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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 40,583,164 people in Yemen in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 43,325,643 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 0.84% 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 +0.41% per year vs +3% in Yemen.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Yemen has grown from 23.5M to 43.3M (84% growth).

North Korea vs Yemen: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Yemen
2100 19,604,631 111,531,602
2099 19,733,548 111,216,538
2098 19,862,949 110,873,896
2097 19,993,288 110,513,248
2096 20,124,518 110,125,357
2095 20,256,401 109,718,989
2094 20,388,156 109,287,747
2093 20,520,253 108,834,256
2092 20,652,961 108,350,834
2091 20,785,785 107,845,139
2090 20,918,305 107,319,234
2089 21,050,580 106,769,903
2088 21,182,325 106,198,480
2087 21,314,047 105,606,248
2086 21,445,329 104,994,691
2085 21,575,835 104,356,315
2084 21,705,777 103,704,067
2083 21,835,029 103,033,111
2082 21,964,199 102,348,794
2081 22,092,862 101,642,012
2080 22,220,948 100,920,728
2079 22,348,577 100,179,245
2078 22,475,755 99,422,962
2077 22,602,817 98,654,481
2076 22,729,499 97,862,812
2075 22,856,369 97,057,105
2074 22,983,784 96,230,615
2073 23,111,441 95,389,748
2072 23,239,261 94,528,518
2071 23,367,583 93,646,094
2070 23,496,136 92,750,891
2069 23,625,538 91,836,719
2068 23,755,136 90,906,457
2067 23,884,879 89,961,778
2066 24,015,027 88,998,844
2065 24,144,985 88,022,210
2064 24,274,257 87,033,422
2063 24,402,439 86,020,867
2062 24,529,941 84,985,459
2061 24,656,350 83,934,120
2060 24,780,911 82,867,105
2059 24,903,037 81,781,887
2058 25,023,260 80,678,032
2057 25,140,523 79,563,835
2056 25,255,342 78,436,146
2055 25,366,397 77,296,391
2054 25,474,292 76,143,587
2053 25,578,870 74,985,186
2052 25,679,963 73,813,387
2051 25,777,639 72,631,340
2050 25,871,673 71,436,891
2049 25,962,167 70,243,074
2048 26,048,593 69,043,876
2047 26,131,429 67,843,741
2046 26,210,487 66,638,116
2045 26,286,208 65,433,874
2044 26,358,331 64,230,423
2043 26,427,062 63,031,296
2042 26,491,482 61,838,177
2041 26,552,564 60,651,763
2040 26,609,557 59,475,172
2039 26,661,815 58,303,694
2038 26,708,400 57,135,690
2037 26,749,134 55,973,689
2036 26,783,304 54,809,098
2035 26,810,026 53,641,994
2034 26,828,912 52,476,195
2033 26,839,229 51,307,469
2032 26,840,944 50,140,351
2031 26,832,957 48,969,961
2030 26,814,812 47,786,079
2029 26,787,117 46,594,926
2028 26,749,227 45,403,313
2027 26,701,444 44,203,683
2026 26,643,460 43,000,078
2025 26,575,953 41,792,731
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Yemen's population increased by 11,216,633 people (a 34.9% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Yemen will increase by 64.9% to 71,436,891 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 112M 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 0.29% 2.98%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/yemen | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Yemen's population grew by 3.03%.

Live population counters

North Korea Yemen
Current population
26659144
43325643
Population rank 57/197 37/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.52%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
26.4 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
22.7 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
2.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +3,267
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +1,192,365
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +3.03%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 13/197
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 - -2,473 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/yemen | 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 Yemen 97.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,460,813 people) and 2.17% is from migration (a loss of 231,814 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 (1960–2024, 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/yemen | 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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