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Population in North Korea compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.28 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

North Korea vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea UAE
2100 19,604,631 26,368,750
2099 19,733,548 26,130,374
2098 19,862,949 25,894,010
2097 19,993,288 25,660,062
2096 20,124,518 25,427,961
2095 20,256,401 25,197,670
2094 20,388,156 24,968,891
2093 20,520,253 24,741,434
2092 20,652,961 24,515,086
2091 20,785,785 24,289,496
2090 20,918,305 24,064,404
2089 21,050,580 23,839,033
2088 21,182,325 23,613,963
2087 21,314,047 23,388,786
2086 21,445,329 23,163,641
2085 21,575,835 22,938,169
2084 21,705,777 22,711,804
2083 21,835,029 22,484,154
2082 21,964,199 22,255,625
2081 22,092,862 22,026,183
2080 22,220,948 21,796,073
2079 22,348,577 21,565,118
2078 22,475,755 21,333,574
2077 22,602,817 21,101,274
2076 22,729,499 20,868,733
2075 22,856,369 20,636,203
2074 22,983,784 20,404,044
2073 23,111,441 20,171,659
2072 23,239,261 19,940,853
2071 23,367,583 19,710,934
2070 23,496,136 19,483,026
2069 23,625,538 19,256,572
2068 23,755,136 19,032,681
2067 23,884,879 18,811,331
2066 24,015,027 18,593,017
2065 24,144,985 18,377,364
2064 24,274,257 18,164,584
2063 24,402,439 17,955,352
2062 24,529,941 17,749,596
2061 24,656,350 17,547,827
2060 24,780,911 17,349,620
2059 24,903,037 17,153,273
2058 25,023,260 16,959,263
2057 25,140,523 16,767,893
2056 25,255,342 16,579,195
2055 25,366,397 16,392,558
2054 25,474,292 16,207,309
2053 25,578,870 16,024,789
2052 25,679,963 15,844,357
2051 25,777,639 15,665,362
2050 25,871,673 15,487,008
2049 25,962,167 15,309,031
2048 26,048,593 15,132,784
2047 26,131,429 14,958,209
2046 26,210,487 14,788,046
2045 26,286,208 14,620,902
2044 26,358,331 14,454,466
2043 26,427,062 14,289,021
2042 26,491,482 14,124,515
2041 26,552,564 13,961,010
2040 26,609,557 13,798,651
2039 26,661,815 13,637,499
2038 26,708,400 13,477,450
2037 26,749,134 13,319,346
2036 26,783,304 13,163,073
2035 26,810,026 13,009,160
2034 26,828,912 12,857,729
2033 26,839,229 12,709,520
2032 26,840,944 12,564,906
2031 26,832,957 12,424,286
2030 26,814,812 12,288,186
2029 26,787,117 12,148,661
2028 26,749,227 11,999,549
2027 26,701,444 11,831,082
2026 26,643,460 11,632,806
2025 26,575,953 11,367,504
2024 26,498,823 10,986,400
2023 26,418,204 10,483,751
2022 26,328,845 10,074,977
2021 26,232,534 9,575,152
2020 26,136,312 9,401,038
2019 26,037,632 9,445,785
2018 25,931,147 9,346,701
2017 25,817,709 9,223,225
2016 25,698,326 8,935,095
2015 25,575,350 8,505,237
2014 25,451,262 8,059,440
2013 25,329,451 7,693,031
2012 25,211,728 7,391,448
2011 25,097,874 7,104,538
2010 24,987,258 6,869,838
2009 24,878,332 6,707,058
2008 24,764,618 6,302,664
2007 24,646,383 5,624,635
2006 24,524,507 5,009,100
2005 24,396,433 4,664,790
2004 24,254,943 4,428,967
2003 24,090,380 4,192,457
2002 23,943,973 3,956,826
2001 23,815,358 3,723,590
2000 23,665,910 3,493,575
1999 23,497,599 3,266,009
1998 23,311,564 3,040,421
1997 23,110,830 2,817,410
1996 22,895,746 2,597,564
1995 22,669,304 2,434,662
1994 22,393,975 2,328,188
1993 22,073,352 2,222,093
1992 21,750,911 2,114,730
1991 21,428,638 2,006,626
1990 21,112,137 1,898,220
1989 20,804,367 1,789,851
1988 20,503,161 1,681,788
1987 20,205,483 1,574,244
1986 19,910,855 1,467,383
1985 19,620,388 1,377,911
1984 19,335,043 1,305,996
1983 19,054,034 1,235,305
1982 18,776,357 1,166,370
1981 18,501,295 1,099,855
1980 18,236,786 1,015,700
1979 17,983,470 912,010
1978 17,735,995 809,274
1977 17,492,798 710,209
1976 17,243,450 615,866
1975 16,971,055 542,856
1974 16,673,121 489,087
1973 16,350,367 436,399
1972 15,975,069 385,014
1971 15,572,457 335,027
1970 15,172,775 286,536
1969 14,767,615 239,660
1968 14,365,596 199,416
1967 13,958,350 179,700
1966 13,569,094 173,976
1965 13,219,369 167,103
1964 12,889,770 159,692
1963 12,567,057 152,211
1962 12,262,882 144,946
1961 11,990,713 137,989
1960 11,722,953 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea UAE
2100 -0.65% 0.91%
2099 -0.65% 0.91%
2098 -0.65% 0.91%
2097 -0.65% 0.91%
2096 -0.65% 0.91%
2095 -0.65% 0.92%
2094 -0.64% 0.92%
2093 -0.64% 0.92%
2092 -0.64% 0.93%
2091 -0.63% 0.94%
2090 -0.63% 0.95%
2089 -0.62% 0.95%
2088 -0.62% 0.96%
2087 -0.61% 0.97%
2086 -0.6% 0.98%
2085 -0.6% 1%
2084 -0.59% 1.01%
2083 -0.59% 1.03%
2082 -0.58% 1.04%
2081 -0.58% 1.06%
2080 -0.57% 1.07%
2079 -0.57% 1.09%
2078 -0.56% 1.1%
2077 -0.56% 1.11%
2076 -0.56% 1.13%
2075 -0.55% 1.14%
2074 -0.55% 1.15%
2073 -0.55% 1.16%
2072 -0.55% 1.17%
2071 -0.55% 1.17%
2070 -0.55% 1.18%
2069 -0.55% 1.18%
2068 -0.54% 1.18%
2067 -0.54% 1.17%
2066 -0.54% 1.17%
2065 -0.53% 1.17%
2064 -0.53% 1.17%
2063 -0.52% 1.16%
2062 -0.51% 1.15%
2061 -0.5% 1.14%
2060 -0.49% 1.14%
2059 -0.48% 1.14%
2058 -0.47% 1.14%
2057 -0.45% 1.14%
2056 -0.44% 1.14%
2055 -0.42% 1.14%
2054 -0.41% 1.14%
2053 -0.39% 1.14%
2052 -0.38% 1.14%
2051 -0.36% 1.15%
2050 -0.35% 1.16%
2049 -0.33% 1.16%
2048 -0.32% 1.17%
2047 -0.3% 1.15%
2046 -0.29% 1.14%
2045 -0.27% 1.15%
2044 -0.26% 1.16%
2043 -0.24% 1.16%
2042 -0.23% 1.17%
2041 -0.21% 1.18%
2040 -0.2% 1.18%
2039 -0.17% 1.19%
2038 -0.15% 1.19%
2037 -0.13% 1.19%
2036 -0.1% 1.18%
2035 -0.07% 1.18%
2034 -0.04% 1.17%
2033 -0.006% 1.15%
2032 0.03% 1.13%
2031 0.07% 1.11%
2030 0.1% 1.15%
2029 0.14% 1.24%
2028 0.18% 1.42%
2027 0.22% 1.7%
2026 0.25% 2.33%
2025 0.29% 3.47%
2024 0.31% 4.79%
2023 0.34% 4.06%
2022 0.37% 5.22%
2021 0.37% 1.85%
2020 0.38% -0.47%
2019 0.41% 1.06%
2018 0.44% 1.34%
2017 0.46% 3.22%
2016 0.48% 5.05%
2015 0.49% 5.53%
2014 0.48% 4.76%
2013 0.47% 4.08%
2012 0.45% 4.04%
2011 0.44% 3.42%
2010 0.44% 2.43%
2009 0.46% 6.42%
2008 0.48% 12.1%
2007 0.5% 12.3%
2006 0.52% 7.38%
2005 0.58% 5.32%
2004 0.68% 5.64%
2003 0.61% 5.96%
2002 0.54% 6.26%
2001 0.63% 6.58%
2000 0.72% 6.97%
1999 0.8% 7.42%
1998 0.87% 7.92%
1997 0.94% 8.46%
1996 1% 6.69%
1995 1.23% 4.57%
1994 1.45% 4.77%
1993 1.48% 5.08%
1992 1.5% 5.39%
1991 1.5% 5.71%
1990 1.48% 6.05%
1989 1.47% 6.43%
1988 1.47% 6.83%
1987 1.48% 7.28%
1986 1.48% 6.49%
1985 1.48% 5.51%
1984 1.47% 5.72%
1983 1.48% 5.91%
1982 1.49% 6.05%
1981 1.45% 8.29%
1980 1.41% 11.4%
1979 1.4% 12.7%
1978 1.39% 13.9%
1977 1.45% 15.3%
1976 1.61% 13.4%
1975 1.79% 11%
1974 1.97% 12.1%
1973 2.35% 13.3%
1972 2.59% 14.9%
1971 2.63% 16.9%
1970 2.74% 19.6%
1969 2.8% 20.2%
1968 2.92% 11%
1967 2.87% 3.29%
1966 2.65% 4.11%
1965 2.56% 4.64%
1964 2.57% 4.91%
1963 2.48% 5.01%
1962 2.27% 5.04%
1961 2.28% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

North Korea UAE
Current population
26659144
11686438
Population rank 57/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.14%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 3/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +158,634
Net migration rank 104/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 158,634
2024 - -2,473 - 278,439
2023 86,203 -1,997 92,698 300,004
2022 96,495 -1,997 81,758 322,773
2021 99,710 -1,585 76,802 421,663
2020 95,920 -1,585 87,871 92,541
2019 106,208 -3,142 86,296 -125,186
2018 113,164 -3,225 86,840 14,611
2017 120,181 -3,224 89,382 34,155
2016 125,048 -3,222 87,028 195,317
2015 127,365 -3,208 85,044 342,468
2014 127,078 -3,042 84,277 360,174
2013 122,519 -2,933 82,977 279,269
2012 118,773 -2,919 78,682 225,921
2011 114,798 -2,957 73,496 215,183
2010 112,443 -3,053 69,907 161,842
2009 111,530 -3,058 66,521 163,643
2008 122,015 -3,051 55,426 523,207
2007 120,521 -3,021 55,048 722,380
2006 129,171 -2,948 54,338 399,306
2005 132,765 -2,861 60,046 174,926
2004 155,838 -2,758 60,344 176,319
2003 178,775 -2,717 59,118 177,237
2002 119,504 -2,763 55,922 178,988
2001 143,321 -2,884 52,789 178,779
2000 161,591 -3,142 49,993 178,469
1999 181,613 -3,443 46,198 180,469
1998 197,589 -3,706 41,176 183,329
1997 211,325 -3,745 38,207 183,310
1996 226,095 -3,512 37,886 180,296
1995 233,381 -3,094 38,685 68,938
1994 320,861 -517 42,976 62,352
1993 320,880 0 41,324 65,545
1992 324,002 0 42,119 65,739
1991 320,551 0 41,409 66,943
1990 312,460 0 41,339 67,118
1989 303,078 0 40,148 68,132
1988 299,305 0 38,861 68,991
1987 296,030 0 37,741 69,493
1986 293,227 0 36,829 69,655
1985 287,714 0 34,855 37,605
1984 282,987 0 33,250 38,124
1983 279,046 0 31,480 38,536
1982 276,332 0 29,585 38,276
1981 273,800 0 27,560 37,600
1980 255,206 0 25,005 78,148
1979 251,409 0 21,987 82,238
1978 243,533 0 18,879 82,359
1977 242,870 0 15,787 81,111
1976 255,841 0 12,876 78,903
1975 288,966 0 11,859 42,380
1974 306,902 0 10,835 42,474
1973 338,600 0 9,822 42,243
1972 411,997 0 8,818 41,888
1971 393,220 0 7,839 41,425
1970 406,129 0 6,922 40,792
1969 404,189 0 6,138 39,902
1968 399,837 0 5,588 28,866
1967 414,632 0 5,264 -283
1966 363,882 0 4,955 1,516
1965 335,587 0 4,675 2,598
1964 323,623 0 4,410 3,126
1963 321,805 0 4,157 3,264
1962 286,534 0 3,901 3,212
1961 257,788 0 3,657 3,141
1960 277,717 0 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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