World StatisticsHome › Countries › North Korea
North Korea: Population, 1990–2025
Value in 202526,571,036
Change since 2015+3.9%25,575,350 (2015)
World rank56 / 2172025
Rank in region11 / 37East Asia & Pacific
World8,215,424,893World Bank aggregate
Trend and comparison
Neighbours in the 2025 ranking
29,618,118
28,516,896
27,917,831
27,614,411
26,571,036
25,620,427
25,198,821
24,074,580
22,216,120
Values and rank by year
| Year | Population | vs prior year | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26,571,036 | +0.3% | 56 / 217 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | +0.3% | 56 / 217 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | +0.3% | 55 / 217 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | +0.4% | 54 / 217 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | +0.4% | 54 / 217 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | +0.4% | 54 / 217 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | +0.4% | 53 / 217 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | +0.4% | 53 / 217 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | +0.5% | 53 / 217 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | +0.5% | 53 / 217 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | +0.5% | 51 / 217 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | +0.5% | 51 / 217 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | +0.5% | 50 / 217 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | +0.5% | 49 / 217 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | +0.4% | 48 / 217 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | +0.4% | 48 / 217 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | +0.5% | 47 / 217 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | +0.5% | 47 / 217 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | +0.5% | 46 / 217 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | +0.5% | 46 / 217 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | +0.6% | 46 / 217 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | +0.7% | 45 / 217 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | +0.6% | 45 / 217 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | +0.5% | 45 / 217 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | +0.6% | 44 / 217 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | +0.7% | 44 / 217 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | +0.8% | 43 / 217 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | +0.9% | 42 / 217 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | +0.9% | 42 / 217 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | +1.0% | 40 / 217 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | +1.2% | 41 / 217 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | +1.5% | 41 / 217 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | +1.5% | 40 / 217 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | +1.5% | 40 / 217 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | +1.5% | 40 / 217 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | – | 40 / 217 |
- Unemployment (% of labour force, ILO estimate)
- Life expectancy at birth (years)
- Fertility rate (births per woman)
- Population aged 65 and above (% of total)
- Urban population (% of total)
- Internet users (% of population)
- Surface area (km²)
- Population density (people per km² of land)
Compare North Korea with Japan →
For each indicator and economy the most recent non-empty year is used, so years can differ between countries. Ranks compare only economies that have data. Aggregates (regions, income groups) are excluded from rankings; the world value is shown for reference. Values are as published by the World Bank and are revised several times a year.