The current population of North Korea is 26,627,642 as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data¹.
North Korea 2026 population is estimated at 26,633,691 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 (573 people per mi²).
The total land area is 120,410 Km² (46,491 sq. miles).
63.67% of the population is urban (16,958,464 people in 2026)
The median age in North Korea is 36.8 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 (2026 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
2026	26,633,691	0.24%	62,655	−2,809	36.8	1.75	221	63.7%	16,958,464	0.32%	8,300,678,395	56
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 (2026)

Main Page: Demographics of North Korea

Life Expectancy

74.0 years

(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)

View by sex and historical chart

Infant Mortality Rate

12.8

(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Deaths under age 5

16.1

(per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in North Korea

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

Rank	Urban Area	Population Estimate (2025)
1	P'yŏngyang (Pyongyang)	2,901,588
2	Chŏngjin	690,409
3	Hamhung	412,277
4	Sariwon	404,672
5	Wonsan	373,596
6	Jakdo-dong	363,071
7	Pyŏngsŏng	340,370
8	Kanggye	310,432
9	Kaesong	285,008
10	Songnim	280,489
11	Hyesan	271,116
12	Sinuiju	267,218
13	Haeju	266,200
14	Kaechon	209,508
15	Kimch'aek	202,236
16	Jongju	197,651
17	Tokchon	181,386
18	Nampo	170,683
19	강서구역	147,052
20	Huichon	144,421
21	천리마구역	143,455
22	Sonchon	137,480
23	Rason	133,197
24	Sunchon	132,411
25	길주읍	131,040
26	Sinchon	129,486
27	Ryongchon	128,745
28	해안2동	127,810
29	Sukchon	127,177
30	Kusong	120,447
31	Munchon	119,735
32	Sinanju	115,373
33	Sinpho	115,261
34	Hamju	113,552
35	홍원읍	112,861
36	Anju	112,593
37	Kowon	112,308
38	Tongrim	111,059
39	Paechon	110,796
40	Jongphyong	109,348
41	Musan	107,590
42	Anak	107,085
43	Jaeryong	105,710
44	Manpo	103,951
45	Phyongwon	102,891
46	락원1동	101,662
47	Phyongsan	100,300
48	Chongdan	99,656
49	Koksan	97,519
50	Kangdong	96,044
51	Chongnam	95,883
52	Kumya	95,065
53	Pukchang	94,911
54	Unjon	94,759
55	Kwaksan	92,247
56	남흥동	91,830
57	Hoeryong	87,490
58	북청읍	86,551
59	Yonan	85,796
60	Taean	85,103
61	Kosan	82,892
62	Tanchon	82,720
63	Kyonghung	82,401
64	Taechon	79,970
65	Unsan	79,933
66	Onchon	77,203
67	Chonnae	76,337
68	고산리	76,137
69	Sinwon	75,884
70	Hoechang	75,758

More info

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 - 2026) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2026.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2026. 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 2026: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). 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 2026: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). 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)