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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 101,598,527 people in Vietnam in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 102,486,146 in Vietnam.

Population statistics:

  • Vietnam's population is 3.84 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Vietnam is the 16th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 1.23% for Vietnam.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +0.94% in Vietnam.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Vietnam has grown from 82.2M to 102M (24.7% growth).

North Korea vs Vietnam: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Vietnam
2100 19,601,003 92,225,380
2099 19,729,897 92,721,469
2098 19,859,274 93,212,742
2097 19,989,589 93,688,693
2096 20,120,795 94,163,950
2095 20,252,653 94,626,063
2094 20,384,384 95,083,879
2093 20,516,457 95,543,293
2092 20,649,140 96,000,019
2091 20,781,939 96,459,165
2090 20,914,434 96,922,871
2089 21,046,685 97,384,434
2088 21,178,406 97,843,001
2087 21,310,103 98,308,755
2086 21,441,361 98,773,008
2085 21,571,843 99,233,927
2084 21,701,761 99,695,401
2083 21,830,989 100,162,677
2082 21,960,135 100,634,653
2081 22,088,774 101,104,469
2080 22,216,836 101,568,526
2079 22,344,442 102,030,723
2078 22,471,597 102,480,219
2077 22,598,635 102,928,253
2076 22,725,293 103,358,352
2075 22,852,140 103,783,177
2074 22,979,532 104,197,814
2073 23,107,165 104,606,950
2072 23,234,961 105,005,673
2071 23,363,260 105,384,777
2070 23,491,789 105,757,144
2069 23,621,167 106,110,195
2068 23,750,741 106,454,379
2067 23,880,460 106,794,625
2066 24,010,584 107,126,965
2065 24,140,518 107,442,675
2064 24,269,765 107,744,261
2063 24,397,924 108,038,461
2062 24,525,403 108,322,712
2061 24,651,788 108,590,617
2060 24,776,326 108,842,045
2059 24,898,430 109,087,333
2058 25,018,630 109,320,301
2057 25,135,871 109,529,799
2056 25,250,670 109,715,196
2055 25,361,704 109,886,647
2054 25,469,578 110,035,740
2053 25,574,137 110,156,643
2052 25,675,211 110,253,026
2051 25,772,870 110,321,289
2050 25,866,886 110,344,733
2049 25,957,363 110,339,565
2048 26,043,774 110,296,602
2047 26,126,594 110,211,618
2046 26,205,638 110,090,837
2045 26,281,344 109,926,260
2044 26,353,455 109,731,512
2043 26,422,173 109,497,595
2042 26,486,580 109,225,525
2041 26,547,651 108,919,674
2040 26,604,634 108,594,542
2039 26,656,882 108,237,715
2038 26,703,458 107,861,117
2037 26,744,185 107,463,482
2036 26,778,348 107,058,359
2035 26,805,065 106,630,705
2034 26,823,948 106,189,495
2033 26,834,263 105,745,684
2032 26,835,978 105,283,013
2031 26,827,992 104,809,957
2030 26,809,850 104,314,150
2029 26,782,161 103,819,556
2028 26,744,278 103,300,347
2027 26,696,504 102,759,746
2026 26,638,530 102,197,177
2025 26,571,036 101,598,527
2024 26,498,823 100,987,686
2023 26,418,204 100,352,192
2022 26,328,845 99,680,655
2021 26,232,534 98,935,098
2020 26,136,312 98,079,191
2019 26,037,632 97,173,776
2018 25,931,147 96,237,319
2017 25,817,709 95,176,977
2016 25,698,326 94,000,117
2015 25,575,350 92,823,254
2014 25,451,262 91,679,578
2013 25,329,451 90,573,104
2012 25,211,728 89,510,356
2011 25,097,874 88,468,314
2010 24,987,258 87,455,152
2009 24,878,332 86,460,018
2008 24,764,618 85,175,788
2007 24,646,383 83,633,375
2006 24,524,507 82,167,897
2005 24,396,433 81,088,313
2004 24,254,943 80,338,971
2003 24,090,380 79,563,777
2002 23,943,973 78,772,224
2001 23,815,358 77,969,361
2000 23,665,910 77,154,011
1999 23,497,599 76,287,452
1998 23,311,564 75,299,660
1997 23,110,830 74,226,889
1996 22,895,746 73,156,447
1995 22,669,304 72,049,940
1994 22,393,975 70,854,391
1993 22,073,352 69,586,384
1992 21,750,911 68,260,337
1991 21,428,638 66,891,775
1990 21,112,137 65,504,552
1989 20,804,367 64,147,348
1988 20,503,161 62,843,228
1987 20,205,483 61,584,651
1986 19,910,855 60,347,048
1985 19,620,388 59,060,622
1984 19,335,043 57,706,067
1983 19,054,034 56,337,921
1982 18,776,357 55,011,289
1981 18,501,295 53,738,141
1980 18,236,786 52,490,101
1979 17,983,470 51,378,211
1978 17,735,995 50,249,552
1977 17,492,798 48,954,872
1976 17,243,450 47,684,931
1975 16,971,055 46,482,903
1974 16,673,121 45,413,537
1973 16,350,367 44,409,861
1972 15,975,069 43,429,168
1971 15,572,457 42,449,276
1970 15,172,775 41,475,230
1969 14,767,615 40,582,096
1968 14,365,596 39,734,609
1967 13,958,350 38,895,080
1966 13,569,094 38,024,836
1965 13,219,369 37,129,656
1964 12,889,770 36,201,563
1963 12,567,057 35,249,101
1962 12,262,882 34,288,560
1961 11,990,713 33,409,059
1960 11,722,953 32,531,933

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Vietnam gained 11,832,220 people (a 14.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Vietnam's population increased by 8,486,029 people (a 9.03% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Vietnam was ranked 15th in 2006 and ranked 16th 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 Vietnam will increase by 7.67% to 110,344,733 people and will still be ranked 16th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 110M people in 2050 for Vietnam.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Vietnam
2100 -0.65% -0.54%
2099 -0.65% -0.53%
2098 -0.65% -0.51%
2097 -0.65% -0.5%
2096 -0.65% -0.49%
2095 -0.65% -0.48%
2094 -0.64% -0.48%
2093 -0.64% -0.48%
2092 -0.64% -0.48%
2091 -0.63% -0.48%
2090 -0.63% -0.47%
2089 -0.62% -0.47%
2088 -0.62% -0.47%
2087 -0.61% -0.47%
2086 -0.6% -0.46%
2085 -0.6% -0.46%
2084 -0.59% -0.47%
2083 -0.59% -0.47%
2082 -0.58% -0.46%
2081 -0.58% -0.46%
2080 -0.57% -0.45%
2079 -0.57% -0.44%
2078 -0.56% -0.44%
2077 -0.56% -0.42%
2076 -0.56% -0.41%
2075 -0.55% -0.4%
2074 -0.55% -0.39%
2073 -0.55% -0.38%
2072 -0.55% -0.36%
2071 -0.55% -0.35%
2070 -0.55% -0.33%
2069 -0.55% -0.32%
2068 -0.54% -0.32%
2067 -0.54% -0.31%
2066 -0.54% -0.29%
2065 -0.53% -0.28%
2064 -0.53% -0.27%
2063 -0.52% -0.26%
2062 -0.51% -0.25%
2061 -0.5% -0.23%
2060 -0.49% -0.22%
2059 -0.48% -0.21%
2058 -0.47% -0.19%
2057 -0.45% -0.17%
2056 -0.44% -0.16%
2055 -0.42% -0.14%
2054 -0.41% -0.11%
2053 -0.39% -0.09%
2052 -0.38% -0.06%
2051 -0.36% -0.02%
2050 -0.35% 0.005%
2049 -0.33% 0.04%
2048 -0.32% 0.08%
2047 -0.3% 0.11%
2046 -0.29% 0.15%
2045 -0.27% 0.18%
2044 -0.26% 0.21%
2043 -0.24% 0.25%
2042 -0.23% 0.28%
2041 -0.21% 0.3%
2040 -0.2% 0.33%
2039 -0.17% 0.35%
2038 -0.15% 0.37%
2037 -0.13% 0.38%
2036 -0.1% 0.4%
2035 -0.07% 0.42%
2034 -0.04% 0.42%
2033 -0.006% 0.44%
2032 0.03% 0.45%
2031 0.07% 0.48%
2030 0.1% 0.48%
2029 0.14% 0.5%
2028 0.18% 0.53%
2027 0.22% 0.55%
2026 0.25% 0.59%
2025 0.27% 0.6%
2024 0.31% 0.63%
2023 0.34% 0.67%
2022 0.37% 0.75%
2021 0.37% 0.87%
2020 0.38% 0.93%
2019 0.41% 0.97%
2018 0.44% 1.11%
2017 0.46% 1.25%
2016 0.48% 1.27%
2015 0.49% 1.25%
2014 0.48% 1.22%
2013 0.47% 1.19%
2012 0.45% 1.18%
2011 0.44% 1.16%
2010 0.44% 1.15%
2009 0.46% 1.51%
2008 0.48% 1.84%
2007 0.5% 1.78%
2006 0.52% 1.33%
2005 0.58% 0.93%
2004 0.68% 0.97%
2003 0.61% 1%
2002 0.54% 1.03%
2001 0.63% 1.06%
2000 0.72% 1.14%
1999 0.8% 1.31%
1998 0.87% 1.45%
1997 0.94% 1.46%
1996 1% 1.54%
1995 1.23% 1.69%
1994 1.45% 1.82%
1993 1.48% 1.94%
1992 1.5% 2.05%
1991 1.5% 2.12%
1990 1.48% 2.12%
1989 1.47% 2.08%
1988 1.47% 2.04%
1987 1.48% 2.05%
1986 1.48% 2.18%
1985 1.48% 2.35%
1984 1.47% 2.43%
1983 1.48% 2.41%
1982 1.49% 2.37%
1981 1.45% 2.38%
1980 1.41% 2.16%
1979 1.4% 2.25%
1978 1.39% 2.64%
1977 1.45% 2.66%
1976 1.61% 2.59%
1975 1.79% 2.35%
1974 1.97% 2.26%
1973 2.35% 2.26%
1972 2.59% 2.31%
1971 2.63% 2.35%
1970 2.74% 2.2%
1969 2.8% 2.13%
1968 2.92% 2.16%
1967 2.87% 2.29%
1966 2.65% 2.41%
1965 2.56% 2.56%
1964 2.57% 2.7%
1963 2.48% 2.8%
1962 2.27% 2.63%
1961 2.28% 2.7%

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/vietnam | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Vietnam's population grew by 0.6%.

Live population counters

North Korea Vietnam
Current population
26668308
102486146
Population rank 57/197 16/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 1.23%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
51.8 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
23.3 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
47 seconds
Daily growth/decline +198 +1,674
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +610,841
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +0.6%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 122/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
10.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -48,171
Net migration rank 104/196 174/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 326,418
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 95/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 185/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Vietnam
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Vietnam
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -48,171
2024 79,496 -2,473 684,393 -59,645
2023 86,203 -1,997 727,955 -81,789
2022 96,495 -1,997 775,914 -78,977
2021 99,710 -1,585 799,593 -5,418
2020 95,920 -1,585 924,004 -6,457
2019 106,208 -3,142 895,262 -2,051
2018 113,164 -3,225 882,977 96,650
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,001,833 139,245
2016 125,048 -3,222 1,045,094 167,652
2015 127,365 -3,208 1,145,903 -4,888
2014 127,078 -3,042 1,151,221 -4,894
2013 122,519 -2,933 1,071,570 -4,979
2012 118,773 -2,919 1,063,741 -4,851
2011 114,798 -2,957 1,029,859 -4,602
2010 112,443 -3,053 1,005,559 -4,443
2009 111,530 -3,058 1,007,778 -18,560
2008 122,015 -3,051 1,008,141 571,113
2007 120,521 -3,021 981,689 523,784
2006 129,171 -2,948 943,041 482,399
2005 132,765 -2,861 942,084 -208,337
2004 155,838 -2,758 985,438 -220,458
2003 178,775 -2,717 1,001,470 -216,062
2002 119,504 -2,763 991,427 -193,766
2001 143,321 -2,884 985,610 -177,586
2000 161,591 -3,142 966,894 -144,298
1999 181,613 -3,443 925,519 -15,010
1998 197,589 -3,706 959,016 106,091
1997 211,325 -3,745 1,028,116 52,382
1996 226,095 -3,512 1,108,686 -48,235
1995 233,381 -3,094 1,203,666 -51,147
1994 320,861 -517 1,291,534 -53,012
1993 320,880 0 1,370,365 -72,931
1992 324,002 0 1,419,952 -65,285
1991 320,551 0 1,459,311 -76,829
1990 312,460 0 1,449,157 -57,221
1989 303,078 0 1,423,622 -101,113
1988 299,305 0 1,370,108 -84,361
1987 296,030 0 1,359,481 -128,095
1986 293,227 0 1,407,957 -164,183
1985 287,714 0 1,453,954 -124,910
1984 282,987 0 1,477,448 -97,339
1983 279,046 0 1,453,913 -97,706
1982 276,332 0 1,407,959 -110,901
1981 273,800 0 1,358,500 -109,259
1980 255,206 0 1,321,595 -74,791
1979 251,409 0 1,314,563 -337,597
1978 243,533 0 1,286,991 -6,592
1977 242,870 0 1,259,315 49,655
1976 255,841 0 1,232,608 -1,733
1975 288,966 0 1,175,181 -2,010
1974 306,902 0 1,000,505 -34,940
1973 338,600 0 1,061,707 -19,937
1972 411,997 0 921,524 -1,920
1971 393,220 0 963,259 76,961
1970 406,129 0 905,902 1,997
1969 404,189 0 878,359 0
1968 399,837 0 815,116 1,489
1967 414,632 0 862,071 394
1966 363,882 0 876,283 1,769
1965 335,587 0 913,761 -1,438
1964 323,623 0 950,219 -6,328
1963 321,805 0 961,067 0
1962 286,534 0 960,046 0
1961 257,788 0 798,978 0
1960 277,717 0 955,268 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/vietnam | 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 Vietnam 98.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,882,928 people) and 1.82% is from migration (a gain of 164,322 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 326,418 people or 0.3% in Vietnam.

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
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/vietnam | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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