Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea
North Korea: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 0.7919 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.7919 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
139th
of 234 countries
All-time high
52.62 % change on previous year
in 1954
All-time low
0.6445 % change on previous year
in 2002
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea is 0.7919 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea peaked at 52.62 % change on previous year in 1954 and was at its lowest, 0.6445 % change on previous year, in 2002.
That places North Korea 139th out of 234 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 45.08 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 42.06 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 1953 | 38.9 % change on previous year | -7.5% |
| 1954 | 52.62 % change on previous year | +35.3% |
| 1955 | 32.1 % change on previous year | -39.0% |
| 1956 | 20.81 % change on previous year | -35.2% |
| 1957 | 15.22 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 1958 | 12.79 % change on previous year | -16.0% |
| 1959 | 10.22 % change on previous year | -20.1% |
| 1960 | 8.09 % change on previous year | -20.8% |
| 1961 | 6.6 % change on previous year | -18.4% |
| 1962 | 5.72 % change on previous year | -13.3% |
| 1963 | 5.44 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 1964 | 5.33 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1965 | 5.41 % change on previous year | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 5.78 % change on previous year | +6.9% |
| 1967 | 6.1 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 5.94 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 5.34 % change on previous year | -10.1% |
| 1970 | 4.57 % change on previous year | -14.5% |
| 1971 | 3.99 % change on previous year | -12.7% |
| 1972 | 3.81 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 1973 | 3.36 % change on previous year | -11.8% |
| 1974 | 2.69 % change on previous year | -19.9% |
| 1975 | 2.13 % change on previous year | -20.7% |
| 1976 | 1.71 % change on previous year | -19.7% |
| 1977 | 1.51 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 1978 | 1.44 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 1.45 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.49 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 1.58 % change on previous year | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 1.67 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1.71 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 1.74 % change on previous year | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 1.77 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 1.79 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 1.8 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 1.8 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.76 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.7 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 1.39 % change on previous year | -15.2% |
| 1996 | 1.14 % change on previous year | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 1.07 % change on previous year | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 0.9841 % change on previous year | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 0.9065 % change on previous year | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 0.8202 % change on previous year | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7339 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 0.6445 % change on previous year | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 0.7204 % change on previous year | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 0.7995 % change on previous year | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 0.7102 % change on previous year | -11.2% |
| 2006 | 0.6654 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 0.6529 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 0.6547 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 0.6653 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 0.6929 % change on previous year | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 0.7366 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 0.7767 % change on previous year | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 0.8086 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 0.8268 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 0.8669 % change on previous year | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 0.8799 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8766 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.8646 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8504 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 0.8315 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 0.8344 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 0.8475 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 0.8326 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 0.8114 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 2025 | 0.7919 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.7919 % change on previous year is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.1 % change on previous year, 19% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.7919 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8009 % change on previous year, 99% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 29.98 % change on previous year | 10.22 % change on previous year | 52.62 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 5.97 % change on previous year | 5.33 % change on previous year | 8.09 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.67 % change on previous year | 1.44 % change on previous year | 4.57 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.72 % change on previous year | 1.49 % change on previous year | 1.8 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.41 % change on previous year | 0.9065 % change on previous year | 1.79 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7067 % change on previous year | 0.6445 % change on previous year | 0.8202 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.818 % change on previous year | 0.6929 % change on previous year | 0.8799 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8249 % change on previous year | 0.7919 % change on previous year | 0.8475 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 136 Anguilla 0.8905 % change on previous year compare
- 137 Switzerland 0.8217 % change on previous year compare
- 138 New Zealand 0.8009 % change on previous year compare
- 140 Guam 0.7785 % change on previous year compare
- 141 Jamaica 0.7656 % change on previous year compare
- 142 Sweden 0.7188 % change on previous year 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in North Korea was 0.7919 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 52.62 % change on previous year in 1954.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6445 % change on previous year in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- North Korea ranks 139th out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Urban and rural population Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.