Annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea
North Korea: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.5232 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.5232
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
76th
of 236 countries
All-time high
42.17
in 1951
All-time low
0.0488
in 1978
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea is 0.5232, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 34.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea peaked at 42.17 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.0488, in 1978.
North Korea ranks 76th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40.06 | — |
| 1951 | 42.17 | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 33.97 | -19.5% |
| 1953 | 38.94 | +14.6% |
| 1954 | 34.47 | -11.5% |
| 1955 | 21.06 | -38.9% |
| 1956 | 14.02 | -33.4% |
| 1957 | 10.36 | -26.2% |
| 1958 | 8.15 | -21.3% |
| 1959 | 6.27 | -23.1% |
| 1960 | 4.73 | -24.5% |
| 1961 | 3.68 | -22.3% |
| 1962 | 3.04 | -17.2% |
| 1963 | 2.72 | -10.6% |
| 1964 | 2.67 | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 2.87 | +7.4% |
| 1966 | 3.08 | +7.2% |
| 1967 | 3.03 | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 2.7 | -10.8% |
| 1969 | 2.09 | -22.5% |
| 1970 | 1.5 | -28.4% |
| 1971 | 1.24 | -17.5% |
| 1972 | 1.09 | -11.6% |
| 1973 | 0.8519 | -22.1% |
| 1974 | 0.5094 | -40.2% |
| 1975 | 0.1934 | -62.0% |
| 1976 | 0.0777 | -59.8% |
| 1977 | 0.0542 | -30.2% |
| 1978 | 0.0488 | -10.0% |
| 1979 | 0.0647 | +32.6% |
| 1980 | 0.1039 | +60.6% |
| 1981 | 0.1574 | +51.5% |
| 1982 | 0.2063 | +31.1% |
| 1983 | 0.246 | +19.2% |
| 1984 | 0.2772 | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 0.3002 | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 0.315 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 0.3216 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 0.3202 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 0.3108 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2936 | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 0.2692 | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 0.2326 | -13.6% |
| 1993 | 0.1983 | -14.7% |
| 1994 | 0.1629 | -17.9% |
| 1995 | 0.1457 | -10.6% |
| 1996 | 0.1309 | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 0.1193 | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 0.1107 | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 0.105 | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 0.1023 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 0.1024 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 0.1056 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 0.1116 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1205 | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1323 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 0.1468 | +11.0% |
| 2007 | 0.1642 | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 0.1865 | +13.6% |
| 2009 | 0.2296 | +23.1% |
| 2010 | 0.2738 | +19.3% |
| 2011 | 0.3081 | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 0.3315 | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 0.3419 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 0.3565 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3903 | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 0.4024 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 0.4161 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4297 | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 0.4433 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 0.4569 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 0.4703 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 0.4837 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.497 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 0.5101 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 0.5232 | +2.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.5232 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.25, 42% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.5232 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2441, 2.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.95 | 6.27 | 42.17 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.06 | 2.09 | 4.73 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5628 | 0.0488 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2559 | 0.1039 | 0.3216 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1768 | 0.105 | 0.2936 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1402 | 0.1023 | 0.2296 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3694 | 0.2738 | 0.4433 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4902 | 0.4569 | 0.5232 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 73 Albania 0.5431 compare
- 74 Croatia 0.5385 compare
- 75 North Macedonia 0.5299 compare
- 77 East Timor 0.517 compare
- 78 Costa Rica 0.5137 compare
- 79 Kazakhstan 0.4986 compare
More population data for North Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5276 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,807 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1188 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7483 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.656 (2100)
- Population density 162.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 794,407 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in North Korea was 0.5232 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.17 in 1951.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0488 in 1978.
- How does North Korea rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- North Korea ranks 76th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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