The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 340,110,988 people in the United States in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,634,259 people compared to 343,682,585 in the United States.
Population statistics:
- The United States' population is 12.9 times bigger than North Korea's.
- North Korea is ranked the 56th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
- The countries together account for 4.47% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 4.15% for the United States.
- For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.67% in the United States.
- Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.6M (8.6% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.2% growth).
- North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.
North Korea vs United States: live population counter
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
26634259
|
343682585
|
| Population rank | 56/197 | 3/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.32% | 4.15% |
| One net population change |
6.52 minutes
|
6.07 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.54 minutes
|
8.8 seconds
|
| One death every |
2.05 minutes
|
10.2 seconds
|
| One migration net change every |
3.54 hours
|
24.5 seconds
|
| Annual migration change | -2,473 | +1,286,132 |
| Daily growth/decline | +221 | +14,236 |
| Annual growth/decline | +80,619 | +5,196,093 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.31% | +1.55% |
| Population growth rate rank | 150/197 | 70/197 |
North Korea and the United States: population history and growth rate by year chart
| Year | Population | Growth rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1900 | - | 76,094,000 | - | - |
| 1901 | - | 77,584,000 | - | 1.96% |
| 1902 | - | 79,163,000 | - | 2.04% |
| 1903 | - | 80,632,000 | - | 1.86% |
| 1904 | - | 82,166,000 | - | 1.9% |
| 1905 | - | 83,822,000 | - | 2.02% |
| 1906 | - | 85,450,000 | - | 1.94% |
| 1907 | - | 87,008,000 | - | 1.82% |
| 1908 | - | 88,710,000 | - | 1.96% |
| 1909 | - | 90,490,000 | - | 2.01% |
| 1910 | - | 92,407,000 | - | 2.12% |
| 1911 | - | 93,863,000 | - | 1.58% |
| 1912 | - | 95,335,000 | - | 1.57% |
| 1913 | - | 97,225,000 | - | 1.98% |
| 1914 | - | 99,111,000 | - | 1.94% |
| 1915 | - | 100,546,000 | - | 1.45% |
| 1916 | - | 101,961,000 | - | 1.41% |
| 1917 | - | 103,268,000 | - | 1.28% |
| 1918 | - | 103,208,000 | - | -0.06% |
| 1919 | - | 104,514,000 | - | 1.27% |
| 1920 | - | 106,461,000 | - | 1.86% |
| 1921 | - | 108,538,000 | - | 1.95% |
| 1922 | - | 110,049,000 | - | 1.39% |
| 1923 | - | 111,947,000 | - | 1.72% |
| 1924 | - | 114,109,000 | - | 1.93% |
| 1925 | - | 115,829,000 | - | 1.51% |
| 1926 | - | 117,397,000 | - | 1.35% |
| 1927 | - | 119,035,000 | - | 1.4% |
| 1928 | - | 120,509,000 | - | 1.24% |
| 1929 | - | 121,767,000 | - | 1.04% |
| 1930 | - | 123,076,741 | - | 1.08% |
| 1931 | - | 124,039,648 | - | 0.78% |
| 1932 | - | 124,840,471 | - | 0.65% |
| 1933 | - | 125,578,763 | - | 0.59% |
| 1934 | - | 126,373,773 | - | 0.63% |
| 1935 | - | 127,250,232 | - | 0.69% |
| 1936 | - | 128,053,180 | - | 0.63% |
| 1937 | - | 128,824,829 | - | 0.6% |
| 1938 | - | 129,824,939 | - | 0.78% |
| 1939 | - | 130,879,718 | - | 0.81% |
| 1940 | - | 132,122,446 | - | 0.95% |
| 1941 | - | 133,402,471 | - | 0.97% |
| 1942 | - | 134,859,553 | - | 1.09% |
| 1943 | - | 136,739,353 | - | 1.39% |
| 1944 | - | 138,397,345 | - | 1.21% |
| 1945 | - | 139,928,165 | - | 1.11% |
| 1946 | - | 141,388,566 | - | 1.04% |
| 1947 | - | 144,126,071 | - | 1.94% |
| 1948 | - | 146,631,302 | - | 1.74% |
| 1949 | - | 149,188,130 | - | 1.74% |
| 1950 | - | 152,271,417 | - | 2.07% |
| 1951 | - | 154,877,889 | - | 1.71% |
| 1952 | - | 157,552,740 | - | 1.73% |
| 1953 | - | 160,184,192 | - | 1.67% |
| 1954 | - | 163,025,854 | - | 1.77% |
| 1955 | - | 165,931,202 | - | 1.78% |
| 1956 | - | 168,903,031 | - | 1.79% |
| 1957 | - | 171,984,130 | - | 1.82% |
| 1958 | - | 174,881,904 | - | 1.68% |
| 1959 | - | 177,829,628 | - | 1.69% |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | 180,671,158 | - | 1.6% |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 183,691,481 | 2.28% | 1.67% |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 186,537,737 | 2.27% | 1.55% |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 189,241,798 | 2.48% | 1.45% |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 191,888,791 | 2.57% | 1.4% |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 194,302,963 | 2.56% | 1.26% |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 196,560,338 | 2.65% | 1.16% |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 198,712,056 | 2.87% | 1.09% |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 200,706,052 | 2.92% | 1% |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 202,676,946 | 2.8% | 0.98% |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 205,052,174 | 2.74% | 1.17% |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 207,660,677 | 2.63% | 1.27% |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 209,896,021 | 2.59% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 211,908,788 | 2.35% | 0.96% |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 213,853,928 | 1.97% | 0.92% |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 215,973,199 | 1.79% | 0.99% |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 218,035,164 | 1.61% | 0.95% |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 220,239,425 | 1.45% | 1.01% |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 222,584,545 | 1.39% | 1.06% |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 225,055,487 | 1.4% | 1.11% |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 226,542,250 | 1.41% | 0.66% |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 229,465,744 | 1.45% | 1.29% |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 231,664,432 | 1.49% | 0.96% |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 233,792,014 | 1.48% | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 235,824,908 | 1.47% | 0.87% |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 237,923,734 | 1.48% | 0.89% |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 240,132,831 | 1.48% | 0.93% |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 242,288,936 | 1.48% | 0.9% |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 244,499,004 | 1.47% | 0.91% |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 246,819,222 | 1.47% | 0.95% |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 250,131,894 | 1.48% | 1.34% |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 253,492,503 | 1.5% | 1.34% |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 256,894,189 | 1.5% | 1.34% |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 260,255,352 | 1.48% | 1.31% |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 263,435,673 | 1.45% | 1.22% |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 266,557,091 | 1.23% | 1.18% |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 269,667,391 | 1% | 1.17% |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 272,911,760 | 0.94% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 276,115,288 | 0.87% | 1.17% |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 279,294,713 | 0.8% | 1.15% |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 282,162,411 | 0.72% | 1.03% |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 284,968,955 | 0.63% | 0.99% |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 287,625,193 | 0.54% | 0.93% |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 290,107,933 | 0.61% | 0.86% |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 292,805,298 | 0.68% | 0.93% |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 295,516,599 | 0.58% | 0.93% |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 298,379,912 | 0.52% | 0.97% |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 301,231,207 | 0.5% | 0.96% |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 304,093,966 | 0.48% | 0.95% |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 306,771,529 | 0.46% | 0.88% |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 309,327,143 | 0.44% | 0.83% |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 311,583,481 | 0.44% | 0.73% |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 313,877,662 | 0.45% | 0.74% |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 316,059,947 | 0.47% | 0.7% |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 318,386,329 | 0.48% | 0.74% |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 320,738,994 | 0.49% | 0.74% |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 323,071,755 | 0.48% | 0.73% |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 325,122,128 | 0.46% | 0.63% |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 326,838,199 | 0.44% | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 328,329,953 | 0.41% | 0.46% |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 331,526,933 | 0.38% | 0.97% |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 331,893,745 | 0.37% | 0.11% |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 333,271,411 | 0.37% | 0.42% |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 334,914,895 | 0.34% | 0.49% |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 340,110,988 | 0.31% | 1.55% |
| 2025 | 26,571,033 | 341,931,772 | 0.27% | 0.54% |
| 2026 | 26,633,682 | 343,664,369 | 0.24% | 0.51% |
| 2027 | 26,686,492 | 345,331,185 | 0.2% | 0.49% |
| 2028 | 26,729,261 | 346,981,137 | 0.16% | 0.48% |
| 2029 | 26,762,008 | 348,601,982 | 0.12% | 0.47% |
| 2030 | 26,784,894 | 350,176,974 | 0.09% | 0.45% |
| 2031 | 26,797,946 | 351,725,612 | 0.05% | 0.44% |
| 2032 | 26,801,071 | 353,249,060 | 0.01% | 0.43% |
| 2033 | 26,795,061 | 354,749,644 | -0.02% | 0.42% |
| 2034 | 26,780,481 | 356,234,239 | -0.05% | 0.42% |
| 2035 | 26,757,705 | 357,694,316 | -0.09% | 0.41% |
| 2036 | 26,727,309 | 359,119,002 | -0.11% | 0.4% |
| 2037 | 26,689,907 | 360,517,853 | -0.14% | 0.39% |
| 2038 | 26,646,323 | 361,895,407 | -0.16% | 0.38% |
| 2039 | 26,596,967 | 363,229,908 | -0.19% | 0.37% |
| 2040 | 26,542,417 | 364,512,364 | -0.21% | 0.35% |
| 2041 | 26,483,475 | 365,753,139 | -0.22% | 0.34% |
| 2042 | 26,420,812 | 366,969,419 | -0.24% | 0.33% |
| 2043 | 26,354,324 | 368,146,925 | -0.25% | 0.32% |
| 2044 | 26,284,000 | 369,258,123 | -0.27% | 0.3% |
| 2045 | 26,210,196 | 370,318,770 | -0.28% | 0.29% |
| 2046 | 26,132,922 | 371,328,255 | -0.29% | 0.27% |
| 2047 | 26,052,086 | 372,299,116 | -0.31% | 0.26% |
| 2048 | 25,967,581 | 373,230,539 | -0.32% | 0.25% |
| 2049 | 25,879,244 | 374,119,803 | -0.34% | 0.24% |
| 2050 | 25,787,120 | 374,986,259 | -0.36% | 0.23% |
From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 935,933 (a 3.64% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,610,830 (a 6.38% growth).
North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 56th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 24 years (in 2050) North Korea's population will shrink by 3.18% to 25,787,120 people with a rank change from 56th to 66th. The population of the United States will increase by 9.11% to 374,986,259 people and will still be ranked 3rd.
Biggest cities by population
|
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Pyongyang | 2.86M |
| Hamhung | 769K |
| Chongjin | 668K |
| Sunchon | 437K |
| Nampo | 367K |
| Wonsan | 363K |
| Sinuiju | 359K |
| Tanchon | 346K |
| Kaechon | 320K |
| Kaesong | 308K |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| New York | 8.8M |
| Los Angeles | 3.9M |
| Chicago | 2.75M |
| Houston | 2.3M |
| Phoenix | 1.61M |
| Philadelphia | 1.6M |
| San Antonio | 1.43M |
| San Diego | 1.39M |
| Dallas | 1.3M |
| San Jose | 1.01M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between North Korea and the United States
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 79.8 years |
| Average age | 38 years | 40.2 years |
| Median age | 37.3 years | 39.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | 50.2:49.8 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 1.62 births per woman |
| Population density | 570 ppl/mi² | 96.3 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Population
Growth rate visualization in other countries
Growth rate
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