Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in North Korea
North Korea: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 3,329 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3,329 thousands
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
36th
of 233 countries
All-time high
3,329 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
520.34 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in North Korea, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 65 years or older in North Korea is 3,329 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in North Korea peaked at 3,329 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 520.34 thousands, in 1970.
That places North Korea 36th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 520.34 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 532.71 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 544.68 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 556.1 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 567.97 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 580.44 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 593.48 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 607.33 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 622.14 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 637.26 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 652.86 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 669.83 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 689.81 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 712.41 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 738.1 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 765.81 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 795.15 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 826.3 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 859.29 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 894.28 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 931.36 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 970.94 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 1,014 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1,059 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1,107 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 1,163 thousands | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 1,212 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 1,265 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 1,324 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 1,392 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 1,470 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 1,553 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 1,643 thousands | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 1,738 thousands | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 1,852 thousands | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 1,961 thousands | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 2,064 thousands | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 2,160 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 2,250 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 2,332 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 2,409 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 2,487 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 2,567 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 2,643 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2,707 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 2,765 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 2,834 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 2,813 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 2,802 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 2,821 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 2,868 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 2,928 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 2,991 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 3,113 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 3,242 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 3,329 thousands | +2.7% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3,329 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 589.35 thousands, 5.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3,329 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 31.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 576.24 thousands | 520.34 thousands | 637.26 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 760.39 thousands | 652.86 thousands | 894.28 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,144 thousands | 931.36 thousands | 1,392 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,902 thousands | 1,470 thousands | 2,332 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,685 thousands | 2,409 thousands | 2,834 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,079 thousands | 2,868 thousands | 3,329 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 65 years or older in North Korea?
- Population aged 65 years or older in North Korea was 3,329 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3,329 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 520.34 thousands in 1970.
- How does North Korea rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- North Korea ranks 36th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (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