Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea
North Korea: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 6.20 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
6.20 million people
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
65th
of 238 countries
All-time high
10.68 million people
in 1950
All-time low
899,997 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 6.20 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea peaked at 10.68 million people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 899,997 people, in 1000.
That places North Korea 65th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 899,997 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 | +16.6% |
| 1500 | 1.44 million people | +14.2% |
| 1600 | 1.80 million people | +24.8% |
| 1700 | 2.23 million people | +24.3% |
| 1710 | 2.45 million people | +9.9% |
| 1720 | 2.58 million people | +5.1% |
| 1730 | 2.71 million people | +5.1% |
| 1740 | 2.85 million people | +5.1% |
| 1750 | 2.99 million people | +5.1% |
| 1760 | 3.15 million people | +5.0% |
| 1770 | 3.30 million people | +5.0% |
| 1780 | 3.47 million people | +4.9% |
| 1790 | 3.63 million people | +4.9% |
| 1800 | 3.81 million people | +4.8% |
| 1810 | 3.99 million people | +4.8% |
| 1820 | 4.18 million people | +4.7% |
| 1830 | 4.22 million people | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 4.21 million people | -0.3% |
| 1850 | 4.19 million people | -0.4% |
| 1860 | 4.17 million people | -0.6% |
| 1870 | 4.13 million people | -0.8% |
| 1880 | 4.09 million people | -1.1% |
| 1890 | 4.06 million people | -0.8% |
| 1900 | 4.01 million people | -1.1% |
| 1910 | 3.95 million people | -1.6% |
| 1920 | 5.01 million people | +26.7% |
| 1930 | 5.79 million people | +15.6% |
| 1940 | 6.64 million people | +14.7% |
| 1950 | 10.68 million people | +60.9% |
| 1951 | 9.94 million people | -6.9% |
| 1952 | 9.35 million people | -6.0% |
| 1953 | 8.92 million people | -4.6% |
| 1954 | 8.32 million people | -6.7% |
| 1955 | 7.86 million people | -5.5% |
| 1956 | 7.53 million people | -4.2% |
| 1957 | 7.31 million people | -2.8% |
| 1958 | 7.17 million people | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 7.05 million people | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 6.96 million people | -1.2% |
| 1961 | 6.92 million people | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 6.90 million people | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 6.91 million people | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 6.93 million people | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 6.94 million people | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 6.93 million people | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 6.91 million people | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 6.90 million people | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 6.90 million people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 6.95 million people | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 7.02 million people | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 7.10 million people | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 7.18 million people | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 7.25 million people | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 7.35 million people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 7.46 million people | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 7.56 million people | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 7.66 million people | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 7.76 million people | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 7.86 million people | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 7.96 million people | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 8.06 million people | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 8.15 million people | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 8.24 million people | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 8.33 million people | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 8.42 million people | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 8.51 million people | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 8.60 million people | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 8.68 million people | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 8.78 million people | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 8.87 million people | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 8.97 million people | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 9.08 million people | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 9.19 million people | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 9.28 million people | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 9.35 million people | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 9.42 million people | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 9.49 million people | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 9.55 million people | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 9.60 million people | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 9.65 million people | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 9.69 million people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 9.73 million people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 9.78 million people | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 9.82 million people | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 9.85 million people | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 9.88 million people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 9.90 million people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 9.91 million people | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 9.92 million people | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 9.92 million people | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.91 million people | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 9.91 million people | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 9.90 million people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 9.89 million people | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 9.88 million people | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 9.86 million people | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 9.83 million people | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 9.80 million people | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 9.77 million people | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 9.73 million people | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 9.68 million people | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 9.63 million people | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 9.58 million people | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 9.52 million people | -0.6% |
| 2026 | 9.45 million people | -0.7% |
| 2027 | 9.37 million people | -0.8% |
| 2028 | 9.29 million people | -0.9% |
| 2029 | 9.20 million people | -0.9% |
| 2030 | 9.11 million people | -1.0% |
| 2031 | 9.01 million people | -1.1% |
| 2032 | 8.90 million people | -1.2% |
| 2033 | 8.79 million people | -1.3% |
| 2034 | 8.67 million people | -1.3% |
| 2035 | 8.54 million people | -1.4% |
| 2036 | 8.42 million people | -1.5% |
| 2037 | 8.28 million people | -1.6% |
| 2038 | 8.14 million people | -1.7% |
| 2039 | 8.00 million people | -1.8% |
| 2040 | 7.85 million people | -1.8% |
| 2041 | 7.70 million people | -1.9% |
| 2042 | 7.55 million people | -2.0% |
| 2043 | 7.39 million people | -2.1% |
| 2044 | 7.23 million people | -2.2% |
| 2045 | 7.07 million people | -2.3% |
| 2046 | 6.90 million people | -2.4% |
| 2047 | 6.73 million people | -2.5% |
| 2048 | 6.56 million people | -2.6% |
| 2049 | 6.38 million people | -2.7% |
| 2050 | 6.20 million people | -2.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 6.20 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 16.82 million people, 37% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 6.20 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 306,014 people, 20.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +60.9% | 6.64 million people | 10.68 million people |
| 1200 | +33.3% | 1.08 million people | 1.44 million people |
| 1920 | +26.7% | 3.95 million people | 5.01 million people |
| 1300 | -25.0% | 1.44 million people | 1.08 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 899,997 people | 899,997 people | 899,997 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 | 2.23 million people | 2.23 million people | 2.23 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.45 million people | 2.45 million people | 2.45 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.58 million people | 2.58 million people | 2.58 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.71 million people | 2.71 million people | 2.71 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.85 million people | 2.85 million people | 2.85 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.99 million people | 2.99 million people | 2.99 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.15 million people | 3.15 million people | 3.15 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.30 million people | 3.30 million people | 3.30 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.47 million people | 3.47 million people | 3.47 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.63 million people | 3.63 million people | 3.63 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.81 million people | 3.81 million people | 3.81 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.99 million people | 3.99 million people | 3.99 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.18 million people | 4.18 million people | 4.18 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 4.22 million people | 4.22 million people | 4.22 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 4.21 million people | 4.21 million people | 4.21 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 4.19 million people | 4.19 million people | 4.19 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 4.17 million people | 4.17 million people | 4.17 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 4.13 million people | 4.13 million people | 4.13 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.09 million people | 4.09 million people | 4.09 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.06 million people | 4.06 million people | 4.06 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.01 million people | 4.01 million people | 4.01 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.95 million people | 3.95 million people | 3.95 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.01 million people | 5.01 million people | 5.01 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.79 million people | 5.79 million people | 5.79 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 6.64 million people | 6.64 million people | 6.64 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 8.41 million people | 7.05 million people | 10.68 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.92 million people | 6.90 million people | 6.96 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.33 million people | 6.95 million people | 7.76 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.28 million people | 7.86 million people | 8.68 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.20 million people | 8.78 million people | 9.55 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.78 million people | 9.60 million people | 9.91 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.88 million people | 9.80 million people | 9.92 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.52 million people | 9.20 million people | 9.77 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 8.59 million people | 8.00 million people | 9.11 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 7.14 million people | 6.38 million people | 7.85 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 6.20 million people | 6.20 million people | 6.20 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 62 South Korea 7.55 million people compare
- 63 Syria 7.22 million people compare
- 64 Romania 7.17 million people compare
- 66 Saudi Arabia 5.99 million people compare
- 67 Kyrgyzstan 5.97 million people compare
- 68 Colombia 5.94 million people compare
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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in North Korea was 6.20 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.68 million people in 1950.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 899,997 people in 1000.
- How does North Korea rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- North Korea ranks 65th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.