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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,571,036 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,668,308 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.53 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • North Korea is ranked the 57th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.32% for North Korea vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, North Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.39% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.74% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

North Korea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zimbabwe
2100 19,601,003 37,486,352
2099 19,729,897 37,415,690
2098 19,859,274 37,331,540
2097 19,989,589 37,238,819
2096 20,120,795 37,146,184
2095 20,252,653 37,035,388
2094 20,384,384 36,915,996
2093 20,516,457 36,814,133
2092 20,649,140 36,691,740
2091 20,781,939 36,570,481
2090 20,914,434 36,428,812
2089 21,046,685 36,284,166
2088 21,178,406 36,144,627
2087 21,310,103 35,980,805
2086 21,441,361 35,811,286
2085 21,571,843 35,640,228
2084 21,701,761 35,459,328
2083 21,830,989 35,271,139
2082 21,960,135 35,081,992
2081 22,088,774 34,876,198
2080 22,216,836 34,662,013
2079 22,344,442 34,442,751
2078 22,471,597 34,220,306
2077 22,598,635 33,985,899
2076 22,725,293 33,742,198
2075 22,852,140 33,498,815
2074 22,979,532 33,247,764
2073 23,107,165 32,981,390
2072 23,234,961 32,708,937
2071 23,363,260 32,448,602
2070 23,491,789 32,183,952
2069 23,621,167 31,909,601
2068 23,750,741 31,633,783
2067 23,880,460 31,348,096
2066 24,010,584 31,065,618
2065 24,140,518 30,769,538
2064 24,269,765 30,482,622
2063 24,397,924 30,178,760
2062 24,525,403 29,870,308
2061 24,651,788 29,559,670
2060 24,776,326 29,254,998
2059 24,898,430 28,947,636
2058 25,018,630 28,634,199
2057 25,135,871 28,309,796
2056 25,250,670 27,993,176
2055 25,361,704 27,661,321
2054 25,469,578 27,334,325
2053 25,574,137 26,989,310
2052 25,675,211 26,645,898
2051 25,772,870 26,289,905
2050 25,866,886 25,937,176
2049 25,957,363 25,587,491
2048 26,043,774 25,230,302
2047 26,126,594 24,876,838
2046 26,205,638 24,515,600
2045 26,281,344 24,149,762
2044 26,353,455 23,785,181
2043 26,422,173 23,404,024
2042 26,486,580 23,037,316
2041 26,547,651 22,649,943
2040 26,604,634 22,275,480
2039 26,656,882 21,904,908
2038 26,703,458 21,532,024
2037 26,744,185 21,161,527
2036 26,778,348 20,792,863
2035 26,805,065 20,415,452
2034 26,823,948 20,049,783
2033 26,834,263 19,678,070
2032 26,835,978 19,313,685
2031 26,827,992 18,960,968
2030 26,809,850 18,615,376
2029 26,782,161 18,271,657
2028 26,744,278 17,935,044
2027 26,696,504 17,602,533
2026 26,638,530 17,274,728
2025 26,571,036 16,950,795
2024 26,498,823 16,634,373
2023 26,418,204 16,340,822
2022 26,328,845 16,069,056
2021 26,232,534 15,797,210
2020 26,136,312 15,526,888
2019 26,037,632 15,271,368
2018 25,931,147 15,034,452
2017 25,817,709 14,812,482
2016 25,698,326 14,600,294
2015 25,575,350 14,399,013
2014 25,451,262 14,207,359
2013 25,329,451 14,013,808
2012 25,211,728 13,817,887
2011 25,097,874 13,595,424
2010 24,987,258 13,356,548
2009 24,878,332 13,142,790
2008 24,764,618 12,959,149
2007 24,646,383 12,804,058
2006 24,524,507 12,636,445
2005 24,396,433 12,483,432
2004 24,254,943 12,365,896
2003 24,090,380 12,232,323
2002 23,943,973 12,087,653
2001 23,815,358 11,971,901
2000 23,665,910 11,892,055
1999 23,497,599 11,783,458
1998 23,311,564 11,594,297
1997 23,110,830 11,369,827
1996 22,895,746 11,158,360
1995 22,669,304 10,974,599
1994 22,393,975 10,873,148
1993 22,073,352 10,860,288
1992 21,750,911 10,702,700
1991 21,428,638 10,404,816
1990 21,112,137 10,137,281
1989 20,804,367 9,864,798
1988 20,503,161 9,583,094
1987 20,205,483 9,284,644
1986 19,910,855 8,982,578
1985 19,620,388 8,686,813
1984 19,335,043 8,391,488
1983 19,054,034 8,098,404
1982 18,776,357 7,796,496
1981 18,501,295 7,498,635
1980 18,236,786 7,041,303
1979 17,983,470 6,647,556
1978 17,735,995 6,543,575
1977 17,492,798 6,449,512
1976 17,243,450 6,287,105
1975 16,971,055 6,098,658
1974 16,673,121 5,908,328
1973 16,350,367 5,720,404
1972 15,975,069 5,542,445
1971 15,572,457 5,374,712
1970 15,172,775 5,215,918
1969 14,767,615 5,058,181
1968 14,365,596 4,900,440
1967 13,958,350 4,748,307
1966 13,569,094 4,601,217
1965 13,219,369 4,458,462
1964 12,889,770 4,320,006
1963 12,567,057 4,185,877
1962 12,262,882 4,055,959
1961 11,990,713 3,930,401
1960 11,722,953 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Korea increased by 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Korea gained 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

North Korea was ranked 46th most populous country in 2006 and is 57th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Korea Zimbabwe
2100 -0.65% 0.19%
2099 -0.65% 0.23%
2098 -0.65% 0.25%
2097 -0.65% 0.25%
2096 -0.65% 0.3%
2095 -0.65% 0.32%
2094 -0.64% 0.28%
2093 -0.64% 0.33%
2092 -0.64% 0.33%
2091 -0.63% 0.39%
2090 -0.63% 0.4%
2089 -0.62% 0.39%
2088 -0.62% 0.46%
2087 -0.61% 0.47%
2086 -0.6% 0.48%
2085 -0.6% 0.51%
2084 -0.59% 0.53%
2083 -0.59% 0.54%
2082 -0.58% 0.59%
2081 -0.58% 0.62%
2080 -0.57% 0.64%
2079 -0.57% 0.65%
2078 -0.56% 0.69%
2077 -0.56% 0.72%
2076 -0.56% 0.73%
2075 -0.55% 0.76%
2074 -0.55% 0.81%
2073 -0.55% 0.83%
2072 -0.55% 0.8%
2071 -0.55% 0.82%
2070 -0.55% 0.86%
2069 -0.55% 0.87%
2068 -0.54% 0.91%
2067 -0.54% 0.91%
2066 -0.54% 0.96%
2065 -0.53% 0.94%
2064 -0.53% 1.01%
2063 -0.52% 1.03%
2062 -0.51% 1.05%
2061 -0.5% 1.04%
2060 -0.49% 1.06%
2059 -0.48% 1.09%
2058 -0.47% 1.15%
2057 -0.45% 1.13%
2056 -0.44% 1.2%
2055 -0.42% 1.2%
2054 -0.41% 1.28%
2053 -0.39% 1.29%
2052 -0.38% 1.35%
2051 -0.36% 1.36%
2050 -0.35% 1.37%
2049 -0.33% 1.42%
2048 -0.32% 1.42%
2047 -0.3% 1.47%
2046 -0.29% 1.51%
2045 -0.27% 1.53%
2044 -0.26% 1.63%
2043 -0.24% 1.59%
2042 -0.23% 1.71%
2041 -0.21% 1.68%
2040 -0.2% 1.69%
2039 -0.17% 1.73%
2038 -0.15% 1.75%
2037 -0.13% 1.77%
2036 -0.1% 1.85%
2035 -0.07% 1.82%
2034 -0.04% 1.89%
2033 -0.006% 1.89%
2032 0.03% 1.86%
2031 0.07% 1.86%
2030 0.1% 1.88%
2029 0.14% 1.88%
2028 0.18% 1.89%
2027 0.22% 1.9%
2026 0.25% 1.91%
2025 0.27% 1.9%
2024 0.31% 1.8%
2023 0.34% 1.69%
2022 0.37% 1.72%
2021 0.37% 1.74%
2020 0.38% 1.67%
2019 0.41% 1.58%
2018 0.44% 1.5%
2017 0.46% 1.45%
2016 0.48% 1.4%
2015 0.49% 1.35%
2014 0.48% 1.38%
2013 0.47% 1.42%
2012 0.45% 1.64%
2011 0.44% 1.79%
2010 0.44% 1.63%
2009 0.46% 1.42%
2008 0.48% 1.21%
2007 0.5% 1.33%
2006 0.52% 1.23%
2005 0.58% 0.95%
2004 0.68% 1.09%
2003 0.61% 1.2%
2002 0.54% 0.97%
2001 0.63% 0.67%
2000 0.72% 0.92%
1999 0.8% 1.63%
1998 0.87% 1.97%
1997 0.94% 1.9%
1996 1% 1.67%
1995 1.23% 0.93%
1994 1.45% 0.12%
1993 1.48% 1.47%
1992 1.5% 2.86%
1991 1.5% 2.64%
1990 1.48% 2.76%
1989 1.47% 2.94%
1988 1.47% 3.21%
1987 1.48% 3.36%
1986 1.48% 3.4%
1985 1.48% 3.52%
1984 1.47% 3.62%
1983 1.48% 3.87%
1982 1.49% 3.97%
1981 1.45% 6.49%
1980 1.41% 5.92%
1979 1.4% 1.59%
1978 1.39% 1.46%
1977 1.45% 2.58%
1976 1.61% 3.09%
1975 1.79% 3.22%
1974 1.97% 3.29%
1973 2.35% 3.21%
1972 2.59% 3.12%
1971 2.63% 3.04%
1970 2.74% 3.12%
1969 2.8% 3.22%
1968 2.92% 3.2%
1967 2.87% 3.2%
1966 2.65% 3.2%
1965 2.56% 3.2%
1964 2.57% 3.2%
1963 2.48% 3.2%
1962 2.27% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Korea grew by 0.27%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

North Korea Zimbabwe
Current population
26668308
17443108
Population rank 57/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.21%
One net population change
7.3 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.01 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +198 +867
Annual growth/decline +72,213 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +0.27% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 53/197
One migration net change every
3.15 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -2,787 -54,555
Net migration rank 104/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 50,439 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 150/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 189/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Korea
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Korea Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,787 - -54,555
2024 79,496 -2,473 372,494 -60,528
2023 86,203 -1,997 372,505 -97,380
2022 96,495 -1,997 371,243 -102,828
2021 99,710 -1,585 349,908 -74,623
2020 95,920 -1,585 354,790 -89,440
2019 106,208 -3,142 348,798 -103,107
2018 113,164 -3,225 345,883 -117,758
2017 120,181 -3,224 344,035 -128,241
2016 125,048 -3,222 348,772 -140,181
2015 127,365 -3,208 356,203 -162,220
2014 127,078 -3,042 366,350 -177,029
2013 122,519 -2,933 374,757 -176,972
2012 118,773 -2,919 371,135 -177,061
2011 114,798 -2,957 359,572 -108,714
2010 112,443 -3,053 335,570 -108,671
2009 111,530 -3,058 309,316 -108,689
2008 122,015 -3,051 280,527 -113,858
2007 120,521 -3,021 261,805 -118,299
2006 129,171 -2,948 248,963 -57,257
2005 132,765 -2,861 248,545 -134,212
2004 155,838 -2,758 248,307 -127,550
2003 178,775 -2,717 243,057 -96,667
2002 119,504 -2,763 244,170 -101,212
2001 143,321 -2,884 227,909 -139,361
2000 161,591 -3,142 236,343 -165,181
1999 181,613 -3,443 232,393 -86,343
1998 197,589 -3,706 225,614 6,645
1997 211,325 -3,745 216,288 395
1996 226,095 -3,512 205,269 978
1995 233,381 -3,094 206,695 -45,428
1994 320,861 -517 216,343 -174,723
1993 320,880 0 228,045 -243,947
1992 324,002 0 255,291 75,788
1991 320,551 0 260,943 3,749
1990 312,460 0 265,444 4,948
1989 303,078 0 270,838 3,736
1988 299,305 0 277,498 11,327
1987 296,030 0 286,766 21,308
1986 293,227 0 289,894 6,154
1985 287,714 0 290,756 4,718
1984 282,987 0 290,052 5,124
1983 279,046 0 286,545 4,456
1982 276,332 0 279,934 32,899
1981 273,800 0 271,361 11,523
1980 255,206 0 241,179 390,593
1979 251,409 0 223,657 -67,937
1978 243,533 0 222,979 -170,727
1977 242,870 0 225,139 -89,270
1976 255,841 0 221,419 -32,495
1975 288,966 0 216,947 -28,988
1974 306,902 0 208,806 -16,105
1973 338,600 0 201,885 -18,733
1972 411,997 0 193,725 -20,959
1971 393,220 0 185,427 -22,719
1970 406,129 0 178,979 -24,102
1969 404,189 0 172,626 -12,028
1968 399,837 0 166,865 -11,997
1967 414,632 0 161,205 -11,814
1966 363,882 0 156,014 -11,211
1965 335,587 0 151,164 -10,465
1964 323,623 0 145,848 -9,631
1963 321,805 0 140,984 -8,936
1962 286,534 0 136,317 -8,529
1961 257,788 0 131,531 -8,204
1960 277,717 0 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 50,439 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in North Korea, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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