Population of Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Current Population
26,498,823
10yr Growth Rate
+4.12%
Rank
#56 of 209
Population Over Time
Analysis# North Korea Population Analysis
North Korea's population of 26.5 million ranks 56th globally, having grown 4.12% over the past decade—a modest rate reflecting decades of economic stagnation and emigration. The nation's demographic trajectory peaked during the 1960s, when rapid post-war recovery drove growth rates significantly higher than the current 0.41% annual rate. Since 1960, the country has added approximately 13 million people, but growth has decelerated sharply due to the 1994-1998 famine that killed an estimated 600,000–3.5 million people and reduced fertility rates permanently.
Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | +0.31% |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | +0.34% |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | +0.37% |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | +0.37% |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | +0.38% |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | +0.41% |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | +0.44% |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | +0.46% |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | +0.48% |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | +0.49% |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | +0.48% |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | +0.47% |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | +0.45% |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | +0.44% |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | +0.44% |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | +0.46% |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | +0.48% |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | +0.50% |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | +0.52% |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | +0.58% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | +0.68% |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | +0.61% |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | +0.54% |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | +0.63% |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | +0.72% |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | +0.80% |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | +0.87% |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | +0.94% |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | +1.00% |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | +1.23% |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | +1.45% |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | +1.48% |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | +1.50% |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | +1.50% |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | +1.48% |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | +1.47% |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | +1.47% |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | +1.48% |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | +1.48% |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | +1.48% |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | +1.47% |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | +1.48% |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | +1.49% |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | +1.45% |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | +1.41% |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | +1.40% |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | +1.39% |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | +1.45% |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | +1.61% |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | +1.79% |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | +1.97% |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | +2.35% |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | +2.59% |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | +2.63% |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | +2.74% |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | +2.80% |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | +2.92% |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | +2.87% |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | +2.65% |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | +2.56% |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | +2.57% |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | +2.48% |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | +2.27% |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | +2.28% |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | — |