Japan vs North Korea

Japan vs North Korea: Population

Population in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 26.4 million people in North Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 98 million people, or 4.71 times that in North Korea.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Japan vs North Korea: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 26.4 million people in North Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 98 million people, or 4.71 times that in North Korea.
JapanNorth KoreaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • Japan has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Japan ranked 12 and North Korea ranked 55 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Japan at 76.9 million people and North Korea at 19.5 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearJapanNorth KoreaWorld
2023124 million26.4 million8.09 billion
2022125 million26.3 million8.02 billion
2021126 million26.2 million7.95 billion
2020126 million26.1 million7.89 billion
2019127 million26 million7.81 billion
2018127 million25.9 million7.73 billion
2017127 million25.8 million7.65 billion
2016127 million25.7 million7.56 billion
2015127 million25.6 million7.47 billion
2014128 million25.5 million7.38 billion
2013128 million25.3 million7.29 billion
2012128 million25.2 million7.2 billion
2011128 million25.1 million7.11 billion
2010128 million25 million7.02 billion
2009128 million24.9 million6.93 billion
2008128 million24.8 million6.84 billion
2007128 million24.7 million6.76 billion
2006128 million24.5 million6.67 billion
2005128 million24.4 million6.59 billion
2004128 million24.3 million6.5 billion
2003128 million24.1 million6.42 billion
2002128 million23.9 million6.34 billion
2001127 million23.8 million6.26 billion
2000127 million23.7 million6.17 billion
1999127 million23.5 million6.09 billion
1998127 million23.3 million6.01 billion
1997126 million23.1 million5.93 billion
1996126 million22.9 million5.84 billion
1995126 million22.7 million5.76 billion
1994125 million22.4 million5.68 billion
1993125 million22.1 million5.59 billion
1992124 million21.8 million5.51 billion
1991124 million21.4 million5.42 billion
1990123 million21.1 million5.33 billion
1989123 million20.8 million5.23 billion
1988123 million20.5 million5.14 billion
1987122 million20.2 million5.05 billion
1986121 million19.9 million4.96 billion
1985121 million19.6 million4.87 billion
1984120 million19.3 million4.78 billion
1983120 million19.1 million4.7 billion
1982120 million18.8 million4.61 billion
1981119 million18.5 million4.53 billion
1980118 million18.2 million4.45 billion
1979118 million18 million4.37 billion
1978117 million17.7 million4.29 billion
1977116 million17.5 million4.22 billion
1976115 million17.2 million4.14 billion
1975113 million17 million4.07 billion
1974112 million16.7 million4 billion
1973111 million16.4 million3.92 billion
1972109 million16 million3.85 billion
1971108 million15.6 million3.77 billion
1970107 million15.2 million3.7 billion
1969106 million14.8 million3.62 billion
1968104 million14.4 million3.55 billion
1967103 million14 million3.47 billion
1966102 million13.6 million3.4 billion
1965101 million13.2 million3.34 billion
196499.9 million12.9 million3.26 billion
196399 million12.6 million3.19 billion
196298.1 million12.3 million3.12 billion
196197.2 million12 million3.07 billion
196096.4 million11.7 million3.02 billion
195995.6 million11.5 million2.97 billion
195894.9 million11.2 million2.91 billion
195794.1 million10.9 million2.85 billion
195693.3 million10.6 million2.8 billion
195592.4 million10.4 million2.74 billion
195491.4 million10.2 million2.69 billion
195390.3 million10.2 million2.63 billion
195289.1 million10.3 million2.58 billion
195187.9 million10.6 million2.54 billion
195086.4 million11.1 million2.49 billion
194983.3 million11 million–
194882.2 million10.8 million–
194781 million10.6 million–
194679.9 million10.4 million–
194578.8 million10.3 million–
194477.7 million10.1 million–
194376.7 million9.94 million–
194275.6 million9.77 million–
194174.6 million9.61 million–
194073.6 million9.46 million–
193972.6 million9.3 million–
193871.7 million9.15 million–
193770.8 million9 million–
193669.9 million8.85 million–
193569 million8.71 million–
193468.1 million8.57 million–
193367.2 million8.43 million–
193266.4 million8.29 million–
193165.5 million8.15 million–
193064.7 million8.02 million–
192963.8 million7.89 million–
192862.9 million7.76 million–
192762.1 million7.63 million–
192661.2 million7.51 million–
192560.3 million7.39 million–
192459.5 million7.26 million–
192358.7 million7.15 million–
192257.9 million7.03 million–
192157.1 million6.91 million–
192056.3 million6.8 million–
191955.6 million6.69 million–
191854.9 million6.58 million–
191754.3 million6.47 million–
191653.6 million6.35 million–
191553 million6.23 million–
191452.3 million6.12 million–
191351.7 million6 million–
191251.1 million5.89 million–
191150.5 million5.8 million–
191049.9 million5.72 million–
190949.3 million5.67 million–
190848.7 million5.63 million–
190748.2 million5.6 million–
190647.6 million5.58 million–
190547 million5.55 million–
190446.5 million5.53 million–
190346 million5.5 million–
190245.4 million5.48 million–
190144.9 million5.46 million–
190044.4 million5.43 million–
189944 million5.41 million–
189843.5 million5.39 million–
189743.1 million5.36 million–
189642.7 million5.34 million–
189542.3 million5.31 million–
189441.9 million5.29 million–
189341.5 million5.27 million–
189241.1 million5.24 million–
189140.7 million5.22 million–
189040.3 million5.2 million–
188939.9 million5.17 million–
188839.6 million5.15 million–
188739.2 million5.13 million–
188638.9 million5.11 million–
188538.6 million5.08 million–
188438.2 million5.06 million–
188337.9 million5.04 million–
188237.6 million5.02 million–
188137.3 million4.99 million–
188037 million4.97 million–
187936.7 million4.95 million–
187836.4 million4.93 million–
187736.2 million4.9 million–
187636 million4.88 million–
187535.7 million4.86 million–
187435.5 million4.84 million–
187335.2 million4.82 million–
187235 million4.79 million–
187134.8 million4.77 million–
187034.6 million4.75 million–
186934.4 million4.74 million–
186834.3 million4.72 million–
186734.1 million4.7 million–
186634 million4.69 million–
186533.9 million4.67 million–
186433.7 million4.66 million–
186333.6 million4.64 million–
186233.5 million4.63 million–
186133.4 million4.61 million–
186033.2 million4.6 million–
185933.1 million4.58 million–
185833 million4.57 million–
185732.9 million4.55 million–
185632.7 million4.54 million–
185532.6 million4.52 million–
185432.5 million4.5 million–
185332.4 million4.49 million–
185232.2 million4.47 million–
185132.1 million4.46 million–
185032.1 million4.44 million–
184932 million4.44 million–
184831.9 million4.44 million–
184731.9 million4.43 million–
184631.9 million4.43 million–
184531.8 million4.43 million–
184431.8 million4.42 million–
184331.8 million4.42 million–
184231.7 million4.42 million–
184131.7 million4.41 million–
184031.7 million4.41 million–
183931.6 million4.41 million–
183831.6 million4.4 million–
183731.6 million4.4 million–
183631.5 million4.4 million–
183531.5 million4.39 million–
183431.5 million4.39 million–
183331.4 million4.39 million–
183231.4 million4.38 million–
183131.4 million4.38 million–
183031.3 million4.38 million–
182931.3 million4.37 million–
182831.3 million4.37 million–
182731.2 million4.37 million–
182631.2 million4.37 million–
182531.2 million4.36 million–
182431.1 million4.36 million–
182331.1 million4.36 million–
182231.1 million4.35 million–
182131 million4.35 million–
182030.9 million4.35 million–
181930.8 million4.35 million–
181830.7 million4.35 million–
181730.5 million4.35 million–
181630.4 million4.35 million–
181530.2 million4.35 million–
181430.1 million4.35 million–
181329.9 million4.35 million–
181229.8 million4.35 million–
181129.6 million4.35 million–
181029.5 million4.35 million–
180929.3 million4.35 million–
180829.2 million4.35 million–
180729 million4.35 million–
180628.9 million4.35 million–
180528.7 million4.35 million–
180428.6 million4.35 million–
180328.4 million4.35 million–
180228.3 million4.35 million–
180128.1 million4.35 million–
180028 million4.35 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearJapanNorth KoreaWorld
2024124 million124 million–124 million26.5 million26.4 million–26.6 million8.16 billion
2025123 million123 million–123 million26.6 million26.4 million–26.8 million8.23 billion
2026122 million122 million–123 million26.6 million26.4 million–26.9 million8.3 billion
2027122 million121 million–123 million26.7 million26.3 million–27.1 million8.37 billion
2028121 million120 million–122 million26.7 million26.2 million–27.3 million8.44 billion
2029120 million119 million–122 million26.8 million26.1 million–27.4 million8.5 billion
2030120 million118 million–122 million26.8 million26 million–27.6 million8.57 billion
2031119 million117 million–121 million26.8 million25.9 million–27.7 million8.63 billion
2032118 million116 million–121 million26.8 million25.8 million–27.8 million8.7 billion
2033117 million115 million–120 million26.8 million25.7 million–27.9 million8.76 billion
2034117 million114 million–120 million26.8 million25.6 million–28 million8.82 billion
2035116 million112 million–120 million26.8 million25.5 million–28.1 million8.89 billion
2036115 million111 million–119 million26.7 million25.3 million–28.2 million8.95 billion
2037114 million110 million–119 million26.7 million25.2 million–28.2 million9.01 billion
2038114 million109 million–119 million26.7 million25 million–28.3 million9.06 billion
2039113 million108 million–118 million26.6 million24.8 million–28.4 million9.12 billion
2040112 million107 million–118 million26.5 million24.7 million–28.4 million9.18 billion
2041111 million106 million–118 million26.5 million24.5 million–28.5 million9.23 billion
2042111 million105 million–117 million26.4 million24.3 million–28.5 million9.29 billion
2043110 million104 million–117 million26.4 million24.1 million–28.6 million9.34 billion
2044109 million103 million–117 million26.3 million24 million–28.6 million9.39 billion
2045109 million102 million–116 million26.2 million23.8 million–28.7 million9.44 billion
2046108 million101 million–116 million26.1 million23.6 million–28.7 million9.49 billion
2047107 million99.6 million–116 million26.1 million23.4 million–28.7 million9.54 billion
2048107 million98.5 million–115 million26 million23.2 million–28.7 million9.58 billion
2049106 million97.5 million–115 million25.9 million23 million–28.7 million9.62 billion
2050105 million96.4 million–115 million25.8 million22.8 million–28.8 million9.66 billion
2051105 million95.3 million–115 million25.7 million22.6 million–28.8 million9.7 billion
2052104 million94.1 million–114 million25.6 million22.4 million–28.9 million9.74 billion
2053103 million93 million–114 million25.5 million22.2 million–28.9 million9.78 billion
2054102 million91.9 million–114 million25.4 million22 million–29 million9.81 billion
2055102 million90.9 million–114 million25.3 million21.7 million–29 million9.85 billion
2056101 million89.8 million–113 million25.2 million21.5 million–29.1 million9.88 billion
2057100 million88.6 million–113 million25.1 million21.3 million–29.1 million9.91 billion
205899.6 million87.5 million–113 million24.9 million21 million–29.2 million9.94 billion
205998.9 million86.3 million–113 million24.8 million20.7 million–29.2 million9.96 billion
206098.1 million85.1 million–113 million24.7 million20.5 million–29.3 million9.99 billion
206197.4 million84 million–112 million24.6 million20.2 million–29.3 million10 billion
206296.6 million82.9 million–112 million24.4 million19.9 million–29.4 million10 billion
206395.8 million81.7 million–111 million24.3 million19.7 million–29.4 million10.1 billion
206495.1 million80.7 million–111 million24.2 million19.4 million–29.5 million10.1 billion
206594.3 million79.4 million–111 million24.1 million19.1 million–29.5 million10.1 billion
206693.6 million78 million–111 million23.9 million18.9 million–29.6 million10.1 billion
206792.8 million76.7 million–111 million23.8 million18.6 million–29.6 million10.1 billion
206892.1 million75.5 million–110 million23.7 million18.4 million–29.6 million10.2 billion
206991.3 million74.4 million–110 million23.5 million18.1 million–29.7 million10.2 billion
207090.6 million73.3 million–110 million23.4 million17.9 million–29.7 million10.2 billion
207189.9 million72.2 million–110 million23.3 million17.6 million–29.8 million10.2 billion
207289.2 million71.2 million–110 million23.1 million17.4 million–29.8 million10.2 billion
207388.6 million70.2 million–110 million23 million17.1 million–29.9 million10.2 billion
207488 million69.2 million–109 million22.9 million16.9 million–30.1 million10.2 billion
207587.4 million68.2 million–110 million22.8 million16.6 million–30.1 million10.3 billion
207686.8 million67.2 million–110 million22.6 million16.4 million–30.2 million10.3 billion
207786.2 million66.3 million–110 million22.5 million16.1 million–30.3 million10.3 billion
207885.7 million65.3 million–110 million22.4 million15.9 million–30.4 million10.3 billion
207985.2 million64.5 million–110 million22.3 million15.7 million–30.4 million10.3 billion
208084.7 million63.6 million–110 million22.1 million15.4 million–30.5 million10.3 billion
208184.3 million62.8 million–110 million22 million15.1 million–30.6 million10.3 billion
208283.8 million62.1 million–110 million21.9 million14.9 million–30.5 million10.3 billion
208383.4 million61.4 million–110 million21.7 million14.6 million–30.5 million10.3 billion
208483 million60.7 million–110 million21.6 million14.3 million–30.6 million10.3 billion
208582.6 million59.9 million–110 million21.5 million14.1 million–30.6 million10.3 billion
208682.2 million59.2 million–110 million21.4 million13.8 million–30.7 million10.3 billion
208781.8 million58.5 million–110 million21.2 million13.5 million–30.8 million10.3 billion
208881.4 million57.7 million–111 million21.1 million13.3 million–30.9 million10.3 billion
208981 million56.9 million–111 million21 million13 million–30.9 million10.3 billion
209080.6 million56.1 million–111 million20.8 million12.7 million–31 million10.3 billion
209180.3 million55.3 million–111 million20.7 million12.5 million–31.1 million10.3 billion
209279.9 million54.5 million–111 million20.6 million12.3 million–31.2 million10.3 billion
209379.5 million53.6 million–112 million20.4 million12.1 million–31.4 million10.3 billion
209479.1 million52.6 million–112 million20.3 million11.8 million–31.5 million10.2 billion
209578.8 million51.8 million–112 million20.2 million11.6 million–31.5 million10.2 billion
209678.4 million51 million–112 million20 million11.4 million–31.6 million10.2 billion
209778 million50.1 million–112 million19.9 million11.2 million–31.6 million10.2 billion
209877.6 million49.4 million–113 million19.8 million10.9 million–31.6 million10.2 billion
209977.2 million48.6 million–113 million19.6 million10.7 million–31.6 million10.2 billion
210076.9 million47.8 million–113 million19.5 million10.5 million–31.6 million10.2 billion

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
  • Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
  • Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
  • The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
  • Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

Japan vs North Korea

Health

People

Education

Politics

Conflict

Military

Climate

Technology and environment