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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 85,878,556 people in Turkey in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 86,225,430 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 3.23 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.36% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +0.98% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86.2M (23.1% growth).

North Korea vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Turkey
2100 19,601,003 64,394,191
2099 19,729,897 65,045,868
2098 19,859,274 65,690,351
2097 19,989,589 66,342,622
2096 20,120,795 66,990,674
2095 20,252,653 67,642,188
2094 20,384,384 68,296,562
2093 20,516,457 68,963,773
2092 20,649,140 69,625,957
2091 20,781,939 70,290,255
2090 20,914,434 70,960,483
2089 21,046,685 71,623,547
2088 21,178,406 72,281,102
2087 21,310,103 72,928,397
2086 21,441,361 73,576,610
2085 21,571,843 74,223,570
2084 21,701,761 74,853,312
2083 21,830,989 75,483,067
2082 21,960,135 76,111,533
2081 22,088,774 76,726,689
2080 22,216,836 77,339,541
2079 22,344,442 77,938,889
2078 22,471,597 78,532,577
2077 22,598,635 79,120,573
2076 22,725,293 79,705,459
2075 22,852,140 80,277,544
2074 22,979,532 80,848,141
2073 23,107,165 81,396,237
2072 23,234,961 81,938,080
2071 23,363,260 82,465,112
2070 23,491,789 82,981,973
2069 23,621,167 83,480,362
2068 23,750,741 83,963,140
2067 23,880,460 84,428,242
2066 24,010,584 84,886,666
2065 24,140,518 85,336,225
2064 24,269,765 85,771,285
2063 24,397,924 86,187,013
2062 24,525,403 86,587,114
2061 24,651,788 86,962,577
2060 24,776,326 87,319,314
2059 24,898,430 87,663,392
2058 25,018,630 87,973,789
2057 25,135,871 88,264,809
2056 25,250,670 88,534,755
2055 25,361,704 88,764,080
2054 25,469,578 88,972,362
2053 25,574,137 89,151,673
2052 25,675,211 89,310,785
2051 25,772,870 89,437,110
2050 25,866,886 89,541,520
2049 25,957,363 89,614,107
2048 26,043,774 89,651,068
2047 26,126,594 89,659,415
2046 26,205,638 89,634,354
2045 26,281,344 89,608,012
2044 26,353,455 89,557,421
2043 26,422,173 89,493,042
2042 26,486,580 89,404,193
2041 26,547,651 89,303,546
2040 26,604,634 89,187,952
2039 26,656,882 89,051,669
2038 26,703,458 88,901,719
2037 26,744,185 88,727,471
2036 26,778,348 88,537,927
2035 26,805,065 88,343,153
2034 26,823,948 88,139,515
2033 26,834,263 87,918,397
2032 26,835,978 87,687,495
2031 26,827,992 87,437,150
2030 26,809,850 87,166,904
2029 26,782,161 86,903,490
2028 26,744,278 86,627,469
2027 26,696,504 86,350,539
2026 26,638,530 86,093,293
2025 26,571,036 85,878,556
2024 26,498,823 85,518,661
2023 26,418,204 85,325,965
2022 26,328,845 84,979,913
2021 26,232,534 84,147,318
2020 26,136,312 83,384,680
2019 26,037,632 82,579,440
2018 25,931,147 81,407,204
2017 25,817,709 80,312,698
2016 25,698,326 79,277,962
2015 25,575,350 78,218,479
2014 25,451,262 77,181,884
2013 25,329,451 76,147,624
2012 25,211,728 75,175,827
2011 25,097,874 74,223,629
2010 24,987,258 73,142,150
2009 24,878,332 72,039,206
2008 24,764,618 71,051,678
2007 24,646,383 70,158,112
2006 24,524,507 70,045,349
2005 24,396,433 69,329,557
2004 24,254,943 68,592,617
2003 24,090,380 67,831,730
2002 23,943,973 67,048,795
2001 23,815,358 66,245,128
2000 23,665,910 65,425,961
1999 23,497,599 64,591,923
1998 23,311,564 63,734,383
1997 23,110,830 62,852,966
1996 22,895,746 61,951,134
1995 22,669,304 61,024,503
1994 22,393,975 60,033,836
1993 22,073,352 58,999,167
1992 21,750,911 57,990,118
1991 21,428,638 57,009,887
1990 21,112,137 56,015,628
1989 20,804,367 54,976,723
1988 20,503,161 53,909,626
1987 20,205,483 52,843,670
1986 19,910,855 51,777,772
1985 19,620,388 50,687,115
1984 19,335,043 49,574,069
1983 19,054,034 48,447,410
1982 18,776,357 47,322,096
1981 18,501,295 46,321,190
1980 18,236,786 45,408,815
1979 17,983,470 44,510,429
1978 17,735,995 43,645,306
1977 17,492,798 42,773,298
1976 17,243,450 41,899,984
1975 16,971,055 41,053,126
1974 16,673,121 40,210,234
1973 16,350,367 39,329,533
1972 15,975,069 38,430,221
1971 15,572,457 37,518,611
1970 15,172,775 36,638,465
1969 14,767,615 35,787,774
1968 14,365,596 34,921,684
1967 13,958,350 34,050,421
1966 13,569,094 33,177,672
1965 13,219,369 32,345,220
1964 12,889,770 31,543,072
1963 12,567,057 30,726,841
1962 12,262,882 29,916,147
1961 11,990,713 29,119,238
1960 11,722,953 28,329,898

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,947,468 people (a 8.76% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th 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 Turkey will increase by 3.85% to 89,541,520 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 89.7M people in 2047 for Turkey.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Turkey
2100 -0.65% -1%
2099 -0.65% -0.98%
2098 -0.65% -0.98%
2097 -0.65% -0.97%
2096 -0.65% -0.96%
2095 -0.65% -0.96%
2094 -0.64% -0.97%
2093 -0.64% -0.95%
2092 -0.64% -0.95%
2091 -0.63% -0.94%
2090 -0.63% -0.93%
2089 -0.62% -0.91%
2088 -0.62% -0.89%
2087 -0.61% -0.88%
2086 -0.6% -0.87%
2085 -0.6% -0.84%
2084 -0.59% -0.83%
2083 -0.59% -0.83%
2082 -0.58% -0.8%
2081 -0.58% -0.79%
2080 -0.57% -0.77%
2079 -0.57% -0.76%
2078 -0.56% -0.74%
2077 -0.56% -0.73%
2076 -0.56% -0.71%
2075 -0.55% -0.71%
2074 -0.55% -0.67%
2073 -0.55% -0.66%
2072 -0.55% -0.64%
2071 -0.55% -0.62%
2070 -0.55% -0.6%
2069 -0.55% -0.57%
2068 -0.54% -0.55%
2067 -0.54% -0.54%
2066 -0.54% -0.53%
2065 -0.53% -0.51%
2064 -0.53% -0.48%
2063 -0.52% -0.46%
2062 -0.51% -0.43%
2061 -0.5% -0.41%
2060 -0.49% -0.39%
2059 -0.48% -0.35%
2058 -0.47% -0.33%
2057 -0.45% -0.3%
2056 -0.44% -0.26%
2055 -0.42% -0.23%
2054 -0.41% -0.2%
2053 -0.39% -0.18%
2052 -0.38% -0.14%
2051 -0.36% -0.12%
2050 -0.35% -0.08%
2049 -0.33% -0.04%
2048 -0.32% -0.009%
2047 -0.3% 0.03%
2046 -0.29% 0.03%
2045 -0.27% 0.06%
2044 -0.26% 0.07%
2043 -0.24% 0.1%
2042 -0.23% 0.11%
2041 -0.21% 0.13%
2040 -0.2% 0.15%
2039 -0.17% 0.17%
2038 -0.15% 0.2%
2037 -0.13% 0.21%
2036 -0.1% 0.22%
2035 -0.07% 0.23%
2034 -0.04% 0.25%
2033 -0.006% 0.26%
2032 0.03% 0.29%
2031 0.07% 0.31%
2030 0.1% 0.3%
2029 0.14% 0.32%
2028 0.18% 0.32%
2027 0.22% 0.3%
2026 0.25% 0.25%
2025 0.27% 0.42%
2024 0.31% 0.23%
2023 0.34% 0.41%
2022 0.37% 0.99%
2021 0.37% 0.91%
2020 0.38% 0.98%
2019 0.41% 1.44%
2018 0.44% 1.36%
2017 0.46% 1.31%
2016 0.48% 1.35%
2015 0.49% 1.34%
2014 0.48% 1.36%
2013 0.47% 1.29%
2012 0.45% 1.28%
2011 0.44% 1.48%
2010 0.44% 1.53%
2009 0.46% 1.39%
2008 0.48% 1.27%
2007 0.5% 0.16%
2006 0.52% 1.03%
2005 0.58% 1.07%
2004 0.68% 1.12%
2003 0.61% 1.17%
2002 0.54% 1.21%
2001 0.63% 1.25%
2000 0.72% 1.29%
1999 0.8% 1.35%
1998 0.87% 1.4%
1997 0.94% 1.46%
1996 1% 1.52%
1995 1.23% 1.65%
1994 1.45% 1.75%
1993 1.48% 1.74%
1992 1.5% 1.72%
1991 1.5% 1.77%
1990 1.48% 1.89%
1989 1.47% 1.98%
1988 1.47% 2.02%
1987 1.48% 2.06%
1986 1.48% 2.15%
1985 1.48% 2.25%
1984 1.47% 2.33%
1983 1.48% 2.38%
1982 1.49% 2.16%
1981 1.45% 2.01%
1980 1.41% 2.02%
1979 1.4% 1.98%
1978 1.39% 2.04%
1977 1.45% 2.08%
1976 1.61% 2.06%
1975 1.79% 2.1%
1974 1.97% 2.24%
1973 2.35% 2.34%
1972 2.59% 2.43%
1971 2.63% 2.4%
1970 2.74% 2.38%
1969 2.8% 2.48%
1968 2.92% 2.56%
1967 2.87% 2.63%
1966 2.65% 2.57%
1965 2.56% 2.54%
1964 2.57% 2.66%
1963 2.48% 2.71%
1962 2.27% 2.74%
1961 2.28% 2.79%

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/turkey | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.42%.

Live population counters

North Korea Turkey
Current population
26668308
86225430
Population rank 57/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 1.04%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
1.46 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
33.5 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.08 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +986
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +359,895
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +0.42%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 138/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -258,205
Net migration rank 104/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -258,205
2024 79,496 -2,473 453,249 -275,952
2023 86,203 -1,997 426,630 -318,070
2022 96,495 -1,997 535,373 -301,544
2021 99,710 -1,585 521,713 20,283
2020 95,920 -1,585 608,708 37,934
2019 106,208 -3,142 751,472 -15,690
2018 113,164 -3,225 830,353 187,570
2017 120,181 -3,224 875,408 659,846
2016 125,048 -3,222 895,841 352,063
2015 127,365 -3,208 930,799 1,063,140
2014 127,078 -3,042 957,055 1,033,384
2013 122,519 -2,933 921,386 438,618
2012 118,773 -2,919 917,145 258,623
2011 114,798 -2,957 875,839 68,849
2010 112,443 -3,053 892,334 55,532
2009 111,530 -3,058 900,491 24,276
2008 122,015 -3,051 868,749 47,915
2007 120,521 -3,021 876,626 -186,402
2006 129,171 -2,948 897,351 -190,194
2005 132,765 -2,861 898,650 -174,177
2004 155,838 -2,758 896,025 -146,574
2003 178,775 -2,717 893,683 -121,383
2002 119,504 -2,763 922,927 -129,444
2001 143,321 -2,884 980,560 -166,759
2000 161,591 -3,142 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 181,613 -3,443 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 197,589 -3,706 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 211,325 -3,745 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 226,095 -3,512 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 233,381 -3,094 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 320,861 -517 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 320,880 0 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 324,002 0 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 320,551 0 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 312,460 0 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 303,078 0 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 299,305 0 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 296,030 0 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 293,227 0 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 287,714 0 1,098,846 8,960
1984 282,987 0 1,096,529 21,787
1983 279,046 0 1,095,106 39,871
1982 276,332 0 1,091,863 23,728
1981 273,800 0 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 255,206 0 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 251,409 0 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 243,533 0 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 242,870 0 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 255,841 0 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 288,966 0 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 306,902 0 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 338,600 0 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 411,997 0 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 393,220 0 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 406,129 0 991,950 -150,924
1969 404,189 0 970,958 -110,578
1968 399,837 0 950,778 -78,973
1967 414,632 0 936,727 -65,993
1966 363,882 0 925,790 -50,999
1965 335,587 0 904,016 -113,911
1964 323,623 0 884,152 -69,978
1963 321,805 0 862,626 -44,317
1962 286,534 0 837,473 -34,353
1961 257,788 0 816,911 -26,187
1960 277,717 0 773,009 14,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/turkey | 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 Turkey 82.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,829,546 people) and 17.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,409,580 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

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
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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