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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 3,386,588 people in Uruguay in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 3,382,789 in Uruguay.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 7.88 times bigger than Uruguay's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Uruguay is the 133rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.04% for Uruguay.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +0.11% in Uruguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Uruguay has grown from 3.29M to 3.38M (2.84% growth).

North Korea vs Uruguay: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Uruguay
2100 19,604,631 2,256,741
2099 19,733,548 2,279,899
2098 19,862,949 2,303,351
2097 19,993,288 2,326,987
2096 20,124,518 2,350,799
2095 20,256,401 2,374,835
2094 20,388,156 2,398,960
2093 20,520,253 2,423,269
2092 20,652,961 2,447,646
2091 20,785,785 2,472,126
2090 20,918,305 2,496,514
2089 21,050,580 2,520,852
2088 21,182,325 2,545,052
2087 21,314,047 2,569,100
2086 21,445,329 2,592,974
2085 21,575,835 2,616,629
2084 21,705,777 2,640,001
2083 21,835,029 2,663,150
2082 21,964,199 2,686,021
2081 22,092,862 2,708,594
2080 22,220,948 2,730,883
2079 22,348,577 2,752,831
2078 22,475,755 2,774,432
2077 22,602,817 2,795,709
2076 22,729,499 2,816,677
2075 22,856,369 2,837,308
2074 22,983,784 2,857,709
2073 23,111,441 2,877,721
2072 23,239,261 2,897,543
2071 23,367,583 2,917,097
2070 23,496,136 2,936,478
2069 23,625,538 2,955,616
2068 23,755,136 2,974,445
2067 23,884,879 2,992,987
2066 24,015,027 3,011,309
2065 24,144,985 3,029,441
2064 24,274,257 3,047,343
2063 24,402,439 3,065,064
2062 24,529,941 3,082,642
2061 24,656,350 3,100,006
2060 24,780,911 3,117,149
2059 24,903,037 3,133,952
2058 25,023,260 3,150,250
2057 25,140,523 3,166,055
2056 25,255,342 3,181,373
2055 25,366,397 3,196,072
2054 25,474,292 3,210,110
2053 25,578,870 3,223,395
2052 25,679,963 3,235,973
2051 25,777,639 3,247,888
2050 25,871,673 3,259,108
2049 25,962,167 3,269,675
2048 26,048,593 3,279,610
2047 26,131,429 3,288,969
2046 26,210,487 3,297,696
2045 26,286,208 3,305,917
2044 26,358,331 3,313,556
2043 26,427,062 3,320,565
2042 26,491,482 3,326,955
2041 26,552,564 3,332,884
2040 26,609,557 3,338,277
2039 26,661,815 3,343,295
2038 26,708,400 3,347,790
2037 26,749,134 3,351,911
2036 26,783,304 3,355,671
2035 26,810,026 3,359,126
2034 26,828,912 3,362,276
2033 26,839,229 3,365,250
2032 26,840,944 3,368,057
2031 26,832,957 3,370,727
2030 26,814,812 3,373,273
2029 26,787,117 3,375,805
2028 26,749,227 3,378,198
2027 26,701,444 3,380,504
2026 26,643,460 3,382,789
2025 26,575,953 3,384,805
2024 26,498,823 3,386,588
2023 26,418,204 3,388,081
2022 26,328,845 3,390,913
2021 26,232,534 3,396,695
2020 26,136,312 3,398,968
2019 26,037,632 3,397,206
2018 25,931,147 3,394,534
2017 25,817,709 3,388,438
2016 25,698,326 3,379,283
2015 25,575,350 3,368,017
2014 25,451,262 3,356,334
2013 25,329,451 3,345,337
2012 25,211,728 3,335,401
2011 25,097,874 3,326,825
2010 24,987,258 3,318,580
2009 24,878,332 3,310,091
2008 24,764,618 3,302,177
2007 24,646,383 3,295,153
2006 24,524,507 3,289,506
2005 24,396,433 3,285,771
2004 24,254,943 3,283,148
2003 24,090,380 3,281,186
2002 23,943,973 3,278,867
2001 23,815,358 3,274,251
2000 23,665,910 3,266,206
1999 23,497,599 3,254,015
1998 23,311,564 3,239,280
1997 23,110,830 3,223,345
1996 22,895,746 3,206,324
1995 22,669,304 3,189,440
1994 22,393,975 3,172,834
1993 22,073,352 3,156,345
1992 21,750,911 3,139,702
1991 21,428,638 3,122,354
1990 21,112,137 3,104,403
1989 20,804,367 3,086,255
1988 20,503,161 3,067,961
1987 20,205,483 3,049,896
1986 19,910,855 3,032,845
1985 19,620,388 3,017,037
1984 19,335,043 3,002,488
1983 19,054,034 2,988,778
1982 18,776,357 2,975,492
1981 18,501,295 2,963,246
1980 18,236,786 2,951,953
1979 17,983,470 2,939,903
1978 17,735,995 2,925,715
1977 17,492,798 2,909,461
1976 17,243,450 2,891,392
1975 16,971,055 2,872,320
1974 16,673,121 2,853,944
1973 16,350,367 2,837,133
1972 15,975,069 2,821,644
1971 15,572,457 2,806,462
1970 15,172,775 2,790,807
1969 14,767,615 2,773,974
1968 14,365,596 2,754,606
1967 13,958,350 2,732,277
1966 13,569,094 2,707,646
1965 13,219,369 2,681,169
1964 12,889,770 2,653,180
1963 12,567,057 2,623,766
1962 12,262,882 2,593,298
1961 11,990,713 2,562,044
1960 11,722,953 2,529,957

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/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Uruguay gained 89,777 people (a 2.73% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Uruguay's population increased by 3,506 people (a 0.1% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Uruguay was ranked 129th in 2006 and ranked 133rd 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 Uruguay will decrease by 3.66% to 3,259,108 people and rank change from 133rd to 138th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people, while Uruguay's population already peaked in 2020 at 3.4M people and is projected to decrease to 2.26M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Uruguay
2100 -0.65% -1.02%
2099 -0.65% -1.02%
2098 -0.65% -1.02%
2097 -0.65% -1.01%
2096 -0.65% -1.01%
2095 -0.65% -1.01%
2094 -0.64% -1%
2093 -0.64% -1%
2092 -0.64% -0.99%
2091 -0.63% -0.98%
2090 -0.63% -0.97%
2089 -0.62% -0.95%
2088 -0.62% -0.94%
2087 -0.61% -0.92%
2086 -0.6% -0.9%
2085 -0.6% -0.89%
2084 -0.59% -0.87%
2083 -0.59% -0.85%
2082 -0.58% -0.83%
2081 -0.58% -0.82%
2080 -0.57% -0.8%
2079 -0.57% -0.78%
2078 -0.56% -0.76%
2077 -0.56% -0.74%
2076 -0.56% -0.73%
2075 -0.55% -0.71%
2074 -0.55% -0.7%
2073 -0.55% -0.68%
2072 -0.55% -0.67%
2071 -0.55% -0.66%
2070 -0.55% -0.65%
2069 -0.55% -0.63%
2068 -0.54% -0.62%
2067 -0.54% -0.61%
2066 -0.54% -0.6%
2065 -0.53% -0.59%
2064 -0.53% -0.58%
2063 -0.52% -0.57%
2062 -0.51% -0.56%
2061 -0.5% -0.55%
2060 -0.49% -0.54%
2059 -0.48% -0.52%
2058 -0.47% -0.5%
2057 -0.45% -0.48%
2056 -0.44% -0.46%
2055 -0.42% -0.44%
2054 -0.41% -0.41%
2053 -0.39% -0.39%
2052 -0.38% -0.37%
2051 -0.36% -0.34%
2050 -0.35% -0.32%
2049 -0.33% -0.3%
2048 -0.32% -0.28%
2047 -0.3% -0.26%
2046 -0.29% -0.25%
2045 -0.27% -0.23%
2044 -0.26% -0.21%
2043 -0.24% -0.19%
2042 -0.23% -0.18%
2041 -0.21% -0.16%
2040 -0.2% -0.15%
2039 -0.17% -0.13%
2038 -0.15% -0.12%
2037 -0.13% -0.11%
2036 -0.1% -0.1%
2035 -0.07% -0.09%
2034 -0.04% -0.09%
2033 -0.006% -0.08%
2032 0.03% -0.08%
2031 0.07% -0.08%
2030 0.1% -0.08%
2029 0.14% -0.07%
2028 0.18% -0.07%
2027 0.22% -0.07%
2026 0.25% -0.06%
2025 0.29% -0.05%
2024 0.31% -0.04%
2023 0.34% -0.08%
2022 0.37% -0.17%
2021 0.37% -0.07%
2020 0.38% 0.05%
2019 0.41% 0.08%
2018 0.44% 0.18%
2017 0.46% 0.27%
2016 0.48% 0.33%
2015 0.49% 0.35%
2014 0.48% 0.33%
2013 0.47% 0.3%
2012 0.45% 0.26%
2011 0.44% 0.25%
2010 0.44% 0.26%
2009 0.46% 0.24%
2008 0.48% 0.21%
2007 0.5% 0.17%
2006 0.52% 0.11%
2005 0.58% 0.08%
2004 0.68% 0.06%
2003 0.61% 0.07%
2002 0.54% 0.14%
2001 0.63% 0.25%
2000 0.72% 0.37%
1999 0.8% 0.45%
1998 0.87% 0.49%
1997 0.94% 0.53%
1996 1% 0.53%
1995 1.23% 0.52%
1994 1.45% 0.52%
1993 1.48% 0.53%
1992 1.5% 0.56%
1991 1.5% 0.58%
1990 1.48% 0.59%
1989 1.47% 0.6%
1988 1.47% 0.59%
1987 1.48% 0.56%
1986 1.48% 0.52%
1985 1.48% 0.48%
1984 1.47% 0.46%
1983 1.48% 0.45%
1982 1.49% 0.41%
1981 1.45% 0.38%
1980 1.41% 0.41%
1979 1.4% 0.48%
1978 1.39% 0.56%
1977 1.45% 0.62%
1976 1.61% 0.66%
1975 1.79% 0.64%
1974 1.97% 0.59%
1973 2.35% 0.55%
1972 2.59% 0.54%
1971 2.63% 0.56%
1970 2.74% 0.61%
1969 2.8% 0.7%
1968 2.92% 0.82%
1967 2.87% 0.91%
1966 2.65% 0.99%
1965 2.56% 1.05%
1964 2.57% 1.12%
1963 2.48% 1.17%
1962 2.27% 1.22%
1961 2.28% 1.27%

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/uruguay | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Uruguay's population declined by 0.04%.

Live population counters

North Korea Uruguay
Current population
26659144
3382789
Population rank 57/197 133/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.04%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
5.87 hours
One birth every
1.54 minutes
15.7 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
15.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 -4
Annual growth/decline +80,619 -1,493
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% -0.04%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 167/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
6.57 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 -1,338
Net migration rank 104/196 95/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 160,064
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 121/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.7%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 95/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Uruguay
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Uruguay
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -1,338
2024 - -2,473 - -1,348
2023 86,203 -1,997 298 -1,501
2022 96,495 -1,997 -2,964 -1,501
2021 99,710 -1,585 -5,621 -1,482
2020 95,920 -1,585 4,048 -1,482
2019 106,208 -3,142 3,873 -2,899
2018 113,164 -3,225 7,322 -2,963
2017 120,181 -3,224 10,907 -3,091
2016 125,048 -3,222 14,008 -3,506
2015 127,365 -3,208 16,194 -4,157
2014 127,078 -3,042 16,238 -4,919
2013 122,519 -2,933 16,318 -5,647
2012 118,773 -2,919 15,520 -6,317
2011 114,798 -2,957 14,934 -6,982
2010 112,443 -3,053 16,231 -7,696
2009 111,530 -3,058 16,947 -8,510
2008 122,015 -3,051 16,838 -9,458
2007 120,521 -3,021 17,422 -10,750
2006 129,171 -2,948 17,783 -13,161
2005 132,765 -2,861 18,926 -16,086
2004 155,838 -2,758 18,067 -15,668
2003 178,775 -2,717 18,628 -17,105
2002 119,504 -2,763 20,073 -16,957
2001 143,321 -2,884 20,729 -14,620
2000 161,591 -3,142 21,060 -11,076
1999 181,613 -3,443 21,844 -7,441
1998 197,589 -3,706 22,114 -7,048
1997 211,325 -3,745 23,737 -6,938
1996 226,095 -3,512 24,635 -7,397
1995 233,381 -3,094 24,872 -8,339
1994 320,861 -517 24,637 -7,955
1993 320,880 0 24,212 -7,922
1992 324,002 0 24,847 -7,850
1991 320,551 0 25,422 -7,714
1990 312,460 0 25,699 -7,499
1989 303,078 0 25,322 -7,229
1988 299,305 0 25,071 -6,582
1987 296,030 0 24,469 -6,833
1986 293,227 0 24,505 -8,046
1985 287,714 0 23,988 -8,832
1984 282,987 0 23,684 -9,730
1983 279,046 0 24,146 -10,671
1982 276,332 0 25,224 -12,131
1981 273,800 0 24,968 -13,577
1980 255,206 0 25,451 -14,252
1979 251,409 0 27,456 -14,552
1978 243,533 0 30,076 -14,611
1977 242,870 0 31,321 -14,280
1976 255,841 0 33,199 -14,096
1975 288,966 0 33,393 -14,350
1974 306,902 0 32,221 -14,512
1973 338,600 0 30,213 -14,312
1972 411,997 0 28,896 -13,817
1971 393,220 0 28,584 -13,288
1970 406,129 0 28,737 -12,727
1969 404,189 0 28,805 -11,149
1968 399,837 0 29,103 -8,028
1967 414,632 0 29,514 -5,938
1966 363,882 0 30,293 -4,599
1965 335,587 0 30,807 -3,542
1964 323,623 0 31,340 -2,623
1963 321,805 0 31,824 -1,707
1962 286,534 0 31,441 -623
1961 257,788 0 30,975 703
1960 277,717 0 30,438 2,057

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/uruguay | 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 Uruguay 70% is from natural causes (a gain of 64,303 people) and 30% is from migration (a loss of 27,501 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 160,064 people or 4.7% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 125K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 76.4K
Tacuarembo 54.8K
Melo 51.8K
Mercedes 42K
Artigas 40.7K

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/uruguay | 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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