Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 9,646 people in Tuvalu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 9,341 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2,854 times bigger than Tuvalu's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Tuvalu is the 196th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.0001% for Tuvalu.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -1.19% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.34K (7.11% decline).

North Korea vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Tuvalu
2100 19,604,631 12,153
2099 19,733,548 12,146
2098 19,862,949 12,126
2097 19,993,288 12,104
2096 20,124,518 12,081
2095 20,256,401 12,066
2094 20,388,156 12,048
2093 20,520,253 12,028
2092 20,652,961 11,999
2091 20,785,785 11,972
2090 20,918,305 11,941
2089 21,050,580 11,909
2088 21,182,325 11,874
2087 21,314,047 11,847
2086 21,445,329 11,812
2085 21,575,835 11,772
2084 21,705,777 11,728
2083 21,835,029 11,689
2082 21,964,199 11,649
2081 22,092,862 11,609
2080 22,220,948 11,547
2079 22,348,577 11,491
2078 22,475,755 11,441
2077 22,602,817 11,382
2076 22,729,499 11,324
2075 22,856,369 11,268
2074 22,983,784 11,203
2073 23,111,441 11,127
2072 23,239,261 11,069
2071 23,367,583 10,994
2070 23,496,136 10,936
2069 23,625,538 10,866
2068 23,755,136 10,798
2067 23,884,879 10,730
2066 24,015,027 10,666
2065 24,144,985 10,611
2064 24,274,257 10,546
2063 24,402,439 10,482
2062 24,529,941 10,425
2061 24,656,350 10,356
2060 24,780,911 10,299
2059 24,903,037 10,230
2058 25,023,260 10,167
2057 25,140,523 10,115
2056 25,255,342 10,048
2055 25,366,397 9,985
2054 25,474,292 9,927
2053 25,578,870 9,859
2052 25,679,963 9,802
2051 25,777,639 9,731
2050 25,871,673 9,666
2049 25,962,167 9,600
2048 26,048,593 9,533
2047 26,131,429 9,456
2046 26,210,487 9,390
2045 26,286,208 9,329
2044 26,358,331 9,267
2043 26,427,062 9,201
2042 26,491,482 9,136
2041 26,552,564 9,084
2040 26,609,557 9,043
2039 26,661,815 8,992
2038 26,708,400 8,952
2037 26,749,134 8,925
2036 26,783,304 8,910
2035 26,810,026 8,901
2034 26,828,912 8,894
2033 26,839,229 8,903
2032 26,840,944 8,923
2031 26,832,957 8,946
2030 26,814,812 8,997
2029 26,787,117 9,056
2028 26,749,227 9,132
2027 26,701,444 9,226
2026 26,643,460 9,341
2025 26,575,953 9,484
2024 26,498,823 9,646
2023 26,418,204 9,816
2022 26,328,845 9,992
2021 26,232,534 10,194
2020 26,136,312 10,399
2019 26,037,632 10,581
2018 25,931,147 10,751
2017 25,817,709 10,869
2016 25,698,326 10,930
2015 25,575,350 10,963
2014 25,451,262 10,984
2013 25,329,451 11,001
2012 25,211,728 10,934
2011 25,097,874 10,780
2010 24,987,258 10,614
2009 24,878,332 10,461
2008 24,764,618 10,321
2007 24,646,383 10,182
2006 24,524,507 10,056
2005 24,396,433 9,940
2004 24,254,943 9,816
2003 24,090,380 9,695
2002 23,943,973 9,623
2001 23,815,358 9,586
2000 23,665,910 9,544
1999 23,497,599 9,496
1998 23,311,564 9,451
1997 23,110,830 9,400
1996 22,895,746 9,342
1995 22,669,304 9,280
1994 22,393,975 9,207
1993 22,073,352 9,126
1992 21,750,911 9,038
1991 21,428,638 8,928
1990 21,112,137 8,798
1989 20,804,367 8,662
1988 20,503,161 8,518
1987 20,205,483 8,371
1986 19,910,855 8,217
1985 19,620,388 8,046
1984 19,335,043 7,902
1983 19,054,034 7,789
1982 18,776,357 7,664
1981 18,501,295 7,526
1980 18,236,786 7,366
1979 17,983,470 7,184
1978 17,735,995 6,957
1977 17,492,798 6,686
1976 17,243,450 6,404
1975 16,971,055 6,117
1974 16,673,121 5,822
1973 16,350,367 5,681
1972 15,975,069 5,692
1971 15,572,457 5,685
1970 15,172,775 5,663
1969 14,767,615 5,631
1968 14,365,596 5,624
1967 13,958,350 5,652
1966 13,569,094 5,686
1965 13,219,369 5,715
1964 12,889,770 5,752
1963 12,567,057 5,751
1962 12,262,882 5,699
1961 11,990,713 5,648
1960 11,722,953 5,598

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/tuvalu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Tuvalu gained 874 people (a 8.69% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,589 people (a 14.5% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Tuvalu was ranked 195th in 2006 and ranked 196th 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 Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,666 people and will still be ranked 196th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 12.2K people in 2100 for Tuvalu.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Tuvalu
2100 -0.65% 0.06%
2099 -0.65% 0.17%
2098 -0.65% 0.18%
2097 -0.65% 0.19%
2096 -0.65% 0.12%
2095 -0.65% 0.15%
2094 -0.64% 0.16%
2093 -0.64% 0.25%
2092 -0.64% 0.22%
2091 -0.63% 0.26%
2090 -0.63% 0.27%
2089 -0.62% 0.3%
2088 -0.62% 0.23%
2087 -0.61% 0.29%
2086 -0.6% 0.35%
2085 -0.6% 0.37%
2084 -0.59% 0.33%
2083 -0.59% 0.35%
2082 -0.58% 0.34%
2081 -0.58% 0.54%
2080 -0.57% 0.48%
2079 -0.57% 0.43%
2078 -0.56% 0.52%
2077 -0.56% 0.51%
2076 -0.56% 0.5%
2075 -0.55% 0.58%
2074 -0.55% 0.69%
2073 -0.55% 0.53%
2072 -0.55% 0.68%
2071 -0.55% 0.54%
2070 -0.55% 0.64%
2069 -0.55% 0.63%
2068 -0.54% 0.63%
2067 -0.54% 0.6%
2066 -0.54% 0.51%
2065 -0.53% 0.62%
2064 -0.53% 0.61%
2063 -0.52% 0.55%
2062 -0.51% 0.67%
2061 -0.5% 0.55%
2060 -0.49% 0.68%
2059 -0.48% 0.61%
2058 -0.47% 0.52%
2057 -0.45% 0.66%
2056 -0.44% 0.64%
2055 -0.42% 0.58%
2054 -0.41% 0.69%
2053 -0.39% 0.58%
2052 -0.38% 0.73%
2051 -0.36% 0.67%
2050 -0.35% 0.69%
2049 -0.33% 0.7%
2048 -0.32% 0.82%
2047 -0.3% 0.71%
2046 -0.29% 0.65%
2045 -0.27% 0.67%
2044 -0.26% 0.71%
2043 -0.24% 0.72%
2042 -0.23% 0.57%
2041 -0.21% 0.46%
2040 -0.2% 0.56%
2039 -0.17% 0.44%
2038 -0.15% 0.31%
2037 -0.13% 0.17%
2036 -0.1% 0.1%
2035 -0.07% 0.08%
2034 -0.04% -0.1%
2033 -0.006% -0.22%
2032 0.03% -0.27%
2031 0.07% -0.56%
2030 0.1% -0.66%
2029 0.14% -0.83%
2028 0.18% -1.02%
2027 0.22% -1.23%
2026 0.25% -1.51%
2025 0.29% -1.68%
2024 0.31% -1.73%
2023 0.34% -1.76%
2022 0.37% -1.98%
2021 0.37% -1.97%
2020 0.38% -1.72%
2019 0.41% -1.58%
2018 0.44% -1.09%
2017 0.46% -0.56%
2016 0.48% -0.3%
2015 0.49% -0.19%
2014 0.48% -0.15%
2013 0.47% 0.61%
2012 0.45% 1.43%
2011 0.44% 1.56%
2010 0.44% 1.46%
2009 0.46% 1.36%
2008 0.48% 1.37%
2007 0.5% 1.25%
2006 0.52% 1.17%
2005 0.58% 1.26%
2004 0.68% 1.25%
2003 0.61% 0.75%
2002 0.54% 0.39%
2001 0.63% 0.44%
2000 0.72% 0.51%
1999 0.8% 0.48%
1998 0.87% 0.54%
1997 0.94% 0.62%
1996 1% 0.67%
1995 1.23% 0.79%
1994 1.45% 0.89%
1993 1.48% 0.97%
1992 1.5% 1.23%
1991 1.5% 1.48%
1990 1.48% 1.57%
1989 1.47% 1.69%
1988 1.47% 1.76%
1987 1.48% 1.87%
1986 1.48% 2.13%
1985 1.48% 1.82%
1984 1.47% 1.45%
1983 1.48% 1.63%
1982 1.49% 1.83%
1981 1.45% 2.17%
1980 1.41% 2.53%
1979 1.4% 3.26%
1978 1.39% 4.05%
1977 1.45% 4.4%
1976 1.61% 4.69%
1975 1.79% 5.07%
1974 1.97% 2.48%
1973 2.35% -0.19%
1972 2.59% 0.12%
1971 2.63% 0.39%
1970 2.74% 0.57%
1969 2.8% 0.12%
1968 2.92% -0.5%
1967 2.87% -0.6%
1966 2.65% -0.51%
1965 2.56% -0.64%
1964 2.57% 0.02%
1963 2.48% 0.91%
1962 2.27% 0.9%
1961 2.28% 0.89%

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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.73%.

Live population counters

North Korea Tuvalu
Current population
26659144
9341
Population rank 57/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.0001%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
2.15 days
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.62 days
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +221 +0
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -170
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -1.73%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 195/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.44 days
Annual migration change -2,787 -255
Net migration rank 104/196 86/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 246
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 195/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 126/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Tuvalu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Tuvalu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -255
2024 - -2,473 - -280
2023 86,203 -1,997 137 -323
2022 96,495 -1,997 150 -320
2021 99,710 -1,585 151 -366
2020 95,920 -1,585 161 -355
2019 106,208 -3,142 166 -343
2018 113,164 -3,225 169 -329
2017 120,181 -3,224 163 -246
2016 125,048 -3,222 157 -200
2015 127,365 -3,208 153 -179
2014 127,078 -3,042 149 -166
2013 122,519 -2,933 148 -160
2012 118,773 -2,919 148 1
2011 114,798 -2,957 142 28
2010 112,443 -3,053 136 22
2009 111,530 -3,058 130 15
2008 122,015 -3,051 125 10
2007 120,521 -3,021 125 1
2006 129,171 -2,948 129 -5
2005 132,765 -2,861 131 -8
2004 155,838 -2,758 132 -10
2003 178,775 -2,717 136 -16
2002 119,504 -2,763 141 -104
2001 143,321 -2,884 151 -117
2000 161,591 -3,142 159 -118
1999 181,613 -3,443 166 -120
1998 197,589 -3,706 172 -122
1997 211,325 -3,745 177 -120
1996 226,095 -3,512 182 -121
1995 233,381 -3,094 191 -125
1994 320,861 -517 195 -120
1993 320,880 0 202 -119
1992 324,002 0 196 -104
1991 320,551 0 203 -72
1990 312,460 0 204 -69
1989 303,078 0 208 -71
1988 299,305 0 215 -72
1987 296,030 0 219 -68
1986 293,227 0 219 -56
1985 287,714 0 215 -36
1984 282,987 0 212 -103
1983 279,046 0 206 -87
1982 276,332 0 198 -66
1981 273,800 0 186 -46
1980 255,206 0 173 0
1979 251,409 0 158 37
1978 243,533 0 141 119
1977 242,870 0 128 149
1976 255,841 0 117 171
1975 288,966 0 108 186
1974 306,902 0 102 197
1973 338,600 0 101 -121
1972 411,997 0 94 -102
1971 393,220 0 101 -85
1970 406,129 0 102 -71
1969 404,189 0 102 -65
1968 399,837 0 97 -127
1967 414,632 0 92 -123
1966 363,882 0 91 -121
1965 335,587 0 93 -128
1964 323,623 0 98 -135
1963 321,805 0 106 -52
1962 286,534 0 113 -61
1961 257,788 0 120 -77
1960 277,717 0 126 -79

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 35.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,556 people) and 64.5% is from migration (a loss of 2,827 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 246 people or 2.6% in Tuvalu.

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
Tuvalu
City Population
Funafuti 6.02K
Vaiaku 516

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/tuvalu | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.