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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,820,909 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,811,466 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 28.5 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 -0.47% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.17% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% 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 869,530 22,001,649
2099 880,467 22,324,514
2098 891,427 22,657,541
2097 902,461 22,998,315
2096 913,488 23,348,632
2095 924,371 23,711,049
2094 935,479 24,081,510
2093 946,865 24,460,970
2092 958,251 24,848,715
2091 969,723 25,242,926
2090 981,115 25,642,926
2089 992,687 26,048,094
2088 1,004,280 26,457,020
2087 1,015,922 26,871,556
2086 1,027,915 27,288,450
2085 1,039,832 27,710,065
2084 1,052,077 28,133,600
2083 1,064,269 28,564,090
2082 1,076,684 28,998,646
2081 1,089,137 29,441,497
2080 1,101,478 29,887,135
2079 1,114,004 30,337,095
2078 1,126,827 30,793,984
2077 1,139,917 31,258,278
2076 1,153,296 31,728,826
2075 1,166,630 32,205,338
2074 1,180,262 32,689,892
2073 1,193,984 33,180,187
2072 1,207,689 33,679,874
2071 1,221,407 34,187,068
2070 1,235,738 34,702,204
2069 1,250,212 35,224,472
2068 1,264,718 35,745,164
2067 1,279,182 36,274,411
2066 1,293,374 36,808,495
2065 1,307,896 37,349,660
2064 1,322,184 37,897,742
2063 1,336,875 38,450,082
2062 1,351,652 39,009,227
2061 1,366,457 39,565,102
2060 1,381,009 40,130,032
2059 1,395,166 40,692,438
2058 1,409,270 41,256,780
2057 1,423,516 41,813,259
2056 1,437,970 42,356,530
2055 1,452,276 42,888,143
2054 1,466,673 43,405,840
2053 1,480,857 43,917,075
2052 1,494,452 44,419,192
2051 1,508,115 44,901,452
2050 1,521,258 45,362,931
2049 1,534,276 45,809,553
2048 1,547,097 46,235,718
2047 1,559,831 46,645,885
2046 1,572,937 47,033,200
2045 1,585,940 47,409,815
2044 1,598,742 47,773,842
2043 1,611,835 48,120,989
2042 1,624,885 48,455,085
2041 1,637,687 48,782,206
2040 1,650,468 49,091,438
2039 1,663,094 49,388,464
2038 1,675,445 49,669,835
2037 1,687,986 49,932,869
2036 1,700,377 50,175,947
2035 1,712,512 50,401,135
2034 1,724,440 50,607,994
2033 1,736,005 50,796,030
2032 1,747,606 50,961,878
2031 1,759,081 51,109,725
2030 1,770,549 51,242,628
2029 1,781,235 51,360,529
2028 1,791,502 51,461,403
2027 1,801,426 51,551,313
2026 1,811,466 51,624,449
2025 1,820,909 51,684,564
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 94,847 people (a 4.98% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% 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 1,521,258 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 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 -0.19% -0.13%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia South Korea
Current population
1811466
51624449
Population rank 150/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.62%
One net population change
2.55 hours
7.93 minutes
One birth every
32.7 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
26 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 -182
Annual growth/decline -3,450 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 169/197
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 -4,196 -5,728 -119,027 75,963
2023 -3,290 -5,597 -124,111 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 11% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 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 (1960–2025, 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-macedonia/south-korea | 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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