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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 7,494,498 people in Turkmenistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 7,776,557 in Turkmenistan.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 3.43 times bigger than Turkmenistan's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Turkmenistan is the 104th.
  • The countries together account for 0.42% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.09% for Turkmenistan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +2.14% in Turkmenistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Turkmenistan has grown from 5.15M to 7.78M (51.1% growth).

North Korea vs Turkmenistan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Turkmenistan
2100 19,604,631 10,046,945
2099 19,733,548 10,075,740
2098 19,862,949 10,103,319
2097 19,993,288 10,129,577
2096 20,124,518 10,154,338
2095 20,256,401 10,178,163
2094 20,388,156 10,200,371
2093 20,520,253 10,221,349
2092 20,652,961 10,240,959
2091 20,785,785 10,259,026
2090 20,918,305 10,276,261
2089 21,050,580 10,291,819
2088 21,182,325 10,306,303
2087 21,314,047 10,319,501
2086 21,445,329 10,331,090
2085 21,575,835 10,341,183
2084 21,705,777 10,349,710
2083 21,835,029 10,356,602
2082 21,964,199 10,362,422
2081 22,092,862 10,366,587
2080 22,220,948 10,369,293
2079 22,348,577 10,370,130
2078 22,475,755 10,369,013
2077 22,602,817 10,366,366
2076 22,729,499 10,361,975
2075 22,856,369 10,355,755
2074 22,983,784 10,348,384
2073 23,111,441 10,339,415
2072 23,239,261 10,328,653
2071 23,367,583 10,316,618
2070 23,496,136 10,303,565
2069 23,625,538 10,289,578
2068 23,755,136 10,274,625
2067 23,884,879 10,258,518
2066 24,015,027 10,241,362
2065 24,144,985 10,223,420
2064 24,274,257 10,204,034
2063 24,402,439 10,183,241
2062 24,529,941 10,160,903
2061 24,656,350 10,136,928
2060 24,780,911 10,111,369
2059 24,903,037 10,083,631
2058 25,023,260 10,052,905
2057 25,140,523 10,019,547
2056 25,255,342 9,983,379
2055 25,366,397 9,943,931
2054 25,474,292 9,901,473
2053 25,578,870 9,854,931
2052 25,679,963 9,804,909
2051 25,777,639 9,751,221
2050 25,871,673 9,693,713
2049 25,962,167 9,632,600
2048 26,048,593 9,567,946
2047 26,131,429 9,500,139
2046 26,210,487 9,429,355
2045 26,286,208 9,356,194
2044 26,358,331 9,280,988
2043 26,427,062 9,204,466
2042 26,491,482 9,126,898
2041 26,552,564 9,048,356
2040 26,609,557 8,969,478
2039 26,661,815 8,890,225
2038 26,708,400 8,810,850
2037 26,749,134 8,731,367
2036 26,783,304 8,651,719
2035 26,810,026 8,572,231
2034 26,828,912 8,492,483
2033 26,839,229 8,412,113
2032 26,840,944 8,330,912
2031 26,832,957 8,248,129
2030 26,814,812 8,163,024
2029 26,787,117 8,070,023
2028 26,749,227 7,969,080
2027 26,701,444 7,860,774
2026 26,643,460 7,745,331
2025 26,575,953 7,623,184
2024 26,498,823 7,494,498
2023 26,418,204 7,364,438
2022 26,328,845 7,230,193
2021 26,232,534 7,092,043
2020 26,136,312 6,949,912
2019 26,037,632 6,803,944
2018 25,931,147 6,655,524
2017 25,817,709 6,507,061
2016 25,698,326 6,360,041
2015 25,575,350 6,215,770
2014 25,451,262 6,075,283
2013 25,329,451 5,939,341
2012 25,211,728 5,808,546
2011 25,097,874 5,683,417
2010 24,987,258 5,564,356
2009 24,878,332 5,451,592
2008 24,764,618 5,345,029
2007 24,646,383 5,244,046
2006 24,524,507 5,147,105
2005 24,396,433 5,052,257
2004 24,254,943 4,958,093
2003 24,090,380 4,863,865
2002 23,943,973 4,769,465
2001 23,815,358 4,675,409
2000 23,665,910 4,582,677
1999 23,497,599 4,492,170
1998 23,311,564 4,410,507
1997 23,110,830 4,336,730
1996 22,895,746 4,263,819
1995 22,669,304 4,191,203
1994 22,393,975 4,116,662
1993 22,073,352 4,032,407
1992 21,750,911 3,944,689
1991 21,428,638 3,855,894
1990 21,112,137 3,760,562
1989 20,804,367 3,662,459
1988 20,503,161 3,559,363
1987 20,205,483 3,452,731
1986 19,910,855 3,347,809
1985 19,620,388 3,247,534
1984 19,335,043 3,154,079
1983 19,054,034 3,067,534
1982 18,776,357 2,985,557
1981 18,501,295 2,907,187
1980 18,236,786 2,832,203
1979 17,983,470 2,760,358
1978 17,735,995 2,691,088
1977 17,492,798 2,623,948
1976 17,243,450 2,558,521
1975 16,971,055 2,494,570
1974 16,673,121 2,432,028
1973 16,350,367 2,370,919
1972 15,975,069 2,311,430
1971 15,572,457 2,253,119
1970 15,172,775 2,195,616
1969 14,767,615 2,139,024
1968 14,365,596 2,083,069
1967 13,958,350 2,027,403
1966 13,569,094 1,971,737
1965 13,219,369 1,915,916
1964 12,889,770 1,859,997
1963 12,567,057 1,804,272
1962 12,262,882 1,749,214
1961 11,990,713 1,695,400
1960 11,722,953 1,643,457

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Turkmenistan gained 1,212,936 people (a 23.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Turkmenistan's population increased by 1,416,516 people (a 22.3% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Turkmenistan was ranked 113th in 2006 and ranked 104th 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 Turkmenistan will increase by 24.7% to 9,693,713 people and rank change from 104th to 101st.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 10.4M people in 2079 for Turkmenistan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Turkmenistan
2100 -0.65% -0.29%
2099 -0.65% -0.27%
2098 -0.65% -0.26%
2097 -0.65% -0.24%
2096 -0.65% -0.23%
2095 -0.65% -0.22%
2094 -0.64% -0.21%
2093 -0.64% -0.19%
2092 -0.64% -0.18%
2091 -0.63% -0.17%
2090 -0.63% -0.15%
2089 -0.62% -0.14%
2088 -0.62% -0.13%
2087 -0.61% -0.11%
2086 -0.6% -0.1%
2085 -0.6% -0.08%
2084 -0.59% -0.07%
2083 -0.59% -0.06%
2082 -0.58% -0.04%
2081 -0.58% -0.03%
2080 -0.57% -0.008%
2079 -0.57% 0.01%
2078 -0.56% 0.03%
2077 -0.56% 0.04%
2076 -0.56% 0.06%
2075 -0.55% 0.07%
2074 -0.55% 0.09%
2073 -0.55% 0.1%
2072 -0.55% 0.12%
2071 -0.55% 0.13%
2070 -0.55% 0.14%
2069 -0.55% 0.15%
2068 -0.54% 0.16%
2067 -0.54% 0.17%
2066 -0.54% 0.18%
2065 -0.53% 0.19%
2064 -0.53% 0.2%
2063 -0.52% 0.22%
2062 -0.51% 0.24%
2061 -0.5% 0.25%
2060 -0.49% 0.28%
2059 -0.48% 0.31%
2058 -0.47% 0.33%
2057 -0.45% 0.36%
2056 -0.44% 0.4%
2055 -0.42% 0.43%
2054 -0.41% 0.47%
2053 -0.39% 0.51%
2052 -0.38% 0.55%
2051 -0.36% 0.59%
2050 -0.35% 0.63%
2049 -0.33% 0.68%
2048 -0.32% 0.71%
2047 -0.3% 0.75%
2046 -0.29% 0.78%
2045 -0.27% 0.81%
2044 -0.26% 0.83%
2043 -0.24% 0.85%
2042 -0.23% 0.87%
2041 -0.21% 0.88%
2040 -0.2% 0.89%
2039 -0.17% 0.9%
2038 -0.15% 0.91%
2037 -0.13% 0.92%
2036 -0.1% 0.93%
2035 -0.07% 0.94%
2034 -0.04% 0.96%
2033 -0.006% 0.97%
2032 0.03% 1%
2031 0.07% 1.04%
2030 0.1% 1.15%
2029 0.14% 1.27%
2028 0.18% 1.38%
2027 0.22% 1.49%
2026 0.25% 1.6%
2025 0.29% 1.72%
2024 0.31% 1.77%
2023 0.34% 1.86%
2022 0.37% 1.95%
2021 0.37% 2.05%
2020 0.38% 2.15%
2019 0.41% 2.23%
2018 0.44% 2.28%
2017 0.46% 2.31%
2016 0.48% 2.32%
2015 0.49% 2.31%
2014 0.48% 2.29%
2013 0.47% 2.25%
2012 0.45% 2.2%
2011 0.44% 2.14%
2010 0.44% 2.07%
2009 0.46% 1.99%
2008 0.48% 1.93%
2007 0.5% 1.88%
2006 0.52% 1.88%
2005 0.58% 1.9%
2004 0.68% 1.94%
2003 0.61% 1.98%
2002 0.54% 2.01%
2001 0.63% 2.02%
2000 0.72% 2.01%
1999 0.8% 1.85%
1998 0.87% 1.7%
1997 0.94% 1.71%
1996 1% 1.73%
1995 1.23% 1.81%
1994 1.45% 2.09%
1993 1.48% 2.22%
1992 1.5% 2.3%
1991 1.5% 2.54%
1990 1.48% 2.68%
1989 1.47% 2.9%
1988 1.47% 3.09%
1987 1.48% 3.13%
1986 1.48% 3.09%
1985 1.48% 2.96%
1984 1.47% 2.82%
1983 1.48% 2.75%
1982 1.49% 2.7%
1981 1.45% 2.65%
1980 1.41% 2.6%
1979 1.4% 2.57%
1978 1.39% 2.56%
1977 1.45% 2.56%
1976 1.61% 2.56%
1975 1.79% 2.57%
1974 1.97% 2.58%
1973 2.35% 2.57%
1972 2.59% 2.59%
1971 2.63% 2.62%
1970 2.74% 2.65%
1969 2.8% 2.69%
1968 2.92% 2.75%
1967 2.87% 2.82%
1966 2.65% 2.91%
1965 2.56% 3.01%
1964 2.57% 3.09%
1963 2.48% 3.15%
1962 2.27% 3.17%
1961 2.28% 3.16%

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Turkmenistan's population grew by 1.77%.

Live population counters

North Korea Turkmenistan
Current population
26659144
7776557
Population rank 57/197 104/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.09%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.04 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
3.28 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
12.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +356
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +130,060
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.77%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 61/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
39.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +13,268
Net migration rank 104/196 39/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 193,763
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 115/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 125/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Turkmenistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Turkmenistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 13,268
2024 - -2,473 - 14,646
2023 86,203 -1,997 117,529 15,005
2022 96,495 -1,997 121,814 14,141
2021 99,710 -1,585 122,721 17,617
2020 95,920 -1,585 124,014 19,913
2019 106,208 -3,142 128,275 19,735
2018 113,164 -3,225 129,537 19,293
2017 120,181 -3,224 131,417 16,678
2016 125,048 -3,222 132,581 13,365
2015 127,365 -3,208 132,663 9,936
2014 127,078 -3,042 129,677 8,696
2013 122,519 -2,933 126,217 7,287
2012 118,773 -2,919 120,957 7,125
2011 114,798 -2,957 115,197 6,992
2010 112,443 -3,053 109,318 6,621
2009 111,530 -3,058 102,931 6,656
2008 122,015 -3,051 96,815 6,734
2007 120,521 -3,021 92,038 6,388
2006 129,171 -2,948 87,840 7,613
2005 132,765 -2,861 83,968 10,263
2004 155,838 -2,758 79,850 14,242
2003 178,775 -2,717 76,737 17,625
2002 119,504 -2,763 75,639 18,803
2001 143,321 -2,884 76,682 16,982
2000 161,591 -3,142 76,875 14,925
1999 181,613 -3,443 76,362 12,859
1998 197,589 -3,706 77,342 -3,239
1997 211,325 -3,745 79,045 -5,600
1996 226,095 -3,512 80,996 -8,627
1995 233,381 -3,094 86,289 -13,423
1994 320,861 -517 89,319 -13,094
1993 320,880 0 92,596 -312
1992 324,002 0 96,668 -13,517
1991 320,551 0 99,297 -4,864
1990 312,460 0 101,099 -4,864
1989 303,078 0 103,553 -3,576
1988 299,305 0 104,802 1,408
1987 296,030 0 103,885 3,161
1986 293,227 0 100,930 1,878
1985 287,714 0 95,890 1,861
1984 282,987 0 90,591 -1,427
1983 279,046 0 85,183 -1,264
1982 276,332 0 80,989 -961
1981 273,800 0 77,829 -1,102
1980 255,206 0 74,394 -1,152
1979 251,409 0 71,135 -677
1978 243,533 0 68,437 -350
1977 242,870 0 66,318 -132
1976 255,841 0 64,513 160
1975 288,966 0 62,681 550
1974 306,902 0 60,925 924
1973 338,600 0 59,169 1,194
1972 411,997 0 57,326 1,293
1971 393,220 0 56,666 1,348
1970 406,129 0 55,617 1,376
1969 404,189 0 54,791 1,397
1968 399,837 0 54,324 1,401
1967 414,632 0 54,209 1,397
1966 363,882 0 54,353 1,377
1965 335,587 0 54,558 1,366
1964 323,623 0 54,574 1,340
1963 321,805 0 54,203 1,332
1962 286,534 0 53,248 1,337
1961 257,788 0 51,659 1,372
1960 277,717 0 49,436 1,421

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/turkmenistan | 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 Turkmenistan 89.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,270,228 people) and 10.8% is from migration (a gain of 154,379 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 193,763 people or 2.6% in Turkmenistan.

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
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K
Anau 29.6K
Baherden 24.7K

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/turkmenistan | 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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