Urban Population: Korea, Dem. People's Rep. of

Analysis# Korea, Dem. People's Rep. of Urban Population North Korea's urban population reached 63.859% in 2024, marking an all-time high and representing a dramatic 57.3% increase since 1960, when only 40.6% of the population lived in urban areas. Over six decades, the country has transformed from a predominantly rural society to one where nearly two-thirds of residents inhabit cities, reflecting sustained urbanization despite significant geopolitical constraints. The consistent upward trajectory accelerated after 2015, with annual gains averaging roughly 0.3 percentage points through 2024. Year-over-year growth remained steady and unbroken across the entire 2015–2024 period, suggesting urbanization pressures continue unabated. Without major policy reversals, this trend points toward further concentration of North Korea's population in urban centers in coming years.