Population in North Korea
North Korea: Population was 26.42 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
26.42 million people
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
56th
of 239 countries
All-time high
26.42 million people
in 2023
All-time low
900,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in North Korea, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in North Korea is 26.42 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in North Korea peaked at 26.42 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 900,000 people, in 1000.
North Korea ranks 56th of 239 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in North Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 900,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 1.08 million people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 1.44 million people | +33.3% |
| 1300 | 1.08 million people | -25.0% |
| 1400 | 1.26 million people | +16.7% |
| 1500 | 1.44 million people | +14.3% |
| 1600 | 1.80 million people | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 2.25 million people | +25.0% |
| 1710 | 2.47 million people | +9.8% |
| 1720 | 2.60 million people | +5.3% |
| 1730 | 2.74 million people | +5.3% |
| 1740 | 2.88 million people | +5.3% |
| 1750 | 3.03 million people | +5.3% |
| 1760 | 3.19 million people | +5.3% |
| 1770 | 3.36 million people | +5.3% |
| 1780 | 3.54 million people | +5.3% |
| 1790 | 3.73 million people | +5.3% |
| 1800 | 4.34 million people | +16.6% |
| 1801 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 4.34 million people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 4.35 million people | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 4.35 million people | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 4.35 million people | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 4.35 million people | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 4.35 million people | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 4.36 million people | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 4.36 million people | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 4.36 million people | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 4.37 million people | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 4.37 million people | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 4.37 million people | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 4.38 million people | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 4.38 million people | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 4.38 million people | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 4.39 million people | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 4.39 million people | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 4.39 million people | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 4.40 million people | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 4.40 million people | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 4.40 million people | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 4.41 million people | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 4.41 million people | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 4.41 million people | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 4.42 million people | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 4.42 million people | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 4.42 million people | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 4.43 million people | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 4.43 million people | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 4.43 million people | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 4.44 million people | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 4.44 million people | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 4.44 million people | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 4.46 million people | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 4.47 million people | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 4.49 million people | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 4.50 million people | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 4.52 million people | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 4.53 million people | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 4.55 million people | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 4.57 million people | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 4.58 million people | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 4.60 million people | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 4.61 million people | +0.3% |
| 1862 | 4.63 million people | +0.3% |
| 1863 | 4.64 million people | +0.3% |
| 1864 | 4.66 million people | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 4.67 million people | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 4.69 million people | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 4.70 million people | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 4.72 million people | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 4.74 million people | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 4.75 million people | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 4.77 million people | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 4.79 million people | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 4.82 million people | +0.5% |
| 1874 | 4.84 million people | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 4.86 million people | +0.5% |
| 1876 | 4.88 million people | +0.5% |
| 1877 | 4.90 million people | +0.5% |
| 1878 | 4.93 million people | +0.5% |
| 1879 | 4.95 million people | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 4.97 million people | +0.5% |
| 1881 | 4.99 million people | +0.5% |
| 1882 | 5.01 million people | +0.5% |
| 1883 | 5.04 million people | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 5.06 million people | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 5.08 million people | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 5.11 million people | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 5.13 million people | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 5.15 million people | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 5.17 million people | +0.4% |
| 1890 | 5.20 million people | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 5.22 million people | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 5.24 million people | +0.4% |
| 1893 | 5.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 1894 | 5.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 1895 | 5.31 million people | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 5.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 1897 | 5.36 million people | +0.4% |
| 1898 | 5.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1899 | 5.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 1900 | 5.43 million people | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 5.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1902 | 5.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1903 | 5.50 million people | +0.4% |
| 1904 | 5.53 million people | +0.4% |
| 1905 | 5.55 million people | +0.4% |
| 1906 | 5.58 million people | +0.4% |
| 1907 | 5.60 million people | +0.4% |
| 1908 | 5.63 million people | +0.4% |
| 1909 | 5.67 million people | +0.7% |
| 1910 | 5.72 million people | +1.0% |
| 1911 | 5.80 million people | +1.3% |
| 1912 | 5.89 million people | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 6.00 million people | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 6.12 million people | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 6.23 million people | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 6.35 million people | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 6.47 million people | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 6.58 million people | +1.7% |
| 1919 | 6.69 million people | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 6.80 million people | +1.7% |
| 1921 | 6.91 million people | +1.7% |
| 1922 | 7.03 million people | +1.7% |
| 1923 | 7.15 million people | +1.7% |
| 1924 | 7.26 million people | +1.7% |
| 1925 | 7.38 million people | +1.7% |
| 1926 | 7.51 million people | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 7.63 million people | +1.7% |
| 1928 | 7.76 million people | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 7.89 million people | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 8.02 million people | +1.7% |
| 1931 | 8.15 million people | +1.7% |
| 1932 | 8.29 million people | +1.7% |
| 1933 | 8.43 million people | +1.7% |
| 1934 | 8.57 million people | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 8.71 million people | +1.7% |
| 1936 | 8.85 million people | +1.7% |
| 1937 | 9.00 million people | +1.7% |
| 1938 | 9.15 million people | +1.7% |
| 1939 | 9.30 million people | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 9.46 million people | +1.7% |
| 1941 | 9.61 million people | +1.7% |
| 1942 | 9.77 million people | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 9.94 million people | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 10.10 million people | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 10.27 million people | +1.7% |
| 1946 | 10.44 million people | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 10.61 million people | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 10.79 million people | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 10.95 million people | +1.5% |
| 1950 | 11.12 million people | +1.5% |
| 1951 | 10.58 million people | -4.8% |
| 1952 | 10.25 million people | -3.1% |
| 1953 | 10.18 million people | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 10.24 million people | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 10.40 million people | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 10.60 million people | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 10.85 million people | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 11.16 million people | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 11.45 million people | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 11.72 million people | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 11.99 million people | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 12.26 million people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 12.57 million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 12.89 million people | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 13.22 million people | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 13.57 million people | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 13.96 million people | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 14.37 million people | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 14.77 million people | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 15.17 million people | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 15.57 million people | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 15.98 million people | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 16.35 million people | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 16.67 million people | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 16.97 million people | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 17.24 million people | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 17.49 million people | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 17.74 million people | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 17.98 million people | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 18.24 million people | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 18.50 million people | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 18.78 million people | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 19.05 million people | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 19.34 million people | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 19.62 million people | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 19.91 million people | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 20.21 million people | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 20.50 million people | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 20.80 million people | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 21.11 million people | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 21.43 million people | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 21.75 million people | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 22.07 million people | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 22.39 million people | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 22.67 million people | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 22.90 million people | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 23.11 million people | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 23.31 million people | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 23.50 million people | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 23.67 million people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 23.82 million people | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 23.94 million people | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 24.09 million people | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 24.25 million people | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 24.40 million people | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 24.52 million people | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 24.65 million people | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 24.76 million people | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 24.88 million people | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 24.99 million people | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 25.10 million people | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 25.21 million people | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 25.33 million people | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 25.45 million people | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 25.58 million people | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 25.70 million people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 25.82 million people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 25.93 million people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 26.04 million people | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 26.14 million people | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 26.23 million people | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 26.33 million people | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 26.42 million people | +0.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 26.42 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 26.42 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 19.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | +33.3% | 1.08 million people | 1.44 million people |
| 1300 | -25.0% | 1.44 million people | 1.08 million people |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 1.44 million people | 1.80 million people |
| 1700 | +25.0% | 1.80 million people | 2.25 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 900,000 people | 900,000 people | 900,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.26 million people | 1.26 million people | 1.26 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.80 million people | 1.80 million people | 1.80 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.47 million people | 2.47 million people | 2.47 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.60 million people | 2.60 million people | 2.60 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.88 million people | 2.88 million people | 2.88 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.03 million people | 3.03 million people | 3.03 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.19 million people | 3.19 million people | 3.19 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.36 million people | 3.36 million people | 3.36 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.54 million people | 3.54 million people | 3.54 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.73 million people | 3.73 million people | 3.73 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.34 million people | 4.34 million people | 4.34 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 4.35 million people | 4.34 million people | 4.35 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 4.36 million people | 4.35 million people | 4.37 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 4.39 million people | 4.38 million people | 4.41 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 4.43 million people | 4.41 million people | 4.44 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.51 million people | 4.44 million people | 4.58 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.66 million people | 4.60 million people | 4.74 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.85 million people | 4.75 million people | 4.95 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.07 million people | 4.97 million people | 5.17 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.30 million people | 5.20 million people | 5.41 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.54 million people | 5.43 million people | 5.67 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.19 million people | 5.72 million people | 6.69 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.33 million people | 6.80 million people | 7.89 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 8.65 million people | 8.02 million people | 9.30 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 10.20 million people | 9.46 million people | 10.95 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 10.68 million people | 10.18 million people | 11.45 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.13 million people | 11.72 million people | 14.77 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.72 million people | 15.17 million people | 17.98 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.49 million people | 18.24 million people | 20.80 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.42 million people | 21.11 million people | 23.50 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.30 million people | 23.67 million people | 24.88 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.51 million people | 24.99 million people | 26.04 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.28 million people | 26.14 million people | 26.42 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 population in North Korea?
- Population in North Korea was 26.42 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.42 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 900,000 people in 1000.
- How does North Korea rank for population?
- North Korea ranks 56th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.