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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 38,980,376 people in Ukraine in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 40,408,451 in Ukraine.

Population statistics:

  • Ukraine's population is 1.52 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 0.49% for Ukraine.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs -1.44% in Ukraine.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Ukraine has declined from 47.3M to 40.4M (14.5% decline).

North Korea vs Ukraine: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Ukraine
2100 19,601,003 15,603,179
2099 19,729,897 15,862,593
2098 19,859,274 16,125,815
2097 19,989,589 16,393,353
2096 20,120,795 16,664,587
2095 20,252,653 16,939,471
2094 20,384,384 17,219,443
2093 20,516,457 17,504,349
2092 20,649,140 17,793,601
2091 20,781,939 18,087,289
2090 20,914,434 18,386,570
2089 21,046,685 18,689,852
2088 21,178,406 18,998,014
2087 21,310,103 19,311,662
2086 21,441,361 19,630,012
2085 21,571,843 19,952,247
2084 21,701,761 20,280,817
2083 21,830,989 20,613,034
2082 21,960,135 20,949,887
2081 22,088,774 21,289,979
2080 22,216,836 21,633,931
2079 22,344,442 21,981,015
2078 22,471,597 22,331,415
2077 22,598,635 22,684,635
2076 22,725,293 23,041,181
2075 22,852,140 23,400,319
2074 22,979,532 23,762,428
2073 23,107,165 24,126,690
2072 23,234,961 24,491,363
2071 23,363,260 24,859,381
2070 23,491,789 25,229,957
2069 23,621,167 25,602,485
2068 23,750,741 25,976,390
2067 23,880,460 26,352,535
2066 24,010,584 26,730,314
2065 24,140,518 27,109,886
2064 24,269,765 27,491,024
2063 24,397,924 27,872,631
2062 24,525,403 28,254,738
2061 24,651,788 28,638,347
2060 24,776,326 29,021,488
2059 24,898,430 29,404,719
2058 25,018,630 29,788,559
2057 25,135,871 30,170,070
2056 25,250,670 30,548,973
2055 25,361,704 30,926,521
2054 25,469,578 31,299,425
2053 25,574,137 31,669,550
2052 25,675,211 32,035,413
2051 25,772,870 32,397,707
2050 25,866,886 32,754,538
2049 25,957,363 33,107,228
2048 26,043,774 33,451,994
2047 26,126,594 33,793,296
2046 26,205,638 34,131,561
2045 26,281,344 34,463,236
2044 26,353,455 34,790,682
2043 26,422,173 35,115,069
2042 26,486,580 35,437,607
2041 26,547,651 35,758,248
2040 26,604,634 36,075,749
2039 26,656,882 36,396,426
2038 26,703,458 36,714,126
2037 26,744,185 37,031,794
2036 26,778,348 37,345,665
2035 26,805,065 37,659,856
2034 26,823,948 37,972,332
2033 26,834,263 38,283,563
2032 26,835,978 38,592,696
2031 26,827,992 38,902,570
2030 26,809,850 39,210,256
2029 26,782,161 39,514,695
2028 26,744,278 39,816,523
2027 26,696,504 40,111,670
2026 26,638,530 40,408,451
2025 26,571,036 38,980,376
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Ukraine's population decreased by 5,208,381 people (a 11.4% 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 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Ukraine will decrease by 18.9% to 32,754,538 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 15.6M 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 0.27% 2.96%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Ukraine's population grew by 2.96%.

Live population counters

North Korea Ukraine
Current population
26668308
40408451
Population rank 57/197 40/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.49%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
28.2 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
2.54 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
1.02 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +3,069
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +1,120,155
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +2.96%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 13/197
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 79,496 -2,473 -308,069 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/ukraine | 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 Ukraine 34.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,603,006 people) and 65.7% is from migration (a loss of 4,987,305 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 (1960–2025, 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/ukraine | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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