Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea
North Korea: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 3.18 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.18 million people
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.18 million people
in 2023
All-time low
264,776 people
in 1952
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea is 3.18 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea peaked at 3.18 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 264,776 people, in 1952.
North Korea ranks 37th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 304,152 people | — |
| 1951 | 274,536 people | -9.7% |
| 1952 | 264,776 people | -3.6% |
| 1953 | 270,011 people | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 281,634 people | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 297,248 people | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 314,085 people | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 332,008 people | +5.7% |
| 1958 | 350,281 people | +5.5% |
| 1959 | 367,949 people | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 384,740 people | +4.6% |
| 1961 | 400,721 people | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 415,898 people | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 430,487 people | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 444,808 people | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 458,959 people | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 472,955 people | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 486,919 people | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 500,692 people | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 513,911 people | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 526,519 people | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 538,692 people | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 550,378 people | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 562,017 people | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 574,187 people | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 586,940 people | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 600,386 people | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 614,716 people | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 629,683 people | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 645,034 people | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 661,318 people | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 679,791 people | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 701,073 people | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 725,217 people | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 751,906 people | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 780,427 people | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 810,668 people | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 842,731 people | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 876,719 people | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 912,746 people | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 951,063 people | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 992,159 people | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1.04 million people | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.08 million people | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million people | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.19 million people | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million people | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 1.29 million people | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million people | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 1.43 million people | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 1.51 million people | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 1.60 million people | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 1.69 million people | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.79 million people | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 1.91 million people | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 2.01 million people | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 2.11 million people | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 2.20 million people | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 2.29 million people | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 2.37 million people | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 2.45 million people | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 2.53 million people | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 2.61 million people | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.67 million people | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.74 million people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.80 million people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.82 million people | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 2.81 million people | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 2.81 million people | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 2.84 million people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.90 million people | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.96 million people | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 3.05 million people | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.18 million people | +4.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3.18 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 571,728 people, 5.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3.18 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,191 people, 33.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 305,668 people | 264,776 people | 367,949 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 451,009 people | 384,740 people | 513,911 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 582,855 people | 526,519 people | 645,034 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 774,260 people | 661,318 people | 912,746 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million people | 951,063 people | 1.43 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.95 million people | 1.51 million people | 2.37 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.71 million people | 2.45 million people | 2.84 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.02 million people | 2.90 million people | 3.18 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More population data for North Korea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5276 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 794,407 people (2100)
- Population density 162.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7483 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1188 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in North Korea was 3.18 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.18 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 264,776 people in 1952.
- How does North Korea rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- North Korea ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.