.26%
2071 -0.55% -0.25%
2070 -0.55% -0.23%
2069 -0.55% -0.23%
2068 -0.54% -0.24%
2067 -0.54% -0.21%
2066 -0.54% -0.22%
2065 -0.53% -0.19%
2064 -0.53% -0.17%
2063 -0.52% -0.16%
2062 -0.51% -0.14%
2061 -0.5% -0.14%
2060 -0.49% -0.12%
2059 -0.48% -0.11%
2058 -0.47% -0.1%
2057 -0.45% -0.09%
2056 -0.44% -0.05%
2055 -0.42% -0.04%
2054 -0.41% -0.04%
2053 -0.39% -0.02%
2052 -0.38% -0.004%
2051 -0.36% 0.01%
2050 -0.35% 0.02%
2049 -0.33% 0.04%
2048 -0.32% 0.07%
2047 -0.3% 0.1%
2046 -0.29% 0.14%
2045 -0.27% 0.13%
2044 -0.26% 0.16%
2043 -0.24% 0.18%
2042 -0.23% 0.2%
2041 -0.21% 0.22%
2040 -0.2% 0.25%
2039 -0.17% 0.26%
2038 -0.15% 0.29%
2037 -0.13% 0.29%
2036 -0.1% 0.31%
2035 -0.07% 0.33%
2034 -0.04% 0.35%
2033 -0.006% 0.37%
2032 0.03% 0.38%
2031 0.07% 0.41%
2030 0.1% 0.42%
2029 0.14% 0.45%
2028 0.18% 0.47%
2027 0.22% 0.5%
2026 0.25% 0.52%
2025 0.29% 0.57%
2024 0.31% -0.55%
2023 0.34% -0.65%
2022 0.37% 0.11%
2021 0.37% 1.08%
2020 0.38% 0.53%
2019 0.41% 0.61%
2018 0.44% 1.01%
2017 0.46% 1.15%
2016 0.48% 1.14%
2015 0.49% 0.92%
2014 0.48% 0.94%
2013 0.47% -2.76%
2012 0.45% 0.76%
2011 0.44% 0.62%
2010 0.44% 0.59%
2009 0.46% 0.62%
2008 0.48% 0.67%
2007 0.5% 0.69%
2006 0.52% 0.67%
2005 0.58% 0.64%
2004 0.68% 0.68%
2003 0.61% 0.74%
2002 0.54% 1.05%
2001 0.63% 1.59%
2000 0.72% 1.84%
1999 0.8% 1.88%
1998 0.87% 1.91%
1997 0.94% 1.92%
1996 1% 1.94%
1995 1.23% 1.67%
1994 1.45% 1.47%
1993 1.48% 1.71%
1992 1.5% 1.6%
1991 1.5% 0.75%
1990 1.48% 0.64%
1989 1.47% 1.06%
1988 1.47% 1.02%
1987 1.48% 1.18%
1986 1.48% 1.2%
1985 1.48% 0.66%
1984 1.47% 0.34%
1983 1.48% 0.67%
1982 1.49% 1.24%
1981 1.45% 1.69%
1980 1.41% 1.84%
1979 1.4% 1.88%
1978 1.39% 1.86%
1977 1.45% 1.83%
1976 1.61% 1.83%
1975 1.79% 1.83%
1974 1.97% 1.87%
1973 2.35% 1.97%
1972 2.59% 2.05%
1971 2.63% 2.16%
1970 2.74% 2.27%
1969 2.8% 2.37%
1968 2.92% 2.43%
1967 2.87% 2.44%
1966 2.65% 2.45%
1965 2.56% 2.47%
1964 2.57% 2.49%
1963 2.48% 2.48%
1962 2.27% 2.47%
1961 2.28% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

North Korea Sri Lanka
Current population
26659144
22185425
Population rank 57/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -332
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 188/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -30,724
Net migration rank 104/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -30,724
2024 - -2,473 - -27,245
2023 86,203 -1,997 66,111 -28,011
2022 96,495 -1,997 95,378 -27,435
2021 99,710 -1,585 121,858 -29,586
2020 95,920 -1,585 170,968 -29,875
2019 106,208 -3,142 172,243 -28,426
2018 113,164 -3,225 183,610 -28,607
2017 120,181 -3,224 187,993 -22,324
2016 125,048 -3,222 194,232 -18,388
2015 127,365 -3,208 201,815 -29,797
2014 127,078 -3,042 211,541 -33,672
2013 122,519 -2,933 221,021 -37,754
2012 118,773 -2,919 229,138 -41,955
2011 114,798 -2,957 224,461 -90,839
2010 112,443 -3,053 224,325 -98,060
2009 111,530 -3,058 200,175 -81,130
2008 122,015 -3,051 232,225 -97,144
2007 120,521 -3,021 248,287 -109,695
2006 129,171 -2,948 248,706 -107,045
2005 132,765 -2,861 248,683 -118,594
2004 155,838 -2,758 212,527 -84,795
2003 178,775 -2,717 252,008 -107,573
2002 119,504 -2,763 252,840 -105,718
2001 143,321 -2,884 244,377 19,273
2000 161,591 -3,142 227,060 123,894
1999 181,613 -3,443 206,876 138,799
1998 197,589 -3,706 201,059 150,724
1997 211,325 -3,745 208,193 135,636
1996 226,095 -3,512 215,290 127,236
1995 233,381 -3,094 221,957 117,416
1994 320,861 -517 228,904 8,323
1993 320,880 0 226,257 36,232
1992 324,002 0 222,230 88,542
1991 320,551 0 218,117 -1,047
1990 312,460 0 224,454 -195,736
1989 303,078 0 212,401 -33,305
1988 299,305 0 219,184 -58,415
1987 296,030 0 226,414 -63,105
1986 293,227 0 233,782 -26,460
1985 287,714 0 247,836 -80,950
1984 282,987 0 263,175 -225,450
1983 279,046 0 277,768 -209,362
1982 276,332 0 300,030 -163,987
1981 273,800 0 328,096 -89,824
1980 255,206 0 328,155 -63,541
1979 251,409 0 329,791 -57,683
1978 243,533 0 317,055 -50,189
1977 242,870 0 300,038 -45,383
1976 255,841 0 291,816 -41,258
1975 288,966 0 282,496 -37,475
1974 306,902 0 275,521 -33,979
1973 338,600 0 278,577 -30,582
1972 411,997 0 282,494 -27,071
1971 393,220 0 281,200 -22,021
1970 406,129 0 286,719 -16,299
1969 404,189 0 286,218 -10,152
1968 399,837 0 286,642 -7,163
1967 414,632 0 284,738 -6,696
1966 363,882 0 275,549 -6,794
1965 335,587 0 272,422 -7,249
1964 323,623 0 269,584 -7,614
1963 321,805 0 262,880 -8,118
1962 286,534 0 256,719 -8,909
1961 257,788 0 251,087 -10,144
1960 277,717 0 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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