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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 2.63 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.17% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

North Korea vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea United Kingdom
2100 19,604,631 74,700,585
2099 19,733,548 74,831,175
2098 19,862,949 74,950,267
2097 19,993,288 75,064,397
2096 20,124,518 75,176,691
2095 20,256,401 75,287,063
2094 20,388,156 75,383,856
2093 20,520,253 75,482,205
2092 20,652,961 75,575,769
2091 20,785,785 75,666,091
2090 20,918,305 75,753,129
2089 21,050,580 75,835,723
2088 21,182,325 75,907,614
2087 21,314,047 75,978,712
2086 21,445,329 76,046,742
2085 21,575,835 76,105,680
2084 21,705,777 76,156,223
2083 21,835,029 76,205,894
2082 21,964,199 76,246,844
2081 22,092,862 76,274,040
2080 22,220,948 76,306,205
2079 22,348,577 76,334,949
2078 22,475,755 76,353,484
2077 22,602,817 76,371,123
2076 22,729,499 76,373,520
2075 22,856,369 76,386,071
2074 22,983,784 76,397,426
2073 23,111,441 76,406,554
2072 23,239,261 76,398,941
2071 23,367,583 76,388,223
2070 23,496,136 76,378,505
2069 23,625,538 76,371,827
2068 23,755,136 76,370,973
2067 23,884,879 76,363,548
2066 24,015,027 76,356,638
2065 24,144,985 76,355,841
2064 24,274,257 76,352,770
2063 24,402,439 76,353,175
2062 24,529,941 76,346,535
2061 24,656,350 76,344,206
2060 24,780,911 76,344,725
2059 24,903,037 76,345,215
2058 25,023,260 76,326,961
2057 25,140,523 76,307,006
2056 25,255,342 76,274,247
2055 25,366,397 76,235,304
2054 25,474,292 76,167,710
2053 25,578,870 76,094,051
2052 25,679,963 76,001,979
2051 25,777,639 75,895,690
2050 25,871,673 75,777,445
2049 25,962,167 75,646,044
2048 26,048,593 75,499,380
2047 26,131,429 75,338,951
2046 26,210,487 75,171,300
2045 26,286,208 74,993,186
2044 26,358,331 74,807,530
2043 26,427,062 74,607,485
2042 26,491,482 74,407,783
2041 26,552,564 74,203,292
2040 26,609,557 73,994,525
2039 26,661,815 73,782,112
2038 26,708,400 73,559,085
2037 26,749,134 73,335,723
2036 26,783,304 73,101,646
2035 26,810,026 72,850,722
2034 26,828,912 72,597,177
2033 26,839,229 72,322,802
2032 26,840,944 72,046,316
2031 26,832,957 71,757,868
2030 26,814,812 71,442,811
2029 26,787,117 71,123,782
2028 26,749,227 70,783,199
2027 26,701,444 70,421,923
2026 26,643,460 70,055,911
2025 26,575,953 69,658,188
2024 26,498,823 69,226,000
2023 26,418,204 68,492,000
2022 26,328,845 67,604,000
2021 26,232,534 66,984,000
2020 26,136,312 66,744,000
2019 26,037,632 66,631,000
2018 25,931,147 66,289,000
2017 25,817,709 65,966,000
2016 25,698,326 65,607,000
2015 25,575,350 65,088,000
2014 25,451,262 64,620,000
2013 25,329,451 64,139,000
2012 25,211,728 63,711,000
2011 25,097,874 63,258,810
2010 24,987,258 62,766,365
2009 24,878,332 62,276,270
2008 24,764,618 61,806,995
2007 24,646,383 61,322,463
2006 24,524,507 60,846,820
2005 24,396,433 60,401,206
2004 24,254,943 59,987,905
2003 24,090,380 59,647,577
2002 23,943,973 59,370,479
2001 23,815,358 59,119,673
2000 23,665,910 58,892,514
1999 23,497,599 58,682,466
1998 23,311,564 58,487,141
1997 23,110,830 58,316,954
1996 22,895,746 58,166,950
1995 22,669,304 58,019,030
1994 22,393,975 57,865,745
1993 22,073,352 57,718,614
1992 21,750,911 57,580,402
1991 21,428,638 57,424,897
1990 21,112,137 57,247,586
1989 20,804,367 57,076,711
1988 20,503,161 56,928,327
1987 20,205,483 56,802,050
1986 19,910,855 56,681,396
1985 19,620,388 56,550,268
1984 19,335,043 56,422,072
1983 19,054,034 56,332,848
1982 18,776,357 56,313,641
1981 18,501,295 56,333,829
1980 18,236,786 56,314,216
1979 17,983,470 56,246,951
1978 17,735,995 56,196,504
1977 17,492,798 56,193,492
1976 17,243,450 56,211,968
1975 16,971,055 56,225,800
1974 16,673,121 56,229,974
1973 16,350,367 56,194,527
1972 15,975,069 56,086,065
1971 15,572,457 55,896,223
1970 15,172,775 55,663,250
1969 14,767,615 55,441,750
1968 14,365,596 55,211,700
1967 13,958,350 54,943,600
1966 13,569,094 54,648,500
1965 13,219,369 54,348,050
1964 12,889,770 54,000,000
1963 12,567,057 53,650,000
1962 12,262,882 53,250,000
1961 11,990,713 52,800,000
1960 11,722,953 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea United Kingdom
2100 -0.65% -0.17%
2099 -0.65% -0.16%
2098 -0.65% -0.15%
2097 -0.65% -0.15%
2096 -0.65% -0.15%
2095 -0.65% -0.13%
2094 -0.64% -0.13%
2093 -0.64% -0.12%
2092 -0.64% -0.12%
2091 -0.63% -0.11%
2090 -0.63% -0.11%
2089 -0.62% -0.09%
2088 -0.62% -0.09%
2087 -0.61% -0.09%
2086 -0.6% -0.08%
2085 -0.6% -0.07%
2084 -0.59% -0.07%
2083 -0.59% -0.05%
2082 -0.58% -0.04%
2081 -0.58% -0.04%
2080 -0.57% -0.04%
2079 -0.57% -0.02%
2078 -0.56% -0.02%
2077 -0.56% -0.003%
2076 -0.56% -0.02%
2075 -0.55% -0.01%
2074 -0.55% -0.01%
2073 -0.55% 0.01%
2072 -0.55% 0.01%
2071 -0.55% 0.01%
2070 -0.55% 0.009%
2069 -0.55% 0.001%
2068 -0.54% 0.01%
2067 -0.54% 0.009%
2066 -0.54% 0.001%
2065 -0.53% 0.004%
2064 -0.53% -0%
2063 -0.52% 0.009%
2062 -0.51% 0.003%
2061 -0.5% -0.001%
2060 -0.49% -0.001%
2059 -0.48% 0.02%
2058 -0.47% 0.03%
2057 -0.45% 0.04%
2056 -0.44% 0.05%
2055 -0.42% 0.09%
2054 -0.41% 0.1%
2053 -0.39% 0.12%
2052 -0.38% 0.14%
2051 -0.36% 0.16%
2050 -0.35% 0.17%
2049 -0.33% 0.19%
2048 -0.32% 0.21%
2047 -0.3% 0.22%
2046 -0.29% 0.24%
2045 -0.27% 0.25%
2044 -0.26% 0.27%
2043 -0.24% 0.27%
2042 -0.23% 0.28%
2041 -0.21% 0.28%
2040 -0.2% 0.29%
2039 -0.17% 0.3%
2038 -0.15% 0.3%
2037 -0.13% 0.32%
2036 -0.1% 0.34%
2035 -0.07% 0.35%
2034 -0.04% 0.38%
2033 -0.006% 0.38%
2032 0.03% 0.4%
2031 0.07% 0.44%
2030 0.1% 0.45%
2029 0.14% 0.48%
2028 0.18% 0.51%
2027 0.22% 0.52%
2026 0.25% 0.57%
2025 0.29% 0.62%
2024 0.31% 1.07%
2023 0.34% 1.31%
2022 0.37% 0.93%
2021 0.37% 0.36%
2020 0.38% 0.17%
2019 0.41% 0.52%
2018 0.44% 0.49%
2017 0.46% 0.55%
2016 0.48% 0.8%
2015 0.49% 0.72%
2014 0.48% 0.75%
2013 0.47% 0.67%
2012 0.45% 0.71%
2011 0.44% 0.78%
2010 0.44% 0.79%
2009 0.46% 0.76%
2008 0.48% 0.79%
2007 0.5% 0.78%
2006 0.52% 0.74%
2005 0.58% 0.69%
2004 0.68% 0.57%
2003 0.61% 0.47%
2002 0.54% 0.42%
2001 0.63% 0.39%
2000 0.72% 0.36%
1999 0.8% 0.33%
1998 0.87% 0.29%
1997 0.94% 0.26%
1996 1% 0.25%
1995 1.23% 0.26%
1994 1.45% 0.25%
1993 1.48% 0.24%
1992 1.5% 0.27%
1991 1.5% 0.31%
1990 1.48% 0.3%
1989 1.47% 0.26%
1988 1.47% 0.22%
1987 1.48% 0.21%
1986 1.48% 0.23%
1985 1.48% 0.23%
1984 1.47% 0.16%
1983 1.48% 0.03%
1982 1.49% -0.04%
1981 1.45% 0.03%
1980 1.41% 0.12%
1979 1.4% 0.09%
1978 1.39% 0.005%
1977 1.45% -0.03%
1976 1.61% -0.02%
1975 1.79% -0.007%
1974 1.97% 0.06%
1973 2.35% 0.19%
1972 2.59% 0.34%
1971 2.63% 0.42%
1970 2.74% 0.4%
1969 2.8% 0.42%
1968 2.92% 0.49%
1967 2.87% 0.54%
1966 2.65% 0.55%
1965 2.56% 0.64%
1964 2.57% 0.65%
1963 2.48% 0.75%
1962 2.27% 0.85%
1961 2.28% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

North Korea United Kingdom
Current population
26659144
70154914
Population rank 57/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.85%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +221 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 97/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 +389,911
Net migration rank 104/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 389,911
2024 - -2,473 - 417,114
2023 86,203 -1,997 34,589 445,523
2022 96,495 -1,997 39,751 487,029
2021 99,710 -1,585 30,612 462,967
2020 95,920 -1,585 -4,272 144,221
2019 106,208 -3,142 108,342 232,727
2018 113,164 -3,225 119,321 259,744
2017 120,181 -3,224 145,125 272,311
2016 125,048 -3,222 177,139 324,649
2015 127,365 -3,208 175,738 347,839
2014 127,078 -3,042 206,784 306,091
2013 122,519 -2,933 198,830 237,272
2012 118,773 -2,919 248,473 172,088
2011 114,798 -2,957 259,361 228,773
2010 112,443 -3,053 251,066 274,811
2009 111,530 -3,058 230,422 249,639
2008 122,015 -3,051 216,325 263,390
2007 120,521 -3,021 196,232 309,385
2006 129,171 -2,948 176,455 288,923
2005 132,765 -2,861 144,963 308,279
2004 155,838 -2,758 131,974 276,077
2003 178,775 -2,717 89,471 211,846
2002 119,504 -2,763 65,308 203,577
2001 143,321 -2,884 65,032 175,133
2000 161,591 -3,142 70,671 153,917
1999 181,613 -3,443 64,551 152,653
1998 197,589 -3,706 87,730 125,541
1997 211,325 -3,745 99,138 59,723
1996 226,095 -3,512 98,884 54,964
1995 233,381 -3,094 87,028 61,385
1994 320,861 -517 127,304 45,339
1993 320,880 0 103,893 27,403
1992 324,002 0 149,709 17,846
1991 320,551 0 143,562 27,601
1990 312,460 0 154,569 57,132
1989 303,078 0 119,861 49,586
1988 299,305 0 136,628 13,952
1987 296,030 0 136,325 8,266
1986 293,227 0 90,690 41,836
1985 287,714 0 79,170 83,164
1984 282,987 0 84,633 71,107
1983 279,046 0 61,966 27,063
1982 276,332 0 56,314 -61,152
1981 273,800 0 73,234 -83,876
1980 255,206 0 95,734 -25,187
1979 251,409 0 61,872 11,255
1978 243,533 0 16,859 3,783
1977 242,870 0 0 -21,636
1976 255,841 0 -5,621 -19,135
1975 288,966 0 33,735 -40,241
1974 306,902 0 67,476 -65,710
1973 338,600 0 112,389 -33,840
1972 411,997 0 162,650 -1,406
1971 393,220 0 257,123 1,175
1970 406,129 0 244,918 -15,254
1969 404,189 0 260,577 -60,655
1968 399,837 0 292,622 -38,852
1967 414,632 0 346,145 -39,659
1966 363,882 0 333,356 -27,935
1965 335,587 0 364,132 -24,955
1964 323,623 0 405,000 -23,885
1963 321,805 0 337,995 8,271
1962 286,534 0 340,800 76,443
1961 257,788 0 311,519 52,295
1960 277,717 0 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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