Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.24 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 +0.39% 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 (8.74% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 19,601,003 26,706,595
2099 19,729,897 26,465,166
2098 19,859,274 26,225,773
2097 19,989,589 25,988,828
2096 20,120,795 25,753,753
2095 20,252,653 25,520,511
2094 20,384,384 25,288,801
2093 20,516,457 25,058,430
2092 20,649,140 24,829,182
2091 20,781,939 24,600,702
2090 20,914,434 24,372,725
2089 21,046,685 24,144,467
2088 21,178,406 23,916,513
2087 21,310,103 23,688,452
2086 21,441,361 23,460,422
2085 21,571,843 23,232,061
2084 21,701,761 23,002,795
2083 21,830,989 22,772,229
2082 21,960,135 22,540,771
2081 22,088,774 22,308,390
2080 22,216,836 22,075,331
2079 22,344,442 21,841,417
2078 22,471,597 21,606,907
2077 22,598,635 21,371,631
2076 22,725,293 21,136,110
2075 22,852,140 20,900,601
2074 22,979,532 20,665,468
2073 23,107,165 20,430,105
2072 23,234,961 20,196,342
2071 23,363,260 19,963,477
2070 23,491,789 19,732,649
2069 23,621,167 19,503,294
2068 23,750,741 19,276,535
2067 23,880,460 19,052,348
2066 24,010,584 18,831,237
2065 24,140,518 18,612,821
2064 24,269,765 18,397,315
2063 24,397,924 18,185,402
2062 24,525,403 17,977,010
2061 24,651,788 17,772,656
2060 24,776,326 17,571,910
2059 24,898,430 17,373,047
2058 25,018,630 17,176,551
2057 25,135,871 16,982,730
2056 25,250,670 16,791,613
2055 25,361,704 16,602,585
2054 25,469,578 16,414,963
2053 25,574,137 16,230,105
2052 25,675,211 16,047,360
2051 25,772,870 15,866,073
2050 25,866,886 15,685,433
2049 25,957,363 15,505,176
2048 26,043,774 15,326,671
2047 26,126,594 15,149,859
2046 26,205,638 14,977,516
2045 26,281,344 14,808,230
2044 26,353,455 14,639,661
2043 26,422,173 14,472,097
2042 26,486,580 14,305,483
2041 26,547,651 14,139,883
2040 26,604,634 13,975,444
2039 26,656,882 13,812,227
2038 26,703,458 13,650,128
2037 26,744,185 13,489,998
2036 26,778,348 13,331,723
2035 26,805,065 13,175,838
2034 26,823,948 13,022,467
2033 26,834,263 12,872,359
2032 26,835,978 12,725,892
2031 26,827,992 12,583,470
2030 26,809,850 12,445,626
2029 26,782,161 12,304,314
2028 26,744,278 12,153,292
2027 26,696,504 11,982,666
2026 26,638,530 11,781,850
2025 26,571,036 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 0.27% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

North Korea UAE
Current population
26668308
11885001
Population rank 57/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.14%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
1.54 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 1/197
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 79,496 -2,473 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.