North Korea Population
North Korea has an estimated population of about 26.5 million, which makes it the 56th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing slowly, at 0.30% a year.
The capital is Pyongyang.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How North Korea's population is changing
North Korea records about 933 births and 715 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 218 people per day, or about 79,625 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 2,473 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is equivalent to about 3% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, North Korea would take roughly 228 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 25.6 million to 26.5 million — a gain of 923,473, or 3.6%.
Where people live in North Korea
With about 219 people per square kilometre, North Korea is densely populated, roughly 3.5× the world average of 62. That ranks 28th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Malawi and Switzerland.
North Korea covers about 120,410 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 26.5 million into that density figure.
About 63.9% of people live in urban areas, making North Korea majority urban, above the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 16.9 million town and city dwellers and 9.58 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in North Korea
North Korea has a broadly balanced age structure: about 18.9% are under 15 and 12.4% are 65 or older.
The total fertility rate is about 1.78 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 73.7 years, close to the global average of 73.5.
North Korea at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26.5 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #56 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.30% | 2024 |
| Population density | 219 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 120,410 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 63.9% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.7 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 18.9% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 12.4% | 2024 |
| Net migration | -2,473 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 933 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 715 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
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Current local time in North Korea
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank