The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- North Korea's population is 77 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).
North Korea vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 19,601,003 | 883,016 |
| 2099 | 19,729,897 | 878,369 |
| 2098 | 19,859,274 | 873,597 |
| 2097 | 19,989,589 | 868,672 |
| 2096 | 20,120,795 | 863,700 |
| 2095 | 20,252,653 | 858,515 |
| 2094 | 20,384,384 | 853,182 |
| 2093 | 20,516,457 | 847,713 |
| 2092 | 20,649,140 | 842,198 |
| 2091 | 20,781,939 | 836,615 |
| 2090 | 20,914,434 | 830,915 |
| 2089 | 21,046,685 | 825,143 |
| 2088 | 21,178,406 | 819,225 |
| 2087 | 21,310,103 | 813,199 |
| 2086 | 21,441,361 | 807,118 |
| 2085 | 21,571,843 | 800,846 |
| 2084 | 21,701,761 | 794,459 |
| 2083 | 21,830,989 | 788,013 |
| 2082 | 21,960,135 | 781,513 |
| 2081 | 22,088,774 | 774,913 |
| 2080 | 22,216,836 | 768,233 |
| 2079 | 22,344,442 | 761,418 |
| 2078 | 22,471,597 | 754,464 |
| 2077 | 22,598,635 | 747,507 |
| 2076 | 22,725,293 | 740,413 |
| 2075 | 22,852,140 | 733,236 |
| 2074 | 22,979,532 | 725,977 |
| 2073 | 23,107,165 | 718,583 |
| 2072 | 23,234,961 | 711,096 |
| 2071 | 23,363,260 | 703,543 |
| 2070 | 23,491,789 | 695,963 |
| 2069 | 23,621,167 | 688,347 |
| 2068 | 23,750,741 | 680,670 |
| 2067 | 23,880,460 | 672,919 |
| 2066 | 24,010,584 | 665,095 |
| 2065 | 24,140,518 | 657,238 |
| 2064 | 24,269,765 | 649,317 |
| 2063 | 24,397,924 | 641,384 |
| 2062 | 24,525,403 | 633,453 |
| 2061 | 24,651,788 | 625,585 |
| 2060 | 24,776,326 | 617,652 |
| 2059 | 24,898,430 | 609,661 |
| 2058 | 25,018,630 | 601,631 |
| 2057 | 25,135,871 | 593,578 |
| 2056 | 25,250,670 | 585,523 |
| 2055 | 25,361,704 | 577,375 |
| 2054 | 25,469,578 | 569,204 |
| 2053 | 25,574,137 | 560,984 |
| 2052 | 25,675,211 | 552,762 |
| 2051 | 25,772,870 | 544,521 |
| 2050 | 25,866,886 | 536,181 |
| 2049 | 25,957,363 | 527,854 |
| 2048 | 26,043,774 | 519,491 |
| 2047 | 26,126,594 | 511,139 |
| 2046 | 26,205,638 | 502,701 |
| 2045 | 26,281,344 | 494,279 |
| 2044 | 26,353,455 | 485,821 |
| 2043 | 26,422,173 | 477,431 |
| 2042 | 26,486,580 | 469,034 |
| 2041 | 26,547,651 | 460,706 |
| 2040 | 26,604,634 | 452,395 |
| 2039 | 26,656,882 | 444,129 |
| 2038 | 26,703,458 | 435,887 |
| 2037 | 26,744,185 | 427,727 |
| 2036 | 26,778,348 | 419,648 |
| 2035 | 26,805,065 | 411,652 |
| 2034 | 26,823,948 | 403,718 |
| 2033 | 26,834,263 | 395,853 |
| 2032 | 26,835,978 | 388,114 |
| 2031 | 26,827,992 | 380,413 |
| 2030 | 26,809,850 | 372,755 |
| 2029 | 26,782,161 | 365,162 |
| 2028 | 26,744,278 | 357,621 |
| 2027 | 26,696,504 | 350,124 |
| 2026 | 26,638,530 | 342,649 |
| 2025 | 26,571,036 | 335,169 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% growth).
North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -0.65% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.65% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.65% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.65% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.65% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | -0.65% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -0.64% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | -0.64% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | -0.64% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -0.63% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | -0.62% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | -0.62% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | -0.61% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | -0.6% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | -0.6% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | -0.59% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | -0.59% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | -0.58% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | -0.58% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | -0.57% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | -0.57% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | -0.56% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | -0.56% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | -0.56% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | -0.55% | 1% |
| 2074 | -0.55% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | -0.55% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | -0.55% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | -0.55% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | -0.54% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | -0.54% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | -0.54% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | -0.53% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | -0.53% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | -0.52% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | -0.51% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | -0.5% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | -0.49% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | -0.48% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | -0.47% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | -0.45% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | -0.44% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | -0.42% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | -0.41% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | -0.39% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | -0.38% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | -0.36% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | -0.35% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | -0.32% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | -0.29% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | -0.27% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | -0.26% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | -0.23% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | -0.21% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | -0.2% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | -0.17% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | -0.15% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | -0.04% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | -0.006% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 0.03% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 0.07% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 0.1% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 0.14% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 0.18% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 0.22% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 0.25% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 0.27% | 2.26% |
| 2024 | 0.31% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.34% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 0.37% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 0.37% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 0.38% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 0.41% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 0.44% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 0.46% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 0.48% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 0.49% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 0.48% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 0.47% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 0.45% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 0.44% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 0.44% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 0.46% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 0.48% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 0.52% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 0.58% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 0.68% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 0.61% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 0.54% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 0.63% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 0.72% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 0.87% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 0.94% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 1% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 1.45% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 1.48% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 1.48% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 1.47% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 1.47% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 1.48% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 1.48% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 1.48% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 1.47% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 1.45% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 1.41% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.39% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 1.45% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 1.61% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 1.79% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 1.97% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 2.35% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 2.59% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 2.63% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 2.74% | 3% |
| 1969 | 2.8% | 3% |
| 1968 | 2.92% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 2.87% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 2.65% | 3% |
| 1965 | 2.56% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 2.57% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 2.48% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 2.27% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 2.28% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
North Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
26668308
|
346488
|
| Population rank | 57/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.32% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
7.3 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.54 minutes
|
58 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.01 minutes
|
5.33 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +198 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +72,213 | +7,392 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.27% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 146/197 | 36/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.15 hours
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -2,787 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 104/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 50,439 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 150/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 189/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,787 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | 79,496 | -2,473 | 7,419 | -43 |
| 2023 | 86,203 | -1,997 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 96,495 | -1,997 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 99,710 | -1,585 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 95,920 | -1,585 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 106,208 | -3,142 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 113,164 | -3,225 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 120,181 | -3,224 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 125,048 | -3,222 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 127,365 | -3,208 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 127,078 | -3,042 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 122,519 | -2,933 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 118,773 | -2,919 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 114,798 | -2,957 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 112,443 | -3,053 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 111,530 | -3,058 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 122,015 | -3,051 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 120,521 | -3,021 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 129,171 | -2,948 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 132,765 | -2,861 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 155,838 | -2,758 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 178,775 | -2,717 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 119,504 | -2,763 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 143,321 | -2,884 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 161,591 | -3,142 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 181,613 | -3,443 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 197,589 | -3,706 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 211,325 | -3,745 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 226,095 | -3,512 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 233,381 | -3,094 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 320,861 | -517 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 320,880 | 0 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 324,002 | 0 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 320,551 | 0 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 312,460 | 0 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 303,078 | 0 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 299,305 | 0 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 296,030 | 0 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 293,227 | 0 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 287,714 | 0 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 282,987 | 0 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 279,046 | 0 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 276,332 | 0 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 273,800 | 0 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 255,206 | 0 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 251,409 | 0 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 243,533 | 0 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 242,870 | 0 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 255,841 | 0 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 288,966 | 0 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 306,902 | 0 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 338,600 | 0 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 411,997 | 0 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 393,220 | 0 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 406,129 | 0 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 404,189 | 0 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 399,837 | 0 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 414,632 | 0 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 363,882 | 0 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 335,587 | 0 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 323,623 | 0 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 321,805 | 0 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 286,534 | 0 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 257,788 | 0 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 277,717 | 0 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 people).
As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
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 |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between North Korea and Vanuatu
|
North Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 38.2 years | 25.7 years |
| Median age | 37.6 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 3.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, 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.