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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 9,492 people in Tuvalu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 9,349 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2,853 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 +0.39% per year vs -1.32% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.35K (7.03% decline).

North Korea vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Tuvalu
2100 19,601,003 12,163
2099 19,729,897 12,156
2098 19,859,274 12,135
2097 19,989,589 12,114
2096 20,120,795 12,091
2095 20,252,653 12,076
2094 20,384,384 12,058
2093 20,516,457 12,038
2092 20,649,140 12,008
2091 20,781,939 11,982
2090 20,914,434 11,951
2089 21,046,685 11,919
2088 21,178,406 11,883
2087 21,310,103 11,857
2086 21,441,361 11,822
2085 21,571,843 11,781
2084 21,701,761 11,737
2083 21,830,989 11,699
2082 21,960,135 11,658
2081 22,088,774 11,618
2080 22,216,836 11,556
2079 22,344,442 11,500
2078 22,471,597 11,451
2077 22,598,635 11,391
2076 22,725,293 11,334
2075 22,852,140 11,277
2074 22,979,532 11,212
2073 23,107,165 11,136
2072 23,234,961 11,077
2071 23,363,260 11,003
2070 23,491,789 10,944
2069 23,621,167 10,875
2068 23,750,741 10,807
2067 23,880,460 10,739
2066 24,010,584 10,675
2065 24,140,518 10,620
2064 24,269,765 10,554
2063 24,397,924 10,491
2062 24,525,403 10,433
2061 24,651,788 10,364
2060 24,776,326 10,307
2059 24,898,430 10,238
2058 25,018,630 10,175
2057 25,135,871 10,123
2056 25,250,670 10,056
2055 25,361,704 9,993
2054 25,469,578 9,935
2053 25,574,137 9,867
2052 25,675,211 9,810
2051 25,772,870 9,739
2050 25,866,886 9,674
2049 25,957,363 9,608
2048 26,043,774 9,541
2047 26,126,594 9,464
2046 26,205,638 9,397
2045 26,281,344 9,337
2044 26,353,455 9,274
2043 26,422,173 9,209
2042 26,486,580 9,143
2041 26,547,651 9,092
2040 26,604,634 9,050
2039 26,656,882 8,999
2038 26,703,458 8,960
2037 26,744,185 8,932
2036 26,778,348 8,917
2035 26,805,065 8,908
2034 26,823,948 8,901
2033 26,834,263 8,910
2032 26,835,978 8,930
2031 26,827,992 8,954
2030 26,809,850 9,004
2029 26,782,161 9,064
2028 26,744,278 9,139
2027 26,696,504 9,233
2026 26,638,530 9,349
2025 26,571,036 9,492
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,581 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 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,674 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 0.27% -1.6%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.6%.

Live population counters

North Korea Tuvalu
Current population
26668308
9349
Population rank 57/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.0001%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
2.38 days
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.73 days
One death every
2.01 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +198 +0
Annual growth/decline +72,213 -154
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% -1.6%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 195/197
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 79,496 -2,473 122 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 34.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,529 people) and 65.8% is from migration (a loss of 2,941 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 (1960–2025, 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/tuvalu | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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