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Population in North Macedonia compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 28.6 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.64% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.48% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

North Macedonia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia South Korea
2100 866,884 22,012,503
2099 877,788 22,335,528
2098 888,715 22,668,719
2097 899,716 23,009,661
2096 910,709 23,360,151
2095 921,559 23,722,747
2094 932,633 24,093,391
2093 943,984 24,473,038
2092 955,335 24,860,975
2091 966,773 25,255,379
2090 978,130 25,655,577
2089 989,666 26,060,945
2088 1,001,224 26,470,073
2087 1,012,831 26,884,813
2086 1,024,787 27,301,913
2085 1,036,668 27,723,736
2084 1,048,876 28,147,480
2083 1,061,031 28,578,182
2082 1,073,408 29,012,953
2081 1,085,823 29,456,022
2080 1,098,127 29,901,880
2079 1,110,614 30,352,062
2078 1,123,398 30,809,176
2077 1,136,448 31,273,700
2076 1,149,787 31,744,480
2075 1,163,080 32,221,226
2074 1,176,671 32,706,020
2073 1,190,351 33,196,556
2072 1,204,015 33,696,490
2071 1,217,691 34,203,935
2070 1,231,978 34,719,324
2069 1,246,408 35,241,850
2068 1,260,869 35,762,799
2067 1,275,289 36,292,307
2066 1,289,439 36,826,655
2065 1,303,917 37,368,086
2064 1,318,161 37,916,439
2063 1,332,807 38,469,051
2062 1,347,540 39,028,473
2061 1,362,299 39,584,621
2060 1,376,807 40,149,830
2059 1,390,921 40,712,514
2058 1,404,982 41,277,134
2057 1,419,185 41,833,887
2056 1,433,595 42,377,427
2055 1,447,857 42,909,302
2054 1,462,210 43,427,254
2053 1,476,351 43,938,741
2052 1,489,905 44,441,106
2051 1,503,526 44,923,604
2050 1,516,629 45,385,311
2049 1,529,608 45,832,153
2048 1,542,390 46,258,529
2047 1,555,085 46,668,898
2046 1,568,151 47,056,404
2045 1,581,115 47,433,205
2044 1,593,878 47,797,411
2043 1,606,930 48,144,730
2042 1,619,941 48,478,991
2041 1,632,704 48,806,273
2040 1,645,446 49,115,658
2039 1,658,034 49,412,830
2038 1,670,347 49,694,340
2037 1,682,850 49,957,504
2036 1,695,204 50,200,702
2035 1,707,302 50,426,000
2034 1,719,193 50,632,962
2033 1,730,723 50,821,090
2032 1,742,288 50,987,020
2031 1,753,729 51,134,940
2030 1,765,162 51,267,908
2029 1,775,815 51,385,868
2028 1,786,051 51,486,791
2027 1,795,945 51,576,746
2026 1,805,954 51,649,918
2025 1,815,368 51,710,062
2024 1,824,359 51,751,065
2023 1,827,816 51,712,619
2022 1,831,712 51,672,569
2021 1,837,114 51,769,539
2020 1,856,124 51,836,239
2019 1,876,262 51,764,822
2018 1,889,051 51,585,058
2017 1,898,657 51,361,911
2016 1,906,313 51,217,803
2015 1,912,430 51,014,947
2014 1,917,557 50,746,659
2013 1,922,716 50,428,893
2012 1,929,821 50,199,853
2011 1,937,398 49,936,638
2010 1,946,298 49,554,112
2009 1,958,782 49,307,835
2008 1,971,493 49,054,708
2007 1,982,933 48,683,638
2006 1,994,287 48,438,292
2005 2,005,330 48,184,561
2004 2,016,186 48,082,519
2003 2,022,725 47,892,330
2002 2,020,157 47,644,736
2001 2,034,882 47,370,164
2000 2,026,350 47,008,111
1999 2,017,142 46,616,677
1998 2,007,523 46,286,503
1997 1,996,869 45,953,580
1996 2,012,553 45,524,681
1995 1,998,534 45,092,991
1994 1,992,666 44,641,540
1993 2,006,854 44,194,628
1992 2,032,523 43,747,962
1991 2,055,994 43,295,704
1990 2,063,689 42,869,283
1989 2,055,649 42,449,038
1988 2,045,737 42,031,247
1987 2,035,157 41,621,690
1986 2,024,732 41,213,674
1985 2,014,331 40,805,744
1984 2,003,399 40,405,956
1983 1,991,901 39,910,403
1982 1,978,956 39,326,352
1981 1,959,065 38,723,248
1980 1,933,038 38,123,775
1979 1,906,523 37,534,236
1978 1,879,847 36,969,185
1977 1,853,138 36,411,795
1976 1,825,830 35,848,523
1975 1,797,972 35,280,725
1974 1,770,545 34,692,266
1973 1,743,816 34,103,149
1972 1,717,395 33,505,406
1971 1,691,216 32,882,704
1970 1,664,208 32,240,827
1969 1,636,345 31,544,266
1968 1,608,930 30,838,302
1967 1,582,492 30,130,983
1966 1,557,349 29,435,571
1965 1,533,466 28,704,674
1964 1,510,900 27,984,155
1963 1,488,737 27,261,747
1962 1,471,745 26,513,030
1961 1,455,171 25,765,673
1960 1,435,059 25,012,374

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-macedonia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.3% of the population in North Macedonia and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia South Korea
2100 -1.24% -1.45%
2099 -1.23% -1.47%
2098 -1.22% -1.48%
2097 -1.21% -1.5%
2096 -1.18% -1.53%
2095 -1.19% -1.54%
2094 -1.2% -1.55%
2093 -1.19% -1.56%
2092 -1.18% -1.56%
2091 -1.16% -1.56%
2090 -1.17% -1.56%
2089 -1.15% -1.55%
2088 -1.15% -1.54%
2087 -1.17% -1.53%
2086 -1.15% -1.52%
2085 -1.16% -1.51%
2084 -1.15% -1.51%
2083 -1.15% -1.5%
2082 -1.14% -1.5%
2081 -1.12% -1.49%
2080 -1.12% -1.48%
2079 -1.14% -1.48%
2078 -1.15% -1.49%
2077 -1.16% -1.48%
2076 -1.14% -1.48%
2075 -1.15% -1.48%
2074 -1.15% -1.48%
2073 -1.13% -1.48%
2072 -1.12% -1.48%
2071 -1.16% -1.48%
2070 -1.16% -1.48%
2069 -1.15% -1.46%
2068 -1.13% -1.46%
2067 -1.1% -1.45%
2066 -1.11% -1.45%
2065 -1.08% -1.45%
2064 -1.1% -1.44%
2063 -1.09% -1.43%
2062 -1.08% -1.4%
2061 -1.05% -1.41%
2060 -1.01% -1.38%
2059 -1% -1.37%
2058 -1% -1.33%
2057 -1.01% -1.28%
2056 -0.99% -1.24%
2055 -0.98% -1.19%
2054 -0.96% -1.16%
2053 -0.91% -1.13%
2052 -0.91% -1.07%
2051 -0.86% -1.02%
2050 -0.85% -0.97%
2049 -0.83% -0.92%
2048 -0.82% -0.88%
2047 -0.83% -0.82%
2046 -0.82% -0.79%
2045 -0.8% -0.76%
2044 -0.81% -0.72%
2043 -0.8% -0.69%
2042 -0.78% -0.67%
2041 -0.77% -0.63%
2040 -0.76% -0.6%
2039 -0.74% -0.57%
2038 -0.74% -0.53%
2037 -0.73% -0.48%
2036 -0.71% -0.45%
2035 -0.69% -0.41%
2034 -0.67% -0.37%
2033 -0.66% -0.33%
2032 -0.65% -0.29%
2031 -0.65% -0.26%
2030 -0.6% -0.23%
2029 -0.57% -0.2%
2028 -0.55% -0.17%
2027 -0.55% -0.14%
2026 -0.52% -0.12%
2025 -0.49% -0.08%
2024 -0.19% 0.07%
2023 -0.21% 0.08%
2022 -0.29% -0.19%
2021 -1.02% -0.13%
2020 -1.07% 0.14%
2019 -0.68% 0.35%
2018 -0.51% 0.43%
2017 -0.4% 0.28%
2016 -0.32% 0.4%
2015 -0.27% 0.53%
2014 -0.27% 0.63%
2013 -0.37% 0.46%
2012 -0.39% 0.53%
2011 -0.46% 0.77%
2010 -0.64% 0.5%
2009 -0.64% 0.52%
2008 -0.58% 0.76%
2007 -0.57% 0.51%
2006 -0.55% 0.53%
2005 -0.54% 0.21%
2004 -0.32% 0.4%
2003 0.13% 0.52%
2002 -0.72% 0.58%
2001 0.42% 0.77%
2000 0.46% 0.84%
1999 0.48% 0.71%
1998 0.53% 0.72%
1997 -0.78% 0.94%
1996 0.7% 0.96%
1995 0.29% 1.01%
1994 -0.71% 1.01%
1993 -1.26% 1.02%
1992 -1.14% 1.04%
1991 -0.37% 0.99%
1990 0.39% 0.99%
1989 0.48% 0.99%
1988 0.52% 0.98%
1987 0.51% 0.99%
1986 0.52% 1%
1985 0.55% 0.99%
1984 0.58% 1.24%
1983 0.65% 1.49%
1982 1.02% 1.56%
1981 1.35% 1.57%
1980 1.39% 1.57%
1979 1.42% 1.53%
1978 1.44% 1.53%
1977 1.5% 1.57%
1976 1.55% 1.61%
1975 1.55% 1.7%
1974 1.53% 1.73%
1973 1.54% 1.78%
1972 1.55% 1.89%
1971 1.62% 1.99%
1970 1.7% 2.21%
1969 1.7% 2.29%
1968 1.67% 2.35%
1967 1.61% 2.36%
1966 1.56% 2.55%
1965 1.49% 2.57%
1964 1.49% 2.65%
1963 1.15% 2.82%
1962 1.14% 2.9%
1961 1.4% 3.01%

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-macedonia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia South Korea
Current population
1805954
51649918
Population rank 150/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.62%
One net population change
2.53 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
31.3 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 +105
Annual growth/decline -3,457 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -5,645 +65,731
Net migration rank 119/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - 65,731
2024 - -5,728 - 75,963
2023 -3,290 -5,597 -77,569 87,800
2022 -4,397 -5,296 -124,014 87,800
2021 -9,737 -5,483 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -5,939 -23,458 -31,101 112,631
2019 -375 -24,204 10,353 128,622
2018 1,512 -24,878 30,951 118,220
2017 1,329 -24,227 71,907 104,029
2016 2,374 -24,144 122,923 91,568
2015 2,294 -23,010 163,248 276,427
2014 3,644 -22,132 167,464 308,037
2013 3,653 -20,297 166,415 301,926
2012 3,087 -19,083 215,859 281,866
2011 3,100 -17,871 214,728 269,958
2010 4,866 -16,668 213,083 52,042
2009 4,309 -15,455 197,231 5,308
2008 3,746 -17,645 215,841 -19,630
2007 2,974 -15,705 248,286 -42,293
2006 3,988 -9,632 203,441 -28,434
2005 4,011 -2,244 187,920 -47,821
2004 5,444 -2,640 225,988 -42,549
2003 8,900 -2,880 244,251 -31,994
2002 9,697 -2,858 247,752 -18,105
2001 10,174 -922 312,643 -28,006
2000 12,159 -2,824 390,167 -84,960
1999 10,489 -1,261 368,272 -107,448
1998 12,446 -589 393,436 -98,044
1997 12,979 -477 422,773 -109,130
1996 14,806 -397 446,142 -115,705
1995 17,239 -3,603 468,967 -208,491
1994 19,103 -21,006 473,200 -208,309
1993 20,797 -47,273 477,302 -222,802
1992 21,659 -46,509 494,352 -265,849
1991 23,387 -45,484 467,594 -270,754
1990 22,868 -16,174 411,546 79,294
1989 22,912 -13,528 403,266 186,120
1988 24,064 -13,621 399,297 192,534
1987 24,359 -13,635 378,758 198,057
1986 23,720 -13,589 395,651 189,782
1985 24,167 -13,492 416,219 97,949
1984 24,436 -13,251 436,384 101,394
1983 24,690 -12,884 514,844 102,167
1982 25,810 -11,716 605,626 48,638
1981 25,689 0 631,189 18,442
1980 26,547 -189 583,294 -148,341
1979 27,096 -426 623,068 -139,566
1978 27,150 -462 499,084 -85,721
1977 27,410 -683 578,947 -90,737
1976 28,799 -911 530,558 -92,314
1975 28,983 -1,147 603,300 -52,332
1974 28,400 -1,376 673,030 27,005
1973 28,032 -1,600 699,115 35,779
1972 28,236 -1,834 740,469 25,382
1971 28,010 -2,064 789,185 -6,326
1970 28,022 60 747,987 -27,999
1969 27,464 181 694,227 -21,175
1968 28,378 -1,201 684,487 -16,868
1967 28,401 -2,696 692,169 -16,484
1966 28,766 -4,176 623,534 -16,688
1965 28,564 -5,385 641,090 -146,386
1964 27,889 -5,938 655,501 -102,284
1963 28,124 -5,759 685,824 -80,226
1962 25,317 -13,702 712,590 -94,606
1961 27,846 -6,309 730,173 -93,179
1960 28,816 -10,126 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people). In South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-macedonia/south-korea | 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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