Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in North Korea
North Korea: Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) was 3,407 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3,407 thousands
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
66th
of 233 countries
All-time high
4,618 thousands
in 1989
All-time low
2,505 thousands
in 1972
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 15-24 years in North Korea, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 15-24 years in North Korea is 3,407 thousands, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 15-24 years in North Korea peaked at 4,618 thousands in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2,505 thousands, in 1972.
That places North Korea 66th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,509 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,509 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 2,505 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 2,584 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 2,696 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 2,770 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 2,845 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 3,015 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 3,196 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 3,369 thousands | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 3,507 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 3,632 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 3,786 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 3,915 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 4,016 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 4,168 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 4,308 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 4,452 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 4,588 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 4,618 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 4,614 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 4,579 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 4,484 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 4,327 thousands | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 4,181 thousands | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 4,037 thousands | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 3,888 thousands | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 3,769 thousands | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 3,635 thousands | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 3,574 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 3,547 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 3,542 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 3,574 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 3,622 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 3,676 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 3,726 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 3,781 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 3,826 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 3,870 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 3,909 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 3,943 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 3,970 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 3,991 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 4,002 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 4,004 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3,997 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 3,970 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 3,930 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 3,880 thousands | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 3,824 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 3,755 thousands | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 3,676 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 3,603 thousands | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 3,534 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 3,475 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 3,407 thousands | -1.9% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3,407 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 4,765 thousands, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3,407 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 305.44 thousands, 11.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,800 thousands | 2,505 thousands | 3,369 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,099 thousands | 3,507 thousands | 4,618 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,109 thousands | 3,574 thousands | 4,614 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,707 thousands | 3,542 thousands | 3,909 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,951 thousands | 3,824 thousands | 4,004 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,575 thousands | 3,407 thousands | 3,755 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
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)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 162.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 794,407 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 15-24 years in North Korea?
- Population aged 15-24 years in North Korea was 3,407 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 15-24 years recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4,618 thousands in 1989.
- What is the lowest population aged 15-24 years recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,505 thousands in 1972.
- How does North Korea rank for population aged 15-24 years?
- North Korea ranks 66th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 15-24 years rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 15-24 years (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release