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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 51,662,147 people in Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 54,156,832 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Sudan's population is 2.03 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 0.97% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.65% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.63% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 54.2M (69.3% growth).

North Korea vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sudan
2100 19,601,003 138,786,562
2099 19,729,897 138,200,726
2098 19,859,274 137,581,716
2097 19,989,589 136,936,850
2096 20,120,795 136,293,310
2095 20,252,653 135,619,411
2094 20,384,384 134,962,748
2093 20,516,457 134,241,761
2092 20,649,140 133,476,598
2091 20,781,939 132,717,036
2090 20,914,434 131,929,843
2089 21,046,685 131,106,299
2088 21,178,406 130,258,636
2087 21,310,103 129,375,710
2086 21,441,361 128,473,461
2085 21,571,843 127,558,118
2084 21,701,761 126,607,392
2083 21,830,989 125,651,327
2082 21,960,135 124,696,076
2081 22,088,774 123,744,490
2080 22,216,836 122,770,063
2079 22,344,442 121,779,815
2078 22,471,597 120,751,900
2077 22,598,635 119,717,424
2076 22,725,293 118,681,140
2075 22,852,140 117,612,837
2074 22,979,532 116,516,833
2073 23,107,165 115,406,797
2072 23,234,961 114,272,123
2071 23,363,260 113,124,997
2070 23,491,789 111,982,729
2069 23,621,167 110,816,409
2068 23,750,741 109,652,769
2067 23,880,460 108,433,341
2066 24,010,584 107,199,808
2065 24,140,518 105,978,161
2064 24,269,765 104,726,820
2063 24,397,924 103,455,672
2062 24,525,403 102,156,918
2061 24,651,788 100,859,967
2060 24,776,326 99,547,905
2059 24,898,430 98,233,054
2058 25,018,630 96,897,205
2057 25,135,871 95,551,255
2056 25,250,670 94,198,924
2055 25,361,704 92,819,157
2054 25,469,578 91,429,774
2053 25,574,137 90,049,799
2052 25,675,211 88,658,871
2051 25,772,870 87,267,085
2050 25,866,886 85,869,620
2049 25,957,363 84,466,974
2048 26,043,774 83,095,662
2047 26,126,594 81,727,967
2046 26,205,638 80,356,627
2045 26,281,344 78,980,614
2044 26,353,455 77,616,012
2043 26,422,173 76,252,103
2042 26,486,580 74,901,092
2041 26,547,651 73,546,861
2040 26,604,634 72,207,474
2039 26,656,882 70,876,908
2038 26,703,458 69,547,797
2037 26,744,185 68,201,884
2036 26,778,348 66,863,109
2035 26,805,065 65,516,233
2034 26,823,948 64,168,801
2033 26,834,263 62,823,562
2032 26,835,978 61,491,227
2031 26,827,992 60,168,709
2030 26,809,850 58,846,984
2029 26,782,161 57,534,918
2028 26,744,278 56,242,802
2027 26,696,504 54,955,096
2026 26,638,530 53,313,722
2025 26,571,036 51,662,147
2024 26,498,823 50,448,963
2023 26,418,204 50,042,791
2022 26,328,845 49,383,346
2021 26,232,534 48,066,924
2020 26,136,312 46,789,231
2019 26,037,632 45,548,175
2018 25,931,147 44,230,596
2017 25,817,709 42,714,306
2016 25,698,326 41,259,892
2015 25,575,350 40,024,431
2014 25,451,262 38,823,318
2013 25,329,451 37,785,849
2012 25,211,728 36,923,178
2011 25,097,874 36,140,806
2010 24,987,258 35,414,399
2009 24,878,332 34,569,113
2008 24,764,618 33,623,980
2007 24,646,383 32,764,135
2006 24,524,507 31,992,435
2005 24,396,433 31,262,444
2004 24,254,943 30,556,637
2003 24,090,380 29,896,035
2002 23,943,973 29,228,727
2001 23,815,358 28,516,770
2000 23,665,910 27,816,745
1999 23,497,599 27,130,613
1998 23,311,564 26,458,999
1997 23,110,830 25,799,821
1996 22,895,746 25,231,528
1995 22,669,304 24,672,143
1994 22,393,975 24,043,948
1993 22,073,352 23,445,592
1992 21,750,911 22,927,355
1991 21,428,638 22,470,676
1990 21,112,137 22,021,481
1989 20,804,367 21,578,022
1988 20,503,161 21,138,431
1987 20,205,483 20,704,904
1986 19,910,855 20,288,238
1985 19,620,388 19,905,872
1984 19,335,043 19,546,528
1983 19,054,034 19,109,770
1982 18,776,357 18,486,645
1981 18,501,295 17,780,572
1980 18,236,786 17,058,905
1979 17,983,470 16,355,352
1978 17,735,995 15,695,003
1977 17,492,798 15,086,614
1976 17,243,450 14,569,716
1975 16,971,055 14,064,798
1974 16,673,121 13,580,723
1973 16,350,367 13,049,315
1972 15,975,069 12,527,856
1971 15,572,457 12,105,539
1970 15,172,775 11,695,771
1969 14,767,615 11,298,936
1968 14,365,596 10,917,999
1967 13,958,350 10,550,597
1966 13,569,094 10,197,578
1965 13,219,369 9,858,030
1964 12,889,770 9,531,109
1963 12,567,057 9,218,077
1962 12,262,882 8,919,028
1961 11,990,713 8,634,941
1960 11,722,953 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,896,940 people (a 31.3% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th 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 Sudan will increase by 58.6% to 85,869,620 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 139M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Sudan
2100 -0.65% 0.42%
2099 -0.65% 0.45%
2098 -0.65% 0.47%
2097 -0.65% 0.47%
2096 -0.65% 0.5%
2095 -0.65% 0.49%
2094 -0.64% 0.54%
2093 -0.64% 0.57%
2092 -0.64% 0.57%
2091 -0.63% 0.6%
2090 -0.63% 0.63%
2089 -0.62% 0.65%
2088 -0.62% 0.68%
2087 -0.61% 0.7%
2086 -0.6% 0.72%
2085 -0.6% 0.75%
2084 -0.59% 0.76%
2083 -0.59% 0.77%
2082 -0.58% 0.77%
2081 -0.58% 0.79%
2080 -0.57% 0.81%
2079 -0.57% 0.85%
2078 -0.56% 0.86%
2077 -0.56% 0.87%
2076 -0.56% 0.91%
2075 -0.55% 0.94%
2074 -0.55% 0.96%
2073 -0.55% 0.99%
2072 -0.55% 1.01%
2071 -0.55% 1.02%
2070 -0.55% 1.05%
2069 -0.55% 1.06%
2068 -0.54% 1.12%
2067 -0.54% 1.15%
2066 -0.54% 1.15%
2065 -0.53% 1.19%
2064 -0.53% 1.23%
2063 -0.52% 1.27%
2062 -0.51% 1.29%
2061 -0.5% 1.32%
2060 -0.49% 1.34%
2059 -0.48% 1.38%
2058 -0.47% 1.41%
2057 -0.45% 1.44%
2056 -0.44% 1.49%
2055 -0.42% 1.52%
2054 -0.41% 1.53%
2053 -0.39% 1.57%
2052 -0.38% 1.59%
2051 -0.36% 1.63%
2050 -0.35% 1.66%
2049 -0.33% 1.65%
2048 -0.32% 1.67%
2047 -0.3% 1.71%
2046 -0.29% 1.74%
2045 -0.27% 1.76%
2044 -0.26% 1.79%
2043 -0.24% 1.8%
2042 -0.23% 1.84%
2041 -0.21% 1.85%
2040 -0.2% 1.88%
2039 -0.17% 1.91%
2038 -0.15% 1.97%
2037 -0.13% 2%
2036 -0.1% 2.06%
2035 -0.07% 2.1%
2034 -0.04% 2.14%
2033 -0.006% 2.17%
2032 0.03% 2.2%
2031 0.07% 2.25%
2030 0.1% 2.28%
2029 0.14% 2.3%
2028 0.18% 2.34%
2027 0.22% 3.08%
2026 0.25% 3.2%
2025 0.27% 2.4%
2024 0.31% 0.81%
2023 0.34% 1.34%
2022 0.37% 2.74%
2021 0.37% 2.73%
2020 0.38% 2.72%
2019 0.41% 2.98%
2018 0.44% 3.55%
2017 0.46% 3.53%
2016 0.48% 3.09%
2015 0.49% 3.09%
2014 0.48% 2.75%
2013 0.47% 2.34%
2012 0.45% 2.16%
2011 0.44% 2.05%
2010 0.44% 2.45%
2009 0.46% 2.81%
2008 0.48% 2.62%
2007 0.5% 2.41%
2006 0.52% 2.34%
2005 0.58% 2.31%
2004 0.68% 2.21%
2003 0.61% 2.28%
2002 0.54% 2.5%
2001 0.63% 2.52%
2000 0.72% 2.53%
1999 0.8% 2.54%
1998 0.87% 2.55%
1997 0.94% 2.25%
1996 1% 2.27%
1995 1.23% 2.61%
1994 1.45% 2.55%
1993 1.48% 2.26%
1992 1.5% 2.03%
1991 1.5% 2.04%
1990 1.48% 2.06%
1989 1.47% 2.08%
1988 1.47% 2.09%
1987 1.48% 2.05%
1986 1.48% 1.92%
1985 1.48% 1.84%
1984 1.47% 2.29%
1983 1.48% 3.37%
1982 1.49% 3.97%
1981 1.45% 4.23%
1980 1.41% 4.3%
1979 1.4% 4.21%
1978 1.39% 4.03%
1977 1.45% 3.55%
1976 1.61% 3.59%
1975 1.79% 3.56%
1974 1.97% 4.07%
1973 2.35% 4.16%
1972 2.59% 3.49%
1971 2.63% 3.5%
1970 2.74% 3.51%
1969 2.8% 3.49%
1968 2.92% 3.48%
1967 2.87% 3.46%
1966 2.65% 3.44%
1965 2.56% 3.43%
1964 2.57% 3.4%
1963 2.48% 3.35%
1962 2.27% 3.29%
1961 2.28% 3.23%

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/sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Sudan's population grew by 2.4%.

Live population counters

North Korea Sudan
Current population
26668308
54156832
Population rank 57/197 29/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.65%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
26.1 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
18.9 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +3,324
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +1,213,184
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +2.4%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 30/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +291,469
Net migration rank 104/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 291,469
2024 79,496 -2,473 1,345,019 -544,257
2023 86,203 -1,997 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 96,495 -1,997 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 99,710 -1,585 1,293,817 31,664
2020 95,920 -1,585 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 106,208 -3,142 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 113,164 -3,225 1,257,387 125,499
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,208,046 441,623
2016 125,048 -3,222 1,174,422 84,728
2015 127,365 -3,208 1,145,259 66,476
2014 127,078 -3,042 1,097,962 92,504
2013 122,519 -2,933 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 118,773 -2,919 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 114,798 -2,957 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 112,443 -3,053 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 111,530 -3,058 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 122,015 -3,051 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 120,521 -3,021 992,819 -201,769
2006 129,171 -2,948 963,740 -211,387
2005 132,765 -2,861 907,017 -199,378
2004 155,838 -2,758 889,382 -185,392
2003 178,775 -2,717 898,226 -281,001
2002 119,504 -2,763 897,965 -180,603
2001 143,321 -2,884 880,284 -173,745
2000 161,591 -3,142 858,536 -165,030
1999 181,613 -3,443 835,840 -157,090
1998 197,589 -3,706 814,752 -150,271
1997 211,325 -3,745 802,245 -148,368
1996 226,095 -3,512 792,926 -310,221
1995 233,381 -3,094 780,700 -144,670
1994 320,861 -517 764,645 -144,324
1993 320,880 0 743,249 -166,861
1992 324,002 0 731,177 -271,093
1991 320,551 0 714,612 -261,341
1990 312,460 0 699,953 -254,825
1989 303,078 0 683,743 -241,979
1988 299,305 0 672,604 -235,213
1987 296,030 0 658,416 -228,756
1986 293,227 0 649,649 -245,968
1985 287,714 0 583,382 -222,315
1984 282,987 0 577,405 -219,755
1983 279,046 0 570,198 -54,325
1982 276,332 0 606,362 124,007
1981 273,800 0 585,087 96,697
1980 255,206 0 552,930 208,602
1979 251,409 0 524,942 120,613
1978 243,533 0 497,987 177,153
1977 242,870 0 483,089 58,540
1976 255,841 0 470,019 22,147
1975 288,966 0 454,813 62,843
1974 306,902 0 444,456 6,023
1973 338,600 0 439,201 173,143
1972 411,997 0 428,340 2,238
1971 393,220 0 417,641 -3,577
1970 406,129 0 401,013 4,479
1969 404,189 0 385,712 2,476
1968 399,837 0 370,917 2,776
1967 414,632 0 356,599 4,508
1966 363,882 0 342,118 2,813
1965 335,587 0 327,799 6,367
1964 323,623 0 315,166 4,505
1963 321,805 0 302,132 4,263
1962 286,534 0 287,317 4,387
1961 257,788 0 272,562 3,904
1960 277,717 0 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sudan | 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 Sudan 90.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,707,034 people) and 9.13% is from migration (a loss of 1,276,357 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in 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
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K
Ad-Damazin 186K

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/sudan | 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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