North Korea Population History
1960 - 2026
North Korea's population has grown from 11,722,953 in 1960 to 26,418,204 in 2023, a total increase of 125.4% (2.25x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
11.7M
2023 Population
26.4M
Total Growth
125.4%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
11.7M
1970
15.2M
1980
18.2M
1990
21.1M
2000
23.7M
2010
25.0M
2020
26.1M
2023
26.4M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+2.43%
1965-1970
+2.79%
1970-1975
+2.27%
1975-1980
+1.45%
1980-1985
+1.47%
1985-1990
+1.48%
1990-1995
+1.43%
1995-2000
+0.86%
2000-2005
+0.61%
2005-2010
+0.48%
2010-2015
+0.47%
2015-2020
+0.43%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | +89,359 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | +96,311 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | +96,222 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | +98,680 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | +106,485 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | +113,438 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | +119,383 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | +122,976 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | +124,088 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | +121,811 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | +117,723 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | +113,854 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | +110,616 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | +108,926 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | +113,714 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | +118,235 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | +121,876 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | +128,074 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | +141,490 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | +164,563 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | +146,407 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | +128,615 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | +149,448 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | +168,311 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | +186,035 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | +200,734 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | +215,084 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | +226,442 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | +275,329 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | +320,623 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | +322,441 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | +322,273 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | +316,501 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | +307,770 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | +301,206 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | +297,678 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | +294,628 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | +290,467 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | +285,345 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | +281,009 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | +277,677 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | +275,062 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | +264,509 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | +253,316 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | +247,475 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | +243,197 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | +249,348 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | +272,395 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | +297,934 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | +322,754 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | +375,298 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | +402,612 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | +399,682 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | +405,160 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | +402,019 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | +407,246 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | +389,256 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | +349,725 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | +329,599 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | +322,713 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | +304,175 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | +272,169 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | +267,760 |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | — |