The current population of North Korea is as of , based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data¹.
North Korea 2025 population is estimated at 26,571,036 people at mid-year.
North Korea population is equivalent to 0.32% of the total world population.
North Korea ranks number 56 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
The population density in North Korea is 221 per Km² (572 people per mi²).
The total land area is 120,410 Km² (46,491 sq. miles).
63.29% of the population is urban (16,815,725 people in 2025)
The median age in North Korea is 36.5 years.

1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of North Korea (2025 and historical)

Year	Population	Yearly % Change	Yearly Change	Migrants (net)	Median Age	Fertility Rate	Density (P/Km²)	Urban Pop %	Urban Population	Country's Share of World Pop	World Population	DPRK Global Rank
2025	26,571,036	0.27%	72,213	−2,787	36.5	1.77	221	63.3%	16,815,725	0.32%	8,231,613,070	56
2024	26,498,823	0.31%	80,619	−2,473	36.3	1.78	220	62.9%	16,673,964	0.32%	8,161,972,572	56
2023	26,418,204	0.34%	89,359	−1,997	36	1.78	219	62.6%	16,533,344	0.33%	8,091,734,930	55
2022	26,328,845	0.37%	96,267	−1,997	35.8	1.8	219	62.3%	16,394,046	0.33%	8,021,407,192	54
2020	26,136,312	0.43%	112,192	−1,585	35.3	1.82	217	61.7%	16,119,904	0.33%	7,887,001,292	54
2015	25,575,350	0.47%	117,618	−3,208	34.2	1.86	212	60.5%	15,468,816	0.34%	7,470,491,872	51
2010	24,987,258	0.48%	118,165	−3,053	33	1.89	208	59.4%	14,847,551	0.36%	7,021,732,148	49
2005	24,396,433	0.61%	146,105	−2,861	31.4	1.87	203	58.6%	14,295,919	0.37%	6,586,970,132	46
2000	23,665,910	0.86%	199,321	−3,142	29.1	1.94	197	57.6%	13,622,723	0.38%	6,171,702,993	44
1995	22,669,304	1.43%	311,433	−3,094	26.9	2.15	188	56.9%	12,902,762	0.39%	5,758,878,982	40
1990	21,112,137	1.48%	298,350	0	24.9	2.39	175	56.1%	11,847,860	0.40%	5,327,803,110	40
1985	19,620,388	1.47%	276,720	0	23.1	2.65	163	55.5%	10,881,506	0.40%	4,868,943,465	39
1980	18,236,786	1.45%	253,146	0	21.4	2.84	151	54.5%	9,941,648	0.41%	4,447,606,236	37
1975	16,971,055	2.27%	359,656	0	19.7	3.05	141	54.4%	9,227,778	0.42%	4,070,735,277	35
1970	15,172,775	2.79%	390,681	0	20.4	3.85	126	51.5%	7,810,437	0.41%	3,694,683,794	34
1965	13,219,369	2.43%	299,283	0	20.2	3.56	110	42.8%	5,657,767	0.40%	3,334,533,703	35
1960	11,722,953	2.42%	263,926	0	18.9	3.57	97	39.2%	4,591,910	0.39%	3,015,470,894	34
1955	10,403,325	−1.32%	−142,682	−35,304	17.3	3.67	86	34.4%	3,577,106	0.38%	2,740,213,792	35

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

North Korea Population Forecast

Year	Population	Yearly % Change	Yearly Change	Migrants (net)	Median Age	Fertility Rate	Density (P/Km²)	Urban Pop %	Urban Population	Country's Share of World Pop	World Population	DPRK Global Rank
2030	26,784,904	0.16%	42,774	−3,051	38	1.72	222	65.5%	17,530,948	0.31%	8,569,124,911	58
2035	26,757,724	−0.02%	−5,436	−3,515	39.6	1.71	222	68.1%	18,220,460	0.30%	8,885,210,181	62
2040	26,542,432	−0.16%	−43,058	−3,253	41.2	1.69	220	71.1%	18,860,424	0.29%	9,177,190,203	63
2045	26,210,203	−0.25%	−66,446	−3,193	42.3	1.68	218	74.1%	19,422,437	0.28%	9,439,639,668	64
2050	25,787,127	−0.32%	−84,615	−2,823	42.9	1.67	214	77.1%	19,885,471	0.27%	9,664,378,587	66

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

North Korea Demographics

Main Page: Demographics of North Korea

Life Expectancy

73.9 years

(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)

View by sex and historical chart

Infant Mortality Rate

13.0

(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Deaths under age 5

16.4

(per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in North Korea

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

#	City	Population
1	Pyongyang	3,222,000
2	Hamhung	559,056
3	Namp'o	455,000
4	Sunch'on	437,000
5	Hungnam	346,082
6	Kaesong	338,155
7	Wonsan	329,207
8	Chongjin	327,000
9	Sariwon	310,100
10	Sinuiju	288,112
11	Haeju	222,396
12	Kanggye	209,530
13	Changam-ch'on	207,299
14	Hyesan	192,680
15	Paech'on-up	159,825
16	Songnim-ni	152,425
17	Ch'ongdan-up	142,607
18	Sinch'on-up	141,407
19	Paek'ak	125,924
20	Chaeryong-ni	125,631
21	Manp'o	116,760
22	Ullyul	107,997
23	Kangnyong	106,827
24	P'yongsong	100,000
25	Hwasong	99,557
26	Myonggan-dong	99,557
27	Hyesan-dong	97,794
28	Unch'on-up	95,597
29	Kwail-up	89,895
30	Undok	89,244
31	Orang	87,757
32	Samch'on	86,042
33	Sinwon-up	83,161
34	Pongch'on-up	79,740
35	Yuktae-dong	76,427
36	Hongwon	70,923
37	Hwadae	67,677
38	Rajin	66,224
39	Myongch'on	65,797
40	T'aet'an-up	64,258
41	Ongjin	64,247
42	Kilju	63,652
43	Chaeryong-up	53,330
44	Anju	50,196
45	Uiju	50,081
46	Puryong	48,958
47	Yoch'im-dong	47,460
48	Mae-gol	47,460
49	Taebom-gol	47,460
50	Songhwa	44,274
51	Hoeryong	43,831
52	Ch'osal-li	43,614
53	Sijung	41,842
54	Chunggang	41,022
55	Sungho 1-tong	39,841
56	Changyon	39,368
57	Songwon	38,051
58	Songwon-up	38,051
59	Yonsa-up	37,876
60	Sunan	36,671
61	Hwangju-up	35,641
62	Kyongsong	35,604
63	Aoji	34,248
64	Ranam	34,055
65	Anbyon-up	31,845
66	Kop'ung	31,572
67	Kusong	30,902
68	Chongju	29,065
69	Kangdong-up	28,922
70	Sonbong	27,331

Notes

The North Korea Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of North Korea delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of North Korea (1950 - 2025) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2025.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2025. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.

Yearly % Change: For 2025: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2025: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by North Korea in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.

North Korea Population (LIVE)