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North Korea Population 2023

North Korea map
  • The current population of North Korea is estimated at 25,908,812 people as of May, 2023, according to the latest population growth rate and projections.
  • Population of North Korea represent 0.33% of the total world population.
  • The population density of North Korea is 213 inhabitants per km2.
  • North Korea is located in Asia.
  • North Korea ranks number 54 in the list of countries ordered by population.
  • The latitudinal point of North Korea is 39.0331° N. The longitudinal coordinate of the country is 125.6912° E.
  • The median age in North Korea is 35.3 years.
  • Minimum Wages in North Korea averages from 5,000 – to 10,000 KPW per day, around USD $5.5 – $11.1 per day, in 2022.
  • The countries that North Korea shares its land boundary with are China and Russia to the north, and South Korea to the south.

North Korea

Official name Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Location Asia
Capital Pyongyang
Population 25,807,433 (as of June, 2022)
Population density 213/km2
Population growth rate 0.42% (in 2023)
Area 120,540 km2 (46,540.74 sq mi)
Official language Korean
Currency Korean People's won (KPW)
Life expectancy 72.55 years
Internet TLD .kp
Call code +850

North Korea Population Graph

North Korea Population History (1960-2020)

Year Population Male Population Female Population Male (%) Female (%) Urban Population Urban (%)
2020 25,783,455 12,610,688 13,172,767 48.91% 51.09% 16,083,719 62.38%
2019 25,670,778 12,555,578 13,115,200 48.91% 51.09% 15,949,254 62.13%
2018 25,554,205 12,498,562 13,055,643 48.91% 51.09% 15,818,053 61.9%
2017 25,434,393 12,437,418 12,996,975 48.9% 51.1% 15,687,934 61.68%
2016 25,312,220 12,377,676 12,934,544 48.9% 51.1% 15,559,422 61.47%
2015 25,188,365 12,317,110 12,871,255 48.9% 51.1% 15,435,430 61.28%
2014 25,062,303 12,252,960 12,809,343 48.89% 51.11% 15,313,067 61.1%
2013 24,934,486 12,187,977 12,746,509 48.88% 51.12% 15,190,089 60.92%
2012 24,805,598 12,124,976 12,680,622 48.88% 51.12% 15,066,920 60.74%
2011 24,678,327 12,060,298 12,618,029 48.87% 51.13% 14,945,195 60.56%
2010 24,553,750 11,996,962 12,556,788 48.86% 51.14% 14,825,554 60.38%
2009 24,433,226 11,935,631 12,497,595 48.85% 51.15% 14,708,802 60.2%
2008 24,315,005 11,877,880 12,437,125 48.85% 51.15% 14,598,729 60.04%
2007 24,193,168 11,815,943 12,377,225 48.84% 51.16% 14,506,224 59.96%
2006 24,059,677 11,748,340 12,311,337 48.83% 51.17% 14,406,935 59.88%
2005 23,908,948 11,672,348 12,236,600 48.82% 51.18% 14,299,942 59.81%
2004 23,737,487 11,586,267 12,151,220 48.81% 51.19% 14,178,401 59.73%
2003 23,547,142 11,488,651 12,058,491 48.79% 51.21% 14,045,870 59.65%
2002 23,344,121 11,384,928 11,959,193 48.77% 51.23% 13,906,093 59.57%
2001 23,137,609 11,281,898 11,855,711 48.76% 51.24% 13,764,564 59.49%
2000 22,933,664 11,180,161 11,753,503 48.75% 51.25% 13,624,890 59.41%
1999 22,736,016 11,083,808 11,652,208 48.75% 51.25% 13,489,278 59.33%
1998 22,541,261 10,988,865 11,552,396 48.75% 51.25% 13,357,951 59.26%
1997 22,339,730 10,892,852 11,446,878 48.76% 51.24% 13,220,652 59.18%
1996 22,117,851 10,784,664 11,333,187 48.76% 51.24% 13,071,650 59.1%
1995 21,866,672 10,660,003 11,206,669 48.75% 51.25% 12,905,710 59.02%
1994 21,582,295 10,517,052 11,065,243 48.73% 51.27% 12,720,605 58.94%
1993 21,270,085 10,358,531 10,911,554 48.7% 51.3% 12,513,191 58.83%
1992 20,941,594 10,192,274 10,749,320 48.67% 51.33% 12,288,527 58.68%
1991 20,613,273 10,024,235 10,589,038 48.63% 51.37% 12,064,949 58.53%
1990 20,297,116 9,860,339 10,436,777 48.58% 51.42% 11,849,456 58.38%
1989 19,997,756 9,706,911 10,290,845 48.54% 51.46% 11,646,693 58.24%
1988 19,712,258 9,558,474 10,153,784 48.49% 51.51% 11,450,851 58.09%
1987 19,435,878 9,414,739 10,021,139 48.44% 51.56% 11,261,148 57.94%
1986 19,160,622 9,271,825 9,888,797 48.39% 51.61% 11,072,923 57.79%
1985 18,881,001 9,125,188 9,755,813 48.33% 51.67% 10,883,009 57.64%
1984 18,593,860 8,975,256 9,618,604 48.27% 51.73% 10,691,470 57.5%
1983 18,301,872 8,825,163 9,476,709 48.22% 51.78% 10,496,124 57.35%
1982 18,012,170 8,674,661 9,337,509 48.16% 51.84% 10,302,961 57.2%
1981 17,734,775 8,530,427 9,204,348 48.1% 51.9% 10,117,689 57.05%
1980 17,475,638 8,395,296 9,080,342 48.04% 51.96% 9,943,638 56.9%
1979 17,239,115 8,273,051 8,966,064 47.99% 52.01% 9,802,161 56.86%
1978 17,019,387 8,159,094 8,860,293 47.94% 52.06% 9,670,416 56.82%
1977 16,799,927 8,045,485 8,754,442 47.89% 52.11% 9,538,999 56.78%
1976 16,558,055 7,919,718 8,638,337 47.83% 52.17% 9,395,040 56.74%
1975 16,277,992 7,774,369 8,503,623 47.76% 52.24% 9,229,621 56.7%
1974 15,955,267 7,607,471 8,347,796 47.68% 52.32% 8,966,860 56.2%
1973 15,596,472 7,423,921 8,172,551 47.6% 52.4% 8,687,235 55.7%
1972 15,210,807 7,225,133 7,985,674 47.5% 52.5% 8,396,365 55.2%
1971 14,812,480 7,019,634 7,792,846 47.39% 52.61% 8,102,427 54.7%
1970 14,413,273 6,814,595 7,598,678 47.28% 52.72% 7,811,994 54.2%
1969 14,013,141 6,608,597 7,404,544 47.16% 52.84% 7,232,182 51.61%
1968 13,612,698 6,403,413 7,209,285 47.04% 52.96% 6,671,583 49.01%
1967 13,225,348 6,204,011 7,021,337 46.91% 53.09% 6,226,494 47.08%
1966 12,867,520 6,019,426 6,848,094 46.78% 53.22% 5,929,353 46.08%
1965 12,550,034 5,857,101 6,692,933 46.67% 53.33% 5,658,810 45.09%
1964 12,285,365 5,721,294 6,564,071 46.57% 53.43% 5,417,846 44.1%
1963 12,068,364 5,609,376 6,458,988 46.48% 53.52% 5,203,879 43.12%
1962 11,874,575 5,510,990 6,363,585 46.41% 53.59% 5,003,946 42.14%
1961 11,668,392 5,404,799 6,263,593 46.32% 53.68% 4,802,710 41.16%
1960 11,426,931 5,280,385 6,146,546 46.21% 53.79% 4,593,626 40.2%
Source: Worldbank Open Data | Some data could be adjusted by Pediaglobe.

Cities in North Korea ordered by Population

The list offered below features the biggest cities of North Korea. Besides, in the table you will find information regarding the population size in these cities. Cities are ordered by population (largest to smallest).

North Korea

# City Population 2023
1 Pyongyang 3,225,544
2 Hamhung 559,839
3 Nampo 458,686
4 Sunchon 439,797
5 Hungnam 348,851
6 Kaesong 340,116
7 Wonsan 331,446
8 Chongjin 328,733
9 Sariwon 312,767
10 Sinuiju 290,503
11 Haeju 223,686
12 Kanggye 211,332
13 Hyesan 193,643
14 Songnim-ni 153,431
15 Manp'o 117,647
16 P'yongsong 100,860
17 Hyesan-dong 98,234
18 Yuktae-dong 77,237
19 Hongwon 71,419
20 Rajin 66,741
21 Ongjin 64,812
22 Kilju 64,225
23 Chaeryong-up 53,719
24 Anju 50,668
25 Uiju 50,587
26 Hoeryong 44,160
27 Sungho 1-tong 40,148
28 Changyon 39,691
29 Sunan 36,979
30 Hwangju-up 35,933
31 Kyongsong 35,932
32 Aoji 34,543
33 Ranam 34,293
34 Anbyon-up 32,071
35 Kusong 31,220
36 Chongju 29,332
37 Kangdong-up 29,177
38 Sonbong 27,550
39 Iwon-up 26,567
40 Hukkyo-ri 25,628
41 Kosan 25,006
42 Yonan-up 22,864
43 Namyang 22,436
44 Yonggwang-up 22,112
45 Musan-up 21,913
46 Kowon-up 21,645
47 Hoeyang 21,288
48 T'ongch'on-up 20,795
49 Kapsan-up 20,575
50 Anak 20,167
51 Onsong 19,972
52 Kujang up 19,719
53 Sil-li 19,630
54 Chunghwa 19,491
55 Samho rodongjagu 19,227
56 Sinmak 18,856
57 Sakchu-up 18,138
58 Ayang-ni 16,220
59 Sinanju 15,817
60 Sinsang-ni 15,083
61 Pukchil-lodongjagu 14,234
62 Hau-ri 13,705
63 Yonggang-up 13,585
64 Pyoksong-up 13,065
65 Koksan 13,033
66 Chasong 12,830
67 Kyongwon 12,778
68 Puryong 12,393
69 Komusan Il-tong 12,342
70 Sungjibaegam 11,891

Other Countries from Asia Ranked by Population

Country Name Population 2023 Population density
China 1,450,158,659 145/km2
India 1,383,820,649 417/km2
Indonesia 276,736,832 142/km2
Pakistan 231,611,059 243/km2
Bangladesh 167,903,853 1,108/km2
Japan 125,553,305 332/km2
Philippines 112,540,861 337/km2
Turkey 86,336,104 116/km2
Iran 85,971,815 49/km2
Thailand 70,176,879 136.1/km2
Myanmar 55,086,917 76/km2
South Korea 51,912,141 507/km2
Iraq 42,001,087 83/km2
Afghanistan 40,697,213 48.57/km2
Saudi Arabia 35,909,711 15/km2
Malaysia 33,170,971 98/km2
Nepal 30,151,786 180/km2
North Korea 25,807,433 213/km2
Taiwan 23,898,113 650/km2
Sri Lanka 21,815,213 337/km2