North Korea vs Russia
North Korea vs Russia: Population
Population in 2023: 26.4 million people in North Korea and 145 million people in Russia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Russia, by 119 million people, or 5.5 times that in North Korea.
people · UN
What the numbers say
- Russia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, North Korea ranked 55 and Russia ranked 9 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 19.5 million people and Russia at 126 million people in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.
Every year
people · UN
| Year | North Korea | Russia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26.4 million | 145 million | 8.09 billion |
| 2022 | 26.3 million | 146 million | 8.02 billion |
| 2021 | 26.2 million | 146 million | 7.95 billion |
| 2020 | 26.1 million | 146 million | 7.89 billion |
| 2019 | 26 million | 147 million | 7.81 billion |
| 2018 | 25.9 million | 146 million | 7.73 billion |
| 2017 | 25.8 million | 146 million | 7.65 billion |
| 2016 | 25.7 million | 146 million | 7.56 billion |
| 2015 | 25.6 million | 145 million | 7.47 billion |
| 2014 | 25.5 million | 145 million | 7.38 billion |
| 2013 | 25.3 million | 145 million | 7.29 billion |
| 2012 | 25.2 million | 144 million | 7.2 billion |
| 2011 | 25.1 million | 144 million | 7.11 billion |
| 2010 | 25 million | 144 million | 7.02 billion |
| 2009 | 24.9 million | 144 million | 6.93 billion |
| 2008 | 24.8 million | 144 million | 6.84 billion |
| 2007 | 24.7 million | 144 million | 6.76 billion |
| 2006 | 24.5 million | 144 million | 6.67 billion |
| 2005 | 24.4 million | 145 million | 6.59 billion |
| 2004 | 24.3 million | 145 million | 6.5 billion |
| 2003 | 24.1 million | 146 million | 6.42 billion |
| 2002 | 23.9 million | 146 million | 6.34 billion |
| 2001 | 23.8 million | 146 million | 6.26 billion |
| 2000 | 23.7 million | 147 million | 6.17 billion |
| 1999 | 23.5 million | 147 million | 6.09 billion |
| 1998 | 23.3 million | 148 million | 6.01 billion |
| 1997 | 23.1 million | 148 million | 5.93 billion |
| 1996 | 22.9 million | 148 million | 5.84 billion |
| 1995 | 22.7 million | 148 million | 5.76 billion |
| 1994 | 22.4 million | 148 million | 5.68 billion |
| 1993 | 22.1 million | 148 million | 5.59 billion |
| 1992 | 21.8 million | 149 million | 5.51 billion |
| 1991 | 21.4 million | 149 million | 5.42 billion |
| 1990 | 21.1 million | 149 million | 5.33 billion |
| 1989 | 20.8 million | 148 million | 5.23 billion |
| 1988 | 20.5 million | 147 million | 5.14 billion |
| 1987 | 20.2 million | 146 million | 5.05 billion |
| 1986 | 19.9 million | 145 million | 4.96 billion |
| 1985 | 19.6 million | 144 million | 4.87 billion |
| 1984 | 19.3 million | 143 million | 4.78 billion |
| 1983 | 19.1 million | 141 million | 4.7 billion |
| 1982 | 18.8 million | 140 million | 4.61 billion |
| 1981 | 18.5 million | 139 million | 4.53 billion |
| 1980 | 18.2 million | 139 million | 4.45 billion |
| 1979 | 18 million | 138 million | 4.37 billion |
| 1978 | 17.7 million | 137 million | 4.29 billion |
| 1977 | 17.5 million | 136 million | 4.22 billion |
| 1976 | 17.2 million | 135 million | 4.14 billion |
| 1975 | 17 million | 134 million | 4.07 billion |
| 1974 | 16.7 million | 133 million | 4 billion |
| 1973 | 16.4 million | 133 million | 3.92 billion |
| 1972 | 16 million | 132 million | 3.85 billion |
| 1971 | 15.6 million | 131 million | 3.77 billion |
| 1970 | 15.2 million | 130 million | 3.7 billion |
| 1969 | 14.8 million | 130 million | 3.62 billion |
| 1968 | 14.4 million | 129 million | 3.55 billion |
| 1967 | 14 million | 128 million | 3.47 billion |
| 1966 | 13.6 million | 128 million | 3.4 billion |
| 1965 | 13.2 million | 127 million | 3.34 billion |
| 1964 | 12.9 million | 126 million | 3.26 billion |
| 1963 | 12.6 million | 124 million | 3.19 billion |
| 1962 | 12.3 million | 123 million | 3.12 billion |
| 1961 | 12 million | 122 million | 3.07 billion |
| 1960 | 11.7 million | 120 million | 3.02 billion |
| 1959 | 11.5 million | 118 million | 2.97 billion |
| 1958 | 11.2 million | 117 million | 2.91 billion |
| 1957 | 10.9 million | 115 million | 2.85 billion |
| 1956 | 10.6 million | 113 million | 2.8 billion |
| 1955 | 10.4 million | 111 million | 2.74 billion |
| 1954 | 10.2 million | 110 million | 2.69 billion |
| 1953 | 10.2 million | 108 million | 2.63 billion |
| 1952 | 10.3 million | 106 million | 2.58 billion |
| 1951 | 10.6 million | 105 million | 2.54 billion |
| 1950 | 11.1 million | 103 million | 2.49 billion |
| 1949 | 11 million | 101 million | – |
| 1948 | 10.8 million | 101 million | – |
| 1947 | 10.6 million | 99.6 million | – |
| 1946 | 10.4 million | 98.7 million | – |
| 1945 | 10.3 million | 97.8 million | – |
| 1944 | 10.1 million | 96.9 million | – |
| 1943 | 9.94 million | 96 million | – |
| 1942 | 9.77 million | 95.1 million | – |
| 1941 | 9.61 million | 94.3 million | – |
| 1940 | 9.46 million | 93.4 million | – |
| 1939 | 9.3 million | 92.5 million | – |
| 1938 | 9.15 million | 91.7 million | – |
| 1937 | 9 million | 90.9 million | – |
| 1936 | 8.85 million | 90 million | – |
| 1935 | 8.71 million | 89.2 million | – |
| 1934 | 8.57 million | 88.4 million | – |
| 1933 | 8.43 million | 87.6 million | – |
| 1932 | 8.29 million | 86.8 million | – |
| 1931 | 8.15 million | 86 million | – |
| 1930 | 8.02 million | 85.2 million | – |
| 1929 | 7.89 million | 84.4 million | – |
| 1928 | 7.76 million | 83.6 million | – |
| 1927 | 7.63 million | 82.9 million | – |
| 1926 | 7.51 million | 82.1 million | – |
| 1925 | 7.39 million | 81.4 million | – |
| 1924 | 7.26 million | 80.6 million | – |
| 1923 | 7.15 million | 79.9 million | – |
| 1922 | 7.03 million | 79.2 million | – |
| 1921 | 6.91 million | 78.4 million | – |
| 1920 | 6.8 million | 77.7 million | – |
| 1919 | 6.69 million | 77 million | – |
| 1918 | 6.58 million | 76.3 million | – |
| 1917 | 6.47 million | 75.6 million | – |
| 1916 | 6.35 million | 74.9 million | – |
| 1915 | 6.23 million | 74.2 million | – |
| 1914 | 6.12 million | 73.6 million | – |
| 1913 | 6 million | 72.9 million | – |
| 1912 | 5.89 million | 72.3 million | – |
| 1911 | 5.8 million | 71.6 million | – |
| 1910 | 5.72 million | 71 million | – |
| 1909 | 5.67 million | 70.3 million | – |
| 1908 | 5.63 million | 69.7 million | – |
| 1907 | 5.6 million | 69.1 million | – |
| 1906 | 5.58 million | 68.5 million | – |
| 1905 | 5.55 million | 67.8 million | – |
| 1904 | 5.53 million | 67.2 million | – |
| 1903 | 5.5 million | 66.6 million | – |
| 1902 | 5.48 million | 66 million | – |
| 1901 | 5.46 million | 65.4 million | – |
| 1900 | 5.43 million | 64.8 million | – |
| 1899 | 5.41 million | 64.3 million | – |
| 1898 | 5.39 million | 63.7 million | – |
| 1897 | 5.36 million | 63.1 million | – |
| 1896 | 5.34 million | 62.5 million | – |
| 1895 | 5.31 million | 62 million | – |
| 1894 | 5.29 million | 61.4 million | – |
| 1893 | 5.27 million | 60.9 million | – |
| 1892 | 5.24 million | 60.3 million | – |
| 1891 | 5.22 million | 59.8 million | – |
| 1890 | 5.2 million | 59.2 million | – |
| 1889 | 5.17 million | 58.7 million | – |
| 1888 | 5.15 million | 58.2 million | – |
| 1887 | 5.13 million | 57.7 million | – |
| 1886 | 5.11 million | 57.1 million | – |
| 1885 | 5.08 million | 56.6 million | – |
| 1884 | 5.06 million | 56.1 million | – |
| 1883 | 5.04 million | 55.6 million | – |
| 1882 | 5.02 million | 55.1 million | – |
| 1881 | 4.99 million | 54.6 million | – |
| 1880 | 4.97 million | 54.1 million | – |
| 1879 | 4.95 million | 53.6 million | – |
| 1878 | 4.93 million | 53.1 million | – |
| 1877 | 4.9 million | 52.7 million | – |
| 1876 | 4.88 million | 52.2 million | – |
| 1875 | 4.86 million | 51.7 million | – |
| 1874 | 4.84 million | 51.3 million | – |
| 1873 | 4.82 million | 50.8 million | – |
| 1872 | 4.79 million | 50.3 million | – |
| 1871 | 4.77 million | 49.9 million | – |
| 1870 | 4.75 million | 49.5 million | – |
| 1869 | 4.74 million | 49 million | – |
| 1868 | 4.72 million | 48.6 million | – |
| 1867 | 4.7 million | 48.2 million | – |
| 1866 | 4.69 million | 47.7 million | – |
| 1865 | 4.67 million | 47.3 million | – |
| 1864 | 4.66 million | 46.9 million | – |
| 1863 | 4.64 million | 46.5 million | – |
| 1862 | 4.63 million | 46 million | – |
| 1861 | 4.61 million | 45.6 million | – |
| 1860 | 4.6 million | 45.2 million | – |
| 1859 | 4.58 million | 44.8 million | – |
| 1858 | 4.57 million | 44.4 million | – |
| 1857 | 4.55 million | 44 million | – |
| 1856 | 4.54 million | 43.6 million | – |
| 1855 | 4.52 million | 43.2 million | – |
| 1854 | 4.5 million | 42.8 million | – |
| 1853 | 4.49 million | 42.4 million | – |
| 1852 | 4.47 million | 42.1 million | – |
| 1851 | 4.46 million | 41.7 million | – |
| 1850 | 4.44 million | 41.3 million | – |
| 1849 | 4.44 million | 40.9 million | – |
| 1848 | 4.44 million | 40.5 million | – |
| 1847 | 4.43 million | 40.2 million | – |
| 1846 | 4.43 million | 39.8 million | – |
| 1845 | 4.43 million | 39.4 million | – |
| 1844 | 4.42 million | 39.1 million | – |
| 1843 | 4.42 million | 38.7 million | – |
| 1842 | 4.42 million | 38.4 million | – |
| 1841 | 4.41 million | 38 million | – |
| 1840 | 4.41 million | 37.7 million | – |
| 1839 | 4.41 million | 37.3 million | – |
| 1838 | 4.4 million | 37 million | – |
| 1837 | 4.4 million | 36.7 million | – |
| 1836 | 4.4 million | 36.3 million | – |
| 1835 | 4.39 million | 36 million | – |
| 1834 | 4.39 million | 35.7 million | – |
| 1833 | 4.39 million | 35.3 million | – |
| 1832 | 4.38 million | 35 million | – |
| 1831 | 4.38 million | 34.7 million | – |
| 1830 | 4.38 million | 34.4 million | – |
| 1829 | 4.37 million | 34.1 million | – |
| 1828 | 4.37 million | 33.8 million | – |
| 1827 | 4.37 million | 33.5 million | – |
| 1826 | 4.37 million | 33.3 million | – |
| 1825 | 4.36 million | 33 million | – |
| 1824 | 4.36 million | 32.8 million | – |
| 1823 | 4.36 million | 32.6 million | – |
| 1822 | 4.35 million | 32.4 million | – |
| 1821 | 4.35 million | 32.2 million | – |
| 1820 | 4.35 million | 32.1 million | – |
| 1819 | 4.35 million | 31.9 million | – |
| 1818 | 4.35 million | 31.8 million | – |
| 1817 | 4.35 million | 31.7 million | – |
| 1816 | 4.35 million | 31.6 million | – |
| 1815 | 4.35 million | 31.5 million | – |
| 1814 | 4.35 million | 31.4 million | – |
| 1813 | 4.35 million | 31.4 million | – |
| 1812 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1811 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1810 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1809 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1808 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1807 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1806 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1805 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1804 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1803 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1802 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1801 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
| 1800 | 4.35 million | 31.3 million | – |
- 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | North Korea | Russia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26.5 million26.4 million–26.6 million | 145 million145 million–145 million | 8.16 billion |
| 2025 | 26.6 million26.4 million–26.8 million | 144 million143 million–145 million | 8.23 billion |
| 2026 | 26.6 million26.4 million–26.9 million | 143 million142 million–145 million | 8.3 billion |
| 2027 | 26.7 million26.3 million–27.1 million | 143 million141 million–145 million | 8.37 billion |
| 2028 | 26.7 million26.2 million–27.3 million | 143 million140 million–145 million | 8.44 billion |
| 2029 | 26.8 million26.1 million–27.4 million | 142 million140 million–145 million | 8.5 billion |
| 2030 | 26.8 million26 million–27.6 million | 142 million139 million–145 million | 8.57 billion |
| 2031 | 26.8 million25.9 million–27.7 million | 142 million138 million–145 million | 8.63 billion |
| 2032 | 26.8 million25.8 million–27.8 million | 141 million137 million–145 million | 8.7 billion |
| 2033 | 26.8 million25.7 million–27.9 million | 141 million136 million–145 million | 8.76 billion |
| 2034 | 26.8 million25.6 million–28 million | 140 million136 million–145 million | 8.82 billion |
| 2035 | 26.8 million25.5 million–28.1 million | 140 million135 million–146 million | 8.89 billion |
| 2036 | 26.7 million25.3 million–28.2 million | 140 million134 million–146 million | 8.95 billion |
| 2037 | 26.7 million25.2 million–28.2 million | 139 million133 million–146 million | 9.01 billion |
| 2038 | 26.7 million25 million–28.3 million | 139 million132 million–146 million | 9.06 billion |
| 2039 | 26.6 million24.8 million–28.4 million | 139 million131 million–146 million | 9.12 billion |
| 2040 | 26.5 million24.7 million–28.4 million | 138 million131 million–146 million | 9.18 billion |
| 2041 | 26.5 million24.5 million–28.5 million | 138 million130 million–146 million | 9.23 billion |
| 2042 | 26.4 million24.3 million–28.5 million | 138 million129 million–147 million | 9.29 billion |
| 2043 | 26.4 million24.1 million–28.6 million | 138 million128 million–147 million | 9.34 billion |
| 2044 | 26.3 million24 million–28.6 million | 137 million128 million–147 million | 9.39 billion |
| 2045 | 26.2 million23.8 million–28.7 million | 137 million127 million–148 million | 9.44 billion |
| 2046 | 26.1 million23.6 million–28.7 million | 137 million126 million–148 million | 9.49 billion |
| 2047 | 26.1 million23.4 million–28.7 million | 137 million125 million–149 million | 9.54 billion |
| 2048 | 26 million23.2 million–28.7 million | 137 million125 million–149 million | 9.58 billion |
| 2049 | 25.9 million23 million–28.7 million | 136 million124 million–149 million | 9.62 billion |
| 2050 | 25.8 million22.8 million–28.8 million | 136 million123 million–149 million | 9.66 billion |
| 2051 | 25.7 million22.6 million–28.8 million | 136 million122 million–149 million | 9.7 billion |
| 2052 | 25.6 million22.4 million–28.9 million | 136 million122 million–150 million | 9.74 billion |
| 2053 | 25.5 million22.2 million–28.9 million | 135 million121 million–150 million | 9.78 billion |
| 2054 | 25.4 million22 million–29 million | 135 million120 million–150 million | 9.81 billion |
| 2055 | 25.3 million21.7 million–29 million | 135 million119 million–150 million | 9.85 billion |
| 2056 | 25.2 million21.5 million–29.1 million | 134 million118 million–150 million | 9.88 billion |
| 2057 | 25.1 million21.3 million–29.1 million | 134 million117 million–150 million | 9.91 billion |
| 2058 | 24.9 million21 million–29.2 million | 134 million117 million–151 million | 9.94 billion |
| 2059 | 24.8 million20.7 million–29.2 million | 133 million116 million–151 million | 9.96 billion |
| 2060 | 24.7 million20.5 million–29.3 million | 133 million115 million–151 million | 9.99 billion |
| 2061 | 24.6 million20.2 million–29.3 million | 133 million114 million–151 million | 10 billion |
| 2062 | 24.4 million19.9 million–29.4 million | 132 million113 million–151 million | 10 billion |
| 2063 | 24.3 million19.7 million–29.4 million | 132 million112 million–152 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2064 | 24.2 million19.4 million–29.5 million | 132 million111 million–152 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2065 | 24.1 million19.1 million–29.5 million | 131 million111 million–152 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2066 | 23.9 million18.9 million–29.6 million | 131 million110 million–152 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2067 | 23.8 million18.6 million–29.6 million | 131 million109 million–153 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2068 | 23.7 million18.4 million–29.6 million | 130 million108 million–153 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2069 | 23.5 million18.1 million–29.7 million | 130 million107 million–153 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2070 | 23.4 million17.9 million–29.7 million | 130 million107 million–154 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2071 | 23.3 million17.6 million–29.8 million | 129 million106 million–154 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2072 | 23.1 million17.4 million–29.8 million | 129 million105 million–155 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2073 | 23 million17.1 million–29.9 million | 129 million104 million–155 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2074 | 22.9 million16.9 million–30.1 million | 129 million104 million–155 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2075 | 22.8 million16.6 million–30.1 million | 129 million103 million–156 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2076 | 22.6 million16.4 million–30.2 million | 128 million102 million–156 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2077 | 22.5 million16.1 million–30.3 million | 128 million101 million–157 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2078 | 22.4 million15.9 million–30.4 million | 128 million101 million–157 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2079 | 22.3 million15.7 million–30.4 million | 128 million100 million–158 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2080 | 22.1 million15.4 million–30.5 million | 128 million99.2 million–158 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2081 | 22 million15.1 million–30.6 million | 128 million98.3 million–159 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2082 | 21.9 million14.9 million–30.5 million | 128 million97.6 million–159 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2083 | 21.7 million14.6 million–30.5 million | 128 million97 million–159 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2084 | 21.6 million14.3 million–30.6 million | 128 million96.5 million–160 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2085 | 21.5 million14.1 million–30.6 million | 127 million95.9 million–161 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2086 | 21.4 million13.8 million–30.7 million | 127 million95.2 million–162 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2087 | 21.2 million13.5 million–30.8 million | 127 million94.4 million–163 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2088 | 21.1 million13.3 million–30.9 million | 127 million93.6 million–163 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2089 | 21 million13 million–30.9 million | 127 million93 million–164 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2090 | 20.8 million12.7 million–31 million | 127 million92.3 million–165 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2091 | 20.7 million12.5 million–31.1 million | 127 million91.8 million–165 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2092 | 20.6 million12.3 million–31.2 million | 127 million91.4 million–166 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2093 | 20.4 million12.1 million–31.4 million | 127 million90.9 million–167 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2094 | 20.3 million11.8 million–31.5 million | 127 million90.4 million–168 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2095 | 20.2 million11.6 million–31.5 million | 127 million89.8 million–169 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2096 | 20 million11.4 million–31.6 million | 127 million89.1 million–169 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2097 | 19.9 million11.2 million–31.6 million | 127 million88.3 million–170 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2098 | 19.8 million10.9 million–31.6 million | 127 million87.6 million–171 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2099 | 19.6 million10.7 million–31.6 million | 127 million86.8 million–171 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2100 | 19.5 million10.5 million–31.6 million | 126 million86.1 million–172 million | 10.2 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
North Korea vs Russia
Health
- Life expectancyNorth Korea: 73.6 years in 2023Russia: 73.2 years in 2023
- Child mortalityNorth Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024Russia: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNorth Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Russia: 3.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterNorth Korea: 66.5% in 2022Russia: 76.2% in 2022
- DepressionNorth Korea: 3.09% in 2017Russia: 3.71% in 2017
- Suicide rateNorth Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Russia: 25.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- Population growthNorth Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023Russia: -0.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNorth Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023Russia: 1.45 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNorth Korea: 64.2% in 2025Russia: 75.3% in 2025
- Median ageNorth Korea: 36.1 years in 2023Russia: 39.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNorth Korea: 12% in 2023Russia: 16.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateNorth Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023Russia: 0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personNorth Korea: $62 in 2018Russia: $1,318 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNorth Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020Russia: 1.45 million people in 2020
- National powerNorth Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022Russia: 3.82% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNorth Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020Russia: 1.98% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNorth Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010Russia: 129 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsNorth Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025Russia: 1.94 billion TIV in 2025