Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 41,773,878 people in Yemen in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 43,598,646 in Yemen.

Population statistics:

  • Yemen's population is 1.63 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Yemen is the 37th.
  • The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.52% for Yemen.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +2.99% in Yemen.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Yemen has grown from 23.5M to 43.6M (85.2% growth).

North Korea vs Yemen: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Yemen
2100 19,601,003 111,481,288
2099 19,729,897 111,166,365
2098 19,859,274 110,823,878
2097 19,989,589 110,463,393
2096 20,120,795 110,075,677
2095 20,252,653 109,669,492
2094 20,384,384 109,238,445
2093 20,516,457 108,785,158
2092 20,649,140 108,301,955
2091 20,781,939 107,796,487
2090 20,914,434 107,270,820
2089 21,046,685 106,721,736
2088 21,178,406 106,150,572
2087 21,310,103 105,558,607
2086 21,441,361 104,947,326
2085 21,571,843 104,309,237
2084 21,701,761 103,657,284
2083 21,830,989 102,986,631
2082 21,960,135 102,302,622
2081 22,088,774 101,596,159
2080 22,216,836 100,875,201
2079 22,344,442 100,134,051
2078 22,471,597 99,378,110
2077 22,598,635 98,609,975
2076 22,725,293 97,818,664
2075 22,852,140 97,013,320
2074 22,979,532 96,187,203
2073 23,107,165 95,346,716
2072 23,234,961 94,485,874
2071 23,363,260 93,603,848
2070 23,491,789 92,709,049
2069 23,621,167 91,795,290
2068 23,750,741 90,865,447
2067 23,880,460 89,921,194
2066 24,010,584 88,958,695
2065 24,140,518 87,982,501
2064 24,269,765 86,994,159
2063 24,397,924 85,982,061
2062 24,525,403 84,947,120
2061 24,651,788 83,896,256
2060 24,776,326 82,829,722
2059 24,898,430 81,744,993
2058 25,018,630 80,641,636
2057 25,135,871 79,527,942
2056 25,250,670 78,400,761
2055 25,361,704 77,261,521
2054 25,469,578 76,109,237
2053 25,574,137 74,951,358
2052 25,675,211 73,780,088
2051 25,772,870 72,598,574
2050 25,866,886 71,404,664
2049 25,957,363 70,211,386
2048 26,043,774 69,012,729
2047 26,126,594 67,813,135
2046 26,205,638 66,608,054
2045 26,281,344 65,404,355
2044 26,353,455 64,201,447
2043 26,422,173 63,002,861
2042 26,486,580 61,810,280
2041 26,547,651 60,624,401
2040 26,604,634 59,448,342
2039 26,656,882 58,277,392
2038 26,703,458 57,109,914
2037 26,744,185 55,948,438
2036 26,778,348 54,784,372
2035 26,805,065 53,617,795
2034 26,823,948 52,452,522
2033 26,834,263 51,284,323
2032 26,835,978 50,117,732
2031 26,827,992 48,947,870
2030 26,809,850 47,764,521
2029 26,782,161 46,573,906
2028 26,744,278 45,382,831
2027 26,696,504 44,183,742
2026 26,638,530 42,980,680
2025 26,571,036 41,773,878
2024 26,498,823 40,583,164
2023 26,418,204 39,390,799
2022 26,328,845 38,222,876
2021 26,232,534 37,140,230
2020 26,136,312 36,134,863
2019 26,037,632 35,111,408
2018 25,931,147 34,085,182
2017 25,817,709 33,090,921
2016 25,698,326 32,109,010
2015 25,575,350 31,159,379
2014 25,451,262 30,226,309
2013 25,329,451 29,312,952
2012 25,211,728 28,433,647
2011 25,097,874 27,582,897
2010 24,987,258 26,754,387
2009 24,878,332 25,927,724
2008 24,764,618 25,111,941
2007 24,646,383 24,318,082
2006 24,524,507 23,543,083
2005 24,396,433 22,790,085
2004 24,254,943 22,095,167
2003 24,090,380 21,456,379
2002 23,943,973 20,835,086
2001 23,815,358 20,226,147
2000 23,665,910 19,624,141
1999 23,497,599 19,029,420
1998 23,311,564 18,446,013
1997 23,110,830 17,873,936
1996 22,895,746 17,313,177
1995 22,669,304 16,740,058
1994 22,393,975 16,149,147
1993 22,073,352 15,563,914
1992 21,750,911 14,989,494
1991 21,428,638 14,430,201
1990 21,112,137 13,887,862
1989 20,804,367 13,364,174
1988 20,503,161 12,859,708
1987 20,205,483 12,369,912
1986 19,910,855 11,901,040
1985 19,620,388 11,453,825
1984 19,335,043 11,025,597
1983 19,054,034 10,621,499
1982 18,776,357 10,241,006
1981 18,501,295 9,882,362
1980 18,236,786 9,543,358
1979 17,983,470 9,224,194
1978 17,735,995 8,926,586
1977 17,492,798 8,648,222
1976 17,243,450 8,384,113
1975 16,971,055 8,133,598
1974 16,673,121 7,896,783
1973 16,350,367 7,672,796
1972 15,975,069 7,460,068
1971 15,572,457 7,257,462
1970 15,172,775 7,065,279
1969 14,767,615 6,875,859
1968 14,365,596 6,690,524
1967 13,958,350 6,516,444
1966 13,569,094 6,351,494
1965 13,219,369 6,195,593
1964 12,889,770 6,048,006
1963 12,567,057 5,911,135
1962 12,262,882 5,782,221
1961 11,990,713 5,655,232
1960 11,722,953 5,532,301

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/yemen | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Yemen gained 8,565,927 people (a 36.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Yemen's population increased by 11,489,636 people (a 35.8% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Yemen was ranked 47th in 2006 and ranked 37th 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 Yemen will increase by 63.8% to 71,404,664 people and rank change from 37th to 29th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 111M people in 2100 for Yemen.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Yemen
2100 -0.65% 0.28%
2099 -0.65% 0.31%
2098 -0.65% 0.33%
2097 -0.65% 0.35%
2096 -0.65% 0.37%
2095 -0.65% 0.39%
2094 -0.64% 0.42%
2093 -0.64% 0.45%
2092 -0.64% 0.47%
2091 -0.63% 0.49%
2090 -0.63% 0.51%
2089 -0.62% 0.54%
2088 -0.62% 0.56%
2087 -0.61% 0.58%
2086 -0.6% 0.61%
2085 -0.6% 0.63%
2084 -0.59% 0.65%
2083 -0.59% 0.67%
2082 -0.58% 0.7%
2081 -0.58% 0.71%
2080 -0.57% 0.74%
2079 -0.57% 0.76%
2078 -0.56% 0.78%
2077 -0.56% 0.81%
2076 -0.56% 0.83%
2075 -0.55% 0.86%
2074 -0.55% 0.88%
2073 -0.55% 0.91%
2072 -0.55% 0.94%
2071 -0.55% 0.97%
2070 -0.55% 1%
2069 -0.55% 1.02%
2068 -0.54% 1.05%
2067 -0.54% 1.08%
2066 -0.54% 1.11%
2065 -0.53% 1.14%
2064 -0.53% 1.18%
2063 -0.52% 1.22%
2062 -0.51% 1.25%
2061 -0.5% 1.29%
2060 -0.49% 1.33%
2059 -0.48% 1.37%
2058 -0.47% 1.4%
2057 -0.45% 1.44%
2056 -0.44% 1.47%
2055 -0.42% 1.51%
2054 -0.41% 1.54%
2053 -0.39% 1.59%
2052 -0.38% 1.63%
2051 -0.36% 1.67%
2050 -0.35% 1.7%
2049 -0.33% 1.74%
2048 -0.32% 1.77%
2047 -0.3% 1.81%
2046 -0.29% 1.84%
2045 -0.27% 1.87%
2044 -0.26% 1.9%
2043 -0.24% 1.93%
2042 -0.23% 1.96%
2041 -0.21% 1.98%
2040 -0.2% 2.01%
2039 -0.17% 2.04%
2038 -0.15% 2.08%
2037 -0.13% 2.12%
2036 -0.1% 2.18%
2035 -0.07% 2.22%
2034 -0.04% 2.28%
2033 -0.006% 2.33%
2032 0.03% 2.39%
2031 0.07% 2.48%
2030 0.1% 2.56%
2029 0.14% 2.62%
2028 0.18% 2.71%
2027 0.22% 2.8%
2026 0.25% 2.89%
2025 0.27% 2.93%
2024 0.31% 3.03%
2023 0.34% 3.06%
2022 0.37% 2.92%
2021 0.37% 2.78%
2020 0.38% 2.91%
2019 0.41% 3.01%
2018 0.44% 3%
2017 0.46% 3.06%
2016 0.48% 3.05%
2015 0.49% 3.09%
2014 0.48% 3.12%
2013 0.47% 3.09%
2012 0.45% 3.08%
2011 0.44% 3.1%
2010 0.44% 3.19%
2009 0.46% 3.25%
2008 0.48% 3.26%
2007 0.5% 3.29%
2006 0.52% 3.3%
2005 0.58% 3.15%
2004 0.68% 2.98%
2003 0.61% 2.98%
2002 0.54% 3.01%
2001 0.63% 3.07%
2000 0.72% 3.13%
1999 0.8% 3.16%
1998 0.87% 3.2%
1997 0.94% 3.24%
1996 1% 3.42%
1995 1.23% 3.66%
1994 1.45% 3.76%
1993 1.48% 3.83%
1992 1.5% 3.88%
1991 1.5% 3.91%
1990 1.48% 3.92%
1989 1.47% 3.92%
1988 1.47% 3.96%
1987 1.48% 3.94%
1986 1.48% 3.9%
1985 1.48% 3.88%
1984 1.47% 3.8%
1983 1.48% 3.72%
1982 1.49% 3.63%
1981 1.45% 3.55%
1980 1.41% 3.46%
1979 1.4% 3.33%
1978 1.39% 3.22%
1977 1.45% 3.15%
1976 1.61% 3.08%
1975 1.79% 3%
1974 1.97% 2.92%
1973 2.35% 2.85%
1972 2.59% 2.79%
1971 2.63% 2.72%
1970 2.74% 2.75%
1969 2.8% 2.77%
1968 2.92% 2.67%
1967 2.87% 2.6%
1966 2.65% 2.52%
1965 2.56% 2.44%
1964 2.57% 2.32%
1963 2.48% 2.23%
1962 2.27% 2.25%
1961 2.28% 2.22%

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/yemen | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Yemen's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

North Korea Yemen
Current population
26668308
43598646
Population rank 57/197 37/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.52%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
26.6 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
22.6 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +3,262
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +1,190,714
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 15/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
32.4 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -16,291
Net migration rank 104/196 148/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 392,997
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 89/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 156/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Yemen
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Yemen
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -16,291
2024 79,496 -2,473 1,202,276 -10,482
2023 86,203 -1,997 1,198,150 -5,233
2022 96,495 -1,997 1,153,375 -10,448
2021 99,710 -1,585 1,103,622 -81,248
2020 95,920 -1,585 1,086,322 -97,982
2019 106,208 -3,142 1,056,432 2,129
2018 113,164 -3,225 1,020,238 -26,335
2017 120,181 -3,224 1,006,725 -12,086
2016 125,048 -3,222 975,697 -6,492
2015 127,365 -3,208 939,922 -9,883
2014 127,078 -3,042 920,330 15,764
2013 122,519 -2,933 884,929 5,697
2012 118,773 -2,919 845,645 22,349
2011 114,798 -2,957 806,359 27,184
2010 112,443 -3,053 803,246 20,269
2009 111,530 -3,058 798,911 30,919
2008 122,015 -3,051 779,123 22,621
2007 120,521 -3,021 764,780 21,210
2006 129,171 -2,948 750,082 13,940
2005 132,765 -2,861 726,708 15,283
2004 155,838 -2,758 710,493 -62,641
2003 178,775 -2,717 694,457 -64,737
2002 119,504 -2,763 672,494 -59,648
2001 143,321 -2,884 658,704 -53,698
2000 161,591 -3,142 646,694 -47,713
1999 181,613 -3,443 633,166 -42,731
1998 197,589 -3,706 615,488 -39,096
1997 211,325 -3,745 604,443 -36,694
1996 226,095 -3,512 588,786 -35,043
1995 233,381 -3,094 607,966 -15,485
1994 320,861 -517 602,363 -13,040
1993 320,880 0 595,459 -14,332
1992 324,002 0 582,072 -14,372
1991 320,551 0 565,837 -14,964
1990 312,460 0 549,654 -15,847
1989 303,078 0 530,464 -16,876
1988 299,305 0 513,296 -17,952
1987 296,030 0 493,337 -9,097
1986 293,227 0 464,665 -11,151
1985 287,714 0 455,576 -14,660
1984 282,987 0 434,674 -19,143
1983 279,046 0 414,823 -22,152
1982 276,332 0 392,302 -23,981
1981 273,800 0 374,482 -25,499
1980 255,206 0 355,767 -26,740
1979 251,409 0 336,378 -27,090
1978 243,533 0 312,439 -26,524
1977 242,870 0 296,115 -25,305
1976 255,841 0 281,078 -23,669
1975 288,966 0 266,815 -23,192
1974 306,902 0 252,737 -22,726
1973 338,600 0 240,235 -22,282
1972 411,997 0 229,322 -21,826
1971 393,220 0 219,095 -21,386
1970 406,129 0 207,613 -20,966
1969 404,189 0 196,305 -4,121
1968 399,837 0 182,518 -4,031
1967 414,632 0 173,637 -3,959
1966 363,882 0 164,091 -3,874
1965 335,587 0 155,398 -3,797
1964 323,623 0 147,299 -3,712
1963 321,805 0 133,781 -3,640
1962 286,534 0 131,262 -3,572
1961 257,788 0 129,787 -3,503
1960 277,717 0 122,994 -3,431

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/yemen | 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 Yemen 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,742,759 people) and 2.35% is from migration (a loss of 258,060 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 392,997 people or 1% in Yemen.

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
Yemen
City Population
Sanaa 2.96M
Aden 1.15M
Al Hudaydah 618K
Taiz 615K
Ibb 351K
Dhamar 160K
Mukalla 144K
Sa'dah 70.2K
Sayyan 70K
Zabid 50.8K

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/yemen | 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:

  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)

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.