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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 2.68 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.18% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

North Korea vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Thailand
2100 19,601,003 45,708,431
2099 19,729,897 46,053,146
2098 19,859,274 46,403,189
2097 19,989,589 46,757,918
2096 20,120,795 47,118,652
2095 20,252,653 47,484,043
2094 20,384,384 47,853,561
2093 20,516,457 48,226,682
2092 20,649,140 48,605,235
2091 20,781,939 48,984,504
2090 20,914,434 49,368,049
2089 21,046,685 49,756,629
2088 21,178,406 50,142,276
2087 21,310,103 50,532,164
2086 21,441,361 50,925,294
2085 21,571,843 51,321,960
2084 21,701,761 51,724,454
2083 21,830,989 52,127,592
2082 21,960,135 52,533,368
2081 22,088,774 52,938,345
2080 22,216,836 53,347,733
2079 22,344,442 53,762,492
2078 22,471,597 54,177,529
2077 22,598,635 54,595,112
2076 22,725,293 55,015,291
2075 22,852,140 55,438,108
2074 22,979,532 55,867,914
2073 23,107,165 56,300,358
2072 23,234,961 56,735,274
2071 23,363,260 57,172,515
2070 23,491,789 57,616,731
2069 23,621,167 58,061,962
2068 23,750,741 58,512,248
2067 23,880,460 58,962,990
2066 24,010,584 59,413,893
2065 24,140,518 59,873,261
2064 24,269,765 60,331,851
2063 24,397,924 60,792,306
2062 24,525,403 61,257,068
2061 24,651,788 61,720,030
2060 24,776,326 62,187,380
2059 24,898,430 62,651,158
2058 25,018,630 63,113,332
2057 25,135,871 63,572,746
2056 25,250,670 64,027,520
2055 25,361,704 64,473,146
2054 25,469,578 64,912,210
2053 25,574,137 65,338,122
2052 25,675,211 65,758,061
2051 25,772,870 66,162,612
2050 25,866,886 66,552,915
2049 25,957,363 66,931,487
2048 26,043,774 67,291,479
2047 26,126,594 67,636,461
2046 26,205,638 67,967,131
2045 26,281,344 68,281,902
2044 26,353,455 68,579,656
2043 26,422,173 68,864,788
2042 26,486,580 69,133,982
2041 26,547,651 69,390,832
2040 26,604,634 69,626,857
2039 26,656,882 69,848,522
2038 26,703,458 70,056,903
2037 26,744,185 70,250,371
2036 26,778,348 70,429,677
2035 26,805,065 70,599,021
2034 26,823,948 70,751,094
2033 26,834,263 70,891,510
2032 26,835,978 71,019,665
2031 26,827,992 71,134,882
2030 26,809,850 71,241,584
2029 26,782,161 71,337,147
2028 26,744,278 71,423,119
2027 26,696,504 71,499,411
2026 26,638,530 71,565,981
2025 26,571,036 71,619,863
2024 26,498,823 71,668,011
2023 26,418,204 71,702,435
2022 26,328,845 71,735,329
2021 26,232,534 71,727,332
2020 26,136,312 71,641,484
2019 26,037,632 71,522,271
2018 25,931,147 71,376,079
2017 25,817,709 71,160,187
2016 25,698,326 70,859,841
2015 25,575,350 70,540,795
2014 25,451,262 70,216,367
2013 25,329,451 69,845,114
2012 25,211,728 69,436,098
2011 25,097,874 69,007,208
2010 24,987,258 68,579,447
2009 24,878,332 68,121,080
2008 24,764,618 67,619,830
2007 24,646,383 67,102,394
2006 24,524,507 66,567,687
2005 24,396,433 66,017,420
2004 24,254,943 65,452,047
2003 24,090,380 64,868,166
2002 23,943,973 64,266,437
2001 23,815,358 63,651,141
2000 23,665,910 63,007,815
1999 23,497,599 62,299,043
1998 23,311,564 61,522,630
1997 23,110,830 60,724,584
1996 22,895,746 59,920,064
1995 22,669,304 59,098,232
1994 22,393,975 58,260,854
1993 22,073,352 57,408,198
1992 21,750,911 56,528,834
1991 21,428,638 55,637,434
1990 21,112,137 54,738,329
1989 20,804,367 53,848,956
1988 20,503,161 52,969,595
1987 20,205,483 52,074,105
1986 19,910,855 51,177,834
1985 19,620,388 50,270,753
1984 19,335,043 49,351,708
1983 19,054,034 48,423,309
1982 18,776,357 47,494,577
1981 18,501,295 46,575,855
1980 18,236,786 45,650,022
1979 17,983,470 44,718,434
1978 17,735,995 43,788,976
1977 17,492,798 42,843,974
1976 17,243,450 41,896,504
1975 16,971,055 40,940,005
1974 16,673,121 39,952,891
1973 16,350,367 38,947,787
1972 15,975,069 37,933,929
1971 15,572,457 36,937,387
1970 15,172,775 35,954,408
1969 14,767,615 34,973,782
1968 14,365,596 34,002,560
1967 13,958,350 33,037,801
1966 13,569,094 32,086,071
1965 13,219,369 31,149,337
1964 12,889,770 30,232,141
1963 12,567,057 29,342,322
1962 12,262,882 28,481,040
1961 11,990,713 27,650,334
1960 11,722,953 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Thailand
2100 -0.65% -0.75%
2099 -0.65% -0.75%
2098 -0.65% -0.76%
2097 -0.65% -0.77%
2096 -0.65% -0.77%
2095 -0.65% -0.77%
2094 -0.64% -0.77%
2093 -0.64% -0.78%
2092 -0.64% -0.77%
2091 -0.63% -0.78%
2090 -0.63% -0.78%
2089 -0.62% -0.77%
2088 -0.62% -0.77%
2087 -0.61% -0.77%
2086 -0.6% -0.77%
2085 -0.6% -0.78%
2084 -0.59% -0.77%
2083 -0.59% -0.77%
2082 -0.58% -0.76%
2081 -0.58% -0.77%
2080 -0.57% -0.77%
2079 -0.57% -0.77%
2078 -0.56% -0.76%
2077 -0.56% -0.76%
2076 -0.56% -0.76%
2075 -0.55% -0.77%
2074 -0.55% -0.77%
2073 -0.55% -0.77%
2072 -0.55% -0.76%
2071 -0.55% -0.77%
2070 -0.55% -0.77%
2069 -0.55% -0.77%
2068 -0.54% -0.76%
2067 -0.54% -0.76%
2066 -0.54% -0.77%
2065 -0.53% -0.76%
2064 -0.53% -0.76%
2063 -0.52% -0.76%
2062 -0.51% -0.75%
2061 -0.5% -0.75%
2060 -0.49% -0.74%
2059 -0.48% -0.73%
2058 -0.47% -0.72%
2057 -0.45% -0.71%
2056 -0.44% -0.69%
2055 -0.42% -0.68%
2054 -0.41% -0.65%
2053 -0.39% -0.64%
2052 -0.38% -0.61%
2051 -0.36% -0.59%
2050 -0.35% -0.57%
2049 -0.33% -0.53%
2048 -0.32% -0.51%
2047 -0.3% -0.49%
2046 -0.29% -0.46%
2045 -0.27% -0.43%
2044 -0.26% -0.41%
2043 -0.24% -0.39%
2042 -0.23% -0.37%
2041 -0.21% -0.34%
2040 -0.2% -0.32%
2039 -0.17% -0.3%
2038 -0.15% -0.28%
2037 -0.13% -0.25%
2036 -0.1% -0.24%
2035 -0.07% -0.21%
2034 -0.04% -0.2%
2033 -0.006% -0.18%
2032 0.03% -0.16%
2031 0.07% -0.15%
2030 0.1% -0.13%
2029 0.14% -0.12%
2028 0.18% -0.11%
2027 0.22% -0.09%
2026 0.25% -0.08%
2025 0.27% -0.07%
2024 0.31% -0.05%
2023 0.34% -0.05%
2022 0.37% 0.01%
2021 0.37% 0.12%
2020 0.38% 0.17%
2019 0.41% 0.2%
2018 0.44% 0.3%
2017 0.46% 0.42%
2016 0.48% 0.45%
2015 0.49% 0.46%
2014 0.48% 0.53%
2013 0.47% 0.59%
2012 0.45% 0.62%
2011 0.44% 0.62%
2010 0.44% 0.67%
2009 0.46% 0.74%
2008 0.48% 0.77%
2007 0.5% 0.8%
2006 0.52% 0.83%
2005 0.58% 0.86%
2004 0.68% 0.9%
2003 0.61% 0.94%
2002 0.54% 0.97%
2001 0.63% 1.02%
2000 0.72% 1.14%
1999 0.8% 1.26%
1998 0.87% 1.31%
1997 0.94% 1.34%
1996 1% 1.39%
1995 1.23% 1.44%
1994 1.45% 1.49%
1993 1.48% 1.56%
1992 1.5% 1.6%
1991 1.5% 1.64%
1990 1.48% 1.65%
1989 1.47% 1.66%
1988 1.47% 1.72%
1987 1.48% 1.75%
1986 1.48% 1.8%
1985 1.48% 1.86%
1984 1.47% 1.92%
1983 1.48% 1.96%
1982 1.49% 1.97%
1981 1.45% 2.03%
1980 1.41% 2.08%
1979 1.4% 2.12%
1978 1.39% 2.21%
1977 1.45% 2.26%
1976 1.61% 2.34%
1975 1.79% 2.47%
1974 1.97% 2.58%
1973 2.35% 2.67%
1972 2.59% 2.7%
1971 2.63% 2.73%
1970 2.74% 2.8%
1969 2.8% 2.86%
1968 2.92% 2.92%
1967 2.87% 2.97%
1966 2.65% 3.01%
1965 2.56% 3.03%
1964 2.57% 3.03%
1963 2.48% 3.02%
1962 2.27% 3%
1961 2.28% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

North Korea Thailand
Current population
26668308
71565981
Population rank 57/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.86%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
10.9 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +198 -132
Annual growth/decline +72,213 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 164/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +27,509
Net migration rank 104/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 27,509
2024 79,496 -2,473 -65,720 23,321
2023 86,203 -1,997 -46,105 19,648
2022 96,495 -1,997 -61,046 21,683
2021 99,710 -1,585 57,382 -2,093
2020 95,920 -1,585 84,107 32,277
2019 106,208 -3,142 116,867 5,221
2018 113,164 -3,225 159,383 10,984
2017 120,181 -3,224 194,695 66,805
2016 125,048 -3,222 226,255 112,978
2015 127,365 -3,208 266,362 32,500
2014 127,078 -3,042 294,628 55,358
2013 122,519 -2,933 325,059 67,452
2012 118,773 -2,919 351,485 74,033
2011 114,798 -2,957 365,670 66,607
2010 112,443 -3,053 370,466 52,791
2009 111,530 -3,058 382,636 110,883
2008 122,015 -3,051 401,730 107,333
2007 120,521 -3,021 425,362 100,486
2006 129,171 -2,948 441,211 102,362
2005 132,765 -2,861 456,378 100,542
2004 155,838 -2,758 466,542 107,199
2003 178,775 -2,717 488,003 105,917
2002 119,504 -2,763 504,299 105,215
2001 143,321 -2,884 524,230 96,817
2000 161,591 -3,142 543,884 121,640
1999 181,613 -3,443 578,073 173,924
1998 197,589 -3,706 617,318 183,471
1997 211,325 -3,745 644,834 150,411
1996 226,095 -3,512 661,397 152,397
1995 233,381 -3,094 682,703 147,226
1994 320,861 -517 712,589 132,271
1993 320,880 0 737,696 122,746
1992 324,002 0 754,999 143,318
1991 320,551 0 760,508 124,034
1990 312,460 0 760,808 152,916
1989 303,078 0 774,563 90,497
1988 299,305 0 765,252 128,469
1987 296,030 0 774,498 122,791
1986 293,227 0 783,430 111,820
1985 287,714 0 776,935 141,963
1984 282,987 0 779,856 139,345
1983 279,046 0 794,239 143,393
1982 276,332 0 817,951 101,885
1981 273,800 0 839,297 78,337
1980 255,206 0 845,575 88,478
1979 251,409 0 843,434 85,693
1978 243,533 0 847,799 82,011
1977 242,870 0 871,232 88,937
1976 255,841 0 894,072 40,656
1975 288,966 0 911,980 66,306
1974 306,902 0 923,151 72,801
1973 338,600 0 933,540 80,704
1972 411,997 0 940,420 73,082
1971 393,220 0 936,215 43,400
1970 406,129 0 937,116 49,221
1969 404,189 0 948,314 26,551
1968 399,837 0 953,806 13,718
1967 414,632 0 944,980 17,005
1966 363,882 0 929,469 12,016
1965 335,587 0 909,000 22,995
1964 323,623 0 885,137 17,249
1963 321,805 0 860,728 16,494
1962 286,534 0 828,741 16,605
1961 257,788 0 801,140 14,968
1960 277,717 0 774,190 6,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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