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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Korea was 26,498,823 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Korea's population is 26,659,144 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.54 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 +0.41% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Korea has increased from 24.5M people to 26.7M (8.7% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

North Korea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

North Korea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zimbabwe
2100 19,604,631 37,483,053
2099 19,733,548 37,412,398
2098 19,862,949 37,328,255
2097 19,993,288 37,235,542
2096 20,124,518 37,142,915
2095 20,256,401 37,032,129
2094 20,388,156 36,912,747
2093 20,520,253 36,810,893
2092 20,652,961 36,688,511
2091 20,785,785 36,567,262
2090 20,918,305 36,425,606
2089 21,050,580 36,280,973
2088 21,182,325 36,141,446
2087 21,314,047 35,977,638
2086 21,445,329 35,808,135
2085 21,575,835 35,637,092
2084 21,705,777 35,456,207
2083 21,835,029 35,268,035
2082 21,964,199 35,078,904
2081 22,092,862 34,873,129
2080 22,220,948 34,658,962
2079 22,348,577 34,439,720
2078 22,475,755 34,217,295
2077 22,602,817 33,982,909
2076 22,729,499 33,739,228
2075 22,856,369 33,495,867
2074 22,983,784 33,244,838
2073 23,111,441 32,978,488
2072 23,239,261 32,706,059
2071 23,367,583 32,445,747
2070 23,496,136 32,181,119
2069 23,625,538 31,906,793
2068 23,755,136 31,631,000
2067 23,884,879 31,345,338
2066 24,015,027 31,062,884
2065 24,144,985 30,766,830
2064 24,274,257 30,479,939
2063 24,402,439 30,176,104
2062 24,529,941 29,867,679
2061 24,656,350 29,557,068
2060 24,780,911 29,252,423
2059 24,903,037 28,945,088
2058 25,023,260 28,631,679
2057 25,140,523 28,307,305
2056 25,255,342 27,990,713
2055 25,366,397 27,658,887
2054 25,474,292 27,331,920
2053 25,578,870 26,986,935
2052 25,679,963 26,643,553
2051 25,777,639 26,287,592
2050 25,871,673 25,934,893
2049 25,962,167 25,585,239
2048 26,048,593 25,228,082
2047 26,131,429 24,874,649
2046 26,210,487 24,513,443
2045 26,286,208 24,147,637
2044 26,358,331 23,783,088
2043 26,427,062 23,401,965
2042 26,491,482 23,035,288
2041 26,552,564 22,647,950
2040 26,609,557 22,273,520
2039 26,661,815 21,902,980
2038 26,708,400 21,530,130
2037 26,749,134 21,159,664
2036 26,783,304 20,791,034
2035 26,810,026 20,413,656
2034 26,828,912 20,048,019
2033 26,839,229 19,676,339
2032 26,840,944 19,311,985
2031 26,832,957 18,959,300
2030 26,814,812 18,613,738
2029 26,787,117 18,270,049
2028 26,749,227 17,933,466
2027 26,701,444 17,600,984
2026 26,643,460 17,273,208
2025 26,575,953 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% 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 2.95% to 25,871,673 people with a rank change from 57th to 66th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 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 0.29% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of North Korea grew by 0.31%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

North Korea Zimbabwe
Current population
26659144
17361868
Population rank 57/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.21%
One net population change
6.52 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
1.54 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.05 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +221 +804
Annual growth/decline +80,619 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +0.31% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 150/197 60/197
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 - -2,473 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-korea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | 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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