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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.93 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

North Korea vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Switzerland
2100 19,604,631 9,234,296
2099 19,733,548 9,226,472
2098 19,862,949 9,220,109
2097 19,993,288 9,212,728
2096 20,124,518 9,208,997
2095 20,256,401 9,203,477
2094 20,388,156 9,199,095
2093 20,520,253 9,196,672
2092 20,652,961 9,194,082
2091 20,785,785 9,191,145
2090 20,918,305 9,189,122
2089 21,050,580 9,188,754
2088 21,182,325 9,190,102
2087 21,314,047 9,189,763
2086 21,445,329 9,191,494
2085 21,575,835 9,195,728
2084 21,705,777 9,199,983
2083 21,835,029 9,204,908
2082 21,964,199 9,210,695
2081 22,092,862 9,217,065
2080 22,220,948 9,223,475
2079 22,348,577 9,230,920
2078 22,475,755 9,237,649
2077 22,602,817 9,245,300
2076 22,729,499 9,250,248
2075 22,856,369 9,255,753
2074 22,983,784 9,266,455
2073 23,111,441 9,275,439
2072 23,239,261 9,283,185
2071 23,367,583 9,292,913
2070 23,496,136 9,303,843
2069 23,625,538 9,311,935
2068 23,755,136 9,320,335
2067 23,884,879 9,327,741
2066 24,015,027 9,339,455
2065 24,144,985 9,351,481
2064 24,274,257 9,362,413
2063 24,402,439 9,372,441
2062 24,529,941 9,383,258
2061 24,656,350 9,395,036
2060 24,780,911 9,403,920
2059 24,903,037 9,414,241
2058 25,023,260 9,422,560
2057 25,140,523 9,428,212
2056 25,255,342 9,435,441
2055 25,366,397 9,443,890
2054 25,474,292 9,451,268
2053 25,578,870 9,456,389
2052 25,679,963 9,456,418
2051 25,777,639 9,456,395
2050 25,871,673 9,454,544
2049 25,962,167 9,451,083
2048 26,048,593 9,444,091
2047 26,131,429 9,437,061
2046 26,210,487 9,430,954
2045 26,286,208 9,425,155
2044 26,358,331 9,418,152
2043 26,427,062 9,410,763
2042 26,491,482 9,400,808
2041 26,552,564 9,393,857
2040 26,609,557 9,382,662
2039 26,661,815 9,373,984
2038 26,708,400 9,365,030
2037 26,749,134 9,354,254
2036 26,783,304 9,342,450
2035 26,810,026 9,328,907
2034 26,828,912 9,312,054
2033 26,839,229 9,294,881
2032 26,840,944 9,276,221
2031 26,832,957 9,253,034
2030 26,814,812 9,228,188
2029 26,787,117 9,201,743
2028 26,749,227 9,170,620
2027 26,701,444 9,135,740
2026 26,643,460 9,097,532
2025 26,575,953 9,053,983
2024 26,498,823 9,005,582
2023 26,418,204 8,888,822
2022 26,328,845 8,777,088
2021 26,232,534 8,704,546
2020 26,136,312 8,638,167
2019 26,037,632 8,575,280
2018 25,931,147 8,514,329
2017 25,817,709 8,451,840
2016 25,698,326 8,373,338
2015 25,575,350 8,282,396
2014 25,451,262 8,188,649
2013 25,329,451 8,089,346
2012 25,211,728 7,996,861
2011 25,097,874 7,912,398
2010 24,987,258 7,824,909
2009 24,878,332 7,743,831
2008 24,764,618 7,647,675
2007 24,646,383 7,551,117
2006 24,524,507 7,483,934
2005 24,396,433 7,437,115
2004 24,254,943 7,389,625
2003 24,090,380 7,339,001
2002 23,943,973 7,284,753
2001 23,815,358 7,229,854
2000 23,665,910 7,184,250
1999 23,497,599 7,143,991
1998 23,311,564 7,110,001
1997 23,110,830 7,088,906
1996 22,895,746 7,071,850
1995 22,669,304 7,040,687
1994 22,393,975 6,993,795
1993 22,073,352 6,938,265
1992 21,750,911 6,875,364
1991 21,428,638 6,799,978
1990 21,112,137 6,715,519
1989 20,804,367 6,646,912
1988 20,503,161 6,593,386
1987 20,205,483 6,545,106
1986 19,910,855 6,504,124
1985 19,620,388 6,470,365
1984 19,335,043 6,441,865
1983 19,054,034 6,418,773
1982 18,776,357 6,391,309
1981 18,501,295 6,354,074
1980 18,236,786 6,319,408
1979 17,983,470 6,294,365
1978 17,735,995 6,281,738
1977 17,492,798 6,281,174
1976 17,243,450 6,302,504
1975 16,971,055 6,338,632
1974 16,673,121 6,341,405
1973 16,350,367 6,307,347
1972 15,975,069 6,260,956
1971 15,572,457 6,213,399
1970 15,172,775 6,180,877
1969 14,767,615 6,136,387
1968 14,365,596 6,067,714
1967 13,958,350 5,991,785
1966 13,569,094 5,918,002
1965 13,219,369 5,856,472
1964 12,889,770 5,789,228
1963 12,567,057 5,694,247
1962 12,262,882 5,573,815
1961 11,990,713 5,434,294
1960 11,722,953 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Switzerland
2100 -0.65% 0.08%
2099 -0.65% 0.07%
2098 -0.65% 0.08%
2097 -0.65% 0.04%
2096 -0.65% 0.06%
2095 -0.65% 0.05%
2094 -0.64% 0.03%
2093 -0.64% 0.03%
2092 -0.64% 0.03%
2091 -0.63% 0.02%
2090 -0.63% 0.004%
2089 -0.62% -0.01%
2088 -0.62% 0.004%
2087 -0.61% -0.02%
2086 -0.6% -0.05%
2085 -0.6% -0.05%
2084 -0.59% -0.05%
2083 -0.59% -0.06%
2082 -0.58% -0.07%
2081 -0.58% -0.07%
2080 -0.57% -0.08%
2079 -0.57% -0.07%
2078 -0.56% -0.08%
2077 -0.56% -0.05%
2076 -0.56% -0.06%
2075 -0.55% -0.12%
2074 -0.55% -0.1%
2073 -0.55% -0.08%
2072 -0.55% -0.1%
2071 -0.55% -0.12%
2070 -0.55% -0.09%
2069 -0.55% -0.09%
2068 -0.54% -0.08%
2067 -0.54% -0.13%
2066 -0.54% -0.13%
2065 -0.53% -0.12%
2064 -0.53% -0.11%
2063 -0.52% -0.12%
2062 -0.51% -0.13%
2061 -0.5% -0.09%
2060 -0.49% -0.11%
2059 -0.48% -0.09%
2058 -0.47% -0.06%
2057 -0.45% -0.08%
2056 -0.44% -0.09%
2055 -0.42% -0.08%
2054 -0.41% -0.05%
2053 -0.39% -0%
2052 -0.38% 0%
2051 -0.36% 0.02%
2050 -0.35% 0.04%
2049 -0.33% 0.07%
2048 -0.32% 0.07%
2047 -0.3% 0.06%
2046 -0.29% 0.06%
2045 -0.27% 0.07%
2044 -0.26% 0.08%
2043 -0.24% 0.11%
2042 -0.23% 0.07%
2041 -0.21% 0.12%
2040 -0.2% 0.09%
2039 -0.17% 0.1%
2038 -0.15% 0.12%
2037 -0.13% 0.13%
2036 -0.1% 0.15%
2035 -0.07% 0.18%
2034 -0.04% 0.18%
2033 -0.006% 0.2%
2032 0.03% 0.25%
2031 0.07% 0.27%
2030 0.1% 0.29%
2029 0.14% 0.34%
2028 0.18% 0.38%
2027 0.22% 0.42%
2026 0.25% 0.48%
2025 0.29% 0.54%
2024 0.31% 1.31%
2023 0.34% 1.27%
2022 0.37% 0.83%
2021 0.37% 0.77%
2020 0.38% 0.73%
2019 0.41% 0.72%
2018 0.44% 0.74%
2017 0.46% 0.94%
2016 0.48% 1.1%
2015 0.49% 1.14%
2014 0.48% 1.23%
2013 0.47% 1.16%
2012 0.45% 1.07%
2011 0.44% 1.12%
2010 0.44% 1.05%
2009 0.46% 1.26%
2008 0.48% 1.28%
2007 0.5% 0.9%
2006 0.52% 0.63%
2005 0.58% 0.64%
2004 0.68% 0.69%
2003 0.61% 0.74%
2002 0.54% 0.76%
2001 0.63% 0.63%
2000 0.72% 0.56%
1999 0.8% 0.48%
1998 0.87% 0.3%
1997 0.94% 0.24%
1996 1% 0.44%
1995 1.23% 0.67%
1994 1.45% 0.8%
1993 1.48% 0.91%
1992 1.5% 1.11%
1991 1.5% 1.26%
1990 1.48% 1.03%
1989 1.47% 0.81%
1988 1.47% 0.74%
1987 1.48% 0.63%
1986 1.48% 0.52%
1985 1.48% 0.44%
1984 1.47% 0.36%
1983 1.48% 0.43%
1982 1.49% 0.59%
1981 1.45% 0.55%
1980 1.41% 0.4%
1979 1.4% 0.2%
1978 1.39% 0.009%
1977 1.45% -0.34%
1976 1.61% -0.57%
1975 1.79% -0.04%
1974 1.97% 0.54%
1973 2.35% 0.74%
1972 2.59% 0.77%
1971 2.63% 0.53%
1970 2.74% 0.73%
1969 2.8% 1.13%
1968 2.92% 1.27%
1967 2.87% 1.25%
1966 2.65% 1.05%
1965 2.56% 1.16%
1964 2.57% 1.67%
1963 2.48% 2.16%
1962 2.27% 2.57%
1961 2.28% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

North Korea Switzerland
Current population
26659144
9107866
Population rank 57/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.11%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +320
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 81/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +37,253
Net migration rank 104/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 37,253
2024 - -2,473 - 40,099
2023 86,203 -1,997 8,000 45,098
2022 96,495 -1,997 7,899 96,424
2021 99,710 -1,585 18,279 50,665
2020 95,920 -1,585 9,502 55,523
2019 106,208 -3,142 18,008 44,517
2018 113,164 -3,225 20,434 41,253
2017 120,181 -3,224 20,284 45,658
2016 125,048 -3,222 22,608 71,009
2015 127,365 -3,208 19,050 71,876
2014 127,078 -3,042 21,290 78,122
2013 122,519 -2,933 17,797 83,823
2012 118,773 -2,919 18,393 67,840
2011 114,798 -2,957 18,990 67,194
2010 112,443 -3,053 17,997 76,388
2009 111,530 -3,058 15,487 69,324
2008 122,015 -3,051 15,295 94,430
2007 120,521 -3,021 13,592 72,475
2006 129,171 -2,948 12,723 37,308
2005 132,765 -2,861 11,899 33,203
2004 155,838 -2,758 13,302 39,484
2003 178,775 -2,717 8,807 42,567
2002 119,504 -2,763 10,199 49,650
2001 143,321 -2,884 10,845 35,420
2000 161,591 -3,142 15,806 24,463
1999 181,613 -3,443 16,431 25,599
1998 197,589 -3,706 16,353 11,325
1997 211,325 -3,745 17,722 -1,939
1996 226,095 -3,512 19,801 -131
1995 233,381 -3,094 19,010 25,343
1994 320,861 -517 20,982 30,274
1993 320,880 0 21,509 40,267
1992 324,002 0 24,064 42,014
1991 320,551 0 23,800 69,738
1990 312,460 0 20,146 58,428
1989 303,078 0 19,941 34,432
1988 299,305 0 21,099 34,602
1987 296,030 0 15,708 27,081
1986 293,227 0 16,261 23,242
1985 287,714 0 14,882 14,402
1984 282,987 0 16,105 12,532
1983 279,046 0 12,837 5,663
1982 276,332 0 15,339 21,929
1981 273,800 0 13,979 24,229
1980 255,206 0 14,535 17,841
1979 251,409 0 14,477 4,262
1978 243,533 0 13,820 -6,552
1977 242,870 0 16,959 -22,516
1976 255,841 0 17,017 -54,255
1975 288,966 0 22,820 -58,187
1974 306,902 0 27,902 2,008
1973 338,600 0 30,906 8,158
1972 411,997 0 35,061 19,991
1971 393,220 0 38,523 2,636
1970 406,129 0 42,648 -18,326
1969 404,189 0 44,182 20,754
1968 399,837 0 47,328 25,828
1967 414,632 0 52,128 27,697
1966 363,882 0 53,854 14,979
1965 335,587 0 56,222 -1,351
1964 323,623 0 59,050 21,455
1963 321,805 0 52,956 58,415
1962 286,534 0 49,050 82,798
1961 257,788 0 48,365 101,278
1960 277,717 0 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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