Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.5 times bigger than Sweden's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

North Korea vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sweden
2100 19,604,631 11,357,586
2099 19,733,548 11,361,443
2098 19,862,949 11,365,725
2097 19,993,288 11,366,889
2096 20,124,518 11,368,572
2095 20,256,401 11,371,525
2094 20,388,156 11,374,169
2093 20,520,253 11,376,054
2092 20,652,961 11,378,099
2091 20,785,785 11,379,549
2090 20,918,305 11,381,475
2089 21,050,580 11,384,408
2088 21,182,325 11,387,073
2087 21,314,047 11,390,874
2086 21,445,329 11,398,223
2085 21,575,835 11,403,279
2084 21,705,777 11,408,050
2083 21,835,029 11,411,588
2082 21,964,199 11,416,796
2081 22,092,862 11,418,438
2080 22,220,948 11,420,629
2079 22,348,577 11,420,158
2078 22,475,755 11,418,032
2077 22,602,817 11,415,948
2076 22,729,499 11,412,112
2075 22,856,369 11,407,978
2074 22,983,784 11,404,682
2073 23,111,441 11,401,754
2072 23,239,261 11,398,056
2071 23,367,583 11,393,134
2070 23,496,136 11,389,416
2069 23,625,538 11,385,560
2068 23,755,136 11,384,165
2067 23,884,879 11,383,331
2066 24,015,027 11,383,335
2065 24,144,985 11,382,611
2064 24,274,257 11,381,643
2063 24,402,439 11,381,489
2062 24,529,941 11,382,109
2061 24,656,350 11,379,849
2060 24,780,911 11,378,661
2059 24,903,037 11,376,317
2058 25,023,260 11,372,527
2057 25,140,523 11,367,109
2056 25,255,342 11,361,843
2055 25,366,397 11,354,884
2054 25,474,292 11,347,343
2053 25,578,870 11,336,678
2052 25,679,963 11,322,876
2051 25,777,639 11,306,983
2050 25,871,673 11,287,973
2049 25,962,167 11,268,461
2048 26,048,593 11,247,615
2047 26,131,429 11,225,655
2046 26,210,487 11,202,749
2045 26,286,208 11,178,920
2044 26,358,331 11,153,887
2043 26,427,062 11,128,417
2042 26,491,482 11,102,505
2041 26,552,564 11,078,898
2040 26,609,557 11,054,498
2039 26,661,815 11,031,322
2038 26,708,400 11,008,943
2037 26,749,134 10,987,323
2036 26,783,304 10,964,438
2035 26,810,026 10,941,953
2034 26,828,912 10,919,289
2033 26,839,229 10,895,104
2032 26,840,944 10,869,796
2031 26,832,957 10,844,434
2030 26,814,812 10,815,888
2029 26,787,117 10,784,274
2028 26,749,227 10,749,191
2027 26,701,444 10,710,226
2026 26,643,460 10,668,870
2025 26,575,953 10,621,495
2024 26,498,823 10,569,709
2023 26,418,204 10,536,632
2022 26,328,845 10,486,941
2021 26,232,534 10,415,811
2020 26,136,312 10,353,442
2019 26,037,632 10,278,887
2018 25,931,147 10,175,214
2017 25,817,709 10,057,698
2016 25,698,326 9,923,085
2015 25,575,350 9,799,186
2014 25,451,262 9,696,110
2013 25,329,451 9,600,379
2012 25,211,728 9,519,374
2011 25,097,874 9,449,213
2010 24,987,258 9,378,126
2009 24,878,332 9,298,515
2008 24,764,618 9,219,637
2007 24,646,383 9,148,092
2006 24,524,507 9,080,505
2005 24,396,433 9,029,572
2004 24,254,943 8,993,531
2003 24,090,380 8,958,229
2002 23,943,973 8,924,958
2001 23,815,358 8,895,960
2000 23,665,910 8,872,109
1999 23,497,599 8,857,874
1998 23,311,564 8,850,974
1997 23,110,830 8,846,062
1996 22,895,746 8,840,998
1995 22,669,304 8,826,939
1994 22,393,975 8,780,745
1993 22,073,352 8,718,561
1992 21,750,911 8,668,067
1991 21,428,638 8,617,375
1990 21,112,137 8,558,835
1989 20,804,367 8,492,964
1988 20,503,161 8,436,489
1987 20,205,483 8,397,804
1986 19,910,855 8,369,829
1985 19,620,388 8,350,386
1984 19,335,043 8,336,605
1983 19,054,034 8,329,033
1982 18,776,357 8,325,263
1981 18,501,295 8,320,503
1980 18,236,786 8,310,531
1979 17,983,470 8,293,678
1978 17,735,995 8,275,599
1977 17,492,798 8,251,540
1976 17,243,450 8,222,286
1975 16,971,055 8,192,437
1974 16,673,121 8,159,955
1973 16,350,367 8,136,312
1972 15,975,069 8,122,300
1971 15,572,457 8,098,334
1970 15,172,775 8,042,801
1969 14,767,615 7,968,072
1968 14,365,596 7,912,273
1967 13,958,350 7,867,931
1966 13,569,094 7,807,797
1965 13,219,369 7,733,853
1964 12,889,770 7,661,354
1963 12,567,057 7,604,328
1962 12,262,882 7,561,588
1961 11,990,713 7,519,998
1960 11,722,953 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Sweden
2100 -0.65% -0.03%
2099 -0.65% -0.04%
2098 -0.65% -0.01%
2097 -0.65% -0.01%
2096 -0.65% -0.03%
2095 -0.65% -0.02%
2094 -0.64% -0.02%
2093 -0.64% -0.02%
2092 -0.64% -0.01%
2091 -0.63% -0.02%
2090 -0.63% -0.03%
2089 -0.62% -0.02%
2088 -0.62% -0.03%
2087 -0.61% -0.06%
2086 -0.6% -0.04%
2085 -0.6% -0.04%
2084 -0.59% -0.03%
2083 -0.59% -0.05%
2082 -0.58% -0.01%
2081 -0.58% -0.02%
2080 -0.57% 0.004%
2079 -0.57% 0.02%
2078 -0.56% 0.02%
2077 -0.56% 0.03%
2076 -0.56% 0.04%
2075 -0.55% 0.03%
2074 -0.55% 0.03%
2073 -0.55% 0.03%
2072 -0.55% 0.04%
2071 -0.55% 0.03%
2070 -0.55% 0.03%
2069 -0.55% 0.01%
2068 -0.54% 0.007%
2067 -0.54% -0%
2066 -0.54% 0.006%
2065 -0.53% 0.009%
2064 -0.53% 0.001%
2063 -0.52% -0.005%
2062 -0.51% 0.02%
2061 -0.5% 0.01%
2060 -0.49% 0.02%
2059 -0.48% 0.03%
2058 -0.47% 0.05%
2057 -0.45% 0.05%
2056 -0.44% 0.06%
2055 -0.42% 0.07%
2054 -0.41% 0.09%
2053 -0.39% 0.12%
2052 -0.38% 0.14%
2051 -0.36% 0.17%
2050 -0.35% 0.17%
2049 -0.33% 0.19%
2048 -0.32% 0.2%
2047 -0.3% 0.2%
2046 -0.29% 0.21%
2045 -0.27% 0.22%
2044 -0.26% 0.23%
2043 -0.24% 0.23%
2042 -0.23% 0.21%
2041 -0.21% 0.22%
2040 -0.2% 0.21%
2039 -0.17% 0.2%
2038 -0.15% 0.2%
2037 -0.13% 0.21%
2036 -0.1% 0.21%
2035 -0.07% 0.21%
2034 -0.04% 0.22%
2033 -0.006% 0.23%
2032 0.03% 0.23%
2031 0.07% 0.26%
2030 0.1% 0.29%
2029 0.14% 0.33%
2028 0.18% 0.36%
2027 0.22% 0.39%
2026 0.25% 0.45%
2025 0.29% 0.49%
2024 0.31% 0.31%
2023 0.34% 0.47%
2022 0.37% 0.68%
2021 0.37% 0.6%
2020 0.38% 0.73%
2019 0.41% 1.02%
2018 0.44% 1.17%
2017 0.46% 1.36%
2016 0.48% 1.26%
2015 0.49% 1.06%
2014 0.48% 1%
2013 0.47% 0.85%
2012 0.45% 0.74%
2011 0.44% 0.76%
2010 0.44% 0.86%
2009 0.46% 0.86%
2008 0.48% 0.78%
2007 0.5% 0.74%
2006 0.52% 0.56%
2005 0.58% 0.4%
2004 0.68% 0.39%
2003 0.61% 0.37%
2002 0.54% 0.33%
2001 0.63% 0.27%
2000 0.72% 0.16%
1999 0.8% 0.08%
1998 0.87% 0.06%
1997 0.94% 0.06%
1996 1% 0.16%
1995 1.23% 0.53%
1994 1.45% 0.71%
1993 1.48% 0.58%
1992 1.5% 0.59%
1991 1.5% 0.68%
1990 1.48% 0.78%
1989 1.47% 0.67%
1988 1.47% 0.46%
1987 1.48% 0.33%
1986 1.48% 0.23%
1985 1.48% 0.17%
1984 1.47% 0.09%
1983 1.48% 0.05%
1982 1.49% 0.06%
1981 1.45% 0.12%
1980 1.41% 0.2%
1979 1.4% 0.22%
1978 1.39% 0.29%
1977 1.45% 0.36%
1976 1.61% 0.36%
1975 1.79% 0.4%
1974 1.97% 0.29%
1973 2.35% 0.17%
1972 2.59% 0.3%
1971 2.63% 0.69%
1970 2.74% 0.94%
1969 2.8% 0.71%
1968 2.92% 0.56%
1967 2.87% 0.77%
1966 2.65% 0.96%
1965 2.56% 0.95%
1964 2.57% 0.75%
1963 2.48% 0.57%
1962 2.27% 0.55%
1961 2.28% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

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

Live population counters

North Korea Sweden
Current population
26659144
10680056
Population rank 57/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
15.9 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +91
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 149/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +47,079
Net migration rank 104/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 47,079
2024 - -2,473 - 50,115
2023 86,203 -1,997 5,269 55,209
2022 96,495 -1,997 10,487 58,955
2021 99,710 -1,585 22,914 51,947
2020 95,920 -1,585 14,495 37,302
2019 106,208 -3,142 25,697 72,619
2018 113,164 -3,225 23,403 87,517
2017 120,181 -3,224 24,138 102,671
2016 125,048 -3,222 25,800 119,234
2015 127,365 -3,208 23,518 80,534
2014 127,078 -3,042 26,179 77,654
2013 122,519 -2,933 23,041 66,760
2012 118,773 -2,919 20,943 52,879
2011 114,798 -2,957 21,733 46,049
2010 112,443 -3,053 25,320 51,175
2009 111,530 -3,058 21,387 63,638
2008 122,015 -3,051 18,439 56,452
2007 120,521 -3,021 15,552 54,907
2006 129,171 -2,948 15,436 51,675
2005 132,765 -2,861 9,030 27,030
2004 155,838 -2,758 9,893 25,842
2003 178,775 -2,717 6,271 29,161
2002 119,504 -2,763 893 31,364
2001 143,321 -2,884 -1,779 28,856
2000 161,591 -3,142 -2,662 24,900
1999 181,613 -3,443 -6,201 13,940
1998 197,589 -3,706 -3,541 11,325
1997 211,325 -3,745 -3,539 6,047
1996 226,095 -3,512 1,768 5,773
1995 233,381 -3,094 9,710 11,621
1994 320,861 -517 20,196 51,545
1993 320,880 0 20,924 32,725
1992 324,002 0 28,605 20,507
1991 320,551 0 29,299 25,314
1990 312,460 0 29,100 35,668
1989 303,078 0 24,629 44,565
1988 299,305 0 15,186 30,064
1987 296,030 0 11,757 21,335
1986 293,227 0 9,206 15,211
1985 287,714 0 4,175 11,464
1984 282,987 0 3,335 8,668
1983 279,046 0 833 2,105
1982 276,332 0 1,665 2,524
1981 273,800 0 1,664 3,209
1980 255,206 0 5,818 10,040
1979 251,409 0 4,976 13,895
1978 243,533 0 4,138 13,807
1977 242,870 0 7,426 23,528
1976 255,841 0 8,222 20,324
1975 288,966 0 14,746 16,564
1974 306,902 0 23,664 9,217
1973 338,600 0 24,409 -9,551
1972 411,997 0 28,428 -13,519
1971 393,220 0 31,583 2,334
1970 406,129 0 30,563 47,242
1969 404,189 0 23,904 48,824
1968 399,837 0 30,858 8,545
1967 414,632 0 41,700 11,075
1966 363,882 0 45,286 24,920
1965 335,587 0 44,857 32,444
1964 323,623 0 45,968 23,581
1963 321,805 0 35,741 11,009
1962 286,534 0 30,246 9,627
1961 257,788 0 30,832 14,401
1960 277,717 0 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.