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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 23,331,886 people in Taiwan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 23,229,461 in Taiwan.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.15 times bigger than Taiwan's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Taiwan is the 60th.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.28% for Taiwan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.03% in Taiwan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Taiwan has grown from 22.8M to 23.2M (1.78% growth).

North Korea vs Taiwan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Taiwan
2100 19,604,631 10,150,338
2099 19,733,548 10,273,881
2098 19,862,949 10,399,680
2097 19,993,288 10,527,804
2096 20,124,518 10,657,536
2095 20,256,401 10,789,978
2094 20,388,156 10,925,075
2093 20,520,253 11,062,491
2092 20,652,961 11,202,670
2091 20,785,785 11,346,131
2090 20,918,305 11,494,369
2089 21,050,580 11,644,743
2088 21,182,325 11,799,177
2087 21,314,047 11,956,109
2086 21,445,329 12,116,149
2085 21,575,835 12,281,248
2084 21,705,777 12,451,872
2083 21,835,029 12,625,681
2082 21,964,199 12,803,442
2081 22,092,862 12,986,931
2080 22,220,948 13,174,137
2079 22,348,577 13,366,920
2078 22,475,755 13,564,788
2077 22,602,817 13,765,770
2076 22,729,499 13,969,802
2075 22,856,369 14,178,904
2074 22,983,784 14,391,331
2073 23,111,441 14,606,033
2072 23,239,261 14,824,987
2071 23,367,583 15,045,310
2070 23,496,136 15,266,143
2069 23,625,538 15,488,280
2068 23,755,136 15,714,125
2067 23,884,879 15,940,945
2066 24,015,027 16,167,553
2065 24,144,985 16,396,032
2064 24,274,257 16,625,600
2063 24,402,439 16,854,355
2062 24,529,941 17,084,600
2061 24,656,350 17,314,450
2060 24,780,911 17,541,998
2059 24,903,037 17,767,014
2058 25,023,260 17,988,239
2057 25,140,523 18,208,151
2056 25,255,342 18,423,453
2055 25,366,397 18,639,554
2054 25,474,292 18,853,384
2053 25,578,870 19,063,428
2052 25,679,963 19,270,076
2051 25,777,639 19,474,323
2050 25,871,673 19,677,203
2049 25,962,167 19,878,438
2048 26,048,593 20,073,645
2047 26,131,429 20,267,326
2046 26,210,487 20,454,154
2045 26,286,208 20,640,565
2044 26,358,331 20,819,477
2043 26,427,062 20,995,111
2042 26,491,482 21,166,213
2041 26,552,564 21,331,710
2040 26,609,557 21,491,361
2039 26,661,815 21,645,911
2038 26,708,400 21,794,529
2037 26,749,134 21,939,617
2036 26,783,304 22,077,701
2035 26,810,026 22,211,115
2034 26,828,912 22,340,809
2033 26,839,229 22,463,465
2032 26,840,944 22,582,449
2031 26,832,957 22,698,460
2030 26,814,812 22,809,605
2029 26,787,117 22,916,803
2028 26,749,227 23,022,058
2027 26,701,444 23,127,410
2026 26,643,460 23,229,461
2025 26,575,953 23,331,886
2024 26,498,823 23,410,331
2023 26,418,204 23,342,541
2022 26,328,845 23,319,977
2021 26,232,534 23,468,275
2020 26,136,312 23,582,179
2019 26,037,632 23,596,027
2018 25,931,147 23,580,080
2017 25,817,709 23,555,522
2016 25,698,326 23,515,945
2015 25,575,350 23,462,914
2014 25,451,262 23,403,635
2013 25,329,451 23,344,670
2012 25,211,728 23,270,367
2011 25,097,874 23,193,518
2010 24,987,258 23,140,948
2009 24,878,332 23,078,402
2008 24,764,618 22,997,696
2007 24,646,383 22,917,444
2006 24,524,507 22,823,455
2005 24,396,433 22,729,753
2004 24,254,943 22,646,836
2003 24,090,380 22,562,663
2002 23,943,973 22,463,172
2001 23,815,358 22,341,120
2000 23,665,910 22,184,530
1999 23,497,599 22,010,489
1998 23,311,564 21,835,703
1997 23,110,830 21,634,124
1996 22,895,746 21,441,432
1995 22,669,304 21,267,653
1994 22,393,975 21,086,645
1993 22,073,352 20,899,019
1992 21,750,911 20,704,227
1991 21,428,638 20,503,568
1990 21,112,137 20,278,946
1989 20,804,367 20,055,492
1988 20,503,161 19,839,704
1987 20,205,483 19,617,046
1986 19,910,855 19,411,454
1985 19,620,388 19,191,510
1984 19,335,043 18,929,866
1983 19,054,034 18,653,146
1982 18,776,357 18,354,855
1981 18,501,295 18,029,982
1980 18,236,786 17,704,538
1979 17,983,470 17,372,779
1978 17,735,995 17,042,272
1977 17,492,798 16,730,895
1976 17,243,450 16,401,413
1975 16,971,055 16,075,128
1974 16,673,121 15,784,817
1973 16,350,367 15,505,121
1972 15,975,069 15,220,495
1971 15,572,457 14,913,564
1970 15,172,775 14,582,944
1969 14,767,615 14,068,984
1968 14,365,596 13,548,537
1967 13,958,350 13,210,344
1966 13,569,094 12,874,153
1965 13,219,369 12,511,863
1964 12,889,770 12,137,143
1963 12,567,057 11,762,101
1962 12,262,882 11,392,513
1961 11,990,713 11,030,385
1960 11,722,953 10,667,705

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Taiwan gained 692,490 people (a 3.03% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Taiwan's population decreased by 286,484 people (a 1.22% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Taiwan was ranked 49th in 2006 and ranked 60th 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 Taiwan will decrease by 15.3% to 19,677,203 people and rank change from 60th to 76th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Taiwan's population already peaked in 2019 at 23.6M people and is projected to decrease to 10.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Taiwan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Taiwan
2100 -0.65% -1.2%
2099 -0.65% -1.21%
2098 -0.65% -1.22%
2097 -0.65% -1.22%
2096 -0.65% -1.23%
2095 -0.65% -1.24%
2094 -0.64% -1.24%
2093 -0.64% -1.25%
2092 -0.64% -1.26%
2091 -0.63% -1.29%
2090 -0.63% -1.29%
2089 -0.62% -1.31%
2088 -0.62% -1.31%
2087 -0.61% -1.32%
2086 -0.6% -1.34%
2085 -0.6% -1.37%
2084 -0.59% -1.38%
2083 -0.59% -1.39%
2082 -0.58% -1.41%
2081 -0.58% -1.42%
2080 -0.57% -1.44%
2079 -0.57% -1.46%
2078 -0.56% -1.46%
2077 -0.56% -1.46%
2076 -0.56% -1.47%
2075 -0.55% -1.48%
2074 -0.55% -1.47%
2073 -0.55% -1.48%
2072 -0.55% -1.46%
2071 -0.55% -1.45%
2070 -0.55% -1.43%
2069 -0.55% -1.44%
2068 -0.54% -1.42%
2067 -0.54% -1.4%
2066 -0.54% -1.39%
2065 -0.53% -1.38%
2064 -0.53% -1.36%
2063 -0.52% -1.35%
2062 -0.51% -1.33%
2061 -0.5% -1.3%
2060 -0.49% -1.27%
2059 -0.48% -1.23%
2058 -0.47% -1.21%
2057 -0.45% -1.17%
2056 -0.44% -1.16%
2055 -0.42% -1.13%
2054 -0.41% -1.1%
2053 -0.39% -1.07%
2052 -0.38% -1.05%
2051 -0.36% -1.03%
2050 -0.35% -1.01%
2049 -0.33% -0.97%
2048 -0.32% -0.96%
2047 -0.3% -0.91%
2046 -0.29% -0.9%
2045 -0.27% -0.86%
2044 -0.26% -0.84%
2043 -0.24% -0.81%
2042 -0.23% -0.78%
2041 -0.21% -0.74%
2040 -0.2% -0.71%
2039 -0.17% -0.68%
2038 -0.15% -0.66%
2037 -0.13% -0.63%
2036 -0.1% -0.6%
2035 -0.07% -0.58%
2034 -0.04% -0.55%
2033 -0.006% -0.53%
2032 0.03% -0.51%
2031 0.07% -0.49%
2030 0.1% -0.47%
2029 0.14% -0.46%
2028 0.18% -0.46%
2027 0.22% -0.44%
2026 0.25% -0.44%
2025 0.29% -0.34%
2024 0.31% 0.29%
2023 0.34% 0.1%
2022 0.37% -0.63%
2021 0.37% -0.48%
2020 0.38% -0.06%
2019 0.41% 0.07%
2018 0.44% 0.1%
2017 0.46% 0.17%
2016 0.48% 0.23%
2015 0.49% 0.25%
2014 0.48% 0.25%
2013 0.47% 0.32%
2012 0.45% 0.33%
2011 0.44% 0.23%
2010 0.44% 0.27%
2009 0.46% 0.35%
2008 0.48% 0.35%
2007 0.5% 0.41%
2006 0.52% 0.41%
2005 0.58% 0.37%
2004 0.68% 0.37%
2003 0.61% 0.44%
2002 0.54% 0.55%
2001 0.63% 0.71%
2000 0.72% 0.79%
1999 0.8% 0.8%
1998 0.87% 0.93%
1997 0.94% 0.9%
1996 1% 0.82%
1995 1.23% 0.86%
1994 1.45% 0.9%
1993 1.48% 0.94%
1992 1.5% 0.98%
1991 1.5% 1.11%
1990 1.48% 1.11%
1989 1.47% 1.09%
1988 1.47% 1.14%
1987 1.48% 1.06%
1986 1.48% 1.15%
1985 1.48% 1.38%
1984 1.47% 1.48%
1983 1.48% 1.63%
1982 1.49% 1.8%
1981 1.45% 1.84%
1980 1.41% 1.91%
1979 1.4% 1.94%
1978 1.39% 1.86%
1977 1.45% 2.01%
1976 1.61% 2.03%
1975 1.79% 1.84%
1974 1.97% 1.8%
1973 2.35% 1.87%
1972 2.59% 2.06%
1971 2.63% 2.27%
1970 2.74% 3.65%
1969 2.8% 3.84%
1968 2.92% 2.56%
1967 2.87% 2.61%
1966 2.65% 2.9%
1965 2.56% 3.09%
1964 2.57% 3.19%
1963 2.48% 3.24%
1962 2.27% 3.28%
1961 2.28% 3.4%
1960 - 3.69%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Taiwan's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

North Korea Taiwan
Current population
26659144
23229461
Population rank 57/197 60/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.28%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
6.72 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
3.9 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -215
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -78,445
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 180/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +47,029
Net migration rank 104/196 23/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Taiwan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Taiwan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -
2024 - -2,473 -67,188 47,029
2023 86,203 -1,997 -69,794 225,599
2022 96,495 -1,997 -68,327 -42,430
2021 99,710 -1,585 -30,039 -156,010
2020 95,920 -1,585 -7,782 -33,978
2019 106,208 -3,142 1,416 12,718
2018 113,164 -3,225 8,725 8,888
2017 120,181 -3,224 22,613 8,809
2016 125,048 -3,222 35,980 11,707
2015 127,365 -3,208 49,741 8,581
2014 127,078 -3,042 - -
2013 122,519 -2,933 - -
2012 118,773 -2,919 - -
2011 114,798 -2,957 43,836 19,077
2010 112,443 -3,053 - -
2009 111,530 -3,058 - -
2008 122,015 -3,051 - -
2007 120,521 -3,021 - -
2006 129,171 -2,948 - -
2005 132,765 -2,861 - -
2004 155,838 -2,758 - -
2003 178,775 -2,717 - -
2002 119,504 -2,763 - -
2001 143,321 -2,884 132,707 -3,811
2000 161,591 -3,142 - -
1999 181,613 -3,443 - -
1998 197,589 -3,706 - -
1997 211,325 -3,745 - -
1996 226,095 -3,512 - -
1995 233,381 -3,094 - -
1994 320,861 -517 - -
1993 320,880 0 - -
1992 324,002 0 - -
1991 320,551 0 215,698 -12,128
1990 312,460 0 - -
1989 303,078 0 - -
1988 299,305 0 - -
1987 296,030 0 - -
1986 293,227 0 - -
1985 287,714 0 - -
1984 282,987 0 - -
1983 279,046 0 - -
1982 276,332 0 - -
1981 273,800 0 326,883 4,508
1980 255,206 0 - -
1979 251,409 0 - -
1978 243,533 0 - -
1977 242,870 0 - -
1976 255,841 0 - -
1975 288,966 0 - -
1974 306,902 0 - -
1973 338,600 0 - -
1972 411,997 0 - -
1971 393,220 0 - -
1970 406,129 0 - -
1969 404,189 0 - -
1968 399,837 0 - -
1967 414,632 0 - -
1966 363,882 0 346,958 18,774
1965 335,587 0 - -
1964 323,623 0 - -
1963 321,805 0 - -
1962 286,534 0 - -
1961 257,788 0 - -
1960 277,717 0 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/taiwan | 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 Taiwan 56.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 57,467 people) and 43.3% is from migration (a gain of 43,884 people).

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
Taiwan
City Population
New Taipei 4.05M
Taichung 2.87M
Kaohsiung 2.72M
Taipei 2.44M
Taoyuan 2.35M
Tainan 1.85M
Hsinchu 455K
Keelung 360K
Chiayi 261K
Changhua 221K

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); National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/taiwan | 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. National Statistics, Taiwan (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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