Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in North Korea
North Korea: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 0.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.3%
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
158th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.7%
in 1970
All-time low
0.3%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Population growth in North Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in North Korea is 0.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 36.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in North Korea peaked at 2.7% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2024.
North Korea ranks 158th of 215 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.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.7% | — |
| 1971 | 2.6% | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | -9.0% |
| 1974 | 2.0% | -15.8% |
| 1975 | 1.8% | -9.4% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -10.1% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | -9.8% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | -15.3% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -18.7% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -10.2% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -11.8% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -14.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +13.2% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -14.6% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -7.5% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -10.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 12% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7%, 45% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 5 |
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 growth in North Korea?
- Population growth in North Korea was 0.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2024.
- How does North Korea rank for population growth?
- North Korea ranks 158th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.5%. 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 growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release