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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.01 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

North Korea vs Syria: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Syria
2100 19,604,631 44,620,090
2099 19,733,548 44,690,260
2098 19,862,949 44,750,249
2097 19,993,288 44,813,148
2096 20,124,518 44,867,740
2095 20,256,401 44,895,489
2094 20,388,156 44,945,231
2093 20,520,253 44,974,311
2092 20,652,961 45,003,795
2091 20,785,785 45,016,478
2090 20,918,305 45,048,083
2089 21,050,580 45,047,102
2088 21,182,325 45,041,864
2087 21,314,047 45,049,516
2086 21,445,329 45,068,928
2085 21,575,835 45,034,847
2084 21,705,777 44,999,929
2083 21,835,029 44,971,600
2082 21,964,199 44,910,859
2081 22,092,862 44,843,908
2080 22,220,948 44,744,718
2079 22,348,577 44,687,371
2078 22,475,755 44,649,760
2077 22,602,817 44,604,175
2076 22,729,499 44,520,132
2075 22,856,369 44,426,423
2074 22,983,784 44,328,795
2073 23,111,441 44,221,016
2072 23,239,261 44,084,262
2071 23,367,583 43,939,848
2070 23,496,136 43,795,999
2069 23,625,538 43,648,130
2068 23,755,136 43,465,442
2067 23,884,879 43,271,173
2066 24,015,027 43,060,752
2065 24,144,985 42,810,442
2064 24,274,257 42,559,554
2063 24,402,439 42,311,907
2062 24,529,941 42,062,193
2061 24,656,350 41,808,082
2060 24,780,911 41,522,274
2059 24,903,037 41,208,825
2058 25,023,260 40,925,728
2057 25,140,523 40,643,453
2056 25,255,342 40,332,578
2055 25,366,397 40,026,632
2054 25,474,292 39,691,425
2053 25,578,870 39,348,020
2052 25,679,963 39,045,268
2051 25,777,639 38,733,827
2050 25,871,673 38,410,423
2049 25,962,167 38,089,455
2048 26,048,593 37,784,449
2047 26,131,429 37,492,636
2046 26,210,487 37,181,526
2045 26,286,208 36,843,579
2044 26,358,331 36,526,509
2043 26,427,062 36,188,225
2042 26,491,482 35,825,419
2041 26,552,564 35,447,414
2040 26,609,557 35,042,107
2039 26,661,815 34,626,945
2038 26,708,400 34,183,740
2037 26,749,134 33,703,682
2036 26,783,304 33,223,843
2035 26,810,026 32,696,648
2034 26,828,912 32,148,814
2033 26,839,229 31,562,427
2032 26,840,944 30,967,322
2031 26,832,957 30,329,874
2030 26,814,812 29,672,629
2029 26,787,117 28,949,535
2028 26,749,227 28,217,748
2027 26,701,444 27,428,807
2026 26,643,460 26,607,148
2025 26,575,953 25,689,551
2024 26,498,823 24,672,760
2023 26,418,204 23,594,623
2022 26,328,845 22,462,173
2021 26,232,534 21,628,839
2020 26,136,312 21,049,429
2019 26,037,632 20,353,534
2018 25,931,147 19,577,845
2017 25,817,709 19,224,668
2016 25,698,326 19,193,834
2015 25,575,350 19,424,618
2014 25,451,262 20,273,659
2013 25,329,451 21,666,917
2012 25,211,728 22,759,763
2011 25,097,874 22,878,098
2010 24,987,258 22,482,421
2009 24,878,332 21,976,969
2008 24,764,618 21,636,564
2007 24,646,383 20,884,125
2006 24,524,507 19,637,022
2005 24,396,433 18,814,091
2004 24,254,943 18,336,875
2003 24,090,380 17,889,296
2002 23,943,973 17,468,332
2001 23,815,358 17,051,338
2000 23,665,910 16,637,888
1999 23,497,599 16,228,061
1998 23,311,564 15,820,413
1997 23,110,830 15,417,542
1996 22,895,746 15,018,104
1995 22,669,304 14,616,801
1994 22,393,975 14,208,583
1993 22,073,352 13,795,686
1992 21,750,911 13,385,571
1991 21,428,638 12,980,821
1990 21,112,137 12,579,208
1989 20,804,367 12,179,060
1988 20,503,161 11,782,264
1987 20,205,483 11,388,923
1986 19,910,855 11,002,844
1985 19,620,388 10,625,672
1984 19,335,043 10,258,398
1983 19,054,034 9,904,809
1982 18,776,357 9,572,511
1981 18,501,295 9,260,189
1980 18,236,786 8,957,663
1979 17,983,470 8,661,909
1978 17,735,995 8,372,759
1977 17,492,798 8,090,501
1976 17,243,450 7,817,320
1975 16,971,055 7,554,364
1974 16,673,121 7,302,160
1973 16,350,367 7,060,321
1972 15,975,069 6,826,024
1971 15,572,457 6,598,094
1970 15,172,775 6,380,609
1969 14,767,615 6,175,166
1968 14,365,596 5,978,742
1967 13,958,350 5,790,198
1966 13,569,094 5,609,047
1965 13,219,369 5,435,267
1964 12,889,770 5,269,087
1963 12,567,057 5,110,467
1962 12,262,882 4,959,340
1961 11,990,713 4,815,466
1960 11,722,953 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Syria
2100 -0.65% -0.16%
2099 -0.65% -0.13%
2098 -0.65% -0.14%
2097 -0.65% -0.12%
2096 -0.65% -0.06%
2095 -0.65% -0.11%
2094 -0.64% -0.06%
2093 -0.64% -0.07%
2092 -0.64% -0.03%
2091 -0.63% -0.07%
2090 -0.63% 0.002%
2089 -0.62% 0.01%
2088 -0.62% -0.02%
2087 -0.61% -0.04%
2086 -0.6% 0.08%
2085 -0.6% 0.08%
2084 -0.59% 0.06%
2083 -0.59% 0.14%
2082 -0.58% 0.15%
2081 -0.58% 0.22%
2080 -0.57% 0.13%
2079 -0.57% 0.08%
2078 -0.56% 0.1%
2077 -0.56% 0.19%
2076 -0.56% 0.21%
2075 -0.55% 0.22%
2074 -0.55% 0.24%
2073 -0.55% 0.31%
2072 -0.55% 0.33%
2071 -0.55% 0.33%
2070 -0.55% 0.34%
2069 -0.55% 0.42%
2068 -0.54% 0.45%
2067 -0.54% 0.49%
2066 -0.54% 0.58%
2065 -0.53% 0.59%
2064 -0.53% 0.59%
2063 -0.52% 0.59%
2062 -0.51% 0.61%
2061 -0.5% 0.69%
2060 -0.49% 0.76%
2059 -0.48% 0.69%
2058 -0.47% 0.69%
2057 -0.45% 0.77%
2056 -0.44% 0.76%
2055 -0.42% 0.84%
2054 -0.41% 0.87%
2053 -0.39% 0.78%
2052 -0.38% 0.8%
2051 -0.36% 0.84%
2050 -0.35% 0.84%
2049 -0.33% 0.81%
2048 -0.32% 0.78%
2047 -0.3% 0.84%
2046 -0.29% 0.92%
2045 -0.27% 0.87%
2044 -0.26% 0.93%
2043 -0.24% 1.01%
2042 -0.23% 1.07%
2041 -0.21% 1.16%
2040 -0.2% 1.2%
2039 -0.17% 1.3%
2038 -0.15% 1.42%
2037 -0.13% 1.44%
2036 -0.1% 1.61%
2035 -0.07% 1.7%
2034 -0.04% 1.86%
2033 -0.006% 1.92%
2032 0.03% 2.1%
2031 0.07% 2.21%
2030 0.1% 2.5%
2029 0.14% 2.59%
2028 0.18% 2.88%
2027 0.22% 3.09%
2026 0.25% 3.57%
2025 0.29% 4.12%
2024 0.31% 4.57%
2023 0.34% 5.04%
2022 0.37% 3.85%
2021 0.37% 2.75%
2020 0.38% 3.42%
2019 0.41% 3.96%
2018 0.44% 1.84%
2017 0.46% 0.16%
2016 0.48% -1.19%
2015 0.49% -4.19%
2014 0.48% -6.43%
2013 0.47% -4.8%
2012 0.45% -0.52%
2011 0.44% 1.76%
2010 0.44% 2.3%
2009 0.46% 1.57%
2008 0.48% 3.6%
2007 0.5% 6.35%
2006 0.52% 4.37%
2005 0.58% 2.6%
2004 0.68% 2.5%
2003 0.61% 2.41%
2002 0.54% 2.45%
2001 0.63% 2.48%
2000 0.72% 2.53%
1999 0.8% 2.58%
1998 0.87% 2.61%
1997 0.94% 2.66%
1996 1% 2.75%
1995 1.23% 2.87%
1994 1.45% 2.99%
1993 1.48% 3.06%
1992 1.5% 3.12%
1991 1.5% 3.19%
1990 1.48% 3.29%
1989 1.47% 3.37%
1988 1.47% 3.45%
1987 1.48% 3.51%
1986 1.48% 3.55%
1985 1.48% 3.58%
1984 1.47% 3.57%
1983 1.48% 3.47%
1982 1.49% 3.37%
1981 1.45% 3.38%
1980 1.41% 3.41%
1979 1.4% 3.45%
1978 1.39% 3.49%
1977 1.45% 3.49%
1976 1.61% 3.48%
1975 1.79% 3.45%
1974 1.97% 3.43%
1973 2.35% 3.43%
1972 2.59% 3.45%
1971 2.63% 3.41%
1970 2.74% 3.33%
1969 2.8% 3.29%
1968 2.92% 3.26%
1967 2.87% 3.23%
1966 2.65% 3.2%
1965 2.56% 3.15%
1964 2.57% 3.1%
1963 2.48% 3.05%
1962 2.27% 2.99%
1961 2.28% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

North Korea Syria
Current population
26659144
26829400
Population rank 57/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.32%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 6/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +421,693
Net migration rank 104/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 421,693
2024 - -2,473 - 546,494
2023 86,203 -1,997 402,713 757,309
2022 96,495 -1,997 369,750 735,142
2021 99,710 -1,585 350,560 211,220
2020 95,920 -1,585 327,992 269,050
2019 106,208 -3,142 293,762 500,985
2018 113,164 -3,225 242,530 514,102
2017 120,181 -3,224 237,214 -287,501
2016 125,048 -3,222 236,007 -124,063
2015 127,365 -3,208 253,977 -827,496
2014 127,078 -3,042 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 122,519 -2,933 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 118,773 -2,919 475,520 -999,267
2011 114,798 -2,957 543,950 -256,888
2010 112,443 -3,053 558,666 -54,359
2009 111,530 -3,058 559,314 -52,703
2008 122,015 -3,051 576,593 -402,393
2007 120,521 -3,021 529,162 801,514
2006 129,171 -2,948 480,616 682,911
2005 132,765 -2,861 468,960 13,382
2004 155,838 -2,758 461,209 10,881
2003 178,775 -2,717 457,000 -33,920
2002 119,504 -2,763 453,967 -35,096
2001 143,321 -2,884 451,503 -36,383
2000 161,591 -3,142 446,211 -34,425
1999 181,613 -3,443 439,261 -31,394
1998 197,589 -3,706 433,447 -26,025
1997 211,325 -3,745 429,887 -31,571
1996 226,095 -3,512 430,765 -30,197
1995 233,381 -3,094 430,172 -28,122
1994 320,861 -517 426,996 -12,630
1993 320,880 0 420,244 -8,828
1992 324,002 0 412,878 -4,063
1991 320,551 0 410,830 -10,154
1990 312,460 0 409,177 -6,620
1989 303,078 0 406,111 -8,379
1988 299,305 0 404,285 -8,426
1987 296,030 0 399,159 -8,335
1986 293,227 0 390,821 -9,485
1985 287,714 0 379,231 -6,221
1984 282,987 0 366,768 -5,245
1983 279,046 0 355,375 -9,729
1982 276,332 0 319,664 -721
1981 273,800 0 330,237 -24,536
1980 255,206 0 332,464 -33,114
1979 251,409 0 324,943 -32,793
1978 243,533 0 316,724 -30,567
1977 242,870 0 306,630 -28,275
1976 255,841 0 294,267 -26,268
1975 288,966 0 282,299 -24,389
1974 306,902 0 270,735 -24,242
1973 338,600 0 254,687 -17,502
1972 411,997 0 249,027 -17,610
1971 393,220 0 239,610 -15,167
1970 406,129 0 230,117 -19,594
1969 404,189 0 219,114 -18,749
1968 399,837 0 209,454 -16,968
1967 414,632 0 199,223 -14,618
1966 363,882 0 191,122 -13,434
1965 335,587 0 182,560 -12,704
1964 323,623 0 174,549 -12,044
1963 321,805 0 166,555 -11,817
1962 286,534 0 159,155 -11,641
1961 257,788 0 151,485 -11,237
1960 277,717 0 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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