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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 10,665,077 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 93rd.
  • 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 +0.39% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

North Korea vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sweden
2100 19,601,003 11,330,987
2099 19,729,897 11,334,835
2098 19,859,274 11,339,107
2097 19,989,589 11,340,268
2096 20,120,795 11,341,947
2095 20,252,653 11,344,893
2094 20,384,384 11,347,531
2093 20,516,457 11,349,412
2092 20,649,140 11,351,452
2091 20,781,939 11,352,899
2090 20,914,434 11,354,820
2089 21,046,685 11,357,746
2088 21,178,406 11,360,405
2087 21,310,103 11,364,197
2086 21,441,361 11,371,529
2085 21,571,843 11,376,573
2084 21,701,761 11,381,332
2083 21,830,989 11,384,862
2082 21,960,135 11,390,058
2081 22,088,774 11,391,696
2080 22,216,836 11,393,882
2079 22,344,442 11,393,412
2078 22,471,597 11,391,291
2077 22,598,635 11,389,212
2076 22,725,293 11,385,385
2075 22,852,140 11,381,261
2074 22,979,532 11,377,973
2073 23,107,165 11,375,051
2072 23,234,961 11,371,362
2071 23,363,260 11,366,451
2070 23,491,789 11,362,742
2069 23,621,167 11,358,895
2068 23,750,741 11,357,504
2067 23,880,460 11,356,672
2066 24,010,584 11,356,676
2065 24,140,518 11,355,953
2064 24,269,765 11,354,988
2063 24,397,924 11,354,834
2062 24,525,403 11,355,452
2061 24,651,788 11,353,198
2060 24,776,326 11,352,013
2059 24,898,430 11,349,674
2058 25,018,630 11,345,893
2057 25,135,871 11,340,487
2056 25,250,670 11,335,234
2055 25,361,704 11,328,291
2054 25,469,578 11,320,768
2053 25,574,137 11,310,127
2052 25,675,211 11,296,358
2051 25,772,870 11,280,503
2050 25,866,886 11,261,537
2049 25,957,363 11,242,070
2048 26,043,774 11,221,274
2047 26,126,594 11,199,365
2046 26,205,638 11,176,512
2045 26,281,344 11,152,739
2044 26,353,455 11,127,765
2043 26,422,173 11,102,354
2042 26,486,580 11,076,504
2041 26,547,651 11,052,951
2040 26,604,634 11,028,609
2039 26,656,882 11,005,487
2038 26,703,458 10,983,160
2037 26,744,185 10,961,591
2036 26,778,348 10,938,759
2035 26,805,065 10,916,327
2034 26,823,948 10,893,717
2033 26,834,263 10,869,588
2032 26,835,978 10,844,339
2031 26,827,992 10,819,037
2030 26,809,850 10,790,557
2029 26,782,161 10,759,017
2028 26,744,278 10,724,017
2027 26,696,504 10,685,143
2026 26,638,530 10,643,884
2025 26,571,036 10,596,620
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 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 0.27% 0.25%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

North Korea Sweden
Current population
26668308
10665077
Population rank 57/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +74
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 148/197
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 79,496 -2,473 7,399 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 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 (1960–2025, 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/sweden | 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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