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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.17 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.41% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

North Korea vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zambia
2100 19,604,631 65,217,429
2099 19,733,548 64,871,545
2098 19,862,949 64,515,891
2097 19,993,288 64,148,736
2096 20,124,518 63,777,313
2095 20,256,401 63,393,169
2094 20,388,156 62,992,652
2093 20,520,253 62,590,327
2092 20,652,961 62,175,930
2091 20,785,785 61,750,591
2090 20,918,305 61,321,399
2089 21,050,580 60,880,148
2088 21,182,325 60,434,676
2087 21,314,047 59,970,107
2086 21,445,329 59,499,234
2085 21,575,835 59,023,040
2084 21,705,777 58,535,857
2083 21,835,029 58,040,512
2082 21,964,199 57,538,672
2081 22,092,862 57,027,491
2080 22,220,948 56,506,421
2079 22,348,577 55,983,242
2078 22,475,755 55,449,777
2077 22,602,817 54,906,771
2076 22,729,499 54,361,075
2075 22,856,369 53,806,856
2074 22,983,784 53,246,777
2073 23,111,441 52,677,348
2072 23,239,261 52,101,139
2071 23,367,583 51,519,691
2070 23,496,136 50,931,614
2069 23,625,538 50,334,700
2068 23,755,136 49,737,479
2067 23,884,879 49,135,488
2066 24,015,027 48,530,443
2065 24,144,985 47,918,592
2064 24,274,257 47,299,740
2063 24,402,439 46,677,439
2062 24,529,941 46,048,819
2061 24,656,350 45,416,657
2060 24,780,911 44,777,347
2059 24,903,037 44,137,306
2058 25,023,260 43,494,451
2057 25,140,523 42,851,923
2056 25,255,342 42,206,898
2055 25,366,397 41,558,284
2054 25,474,292 40,906,492
2053 25,578,870 40,255,629
2052 25,679,963 39,603,888
2051 25,777,639 38,949,958
2050 25,871,673 38,294,607
2049 25,962,167 37,634,194
2048 26,048,593 36,971,309
2047 26,131,429 36,309,749
2046 26,210,487 35,645,868
2045 26,286,208 34,981,812
2044 26,358,331 34,316,981
2043 26,427,062 33,652,420
2042 26,491,482 32,990,657
2041 26,552,564 32,329,447
2040 26,609,557 31,664,262
2039 26,661,815 31,001,305
2038 26,708,400 30,335,662
2037 26,749,134 29,668,561
2036 26,783,304 29,000,264
2035 26,810,026 28,333,498
2034 26,828,912 27,671,195
2033 26,839,229 27,011,974
2032 26,840,944 26,356,580
2031 26,832,957 25,702,812
2030 26,814,812 25,055,216
2029 26,787,117 24,414,405
2028 26,749,227 23,780,809
2027 26,701,444 23,151,479
2026 26,643,460 22,529,742
2025 26,575,953 21,918,187
2024 26,498,823 21,314,956
2023 26,418,204 20,723,965
2022 26,328,845 20,152,938
2021 26,232,534 19,603,607
2020 26,136,312 19,059,395
2019 26,037,632 18,513,839
2018 25,931,147 17,973,569
2017 25,817,709 17,441,320
2016 25,698,326 16,914,423
2015 25,575,350 16,399,089
2014 25,451,262 15,895,315
2013 25,329,451 15,398,997
2012 25,211,728 14,913,629
2011 25,097,874 14,437,796
2010 24,987,258 13,965,594
2009 24,878,332 13,490,389
2008 24,764,618 13,021,324
2007 24,646,383 12,565,085
2006 24,524,507 12,129,553
2005 24,396,433 11,718,819
2004 24,254,943 11,338,198
2003 24,090,380 10,983,595
2002 23,943,973 10,647,949
2001 23,815,358 10,325,185
2000 23,665,910 10,017,631
1999 23,497,599 9,740,005
1998 23,311,564 9,482,408
1997 23,110,830 9,237,063
1996 22,895,746 9,004,053
1995 22,669,304 8,785,763
1994 22,393,975 8,576,269
1993 22,073,352 8,373,921
1992 21,750,911 8,176,680
1991 21,428,638 7,981,650
1990 21,112,137 7,786,169
1989 20,804,367 7,589,216
1988 20,503,161 7,391,440
1987 20,205,483 7,191,282
1986 19,910,855 6,986,471
1985 19,620,388 6,780,953
1984 19,335,043 6,580,490
1983 19,054,034 6,381,038
1982 18,776,357 6,178,637
1981 18,501,295 5,983,289
1980 18,236,786 5,802,833
1979 17,983,470 5,631,728
1978 17,735,995 5,465,374
1977 17,492,798 5,302,480
1976 17,243,450 5,143,842
1975 16,971,055 4,990,086
1974 16,673,121 4,842,746
1973 16,350,367 4,702,693
1972 15,975,069 4,569,309
1971 15,572,457 4,442,525
1970 15,172,775 4,321,718
1969 14,767,615 4,197,116
1968 14,365,596 4,065,593
1967 13,958,350 3,936,343
1966 13,569,094 3,812,003
1965 13,219,369 3,692,086
1964 12,889,770 3,577,017
1963 12,567,057 3,465,907
1962 12,262,882 3,358,099
1961 11,990,713 3,254,086
1960 11,722,953 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Zambia
2100 -0.65% 0.53%
2099 -0.65% 0.55%
2098 -0.65% 0.57%
2097 -0.65% 0.58%
2096 -0.65% 0.61%
2095 -0.65% 0.64%
2094 -0.64% 0.64%
2093 -0.64% 0.67%
2092 -0.64% 0.69%
2091 -0.63% 0.7%
2090 -0.63% 0.72%
2089 -0.62% 0.74%
2088 -0.62% 0.77%
2087 -0.61% 0.79%
2086 -0.6% 0.81%
2085 -0.6% 0.83%
2084 -0.59% 0.85%
2083 -0.59% 0.87%
2082 -0.58% 0.9%
2081 -0.58% 0.92%
2080 -0.57% 0.93%
2079 -0.57% 0.96%
2078 -0.56% 0.99%
2077 -0.56% 1%
2076 -0.56% 1.03%
2075 -0.55% 1.05%
2074 -0.55% 1.08%
2073 -0.55% 1.11%
2072 -0.55% 1.13%
2071 -0.55% 1.15%
2070 -0.55% 1.19%
2069 -0.55% 1.2%
2068 -0.54% 1.23%
2067 -0.54% 1.25%
2066 -0.54% 1.28%
2065 -0.53% 1.31%
2064 -0.53% 1.33%
2063 -0.52% 1.37%
2062 -0.51% 1.39%
2061 -0.5% 1.43%
2060 -0.49% 1.45%
2059 -0.48% 1.48%
2058 -0.47% 1.5%
2057 -0.45% 1.53%
2056 -0.44% 1.56%
2055 -0.42% 1.59%
2054 -0.41% 1.62%
2053 -0.39% 1.65%
2052 -0.38% 1.68%
2051 -0.36% 1.71%
2050 -0.35% 1.75%
2049 -0.33% 1.79%
2048 -0.32% 1.82%
2047 -0.3% 1.86%
2046 -0.29% 1.9%
2045 -0.27% 1.94%
2044 -0.26% 1.97%
2043 -0.24% 2.01%
2042 -0.23% 2.05%
2041 -0.21% 2.1%
2040 -0.2% 2.14%
2039 -0.17% 2.19%
2038 -0.15% 2.25%
2037 -0.13% 2.3%
2036 -0.1% 2.35%
2035 -0.07% 2.39%
2034 -0.04% 2.44%
2033 -0.006% 2.49%
2032 0.03% 2.54%
2031 0.07% 2.58%
2030 0.1% 2.62%
2029 0.14% 2.66%
2028 0.18% 2.72%
2027 0.22% 2.76%
2026 0.25% 2.79%
2025 0.29% 2.83%
2024 0.31% 2.85%
2023 0.34% 2.83%
2022 0.37% 2.8%
2021 0.37% 2.86%
2020 0.38% 2.95%
2019 0.41% 3.01%
2018 0.44% 3.05%
2017 0.46% 3.12%
2016 0.48% 3.14%
2015 0.49% 3.17%
2014 0.48% 3.22%
2013 0.47% 3.25%
2012 0.45% 3.3%
2011 0.44% 3.38%
2010 0.44% 3.52%
2009 0.46% 3.6%
2008 0.48% 3.63%
2007 0.5% 3.59%
2006 0.52% 3.5%
2005 0.58% 3.36%
2004 0.68% 3.23%
2003 0.61% 3.15%
2002 0.54% 3.13%
2001 0.63% 3.07%
2000 0.72% 2.85%
1999 0.8% 2.72%
1998 0.87% 2.66%
1997 0.94% 2.59%
1996 1% 2.48%
1995 1.23% 2.44%
1994 1.45% 2.42%
1993 1.48% 2.41%
1992 1.5% 2.44%
1991 1.5% 2.51%
1990 1.48% 2.6%
1989 1.47% 2.68%
1988 1.47% 2.78%
1987 1.48% 2.93%
1986 1.48% 3.03%
1985 1.48% 3.05%
1984 1.47% 3.13%
1983 1.48% 3.28%
1982 1.49% 3.26%
1981 1.45% 3.11%
1980 1.41% 3.04%
1979 1.4% 3.04%
1978 1.39% 3.07%
1977 1.45% 3.08%
1976 1.61% 3.08%
1975 1.79% 3.04%
1974 1.97% 2.98%
1973 2.35% 2.92%
1972 2.59% 2.85%
1971 2.63% 2.8%
1970 2.74% 2.97%
1969 2.8% 3.24%
1968 2.92% 3.28%
1967 2.87% 3.26%
1966 2.65% 3.25%
1965 2.56% 3.22%
1964 2.57% 3.21%
1963 2.48% 3.21%
1962 2.27% 3.2%
1961 2.28% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

North Korea Zambia
Current population
26659144
22697916
Population rank 57/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 21/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -2,787 +6,562
Net migration rank 104/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - 6,562
2024 - -2,473 - 7,381
2023 86,203 -1,997 577,660 9,521
2022 96,495 -1,997 563,456 -8,566
2021 99,710 -1,585 535,629 8,143
2020 95,920 -1,585 536,484 8,156
2019 106,208 -3,142 528,089 18,385
2018 113,164 -3,225 515,644 18,431
2017 120,181 -3,224 504,630 25,789
2016 125,048 -3,222 497,521 25,860
2015 127,365 -3,208 491,021 16,261
2014 127,078 -3,042 483,663 16,574
2013 122,519 -2,933 476,846 15,542
2012 118,773 -2,919 469,406 8,958
2011 114,798 -2,957 459,743 13,569
2010 112,443 -3,053 448,337 22,761
2009 111,530 -3,058 434,458 44,867
2008 122,015 -3,051 419,560 39,249
2007 120,521 -3,021 403,729 49,945
2006 129,171 -2,948 387,891 29,517
2005 132,765 -2,861 368,756 35,316
2004 155,838 -2,758 349,352 7,819
2003 178,775 -2,717 331,189 20,845
2002 119,504 -2,763 316,041 3,206
2001 143,321 -2,884 302,682 23,582
2000 161,591 -3,142 293,186 -4,338
1999 181,613 -3,443 283,297 -16,888
1998 197,589 -3,706 275,568 -26,796
1997 211,325 -3,745 268,198 -26,276
1996 226,095 -3,512 262,468 -38,358
1995 233,381 -3,094 257,897 -45,423
1994 320,861 -517 252,023 -45,504
1993 320,880 0 245,917 -47,739
1992 324,002 0 239,953 -43,656
1991 320,551 0 237,957 -44,203
1990 312,460 0 235,835 -38,619
1989 303,078 0 233,429 -36,736
1988 299,305 0 230,118 -31,270
1987 296,030 0 227,813 -26,338
1986 293,227 0 224,768 -16,610
1985 287,714 0 221,351 -18,474
1984 282,987 0 216,695 -18,652
1983 279,046 0 212,712 -11,849
1982 276,332 0 207,621 -3,676
1981 273,800 0 202,822 -16,072
1980 255,206 0 198,817 -24,664
1979 251,409 0 197,578 -29,515
1978 243,533 0 194,933 -30,284
1977 242,870 0 191,557 -30,423
1976 255,841 0 186,762 -30,612
1975 288,966 0 182,258 -30,886
1974 306,902 0 174,484 -31,178
1973 338,600 0 168,258 -31,472
1972 411,997 0 161,648 -31,672
1971 393,220 0 155,249 -31,651
1970 406,129 0 149,380 -31,370
1969 404,189 0 142,660 -11,469
1968 399,837 0 137,315 -5,447
1967 414,632 0 131,938 -5,298
1966 363,882 0 127,164 -5,129
1965 335,587 0 122,814 -5,023
1964 323,623 0 117,197 -4,851
1963 321,805 0 114,555 -4,676
1962 286,534 0 110,173 -4,428
1961 257,788 0 106,318 -4,043
1960 277,717 0 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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