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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 10,590,927 people in Tajikistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 11,038,274 in Tajikistan.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.42 times bigger than Tajikistan's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Tajikistan is the 88th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.13% for Tajikistan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +2.33% in Tajikistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Tajikistan has grown from 7.06M to 11M (56.4% growth).

North Korea vs Tajikistan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Tajikistan
2100 19,604,631 20,390,053
2099 19,733,548 20,381,074
2098 19,862,949 20,367,161
2097 19,993,288 20,348,897
2096 20,124,518 20,324,869
2095 20,256,401 20,297,885
2094 20,388,156 20,265,966
2093 20,520,253 20,234,160
2092 20,652,961 20,192,937
2091 20,785,785 20,148,873
2090 20,918,305 20,103,798
2089 21,050,580 20,056,079
2088 21,182,325 20,005,521
2087 21,314,047 19,950,317
2086 21,445,329 19,895,606
2085 21,575,835 19,836,988
2084 21,705,777 19,773,272
2083 21,835,029 19,706,082
2082 21,964,199 19,639,516
2081 22,092,862 19,572,596
2080 22,220,948 19,499,390
2079 22,348,577 19,425,502
2078 22,475,755 19,347,261
2077 22,602,817 19,265,447
2076 22,729,499 19,175,355
2075 22,856,369 19,083,859
2074 22,983,784 18,988,290
2073 23,111,441 18,889,470
2072 23,239,261 18,785,103
2071 23,367,583 18,674,697
2070 23,496,136 18,559,138
2069 23,625,538 18,437,873
2068 23,755,136 18,315,011
2067 23,884,879 18,187,508
2066 24,015,027 18,054,404
2065 24,144,985 17,921,674
2064 24,274,257 17,783,801
2063 24,402,439 17,641,066
2062 24,529,941 17,498,306
2061 24,656,350 17,356,130
2060 24,780,911 17,206,922
2059 24,903,037 17,056,085
2058 25,023,260 16,903,532
2057 25,140,523 16,749,284
2056 25,255,342 16,595,691
2055 25,366,397 16,441,650
2054 25,474,292 16,285,520
2053 25,578,870 16,130,235
2052 25,679,963 15,967,770
2051 25,777,639 15,805,253
2050 25,871,673 15,638,613
2049 25,962,167 15,468,883
2048 26,048,593 15,292,499
2047 26,131,429 15,112,083
2046 26,210,487 14,928,123
2045 26,286,208 14,739,540
2044 26,358,331 14,544,544
2043 26,427,062 14,349,357
2042 26,491,482 14,147,892
2041 26,552,564 13,945,694
2040 26,609,557 13,741,587
2039 26,661,815 13,536,704
2038 26,708,400 13,331,490
2037 26,749,134 13,125,051
2036 26,783,304 12,917,110
2035 26,810,026 12,714,184
2034 26,828,912 12,515,962
2033 26,839,229 12,321,294
2032 26,840,944 12,128,060
2031 26,832,957 11,938,351
2030 26,814,812 11,749,706
2029 26,787,117 11,559,235
2028 26,749,227 11,369,414
2027 26,701,444 11,178,605
2026 26,643,460 10,986,242
2025 26,575,953 10,791,246
2024 26,498,823 10,590,927
2023 26,418,204 10,389,799
2022 26,328,845 10,182,222
2021 26,232,534 9,966,908
2020 26,136,312 9,749,310
2019 26,037,632 9,529,966
2018 25,931,147 9,307,333
2017 25,817,709 9,085,946
2016 25,698,326 8,865,631
2015 25,575,350 8,643,840
2014 25,451,262 8,425,552
2013 25,329,451 8,216,724
2012 25,211,728 8,014,084
2011 25,097,874 7,824,785
2010 24,987,258 7,652,141
2009 24,878,332 7,490,230
2008 24,764,618 7,338,403
2007 24,646,383 7,194,477
2006 24,524,507 7,057,566
2005 24,396,433 6,924,720
2004 24,254,943 6,790,547
2003 24,090,380 6,658,575
2002 23,943,973 6,531,669
2001 23,815,358 6,407,377
2000 23,665,910 6,284,735
1999 23,497,599 6,208,370
1998 23,311,564 6,176,397
1997 23,110,830 6,139,829
1996 22,895,746 6,066,523
1995 22,669,304 5,948,584
1994 22,393,975 5,825,368
1993 22,073,352 5,724,993
1992 21,750,911 5,649,400
1991 21,428,638 5,541,205
1990 21,112,137 5,398,768
1989 20,804,367 5,267,249
1988 20,503,161 5,114,989
1987 20,205,483 4,939,059
1986 19,910,855 4,772,139
1985 19,620,388 4,619,003
1984 19,335,043 4,480,026
1983 19,054,034 4,350,874
1982 18,776,357 4,227,171
1981 18,501,295 4,109,022
1980 18,236,786 3,995,256
1979 17,983,470 3,882,691
1978 17,735,995 3,768,508
1977 17,492,798 3,653,265
1976 17,243,450 3,540,076
1975 16,971,055 3,430,425
1974 16,673,121 3,324,499
1973 16,350,367 3,222,290
1972 15,975,069 3,123,691
1971 15,572,457 3,028,837
1970 15,172,775 2,936,779
1969 14,767,615 2,845,273
1968 14,365,596 2,753,848
1967 13,958,350 2,664,130
1966 13,569,094 2,577,184
1965 13,219,369 2,492,998
1964 12,889,770 2,411,260
1963 12,567,057 2,331,736
1962 12,262,882 2,255,026
1961 11,990,713 2,181,805
1960 11,722,953 2,112,131

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/tajikistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Tajikistan gained 1,808,065 people (a 25.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Tajikistan's population increased by 2,172,643 people (a 24.5% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Tajikistan was ranked 98th in 2006 and ranked 88th 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 Tajikistan will increase by 41.7% to 15,638,613 people and rank change from 88th to 82nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 20.4M people in 2100 for Tajikistan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Tajikistan
2100 -0.65% 0.04%
2099 -0.65% 0.07%
2098 -0.65% 0.09%
2097 -0.65% 0.12%
2096 -0.65% 0.13%
2095 -0.65% 0.16%
2094 -0.64% 0.16%
2093 -0.64% 0.2%
2092 -0.64% 0.22%
2091 -0.63% 0.22%
2090 -0.63% 0.24%
2089 -0.62% 0.25%
2088 -0.62% 0.28%
2087 -0.61% 0.27%
2086 -0.6% 0.3%
2085 -0.6% 0.32%
2084 -0.59% 0.34%
2083 -0.59% 0.34%
2082 -0.58% 0.34%
2081 -0.58% 0.38%
2080 -0.57% 0.38%
2079 -0.57% 0.4%
2078 -0.56% 0.42%
2077 -0.56% 0.47%
2076 -0.56% 0.48%
2075 -0.55% 0.5%
2074 -0.55% 0.52%
2073 -0.55% 0.56%
2072 -0.55% 0.59%
2071 -0.55% 0.62%
2070 -0.55% 0.66%
2069 -0.55% 0.67%
2068 -0.54% 0.7%
2067 -0.54% 0.74%
2066 -0.54% 0.74%
2065 -0.53% 0.78%
2064 -0.53% 0.81%
2063 -0.52% 0.82%
2062 -0.51% 0.82%
2061 -0.5% 0.87%
2060 -0.49% 0.88%
2059 -0.48% 0.9%
2058 -0.47% 0.92%
2057 -0.45% 0.93%
2056 -0.44% 0.94%
2055 -0.42% 0.96%
2054 -0.41% 0.96%
2053 -0.39% 1.02%
2052 -0.38% 1.03%
2051 -0.36% 1.07%
2050 -0.35% 1.1%
2049 -0.33% 1.15%
2048 -0.32% 1.19%
2047 -0.3% 1.23%
2046 -0.29% 1.28%
2045 -0.27% 1.34%
2044 -0.26% 1.36%
2043 -0.24% 1.42%
2042 -0.23% 1.45%
2041 -0.21% 1.49%
2040 -0.2% 1.51%
2039 -0.17% 1.54%
2038 -0.15% 1.57%
2037 -0.13% 1.61%
2036 -0.1% 1.6%
2035 -0.07% 1.58%
2034 -0.04% 1.58%
2033 -0.006% 1.59%
2032 0.03% 1.59%
2031 0.07% 1.61%
2030 0.1% 1.65%
2029 0.14% 1.67%
2028 0.18% 1.71%
2027 0.22% 1.75%
2026 0.25% 1.81%
2025 0.29% 1.89%
2024 0.31% 1.94%
2023 0.34% 2.04%
2022 0.37% 2.16%
2021 0.37% 2.23%
2020 0.38% 2.3%
2019 0.41% 2.39%
2018 0.44% 2.44%
2017 0.46% 2.49%
2016 0.48% 2.57%
2015 0.49% 2.59%
2014 0.48% 2.54%
2013 0.47% 2.53%
2012 0.45% 2.42%
2011 0.44% 2.26%
2010 0.44% 2.16%
2009 0.46% 2.07%
2008 0.48% 2%
2007 0.5% 1.94%
2006 0.52% 1.92%
2005 0.58% 1.98%
2004 0.68% 1.98%
2003 0.61% 1.94%
2002 0.54% 1.94%
2001 0.63% 1.95%
2000 0.72% 1.23%
1999 0.8% 0.52%
1998 0.87% 0.6%
1997 0.94% 1.21%
1996 1% 1.98%
1995 1.23% 2.12%
1994 1.45% 1.75%
1993 1.48% 1.34%
1992 1.5% 1.95%
1991 1.5% 2.64%
1990 1.48% 2.5%
1989 1.47% 2.98%
1988 1.47% 3.56%
1987 1.48% 3.5%
1986 1.48% 3.32%
1985 1.48% 3.1%
1984 1.47% 2.97%
1983 1.48% 2.93%
1982 1.49% 2.88%
1981 1.45% 2.85%
1980 1.41% 2.9%
1979 1.4% 3.03%
1978 1.39% 3.15%
1977 1.45% 3.2%
1976 1.61% 3.2%
1975 1.79% 3.19%
1974 1.97% 3.17%
1973 2.35% 3.16%
1972 2.59% 3.13%
1971 2.63% 3.13%
1970 2.74% 3.22%
1969 2.8% 3.32%
1968 2.92% 3.37%
1967 2.87% 3.37%
1966 2.65% 3.38%
1965 2.56% 3.39%
1964 2.57% 3.41%
1963 2.48% 3.4%
1962 2.27% 3.36%
1961 2.28% 3.3%

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/tajikistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Tajikistan's population grew by 1.94%.

Live population counters

North Korea Tajikistan
Current population
26659144
11038274
Population rank 57/197 88/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.13%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.61 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +551
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +201,128
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.94%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 55/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
24.4 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -21,606
Net migration rank 104/196 152/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 276,777
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 101/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 124/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Tajikistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Tajikistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -21,606
2024 - -2,473 - -21,236
2023 86,203 -1,997 223,828 -19,999
2022 96,495 -1,997 228,336 -17,001
2021 99,710 -1,585 222,850 -3,564
2020 95,920 -1,585 219,467 -3,564
2019 106,208 -3,142 231,817 -9,041
2018 113,164 -3,225 228,597 -6,111
2017 120,181 -3,224 224,396 -4,093
2016 125,048 -3,222 228,547 -8,210
2015 127,365 -3,208 230,903 -7,660
2014 127,078 -3,042 227,304 -13,962
2013 122,519 -2,933 220,693 -16,362
2012 118,773 -2,919 213,078 -12,132
2011 114,798 -2,957 208,429 -30,783
2010 112,443 -3,053 201,389 -33,733
2009 111,530 -3,058 192,851 -36,677
2008 122,015 -3,051 182,337 -34,855
2007 120,521 -3,021 173,200 -32,831
2006 129,171 -2,948 164,046 -30,591
2005 132,765 -2,861 160,189 -27,954
2004 155,838 -2,758 161,201 -25,082
2003 178,775 -2,717 150,391 -22,562
2002 119,504 -2,763 146,492 -20,526
2001 143,321 -2,884 142,276 -19,657
2000 161,591 -3,142 136,549 -13,871
1999 181,613 -3,443 147,622 -117,571
1998 197,589 -3,706 153,508 -119,621
1997 211,325 -3,745 149,825 -110,572
1996 226,095 -3,512 138,287 -30,922
1995 233,381 -3,094 168,934 -40,418
1994 320,861 -517 167,590 -49,668
1993 320,880 0 157,975 -75,147
1992 324,002 0 163,652 -95,280
1991 320,551 0 177,585 -29,553
1990 312,460 0 178,429 -41,596
1989 303,078 0 179,212 -53,020
1988 299,305 0 172,805 5,523
1987 296,030 0 163,611 9,923
1986 293,227 0 155,987 4,321
1985 287,714 0 145,720 247
1984 282,987 0 139,145 -7,152
1983 279,046 0 133,280 -6,972
1982 276,332 0 127,838 -6,730
1981 273,800 0 121,418 -6,221
1980 255,206 0 117,888 -5,557
1979 251,409 0 114,496 -1,703
1978 243,533 0 110,564 5,006
1977 242,870 0 106,920 7,999
1976 255,841 0 103,777 7,679
1975 288,966 0 100,604 7,237
1974 306,902 0 97,481 6,531
1973 338,600 0 94,523 5,876
1972 411,997 0 91,677 5,123
1971 393,220 0 88,618 4,293
1970 406,129 0 85,645 5,559
1969 404,189 0 82,931 8,886
1968 399,837 0 80,698 10,323
1967 414,632 0 78,733 9,670
1966 363,882 0 76,702 8,796
1965 335,587 0 75,139 7,744
1964 323,623 0 74,030 6,568
1963 321,805 0 73,065 5,379
1962 286,534 0 70,700 4,270
1961 257,788 0 68,182 3,291
1960 277,717 0 65,415 2,457

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/tajikistan | 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 Tajikistan 96% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,266,045 people) and 3.95% is from migration (a loss of 93,205 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 276,777 people or 2.6% in Tajikistan.

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
Tajikistan
City Population
Dushanbe 948K
Khujand 199K
Qurghonteppa 127K
Istaravshan 64.3K
Konibodom 54.4K
Tursunzoda 46.7K
Panjakent 33K
Buston 29.8K
Ghafurov 18.4K
Istiklol 14.2K

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/tajikistan | 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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