The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- North Korea's population is 28,482 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
North Korea vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 19,604,631 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 19,733,548 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 19,862,949 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 19,993,288 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 20,124,518 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 20,256,401 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 20,388,156 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 20,520,253 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 20,652,961 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 20,785,785 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 20,918,305 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 21,050,580 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 21,182,325 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 21,314,047 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 21,445,329 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 21,575,835 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 21,705,777 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 21,835,029 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 21,964,199 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 22,092,862 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 22,220,948 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 22,348,577 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 22,475,755 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 22,602,817 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 22,729,499 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 22,856,369 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 22,983,784 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 23,111,441 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 23,239,261 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 23,367,583 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 23,496,136 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 23,625,538 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 23,755,136 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 23,884,879 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 24,015,027 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 24,144,985 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 24,274,257 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 24,402,439 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 24,529,941 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 24,656,350 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 24,780,911 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 24,903,037 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 25,023,260 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 25,140,523 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 25,255,342 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 25,366,397 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 25,474,292 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 25,578,870 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 25,679,963 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 25,777,639 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 25,871,673 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 25,962,167 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 26,048,593 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 26,131,429 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 26,210,487 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 26,286,208 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 26,358,331 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 26,427,062 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 26,491,482 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 26,552,564 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 26,609,557 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 26,661,815 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 26,708,400 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 26,749,134 | 996 |
| 2036 | 26,783,304 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 26,810,026 | 988 |
| 2034 | 26,828,912 | 988 |
| 2033 | 26,839,229 | 974 |
| 2032 | 26,840,944 | 964 |
| 2031 | 26,832,957 | 977 |
| 2030 | 26,814,812 | 979 |
| 2029 | 26,787,117 | 985 |
| 2028 | 26,749,227 | 983 |
| 2027 | 26,701,444 | 946 |
| 2026 | 26,643,460 | 933 |
| 2025 | 26,575,953 | 927 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 910 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 927 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 951 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 972 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 987 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | - |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | - |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 842 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 839 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 836 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 832 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 829 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 826 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 824 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 821 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 932 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 921 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 921 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 911 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 900 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 890 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 880 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | - |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | - |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | - |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | - |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | - |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | - |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | - |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | - |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | - |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | - |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | - |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | - |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | - |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | - |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | - |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | - |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | - |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | - |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | - |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | - |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | - |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | - |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | - |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | - |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | - |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | - |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | - |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | - |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | - |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | - |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | - |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | - |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | - |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | - |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | - |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | - |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | - |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | - |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | - |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -0.65% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -0.65% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -0.65% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -0.65% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -0.65% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | -0.65% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -0.64% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | -0.64% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | -0.64% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | -0.63% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | -0.62% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | -0.62% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | -0.61% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | -0.6% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | -0.6% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | -0.59% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | -0.59% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | -0.58% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | -0.58% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | -0.57% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | -0.57% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | -0.56% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | -0.56% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | -0.56% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | -0.55% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | -0.55% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | -0.55% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | -0.55% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | -0.55% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | -0.54% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | -0.54% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | -0.54% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | -0.53% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | -0.53% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | -0.52% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | -0.51% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | -0.5% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | -0.49% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | -0.48% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | -0.47% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | -0.45% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | -0.44% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | -0.42% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | -0.41% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | -0.39% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | -0.38% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | -0.36% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | -0.35% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | -0.33% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | -0.32% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | -0.3% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | -0.29% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | -0.27% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | -0.26% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | -0.24% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | -0.23% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | -0.21% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | -0.2% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | -0.17% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | -0.15% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | -0.13% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | -0.1% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | -0.07% | 0% |
| 2034 | -0.04% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | -0.006% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 0.03% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 0.07% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 0.1% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 0.14% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 0.18% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 0.22% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 0.25% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.29% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 0.31% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 0.34% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 0.37% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.37% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 0.38% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.41% | 0% |
| 2018 | 0.44% | 0% |
| 2017 | 0.46% | 0% |
| 2016 | 0.48% | 0% |
| 2015 | 0.49% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 0.48% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 0.47% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 0.45% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 0.44% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 0.44% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 0.46% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 0.48% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 0.52% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 0.58% | 0% |
| 2004 | 0.68% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.61% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 0.54% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.63% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 0.72% | - |
| 1999 | 0.8% | - |
| 1998 | 0.87% | - |
| 1997 | 0.94% | - |
| 1996 | 1% | - |
| 1995 | 1.23% | - |
| 1994 | 1.45% | - |
| 1993 | 1.48% | - |
| 1992 | 1.5% | - |
| 1991 | 1.5% | - |
| 1990 | 1.48% | - |
| 1989 | 1.47% | - |
| 1988 | 1.47% | - |
| 1987 | 1.48% | - |
| 1986 | 1.48% | - |
| 1985 | 1.48% | - |
| 1984 | 1.47% | - |
| 1983 | 1.48% | - |
| 1982 | 1.49% | - |
| 1981 | 1.45% | - |
| 1980 | 1.41% | - |
| 1979 | 1.4% | - |
| 1978 | 1.39% | - |
| 1977 | 1.45% | - |
| 1976 | 1.61% | - |
| 1975 | 1.79% | - |
| 1974 | 1.97% | - |
| 1973 | 2.35% | - |
| 1972 | 2.59% | - |
| 1971 | 2.63% | - |
| 1970 | 2.74% | - |
| 1969 | 2.8% | - |
| 1968 | 2.92% | - |
| 1967 | 2.87% | - |
| 1966 | 2.65% | - |
| 1965 | 2.56% | - |
| 1964 | 2.57% | - |
| 1963 | 2.48% | - |
| 1962 | 2.27% | - |
| 1961 | 2.28% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
26659144
|
936
|
| Population rank | 57/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.32% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
6.52 minutes
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
1.54 minutes
|
n/a |
| One death every |
2.05 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +221 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +80,619 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.31% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 150/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.15 hours
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -2,787 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 104/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 50,439 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 150/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 189/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,787 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -2,473 | - | - |
| 2023 | 86,203 | -1,997 | - | - |
| 2022 | 96,495 | -1,997 | - | - |
| 2021 | 99,710 | -1,585 | - | - |
| 2020 | 95,920 | -1,585 | - | - |
| 2019 | 106,208 | -3,142 | - | - |
| 2018 | 113,164 | -3,225 | - | - |
| 2017 | 120,181 | -3,224 | - | - |
| 2016 | 125,048 | -3,222 | - | - |
| 2015 | 127,365 | -3,208 | - | - |
| 2014 | 127,078 | -3,042 | - | - |
| 2013 | 122,519 | -2,933 | - | - |
| 2012 | 118,773 | -2,919 | - | - |
| 2011 | 114,798 | -2,957 | - | - |
| 2010 | 112,443 | -3,053 | - | - |
| 2009 | 111,530 | -3,058 | - | - |
| 2008 | 122,015 | -3,051 | - | - |
| 2007 | 120,521 | -3,021 | - | - |
| 2006 | 129,171 | -2,948 | - | - |
| 2005 | 132,765 | -2,861 | - | - |
| 2004 | 155,838 | -2,758 | - | - |
| 2003 | 178,775 | -2,717 | - | - |
| 2002 | 119,504 | -2,763 | - | - |
| 2001 | 143,321 | -2,884 | - | - |
| 2000 | 161,591 | -3,142 | - | - |
| 1999 | 181,613 | -3,443 | - | - |
| 1998 | 197,589 | -3,706 | - | - |
| 1997 | 211,325 | -3,745 | - | - |
| 1996 | 226,095 | -3,512 | - | - |
| 1995 | 233,381 | -3,094 | - | - |
| 1994 | 320,861 | -517 | - | - |
| 1993 | 320,880 | 0 | - | - |
| 1992 | 324,002 | 0 | - | - |
| 1991 | 320,551 | 0 | - | - |
| 1990 | 312,460 | 0 | - | - |
| 1989 | 303,078 | 0 | - | - |
| 1988 | 299,305 | 0 | - | - |
| 1987 | 296,030 | 0 | - | - |
| 1986 | 293,227 | 0 | - | - |
| 1985 | 287,714 | 0 | - | - |
| 1984 | 282,987 | 0 | - | - |
| 1983 | 279,046 | 0 | - | - |
| 1982 | 276,332 | 0 | - | - |
| 1981 | 273,800 | 0 | - | - |
| 1980 | 255,206 | 0 | - | - |
| 1979 | 251,409 | 0 | - | - |
| 1978 | 243,533 | 0 | - | - |
| 1977 | 242,870 | 0 | - | - |
| 1976 | 255,841 | 0 | - | - |
| 1975 | 288,966 | 0 | - | - |
| 1974 | 306,902 | 0 | - | - |
| 1973 | 338,600 | 0 | - | - |
| 1972 | 411,997 | 0 | - | - |
| 1971 | 393,220 | 0 | - | - |
| 1970 | 406,129 | 0 | - | - |
| 1969 | 404,189 | 0 | - | - |
| 1968 | 399,837 | 0 | - | - |
| 1967 | 414,632 | 0 | - | - |
| 1966 | 363,882 | 0 | - | - |
| 1965 | 335,587 | 0 | - | - |
| 1964 | 323,623 | 0 | - | - |
| 1963 | 321,805 | 0 | - | - |
| 1962 | 286,534 | 0 | - | - |
| 1961 | 257,788 | 0 | - | - |
| 1960 | 277,717 | 0 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/vatican | CC BY
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 |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between North Korea and the Vatican
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 38 years | n/a |
| Median age | 37.3 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 5,493 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vatican | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.