Total population in North Korea
North Korea: Total population was 26,537 thousands in 2025. β² Rising
Total population in North Korea, 1970β2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in North Korea stood at 26,537 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in North Korea peaked at 26,537 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14,970 thousands, in 1970.
That places North Korea 55th out of 230 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16,560 thousands | 14,970 thousands | 17,858 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 19,352 thousands | 18,109 thousands | 20,653 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,293 thousands | 20,956 thousands | 23,408 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,231 thousands | 23,587 thousands | 24,824 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,456 thousands | 24,933 thousands | 25,986 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 26,321 thousands | 26,089 thousands | 26,537 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More population data for North Korea
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.656 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 794,407 (2100)
- Population density 162.05 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.656 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 1.78 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 1.78 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 1.78 (2024)
- Natural population growth 0.3263 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 1.78 (2023)
- Children per woman fertility rate vs level of prosperity 1.78 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in North Korea?
- Total population in North Korea was 26,537 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26,537 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,970 thousands in 1970.
- How does North Korea rank for total population?
- North Korea ranks 55th out of 230 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release