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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 85,518,661 people in Turkey in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 86,002,379 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 +0.41% per year vs +1.06% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86M (22.8% growth).

North Korea vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Turkey
2100 19,604,631 64,274,243
2099 19,733,548 64,924,706
2098 19,862,949 65,567,989
2097 19,993,288 66,219,045
2096 20,124,518 66,865,890
2095 20,256,401 67,516,190
2094 20,388,156 68,169,346
2093 20,520,253 68,835,313
2092 20,652,961 69,496,264
2091 20,785,785 70,159,325
2090 20,918,305 70,828,304
2089 21,050,580 71,490,133
2088 21,182,325 72,146,464
2087 21,314,047 72,792,552
2086 21,445,329 73,439,558
2085 21,575,835 74,085,313
2084 21,705,777 74,713,882
2083 21,835,029 75,342,464
2082 21,964,199 75,969,760
2081 22,092,862 76,583,769
2080 22,220,948 77,195,480
2079 22,348,577 77,793,711
2078 22,475,755 78,386,293
2077 22,602,817 78,973,194
2076 22,729,499 79,556,991
2075 22,856,369 80,128,010
2074 22,983,784 80,697,544
2073 23,111,441 81,244,619
2072 23,239,261 81,785,452
2071 23,367,583 82,311,503
2070 23,496,136 82,827,402
2069 23,625,538 83,324,862
2068 23,755,136 83,806,741
2067 23,884,879 84,270,976
2066 24,015,027 84,728,547
2065 24,144,985 85,177,268
2064 24,274,257 85,611,517
2063 24,402,439 86,026,471
2062 24,529,941 86,425,827
2061 24,656,350 86,800,591
2060 24,780,911 87,156,663
2059 24,903,037 87,500,101
2058 25,023,260 87,809,920
2057 25,140,523 88,100,397
2056 25,255,342 88,369,840
2055 25,366,397 88,598,739
2054 25,474,292 88,806,632
2053 25,578,870 88,985,609
2052 25,679,963 89,144,425
2051 25,777,639 89,270,515
2050 25,871,673 89,374,730
2049 25,962,167 89,447,182
2048 26,048,593 89,484,074
2047 26,131,429 89,492,406
2046 26,210,487 89,467,391
2045 26,286,208 89,441,098
2044 26,358,331 89,390,601
2043 26,427,062 89,326,342
2042 26,491,482 89,237,658
2041 26,552,564 89,137,199
2040 26,609,557 89,021,820
2039 26,661,815 88,885,792
2038 26,708,400 88,736,121
2037 26,749,134 88,562,197
2036 26,783,304 88,373,007
2035 26,810,026 88,178,595
2034 26,828,912 87,975,336
2033 26,839,229 87,754,631
2032 26,840,944 87,524,158
2031 26,832,957 87,274,280
2030 26,814,812 87,004,538
2029 26,787,117 86,741,614
2028 26,749,227 86,466,107
2027 26,701,444 86,189,693
2026 26,643,460 85,932,926
2025 26,575,953 85,718,588
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,724,417 people (a 8.48% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Turkey will increase by 3.92% to 89,374,730 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 89.5M 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 0.29% 0.23%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.23%.

Live population counters

North Korea Turkey
Current population
26659144
86002379
Population rank 57/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 1.04%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.73 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
33 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
59.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +221 +528
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +192,696
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.23%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 154/197
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 - -2,473 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/turkey | 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 Turkey 73% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,333,352 people) and 27% is from migration (a gain of 2,718,916 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 (1960–2024, 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/turkey | 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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