Population by age group in North Korea
North Korea: Population by age group was 3.18 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.18 million
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.18 million
in 2023
All-time low
264,776
in 1952
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in North Korea is 3.18 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in North Korea peaked at 3.18 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 264,776, in 1952.
That places North Korea 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 304,152 | — |
| 1951 | 274,536 | -9.7% |
| 1952 | 264,776 | -3.6% |
| 1953 | 270,011 | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 281,634 | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 297,248 | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 314,085 | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 332,008 | +5.7% |
| 1958 | 350,281 | +5.5% |
| 1959 | 367,949 | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 384,740 | +4.6% |
| 1961 | 400,721 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 415,898 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 430,487 | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 444,808 | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 458,959 | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 472,955 | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 486,919 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 500,692 | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 513,911 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 526,519 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 538,692 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 550,378 | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 562,017 | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 574,187 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 586,940 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 600,386 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 614,716 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 629,683 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 645,034 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 661,318 | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 679,791 | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 701,073 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 725,217 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 751,906 | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 780,427 | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 810,668 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 842,731 | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 876,719 | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 912,746 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 951,063 | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 992,159 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1.04 million | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.08 million | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.19 million | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 1.29 million | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 1.43 million | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 1.51 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 1.60 million | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 1.69 million | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.79 million | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 1.91 million | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 2.01 million | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 2.11 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 2.20 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 2.29 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 2.37 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 2.45 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 2.53 million | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 2.61 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.67 million | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.74 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.80 million | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.82 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 2.81 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 2.81 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 2.84 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.90 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 3.05 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.18 million | +4.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3.18 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 571,728, 5.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3.18 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,191, 33.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 305,668 | 264,776 | 367,949 | 10 |
| 1960s | 451,009 | 384,740 | 513,911 | 10 |
| 1970s | 582,855 | 526,519 | 645,034 | 10 |
| 1980s | 774,260 | 661,318 | 912,746 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million | 951,063 | 1.43 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.95 million | 1.51 million | 2.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.71 million | 2.45 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.02 million | 2.90 million | 3.18 million | 4 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.656 (2100)
- Population density 162.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 794,407 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in North Korea?
- Population by age group in North Korea was 3.18 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.18 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 264,776 in 1952.
- How does North Korea rank for population by age group?
- North Korea ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. 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 Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).