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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 22,844,606 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 +0.39% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

North Korea vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zambia
2100 19,601,003 65,204,593
2099 19,729,897 64,858,778
2098 19,859,274 64,503,193
2097 19,989,589 64,136,110
2096 20,120,795 63,764,760
2095 20,252,653 63,380,692
2094 20,384,384 62,980,254
2093 20,516,457 62,578,008
2092 20,649,140 62,163,693
2091 20,781,939 61,738,437
2090 20,914,434 61,309,330
2089 21,046,685 60,868,166
2088 21,178,406 60,422,781
2087 21,310,103 59,958,303
2086 21,441,361 59,487,524
2085 21,571,843 59,011,423
2084 21,701,761 58,524,337
2083 21,830,989 58,029,088
2082 21,960,135 57,527,347
2081 22,088,774 57,016,267
2080 22,216,836 56,495,299
2079 22,344,442 55,972,223
2078 22,471,597 55,438,864
2077 22,598,635 54,895,964
2076 22,725,293 54,350,375
2075 22,852,140 53,796,265
2074 22,979,532 53,236,297
2073 23,107,165 52,666,980
2072 23,234,961 52,090,884
2071 23,363,260 51,509,551
2070 23,491,789 50,921,590
2069 23,621,167 50,324,793
2068 23,750,741 49,727,689
2067 23,880,460 49,125,817
2066 24,010,584 48,520,891
2065 24,140,518 47,909,160
2064 24,269,765 47,290,430
2063 24,397,924 46,668,252
2062 24,525,403 46,039,755
2061 24,651,788 45,407,718
2060 24,776,326 44,768,534
2059 24,898,430 44,128,619
2058 25,018,630 43,485,891
2057 25,135,871 42,843,489
2056 25,250,670 42,198,591
2055 25,361,704 41,550,105
2054 25,469,578 40,898,440
2053 25,574,137 40,247,706
2052 25,675,211 39,596,094
2051 25,772,870 38,942,292
2050 25,866,886 38,287,070
2049 25,957,363 37,626,787
2048 26,043,774 36,964,032
2047 26,126,594 36,302,603
2046 26,205,638 35,638,852
2045 26,281,344 34,974,927
2044 26,353,455 34,310,227
2043 26,422,173 33,645,797
2042 26,486,580 32,984,164
2041 26,547,651 32,323,084
2040 26,604,634 31,658,029
2039 26,656,882 30,995,204
2038 26,703,458 30,329,691
2037 26,744,185 29,662,721
2036 26,778,348 28,994,556
2035 26,805,065 28,327,922
2034 26,823,948 27,665,749
2033 26,834,263 27,006,658
2032 26,835,978 26,351,393
2031 26,827,992 25,697,754
2030 26,809,850 25,050,285
2029 26,782,161 24,409,600
2028 26,744,278 23,776,128
2027 26,696,504 23,146,922
2026 26,638,530 22,525,308
2025 26,571,036 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 3.01% to 25,866,886 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 0.27% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

North Korea Zambia
Current population
26668308
22844606
Population rank 57/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
1.54 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.01 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 19/197
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 79,496 -2,473 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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