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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 37,860,221 people in Ukraine in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 40,125,599 in Ukraine.

Population statistics:

  • Ukraine's population is 1.51 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Ukraine is the 40th.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.48% for Ukraine.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs -1.74% in Ukraine.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Ukraine has declined from 47.3M to 40.1M (15.1% decline).

North Korea vs Ukraine: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Ukraine
2100 19,604,631 15,493,960
2099 19,733,548 15,751,557
2098 19,862,949 16,012,938
2097 19,993,288 16,278,602
2096 20,124,518 16,547,938
2095 20,256,401 16,820,897
2094 20,388,156 17,098,910
2093 20,520,253 17,381,822
2092 20,652,961 17,669,049
2091 20,785,785 17,960,681
2090 20,918,305 18,257,867
2089 21,050,580 18,559,027
2088 21,182,325 18,865,031
2087 21,314,047 19,176,483
2086 21,445,329 19,492,606
2085 21,575,835 19,812,584
2084 21,705,777 20,138,855
2083 21,835,029 20,468,747
2082 21,964,199 20,803,241
2081 22,092,862 21,140,953
2080 22,220,948 21,482,498
2079 22,348,577 21,827,152
2078 22,475,755 22,175,099
2077 22,602,817 22,525,846
2076 22,729,499 22,879,896
2075 22,856,369 23,236,521
2074 22,983,784 23,596,095
2073 23,111,441 23,957,807
2072 23,239,261 24,319,928
2071 23,367,583 24,685,370
2070 23,496,136 25,053,352
2069 23,625,538 25,423,272
2068 23,755,136 25,794,560
2067 23,884,879 26,168,072
2066 24,015,027 26,543,206
2065 24,144,985 26,920,121
2064 24,274,257 27,298,592
2063 24,402,439 27,677,528
2062 24,529,941 28,056,960
2061 24,656,350 28,437,884
2060 24,780,911 28,818,343
2059 24,903,037 29,198,891
2058 25,023,260 29,580,044
2057 25,140,523 29,958,884
2056 25,255,342 30,335,136
2055 25,366,397 30,710,041
2054 25,474,292 31,080,334
2053 25,578,870 31,447,868
2052 25,679,963 31,811,171
2051 25,777,639 32,170,929
2050 25,871,673 32,525,262
2049 25,962,167 32,875,483
2048 26,048,593 33,217,836
2047 26,131,429 33,556,749
2046 26,210,487 33,892,646
2045 26,286,208 34,221,999
2044 26,358,331 34,547,153
2043 26,427,062 34,869,270
2042 26,491,482 35,189,550
2041 26,552,564 35,507,946
2040 26,609,557 35,823,225
2039 26,661,815 36,141,658
2038 26,708,400 36,457,134
2037 26,749,134 36,772,578
2036 26,783,304 37,084,252
2035 26,810,026 37,396,243
2034 26,828,912 37,706,533
2033 26,839,229 38,015,585
2032 26,840,944 38,322,554
2031 26,832,957 38,630,259
2030 26,814,812 38,935,791
2029 26,787,117 39,238,099
2028 26,749,227 39,537,815
2027 26,701,444 39,830,895
2026 26,643,460 40,125,599
2025 26,575,953 38,707,520
2024 26,498,823 37,860,221
2023 26,418,204 37,732,836
2022 26,328,845 41,048,766
2021 26,232,534 44,298,640
2020 26,136,312 44,680,014
2019 26,037,632 44,957,458
2018 25,931,147 45,208,907
2017 25,817,709 45,436,041
2016 25,698,326 45,616,832
2015 25,575,350 45,784,896
2014 25,451,262 45,972,380
2013 25,329,451 46,126,770
2012 25,211,728 46,210,056
2011 25,097,874 46,307,853
2010 24,987,258 46,456,003
2009 24,878,332 46,623,731
2008 24,764,618 46,819,175
2007 24,646,383 47,062,798
2006 24,524,507 47,278,694
2005 24,396,433 47,585,556
2004 24,254,943 47,979,507
2003 24,090,380 48,315,136
2002 23,943,973 48,677,281
2001 23,815,358 49,106,855
2000 23,665,910 49,556,660
1999 23,497,599 49,976,446
1998 23,311,564 50,379,731
1997 23,110,830 50,786,885
1996 22,895,746 51,226,109
1995 22,669,304 51,665,539
1994 22,393,975 52,075,998
1993 22,073,352 52,350,126
1992 21,750,911 52,323,671
1991 21,428,638 52,170,961
1990 21,112,137 52,054,092
1989 20,804,367 51,917,817
1988 20,503,161 51,724,853
1987 20,205,483 51,515,732
1986 19,910,855 51,318,745
1985 19,620,388 51,108,770
1984 19,335,043 50,887,599
1983 19,054,034 50,637,029
1982 18,776,357 50,402,724
1981 18,501,295 50,189,281
1980 18,236,786 49,955,152
1979 17,983,470 49,721,381
1978 17,735,995 49,521,243
1977 17,492,798 49,336,481
1976 17,243,450 49,120,842
1975 16,971,055 48,865,229
1974 16,673,121 48,576,570
1973 16,350,367 48,277,121
1972 15,975,069 47,946,893
1971 15,572,457 47,573,287
1970 15,172,775 47,261,306
1969 14,767,615 46,976,256
1968 14,365,596 46,614,325
1967 13,958,350 46,215,988
1966 13,569,094 45,802,519
1965 13,219,369 45,386,892
1964 12,889,770 44,951,156
1963 12,567,057 44,462,372
1962 12,262,882 43,943,674
1961 11,990,713 43,399,766
1960 11,722,953 42,824,093

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/ukraine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Ukraine lost 1,661,862 people (a 3.52% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Ukraine's population decreased by 5,491,233 people (a 12% decline).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Ukraine was ranked 27th in 2006 and ranked 40th 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 Ukraine will decrease by 18.9% to 32,525,262 people and rank change from 40th to 60th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Ukraine's population already peaked in 1993 at 52.4M people and is projected to decrease to 15.5M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Ukraine
2100 -0.65% -1.64%
2099 -0.65% -1.63%
2098 -0.65% -1.63%
2097 -0.65% -1.63%
2096 -0.65% -1.62%
2095 -0.65% -1.63%
2094 -0.64% -1.63%
2093 -0.64% -1.63%
2092 -0.64% -1.62%
2091 -0.63% -1.63%
2090 -0.63% -1.62%
2089 -0.62% -1.62%
2088 -0.62% -1.62%
2087 -0.61% -1.62%
2086 -0.6% -1.62%
2085 -0.6% -1.62%
2084 -0.59% -1.61%
2083 -0.59% -1.61%
2082 -0.58% -1.6%
2081 -0.58% -1.59%
2080 -0.57% -1.58%
2079 -0.57% -1.57%
2078 -0.56% -1.56%
2077 -0.56% -1.55%
2076 -0.56% -1.53%
2075 -0.55% -1.52%
2074 -0.55% -1.51%
2073 -0.55% -1.49%
2072 -0.55% -1.48%
2071 -0.55% -1.47%
2070 -0.55% -1.46%
2069 -0.55% -1.44%
2068 -0.54% -1.43%
2067 -0.54% -1.41%
2066 -0.54% -1.4%
2065 -0.53% -1.39%
2064 -0.53% -1.37%
2063 -0.52% -1.35%
2062 -0.51% -1.34%
2061 -0.5% -1.32%
2060 -0.49% -1.3%
2059 -0.48% -1.29%
2058 -0.47% -1.26%
2057 -0.45% -1.24%
2056 -0.44% -1.22%
2055 -0.42% -1.19%
2054 -0.41% -1.17%
2053 -0.39% -1.14%
2052 -0.38% -1.12%
2051 -0.36% -1.09%
2050 -0.35% -1.07%
2049 -0.33% -1.03%
2048 -0.32% -1.01%
2047 -0.3% -0.99%
2046 -0.29% -0.96%
2045 -0.27% -0.94%
2044 -0.26% -0.92%
2043 -0.24% -0.91%
2042 -0.23% -0.9%
2041 -0.21% -0.88%
2040 -0.2% -0.88%
2039 -0.17% -0.87%
2038 -0.15% -0.86%
2037 -0.13% -0.84%
2036 -0.1% -0.83%
2035 -0.07% -0.82%
2034 -0.04% -0.81%
2033 -0.006% -0.8%
2032 0.03% -0.8%
2031 0.07% -0.78%
2030 0.1% -0.77%
2029 0.14% -0.76%
2028 0.18% -0.74%
2027 0.22% -0.73%
2026 0.25% 3.66%
2025 0.29% 2.24%
2024 0.31% 0.34%
2023 0.34% -8.08%
2022 0.37% -7.34%
2021 0.37% -0.85%
2020 0.38% -0.62%
2019 0.41% -0.56%
2018 0.44% -0.5%
2017 0.46% -0.4%
2016 0.48% -0.37%
2015 0.49% -0.41%
2014 0.48% -0.33%
2013 0.47% -0.18%
2012 0.45% -0.21%
2011 0.44% -0.32%
2010 0.44% -0.36%
2009 0.46% -0.42%
2008 0.48% -0.52%
2007 0.5% -0.46%
2006 0.52% -0.64%
2005 0.58% -0.82%
2004 0.68% -0.69%
2003 0.61% -0.74%
2002 0.54% -0.87%
2001 0.63% -0.91%
2000 0.72% -0.84%
1999 0.8% -0.8%
1998 0.87% -0.8%
1997 0.94% -0.86%
1996 1% -0.85%
1995 1.23% -0.79%
1994 1.45% -0.52%
1993 1.48% 0.05%
1992 1.5% 0.29%
1991 1.5% 0.22%
1990 1.48% 0.26%
1989 1.47% 0.37%
1988 1.47% 0.41%
1987 1.48% 0.38%
1986 1.48% 0.41%
1985 1.48% 0.43%
1984 1.47% 0.49%
1983 1.48% 0.46%
1982 1.49% 0.43%
1981 1.45% 0.47%
1980 1.41% 0.47%
1979 1.4% 0.4%
1978 1.39% 0.37%
1977 1.45% 0.44%
1976 1.61% 0.52%
1975 1.79% 0.59%
1974 1.97% 0.62%
1973 2.35% 0.69%
1972 2.59% 0.79%
1971 2.63% 0.66%
1970 2.74% 0.61%
1969 2.8% 0.78%
1968 2.92% 0.86%
1967 2.87% 0.9%
1966 2.65% 0.92%
1965 2.56% 0.97%
1964 2.57% 1.1%
1963 2.48% 1.18%
1962 2.27% 1.25%
1961 2.28% 1.34%

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/ukraine | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Ukraine's population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

North Korea Ukraine
Current population
26659144
40125599
Population rank 57/197 40/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.48%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
4.13 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.48 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
1.06 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +349
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +127,385
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 147/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
18.6 seconds
Annual migration change -2,787 +1,702,358
Net migration rank 104/196 1/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 5,064,173
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 14/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 13.4%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 51/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Ukraine
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Ukraine
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 1,702,358
2024 - -2,473 - 1,146,012
2023 86,203 -1,997 -283,185 -299,961
2022 96,495 -1,997 -349,284 -5,699,445
2021 99,710 -1,585 -449,941 -1,129
2020 95,920 -1,585 -307,533 -4,167
2019 106,208 -3,142 -236,296 -6,908
2018 113,164 -3,225 -227,491 -32,220
2017 120,181 -3,224 -158,390 -36,155
2016 125,048 -3,222 -135,710 -31,340
2015 127,365 -3,208 -147,107 -21,992
2014 127,078 -3,042 -140,216 -65,678
2013 122,519 -2,933 -129,662 26,781
2012 118,773 -2,919 -130,451 66,768
2011 114,798 -2,957 -158,372 26,457
2010 112,443 -3,053 -180,388 16,030
2009 111,530 -3,058 -197,918 26,796
2008 122,015 -3,051 -229,086 9,312
2007 120,521 -3,021 -282,659 15,237
2006 129,171 -2,948 -300,787 136,442
2005 132,765 -2,861 -337,857 -111,493
2004 155,838 -2,758 -344,157 5,644
2003 178,775 -2,717 -351,299 18,540
2002 119,504 -2,763 -364,544 -26,991
2001 143,321 -2,884 -374,734 -92,847
2000 161,591 -3,142 -364,143 -67,865
1999 181,613 -3,443 -348,286 -59,247
1998 197,589 -3,706 -318,299 -80,684
1997 211,325 -3,745 -306,549 -108,735
1996 226,095 -3,512 -305,154 -158,008
1995 233,381 -3,094 -281,629 -134,053
1994 320,861 -517 -238,820 -166,380
1993 320,880 0 -169,405 26,357
1992 324,002 0 -95,857 291,788
1991 320,551 0 -16,486 125,962
1990 312,460 0 48,463 75,760
1989 303,078 0 106,431 36,978
1988 299,305 0 162,002 75,637
1987 296,030 0 198,850 -18,275
1986 293,227 0 225,751 -12,369
1985 287,714 0 201,011 5,546
1984 282,987 0 222,430 13,340
1983 279,046 0 241,741 23,608
1982 276,332 0 194,101 9,096
1981 273,800 0 182,839 40,807
1980 255,206 0 197,223 47,406
1979 251,409 0 197,294 25,635
1978 243,533 0 206,554 -29,180
1977 242,870 0 216,932 -24,745
1976 255,841 0 247,323 -8,219
1975 288,966 0 256,787 15,336
1974 306,902 0 273,486 31,725
1973 338,600 0 274,938 18,777
1972 411,997 0 309,785 56,928
1971 393,220 0 305,849 74,604
1970 406,129 0 291,839 -48,335
1969 404,189 0 274,858 51,763
1968 399,837 0 295,162 102,096
1967 414,632 0 313,899 85,527
1966 363,882 0 337,794 89,737
1965 335,587 0 334,365 69,354
1964 323,623 0 391,120 76,650
1963 321,805 0 449,648 60,178
1962 286,534 0 481,887 45,712
1961 257,788 0 508,602 51,625
1960 277,717 0 538,812 52,281

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/ukraine | 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 Ukraine 28.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,435,153 people) and 71.8% is from migration (a loss of 6,198,995 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 5,064,173 people or 13.4% in Ukraine.

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
Ukraine
City Population
Kyiv 2.95M
Kharkiv 1.42M
Odesa 1.01M
Dnipro 969K
Donetsk 902K
Lviv 717K
Zaporizhia 710K
Kryvyi Rih 604K
Mykolaiv 470K
Luhansk 418K

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/ukraine | 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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