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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 36,361,859 people in Uzbekistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 37,939,105 in Uzbekistan.

Population statistics:

  • Uzbekistan's population is 1.42 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Uzbekistan is the 42nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.78% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.46% for Uzbekistan.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.85% in Uzbekistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Uzbekistan has grown from 26.7M to 37.9M (42.1% growth).

North Korea vs Uzbekistan: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Uzbekistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Uzbekistan
2100 19,604,631 74,950,276
2099 19,733,548 74,687,562
2098 19,862,949 74,412,253
2097 19,993,288 74,120,787
2096 20,124,518 73,822,520
2095 20,256,401 73,512,493
2094 20,388,156 73,187,441
2093 20,520,253 72,852,823
2092 20,652,961 72,509,869
2091 20,785,785 72,158,109
2090 20,918,305 71,795,130
2089 21,050,580 71,419,019
2088 21,182,325 71,037,131
2087 21,314,047 70,645,917
2086 21,445,329 70,250,312
2085 21,575,835 69,845,645
2084 21,705,777 69,430,096
2083 21,835,029 69,009,654
2082 21,964,199 68,591,369
2081 22,092,862 68,161,432
2080 22,220,948 67,729,509
2079 22,348,577 67,293,106
2078 22,475,755 66,849,622
2077 22,602,817 66,394,934
2076 22,729,499 65,946,007
2075 22,856,369 65,494,544
2074 22,983,784 65,041,409
2073 23,111,441 64,584,034
2072 23,239,261 64,126,554
2071 23,367,583 63,662,468
2070 23,496,136 63,197,548
2069 23,625,538 62,728,854
2068 23,755,136 62,256,069
2067 23,884,879 61,779,846
2066 24,015,027 61,296,688
2065 24,144,985 60,808,437
2064 24,274,257 60,310,657
2063 24,402,439 59,805,006
2062 24,529,941 59,290,829
2061 24,656,350 58,769,606
2060 24,780,911 58,237,257
2059 24,903,037 57,693,970
2058 25,023,260 57,141,935
2057 25,140,523 56,580,336
2056 25,255,342 56,012,936
2055 25,366,397 55,434,251
2054 25,474,292 54,845,302
2053 25,578,870 54,247,246
2052 25,679,963 53,641,903
2051 25,777,639 53,028,742
2050 25,871,673 52,411,754
2049 25,962,167 51,787,458
2048 26,048,593 51,159,295
2047 26,131,429 50,526,830
2046 26,210,487 49,892,416
2045 26,286,208 49,257,909
2044 26,358,331 48,629,333
2043 26,427,062 48,007,917
2042 26,491,482 47,394,130
2041 26,552,564 46,789,557
2040 26,609,557 46,197,382
2039 26,661,815 45,613,886
2038 26,708,400 45,033,877
2037 26,749,134 44,458,257
2036 26,783,304 43,884,266
2035 26,810,026 43,308,578
2034 26,828,912 42,729,398
2033 26,839,229 42,143,548
2032 26,840,944 41,549,754
2031 26,832,957 40,948,133
2030 26,814,812 40,333,867
2029 26,787,117 39,708,371
2028 26,749,227 39,074,978
2027 26,701,444 38,426,208
2026 26,643,460 37,758,494
2025 26,575,953 37,071,527
2024 26,498,823 36,361,859
2023 26,418,204 35,652,307
2022 26,328,845 34,938,955
2021 26,232,534 34,243,696
2020 26,136,312 33,586,372
2019 26,037,632 32,964,701
2018 25,931,147 32,373,490
2017 25,817,709 31,819,178
2016 25,698,326 31,284,568
2015 25,575,350 30,749,346
2014 25,451,262 30,222,994
2013 25,329,451 29,724,065
2012 25,211,728 29,261,903
2011 25,097,874 28,823,196
2010 24,987,258 28,385,506
2009 24,878,332 27,939,328
2008 24,764,618 27,494,774
2007 24,646,383 27,076,008
2006 24,524,507 26,699,043
2005 24,396,433 26,356,975
2004 24,254,943 26,029,350
2003 24,090,380 25,711,259
2002 23,943,973 25,399,980
2001 23,815,358 25,090,283
2000 23,665,910 24,787,054
1999 23,497,599 24,476,008
1998 23,311,564 24,134,929
1997 23,110,830 23,758,960
1996 22,895,746 23,351,981
1995 22,669,304 22,917,589
1994 22,393,975 22,463,291
1993 22,073,352 21,987,955
1992 21,750,911 21,485,090
1991 21,428,638 20,962,910
1990 21,112,137 20,464,956
1989 20,804,367 19,977,183
1988 20,503,161 19,460,630
1987 20,205,483 18,930,070
1986 19,910,855 18,395,621
1985 19,620,388 17,875,339
1984 19,335,043 17,378,846
1983 19,054,034 16,908,400
1982 18,776,357 16,462,736
1981 18,501,295 16,035,032
1980 18,236,786 15,619,936
1979 17,983,470 15,215,587
1978 17,735,995 14,816,349
1977 17,492,798 14,408,822
1976 17,243,450 13,998,620
1975 16,971,055 13,598,521
1974 16,673,121 13,209,011
1973 16,350,367 12,831,047
1972 15,975,069 12,465,106
1971 15,572,457 12,111,511
1970 15,172,775 11,762,638
1969 14,767,615 11,403,150
1968 14,365,596 11,032,155
1967 13,958,350 10,659,180
1966 13,569,094 10,289,294
1965 13,219,369 9,921,681
1964 12,889,770 9,557,611
1963 12,567,057 9,202,246
1962 12,262,882 8,854,368
1961 11,990,713 8,517,711
1960 11,722,953 8,209,109

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/uzbekistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Uzbekistan gained 4,585,525 people (a 17.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Uzbekistan's population increased by 6,654,537 people (a 21.3% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Uzbekistan was ranked 42nd in 2006 and still ranked 42nd 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 Uzbekistan will increase by 38.1% to 52,411,754 people and rank change from 42nd to 39th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 75M people in 2100 for Uzbekistan.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Uzbekistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Uzbekistan
2100 -0.65% 0.35%
2099 -0.65% 0.37%
2098 -0.65% 0.39%
2097 -0.65% 0.4%
2096 -0.65% 0.42%
2095 -0.65% 0.44%
2094 -0.64% 0.46%
2093 -0.64% 0.47%
2092 -0.64% 0.49%
2091 -0.63% 0.51%
2090 -0.63% 0.53%
2089 -0.62% 0.54%
2088 -0.62% 0.55%
2087 -0.61% 0.56%
2086 -0.6% 0.58%
2085 -0.6% 0.6%
2084 -0.59% 0.61%
2083 -0.59% 0.61%
2082 -0.58% 0.63%
2081 -0.58% 0.64%
2080 -0.57% 0.65%
2079 -0.57% 0.66%
2078 -0.56% 0.68%
2077 -0.56% 0.68%
2076 -0.56% 0.69%
2075 -0.55% 0.7%
2074 -0.55% 0.71%
2073 -0.55% 0.71%
2072 -0.55% 0.73%
2071 -0.55% 0.74%
2070 -0.55% 0.75%
2069 -0.55% 0.76%
2068 -0.54% 0.77%
2067 -0.54% 0.79%
2066 -0.54% 0.8%
2065 -0.53% 0.83%
2064 -0.53% 0.85%
2063 -0.52% 0.87%
2062 -0.51% 0.89%
2061 -0.5% 0.91%
2060 -0.49% 0.94%
2059 -0.48% 0.97%
2058 -0.47% 0.99%
2057 -0.45% 1.01%
2056 -0.44% 1.04%
2055 -0.42% 1.07%
2054 -0.41% 1.1%
2053 -0.39% 1.13%
2052 -0.38% 1.16%
2051 -0.36% 1.18%
2050 -0.35% 1.21%
2049 -0.33% 1.23%
2048 -0.32% 1.25%
2047 -0.3% 1.27%
2046 -0.29% 1.29%
2045 -0.27% 1.29%
2044 -0.26% 1.29%
2043 -0.24% 1.3%
2042 -0.23% 1.29%
2041 -0.21% 1.28%
2040 -0.2% 1.28%
2039 -0.17% 1.29%
2038 -0.15% 1.29%
2037 -0.13% 1.31%
2036 -0.1% 1.33%
2035 -0.07% 1.36%
2034 -0.04% 1.39%
2033 -0.006% 1.43%
2032 0.03% 1.47%
2031 0.07% 1.52%
2030 0.1% 1.58%
2029 0.14% 1.62%
2028 0.18% 1.69%
2027 0.22% 1.77%
2026 0.25% 1.85%
2025 0.29% 1.95%
2024 0.31% 1.99%
2023 0.34% 2.04%
2022 0.37% 2.03%
2021 0.37% 1.96%
2020 0.38% 1.89%
2019 0.41% 1.83%
2018 0.44% 1.74%
2017 0.46% 1.71%
2016 0.48% 1.74%
2015 0.49% 1.74%
2014 0.48% 1.68%
2013 0.47% 1.58%
2012 0.45% 1.52%
2011 0.44% 1.54%
2010 0.44% 1.6%
2009 0.46% 1.62%
2008 0.48% 1.55%
2007 0.5% 1.41%
2006 0.52% 1.3%
2005 0.58% 1.26%
2004 0.68% 1.24%
2003 0.61% 1.23%
2002 0.54% 1.23%
2001 0.63% 1.22%
2000 0.72% 1.27%
1999 0.8% 1.41%
1998 0.87% 1.58%
1997 0.94% 1.74%
1996 1% 1.9%
1995 1.23% 2.02%
1994 1.45% 2.16%
1993 1.48% 2.34%
1992 1.5% 2.49%
1991 1.5% 2.43%
1990 1.48% 2.44%
1989 1.47% 2.65%
1988 1.47% 2.8%
1987 1.48% 2.91%
1986 1.48% 2.91%
1985 1.48% 2.86%
1984 1.47% 2.78%
1983 1.48% 2.71%
1982 1.49% 2.67%
1981 1.45% 2.66%
1980 1.41% 2.66%
1979 1.4% 2.69%
1978 1.39% 2.83%
1977 1.45% 2.93%
1976 1.61% 2.94%
1975 1.79% 2.95%
1974 1.97% 2.95%
1973 2.35% 2.94%
1972 2.59% 2.92%
1971 2.63% 2.97%
1970 2.74% 3.15%
1969 2.8% 3.36%
1968 2.92% 3.5%
1967 2.87% 3.59%
1966 2.65% 3.71%
1965 2.56% 3.81%
1964 2.57% 3.86%
1963 2.48% 3.93%
1962 2.27% 3.95%
1961 2.28% 3.76%

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/uzbekistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Uzbekistan's population grew by 1.99%.

Live population counters

North Korea Uzbekistan
Current population
26659144
37939105
Population rank 57/197 42/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.46%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
44.4 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
33.4 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.38 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +1,944
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +709,552
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.99%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 52/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.26 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 -6,987
Net migration rank 104/196 123/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 1,154,963
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 54/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.2%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 114/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Uzbekistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Uzbekistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -6,987
2024 - -2,473 - -7,066
2023 86,203 -1,997 722,280 -6,004
2022 96,495 -1,997 715,410 -5,007
2021 99,710 -1,585 689,325 -9,205
2020 95,920 -1,585 643,750 -9,208
2019 106,208 -3,142 618,154 -9,341
2018 113,164 -3,225 585,119 -11,516
2017 120,181 -3,224 548,372 -13,352
2016 125,048 -3,222 549,045 -14,839
2015 127,365 -3,208 552,781 -16,545
2014 127,078 -3,042 536,881 -20,381
2013 122,519 -2,933 501,742 -20,380
2012 118,773 -2,919 463,333 -20,381
2011 114,798 -2,957 454,858 -20,380
2010 112,443 -3,053 461,293 -20,380
2009 111,530 -3,058 471,839 -20,378
2008 122,015 -3,051 461,665 -24,028
2007 120,521 -3,021 426,880 -27,013
2006 129,171 -2,948 383,265 -29,197
2005 132,765 -2,861 363,462 -33,386
2004 155,838 -2,758 363,994 -38,834
2003 178,775 -2,717 355,098 -44,092
2002 119,504 -2,763 359,231 -47,679
2001 143,321 -2,884 356,483 -48,642
2000 161,591 -3,142 365,138 -66,547
1999 181,613 -3,443 385,448 -61,955
1998 197,589 -3,706 408,532 -49,862
1997 211,325 -3,745 441,631 -48,360
1996 226,095 -3,512 471,010 -50,314
1995 233,381 -3,094 493,966 -45,876
1994 320,861 -517 502,279 -41,788
1993 320,880 0 527,557 -37,377
1992 324,002 0 548,793 -33,259
1991 320,551 0 557,886 -29,064
1990 312,460 0 540,581 -73,478
1989 303,078 0 522,323 -13,888
1988 299,305 0 525,126 -473
1987 296,030 0 537,292 -824
1986 293,227 0 533,234 -802
1985 287,714 0 508,893 -773
1984 282,987 0 485,617 -752
1983 279,046 0 454,464 1,568
1982 276,332 0 431,389 3,897
1981 273,800 0 413,897 6,223
1980 255,206 0 401,557 8,540
1979 251,409 0 387,754 10,864
1978 243,533 0 372,068 27,783
1977 242,870 0 369,572 45,622
1976 255,841 0 363,110 42,094
1975 288,966 0 357,382 37,611
1974 306,902 0 350,422 33,600
1973 338,600 0 341,807 30,094
1972 411,997 0 333,230 26,748
1971 393,220 0 323,171 24,030
1970 406,129 0 313,216 37,324
1969 404,189 0 302,833 65,596
1968 399,837 0 295,651 77,914
1967 414,632 0 298,350 74,030
1966 363,882 0 297,844 69,537
1965 335,587 0 302,264 65,579
1964 323,623 0 298,790 61,512
1963 321,805 0 293,432 57,002
1962 286,534 0 292,788 52,532
1961 257,788 0 279,841 48,168
1960 277,717 0 267,165 22,039

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/uzbekistan | 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 Uzbekistan 98.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,161,117 people) and 1.84% is from migration (a loss of 115,398 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 1,154,963 people or 3.2% in Uzbekistan.

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
Uzbekistan
City Population
Tashkent 2.96M
Namangan 626K
Andijan 548K
Samarkand 546K
Nukus 320K
Fergana 289K
Bukhara 280K
Qarshi 275K
Margilan 215K
Jizzakh 163K

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/uzbekistan | 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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