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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 104,175 people in Tonga in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 103,309 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 258.1 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.77% decline).

North Korea vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Tonga
2100 19,604,631 117,647
2099 19,733,548 117,615
2098 19,862,949 117,560
2097 19,993,288 117,522
2096 20,124,518 117,491
2095 20,256,401 117,414
2094 20,388,156 117,321
2093 20,520,253 117,237
2092 20,652,961 117,127
2091 20,785,785 117,013
2090 20,918,305 116,869
2089 21,050,580 116,712
2088 21,182,325 116,511
2087 21,314,047 116,307
2086 21,445,329 116,118
2085 21,575,835 115,902
2084 21,705,777 115,658
2083 21,835,029 115,366
2082 21,964,199 115,071
2081 22,092,862 114,782
2080 22,220,948 114,453
2079 22,348,577 114,103
2078 22,475,755 113,740
2077 22,602,817 113,378
2076 22,729,499 112,974
2075 22,856,369 112,594
2074 22,983,784 112,208
2073 23,111,441 111,819
2072 23,239,261 111,405
2071 23,367,583 110,992
2070 23,496,136 110,605
2069 23,625,538 110,238
2068 23,755,136 109,853
2067 23,884,879 109,474
2066 24,015,027 109,090
2065 24,144,985 108,765
2064 24,274,257 108,405
2063 24,402,439 108,061
2062 24,529,941 107,738
2061 24,656,350 107,424
2060 24,780,911 107,145
2059 24,903,037 106,869
2058 25,023,260 106,617
2057 25,140,523 106,372
2056 25,255,342 106,158
2055 25,366,397 105,942
2054 25,474,292 105,725
2053 25,578,870 105,513
2052 25,679,963 105,313
2051 25,777,639 105,106
2050 25,871,673 104,871
2049 25,962,167 104,663
2048 26,048,593 104,414
2047 26,131,429 104,180
2046 26,210,487 103,879
2045 26,286,208 103,575
2044 26,358,331 103,241
2043 26,427,062 102,961
2042 26,491,482 102,718
2041 26,552,564 102,474
2040 26,609,557 102,254
2039 26,661,815 102,088
2038 26,708,400 101,861
2037 26,749,134 101,733
2036 26,783,304 101,653
2035 26,810,026 101,607
2034 26,828,912 101,598
2033 26,839,229 101,618
2032 26,840,944 101,659
2031 26,832,957 101,790
2030 26,814,812 101,954
2029 26,787,117 102,207
2028 26,749,227 102,521
2027 26,701,444 102,868
2026 26,643,460 103,309
2025 26,575,953 103,768
2024 26,498,823 104,175
2023 26,418,204 104,597
2022 26,328,845 105,042
2021 26,232,534 105,490
2020 26,136,312 105,704
2019 26,037,632 105,669
2018 25,931,147 105,567
2017 25,817,709 105,356
2016 25,698,326 105,524
2015 25,575,350 106,095
2014 25,451,262 106,609
2013 25,329,451 107,078
2012 25,211,728 107,460
2011 25,097,874 107,570
2010 24,987,258 107,400
2009 24,878,332 107,203
2008 24,764,618 107,020
2007 24,646,383 106,726
2006 24,524,507 106,253
2005 24,396,433 105,671
2004 24,254,943 105,071
2003 24,090,380 104,464
2002 23,943,973 103,874
2001 23,815,358 103,288
2000 23,665,910 102,677
1999 23,497,599 102,046
1998 23,311,564 101,388
1997 23,110,830 100,674
1996 22,895,746 100,275
1995 22,669,304 100,225
1994 22,393,975 100,166
1993 22,073,352 100,103
1992 21,750,911 100,022
1991 21,428,638 99,895
1990 21,112,137 99,700
1989 20,804,367 99,403
1988 20,503,161 98,969
1987 20,205,483 98,376
1986 19,910,855 98,010
1985 19,620,388 97,984
1984 19,335,043 97,990
1983 19,054,034 97,998
1982 18,776,357 97,980
1981 18,501,295 97,909
1980 18,236,786 97,769
1979 17,983,470 97,544
1978 17,735,995 97,204
1977 17,492,798 96,725
1976 17,243,450 95,325
1975 16,971,055 93,017
1974 16,673,121 90,683
1973 16,350,367 88,805
1972 15,975,069 87,356
1971 15,572,457 85,896
1970 15,172,775 84,401
1969 14,767,615 82,885
1968 14,365,596 81,353
1967 13,958,350 79,814
1966 13,569,094 78,002
1965 13,219,369 75,924
1964 12,889,770 73,879
1963 12,567,057 71,885
1962 12,262,882 69,940
1961 11,990,713 68,037
1960 11,722,953 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,215 people (a 2.1% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,871 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Tonga
2100 -0.65% 0.03%
2099 -0.65% 0.05%
2098 -0.65% 0.03%
2097 -0.65% 0.03%
2096 -0.65% 0.07%
2095 -0.65% 0.08%
2094 -0.64% 0.07%
2093 -0.64% 0.09%
2092 -0.64% 0.1%
2091 -0.63% 0.12%
2090 -0.63% 0.13%
2089 -0.62% 0.17%
2088 -0.62% 0.18%
2087 -0.61% 0.16%
2086 -0.6% 0.19%
2085 -0.6% 0.21%
2084 -0.59% 0.25%
2083 -0.59% 0.26%
2082 -0.58% 0.25%
2081 -0.58% 0.29%
2080 -0.57% 0.31%
2079 -0.57% 0.32%
2078 -0.56% 0.32%
2077 -0.56% 0.36%
2076 -0.56% 0.34%
2075 -0.55% 0.34%
2074 -0.55% 0.35%
2073 -0.55% 0.37%
2072 -0.55% 0.37%
2071 -0.55% 0.35%
2070 -0.55% 0.33%
2069 -0.55% 0.35%
2068 -0.54% 0.35%
2067 -0.54% 0.35%
2066 -0.54% 0.3%
2065 -0.53% 0.33%
2064 -0.53% 0.32%
2063 -0.52% 0.3%
2062 -0.51% 0.29%
2061 -0.5% 0.26%
2060 -0.49% 0.26%
2059 -0.48% 0.24%
2058 -0.47% 0.23%
2057 -0.45% 0.2%
2056 -0.44% 0.2%
2055 -0.42% 0.2%
2054 -0.41% 0.2%
2053 -0.39% 0.19%
2052 -0.38% 0.2%
2051 -0.36% 0.22%
2050 -0.35% 0.2%
2049 -0.33% 0.24%
2048 -0.32% 0.22%
2047 -0.3% 0.29%
2046 -0.29% 0.29%
2045 -0.27% 0.32%
2044 -0.26% 0.27%
2043 -0.24% 0.24%
2042 -0.23% 0.24%
2041 -0.21% 0.21%
2040 -0.2% 0.16%
2039 -0.17% 0.22%
2038 -0.15% 0.13%
2037 -0.13% 0.08%
2036 -0.1% 0.05%
2035 -0.07% 0.009%
2034 -0.04% -0.02%
2033 -0.006% -0.04%
2032 0.03% -0.13%
2031 0.07% -0.16%
2030 0.1% -0.25%
2029 0.14% -0.31%
2028 0.18% -0.34%
2027 0.22% -0.43%
2026 0.25% -0.44%
2025 0.29% -0.39%
2024 0.31% -0.4%
2023 0.34% -0.42%
2022 0.37% -0.42%
2021 0.37% -0.2%
2020 0.38% 0.03%
2019 0.41% 0.1%
2018 0.44% 0.2%
2017 0.46% -0.16%
2016 0.48% -0.54%
2015 0.49% -0.48%
2014 0.48% -0.44%
2013 0.47% -0.36%
2012 0.45% -0.1%
2011 0.44% 0.16%
2010 0.44% 0.18%
2009 0.46% 0.17%
2008 0.48% 0.28%
2007 0.5% 0.45%
2006 0.52% 0.55%
2005 0.58% 0.57%
2004 0.68% 0.58%
2003 0.61% 0.57%
2002 0.54% 0.57%
2001 0.63% 0.6%
2000 0.72% 0.62%
1999 0.8% 0.65%
1998 0.87% 0.71%
1997 0.94% 0.4%
1996 1% 0.05%
1995 1.23% 0.06%
1994 1.45% 0.06%
1993 1.48% 0.08%
1992 1.5% 0.13%
1991 1.5% 0.2%
1990 1.48% 0.3%
1989 1.47% 0.44%
1988 1.47% 0.6%
1987 1.48% 0.37%
1986 1.48% 0.03%
1985 1.48% -0.006%
1984 1.47% -0.008%
1983 1.48% 0.02%
1982 1.49% 0.07%
1981 1.45% 0.14%
1980 1.41% 0.23%
1979 1.4% 0.35%
1978 1.39% 0.5%
1977 1.45% 1.47%
1976 1.61% 2.48%
1975 1.79% 2.57%
1974 1.97% 2.11%
1973 2.35% 1.66%
1972 2.59% 1.7%
1971 2.63% 1.77%
1970 2.74% 1.83%
1969 2.8% 1.88%
1968 2.92% 1.93%
1967 2.87% 2.32%
1966 2.65% 2.74%
1965 2.56% 2.77%
1964 2.57% 2.77%
1963 2.48% 2.78%
1962 2.27% 2.8%
1961 2.28% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.4%.

Live population counters

North Korea Tonga
Current population
26659144
103309
Population rank 57/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.001%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
20.8 hours
One birth every
1.54 minutes
3.62 hours
One death every
2.05 minutes
13 hours
Daily growth/decline +221 -1
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -422
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.4%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 183/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
4.09 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 -2,150
Net migration rank 104/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -2,150
2024 - -2,473 - -2,149
2023 86,203 -1,997 1,744 -2,173
2022 96,495 -1,997 1,772 -2,218
2021 99,710 -1,585 1,773 -2,220
2020 95,920 -1,585 1,816 -1,807
2019 106,208 -3,142 1,841 -1,778
2018 113,164 -3,225 1,873 -1,723
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,912 -1,642
2016 125,048 -3,222 1,989 -2,591
2015 127,365 -3,208 2,064 -2,610
2014 127,078 -3,042 2,135 -2,622
2013 122,519 -2,933 2,199 -2,637
2012 118,773 -2,919 2,255 -2,578
2011 114,798 -2,957 2,298 -2,198
2010 112,443 -3,053 2,332 -2,097
2009 111,530 -3,058 2,358 -2,204
2008 122,015 -3,051 2,397 -2,177
2007 120,521 -3,021 2,423 -2,057
2006 129,171 -2,948 2,459 -1,875
2005 132,765 -2,861 2,495 -1,906
2004 155,838 -2,758 2,478 -1,876
2003 178,775 -2,717 2,448 -1,844
2002 119,504 -2,763 2,396 -1,815
2001 143,321 -2,884 2,358 -1,766
2000 161,591 -3,142 2,346 -1,721
1999 181,613 -3,443 2,352 -1,710
1998 197,589 -3,706 2,344 -1,665
1997 211,325 -3,745 2,332 -1,589
1996 226,095 -3,512 2,393 -2,338
1995 233,381 -3,094 2,476 -2,422
1994 320,861 -517 2,547 -2,484
1993 320,880 0 2,594 -2,532
1992 324,002 0 2,622 -2,524
1991 320,551 0 2,637 -2,484
1990 312,460 0 2,641 -2,409
1989 303,078 0 2,644 -2,280
1988 299,305 0 2,649 -2,138
1987 296,030 0 2,646 -1,970
1986 293,227 0 2,704 -2,650
1985 287,714 0 2,762 -2,775
1984 282,987 0 2,814 -2,823
1983 279,046 0 2,840 -2,840
1982 276,332 0 2,853 -2,814
1981 273,800 0 2,882 -2,778
1980 255,206 0 2,885 -2,708
1979 251,409 0 2,884 -2,604
1978 243,533 0 2,862 -2,457
1977 242,870 0 2,822 -2,273
1976 255,841 0 2,769 -523
1975 288,966 0 2,709 -346
1974 306,902 0 2,650 -344
1973 338,600 0 2,617 -1,168
1972 411,997 0 2,605 -1,153
1971 393,220 0 2,611 -1,138
1970 406,129 0 2,628 -1,122
1969 404,189 0 2,632 -1,101
1968 399,837 0 2,614 -1,078
1967 414,632 0 2,603 -1,060
1966 363,882 0 2,550 -465
1965 335,587 0 2,498 -426
1964 323,623 0 2,445 -428
1963 321,805 0 2,394 -426
1962 286,534 0 2,343 -420
1961 257,788 0 2,284 -401
1960 277,717 0 2,230 -384

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/tonga | 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 Tonga 46.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,919 people) and 53.1% is from migration (a loss of 21,384 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

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
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

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/tonga | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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