North Korea vs South Korea

North Korea vs South Korea: Population

Population in 2023: 26.4 million people in North Korea and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 25.3 million people, or 1.96 times that in North Korea.

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people · UN

North Korea vs South Korea: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 26.4 million people in North Korea and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 25.3 million people, or 1.96 times that in North Korea.
North KoreaSouth KoreaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, North Korea ranked 55 and South Korea ranked 29 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 19.5 million people and South Korea at 21.9 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearNorth KoreaSouth KoreaWorld
202326.4 million51.8 million8.09 billion
202226.3 million51.8 million8.02 billion
202126.2 million51.9 million7.95 billion
202026.1 million51.9 million7.89 billion
201926 million51.8 million7.81 billion
201825.9 million51.6 million7.73 billion
201725.8 million51.5 million7.65 billion
201625.7 million51.3 million7.56 billion
201525.6 million51 million7.47 billion
201425.5 million50.5 million7.38 billion
201325.3 million50.1 million7.29 billion
201225.2 million49.6 million7.2 billion
201125.1 million49.1 million7.11 billion
201025 million48.8 million7.02 billion
200924.9 million48.6 million6.93 billion
200824.8 million48.4 million6.84 billion
200724.7 million48.2 million6.76 billion
200624.5 million48 million6.67 billion
200524.4 million47.9 million6.59 billion
200424.3 million47.7 million6.5 billion
200324.1 million47.5 million6.42 billion
200223.9 million47.3 million6.34 billion
200123.8 million47 million6.26 billion
200023.7 million46.8 million6.17 billion
199923.5 million46.5 million6.09 billion
199823.3 million46.2 million6.01 billion
199723.1 million45.9 million5.93 billion
199622.9 million45.6 million5.84 billion
199522.7 million45.4 million5.76 billion
199422.4 million45.1 million5.68 billion
199322.1 million44.9 million5.59 billion
199221.8 million44.7 million5.51 billion
199121.4 million44.4 million5.42 billion
199021.1 million44.1 million5.33 billion
198920.8 million43.5 million5.23 billion
198820.5 million42.9 million5.14 billion
198720.2 million42.3 million5.05 billion
198619.9 million41.7 million4.96 billion
198519.6 million41.2 million4.87 billion
198419.3 million40.6 million4.78 billion
198319.1 million40 million4.7 billion
198218.8 million39.4 million4.61 billion
198118.5 million38.7 million4.53 billion
198018.2 million38.1 million4.45 billion
197918 million37.7 million4.37 billion
197817.7 million37.3 million4.29 billion
197717.5 million36.8 million4.22 billion
197617.2 million36.4 million4.14 billion
197517 million35.9 million4.07 billion
197416.7 million35.3 million4 billion
197316.4 million34.6 million3.92 billion
197216 million33.9 million3.85 billion
197115.6 million33.2 million3.77 billion
197015.2 million32.5 million3.7 billion
196914.8 million31.9 million3.62 billion
196814.4 million31.2 million3.55 billion
196714 million30.5 million3.47 billion
196613.6 million29.9 million3.4 billion
196513.2 million29.3 million3.34 billion
196412.9 million28.7 million3.26 billion
196312.6 million28.2 million3.19 billion
196212.3 million27.5 million3.12 billion
196112 million26.9 million3.07 billion
196011.7 million26.1 million3.02 billion
195911.5 million25.3 million2.97 billion
195811.2 million24.5 million2.91 billion
195710.9 million23.7 million2.85 billion
195610.6 million22.9 million2.8 billion
195510.4 million22.1 million2.74 billion
195410.2 million21.4 million2.69 billion
195310.2 million20.8 million2.63 billion
195210.3 million20.2 million2.58 billion
195110.6 million19.9 million2.54 billion
195011.1 million19.8 million2.49 billion
194911 million19.6 million–
194810.8 million19.1 million–
194710.6 million18.6 million–
194610.4 million18 million–
194510.3 million17.5 million–
194410.1 million17 million–
19439.94 million16.6 million–
19429.77 million16.1 million–
19419.61 million15.7 million–
19409.46 million15.3 million–
19399.3 million15.1 million–
19389.15 million14.8 million–
19379 million14.7 million–
19368.85 million14.5 million–
19358.71 million14.3 million–
19348.57 million14.1 million–
19338.43 million14 million–
19328.29 million13.8 million–
19318.15 million13.6 million–
19308.02 million13.5 million–
19297.89 million13.3 million–
19287.76 million13.1 million–
19277.63 million12.9 million–
19267.51 million12.6 million–
19257.39 million12.4 million–
19247.26 million12.2 million–
19237.15 million12 million–
19227.03 million11.8 million–
19216.91 million11.7 million–
19206.8 million11.5 million–
19196.69 million11.3 million–
19186.58 million11.1 million–
19176.47 million10.9 million–
19166.35 million10.8 million–
19156.23 million10.6 million–
19146.12 million10.5 million–
19136 million10.3 million–
19125.89 million10.1 million–
19115.8 million10 million–
19105.72 million9.91 million–
19095.67 million9.84 million–
19085.63 million9.8 million–
19075.6 million9.78 million–
19065.58 million9.77 million–
19055.55 million9.75 million–
19045.53 million9.74 million–
19035.5 million9.72 million–
19025.48 million9.71 million–
19015.46 million9.7 million–
19005.43 million9.69 million–
18995.41 million9.68 million–
18985.39 million9.68 million–
18975.36 million9.68 million–
18965.34 million9.68 million–
18955.31 million9.68 million–
18945.29 million9.68 million–
18935.27 million9.68 million–
18925.24 million9.68 million–
18915.22 million9.68 million–
18905.2 million9.68 million–
18895.17 million9.68 million–
18885.15 million9.67 million–
18875.13 million9.67 million–
18865.11 million9.67 million–
18855.08 million9.67 million–
18845.06 million9.67 million–
18835.04 million9.67 million–
18825.02 million9.67 million–
18814.99 million9.67 million–
18804.97 million9.67 million–
18794.95 million9.67 million–
18784.93 million9.67 million–
18774.9 million9.67 million–
18764.88 million9.67 million–
18754.86 million9.67 million–
18744.84 million9.67 million–
18734.82 million9.67 million–
18724.79 million9.67 million–
18714.77 million9.67 million–
18704.75 million9.66 million–
18694.74 million9.66 million–
18684.72 million9.66 million–
18674.7 million9.65 million–
18664.69 million9.64 million–
18654.67 million9.64 million–
18644.66 million9.63 million–
18634.64 million9.62 million–
18624.63 million9.62 million–
18614.61 million9.61 million–
18604.6 million9.61 million–
18594.58 million9.6 million–
18584.57 million9.59 million–
18574.55 million9.59 million–
18564.54 million9.58 million–
18554.52 million9.58 million–
18544.5 million9.57 million–
18534.49 million9.56 million–
18524.47 million9.56 million–
18514.46 million9.55 million–
18504.44 million9.55 million–
18494.44 million9.54 million–
18484.44 million9.54 million–
18474.43 million9.53 million–
18464.43 million9.53 million–
18454.43 million9.52 million–
18444.42 million9.52 million–
18434.42 million9.51 million–
18424.42 million9.51 million–
18414.41 million9.5 million–
18404.41 million9.5 million–
18394.41 million9.49 million–
18384.4 million9.49 million–
18374.4 million9.48 million–
18364.4 million9.48 million–
18354.39 million9.47 million–
18344.39 million9.47 million–
18334.39 million9.46 million–
18324.38 million9.46 million–
18314.38 million9.45 million–
18304.38 million9.45 million–
18294.37 million9.44 million–
18284.37 million9.44 million–
18274.37 million9.43 million–
18264.37 million9.43 million–
18254.36 million9.42 million–
18244.36 million9.42 million–
18234.36 million9.41 million–
18224.35 million9.41 million–
18214.35 million9.4 million–
18204.35 million9.4 million–
18194.35 million9.4 million–
18184.35 million9.4 million–
18174.35 million9.4 million–
18164.35 million9.4 million–
18154.35 million9.4 million–
18144.35 million9.4 million–
18134.35 million9.4 million–
18124.35 million9.4 million–
18114.35 million9.4 million–
18104.35 million9.4 million–
18094.35 million9.4 million–
18084.35 million9.4 million–
18074.35 million9.4 million–
18064.35 million9.4 million–
18054.35 million9.4 million–
18044.35 million9.4 million–
18034.35 million9.4 million–
18024.35 million9.4 million–
18014.35 million9.4 million–
18004.35 million9.4 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearNorth KoreaSouth KoreaWorld
202426.5 million26.4 million–26.6 million51.7 million51.6 million–51.8 million8.16 billion
202526.6 million26.4 million–26.8 million51.7 million51.4 million–51.9 million8.23 billion
202626.6 million26.4 million–26.9 million51.6 million51.1 million–52.1 million8.3 billion
202726.7 million26.3 million–27.1 million51.5 million50.8 million–52.3 million8.37 billion
202826.7 million26.2 million–27.3 million51.4 million50.4 million–52.5 million8.44 billion
202926.8 million26.1 million–27.4 million51.3 million50 million–52.7 million8.5 billion
203026.8 million26 million–27.6 million51.2 million49.6 million–52.9 million8.57 billion
203126.8 million25.9 million–27.7 million51.1 million49.1 million–53.1 million8.63 billion
203226.8 million25.8 million–27.8 million50.9 million48.6 million–53.3 million8.7 billion
203326.8 million25.7 million–27.9 million50.7 million48.1 million–53.4 million8.76 billion
203426.8 million25.6 million–28 million50.5 million47.6 million–53.6 million8.82 billion
203526.8 million25.5 million–28.1 million50.3 million47.1 million–53.8 million8.89 billion
203626.7 million25.3 million–28.2 million50.1 million46.6 million–54 million8.95 billion
203726.7 million25.2 million–28.2 million49.8 million46 million–54.2 million9.01 billion
203826.7 million25 million–28.3 million49.5 million45.4 million–54.2 million9.06 billion
203926.6 million24.8 million–28.4 million49.3 million44.7 million–54.4 million9.12 billion
204026.5 million24.7 million–28.4 million49 million44.2 million–54.6 million9.18 billion
204126.5 million24.5 million–28.5 million48.6 million43.6 million–54.7 million9.23 billion
204226.4 million24.3 million–28.5 million48.3 million42.9 million–54.8 million9.29 billion
204326.4 million24.1 million–28.6 million48 million42.2 million–54.9 million9.34 billion
204426.3 million24 million–28.6 million47.6 million41.5 million–55 million9.39 billion
204526.2 million23.8 million–28.7 million47.2 million40.8 million–55.1 million9.44 billion
204626.1 million23.6 million–28.7 million46.9 million40.2 million–55.2 million9.49 billion
204726.1 million23.4 million–28.7 million46.5 million39.5 million–55.2 million9.54 billion
204826 million23.2 million–28.7 million46 million38.8 million–55.1 million9.58 billion
204925.9 million23 million–28.7 million45.6 million38.2 million–54.9 million9.62 billion
205025.8 million22.8 million–28.8 million45.1 million37.5 million–54.9 million9.66 billion
205125.7 million22.6 million–28.8 million44.7 million36.7 million–54.9 million9.7 billion
205225.6 million22.4 million–28.9 million44.2 million36 million–54.8 million9.74 billion
205325.5 million22.2 million–28.9 million43.7 million35.2 million–54.6 million9.78 billion
205425.4 million22 million–29 million43.2 million34.4 million–54.5 million9.81 billion
205525.3 million21.7 million–29 million42.6 million33.6 million–54.5 million9.85 billion
205625.2 million21.5 million–29.1 million42.1 million33 million–54.4 million9.88 billion
205725.1 million21.3 million–29.1 million41.6 million32.2 million–54.3 million9.91 billion
205824.9 million21 million–29.2 million41 million31.4 million–54.2 million9.94 billion
205924.8 million20.7 million–29.2 million40.4 million30.6 million–54 million9.96 billion
206024.7 million20.5 million–29.3 million39.9 million29.8 million–53.8 million9.99 billion
206124.6 million20.2 million–29.3 million39.3 million29.1 million–53.6 million10 billion
206224.4 million19.9 million–29.4 million38.7 million28.3 million–53.6 million10 billion
206324.3 million19.7 million–29.4 million38.2 million27.6 million–53.5 million10.1 billion
206424.2 million19.4 million–29.5 million37.6 million26.8 million–53.3 million10.1 billion
206524.1 million19.1 million–29.5 million37.1 million26 million–53.1 million10.1 billion
206623.9 million18.9 million–29.6 million36.6 million25.3 million–52.9 million10.1 billion
206723.8 million18.6 million–29.6 million36 million24.7 million–53 million10.1 billion
206823.7 million18.4 million–29.6 million35.5 million24 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
206923.5 million18.1 million–29.7 million35 million23.3 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207023.4 million17.9 million–29.7 million34.5 million22.6 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207123.3 million17.6 million–29.8 million33.9 million22 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207223.1 million17.4 million–29.8 million33.4 million21.4 million–53 million10.2 billion
207323 million17.1 million–29.9 million32.9 million20.8 million–52.9 million10.2 billion
207422.9 million16.9 million–30.1 million32.5 million20.3 million–52.8 million10.2 billion
207522.8 million16.6 million–30.1 million32 million19.8 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
207622.6 million16.4 million–30.2 million31.5 million19.2 million–52.7 million10.3 billion
207722.5 million16.1 million–30.3 million31 million18.6 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207822.4 million15.9 million–30.4 million30.6 million18 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207922.3 million15.7 million–30.4 million30.1 million17.4 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208022.1 million15.4 million–30.5 million29.7 million16.9 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208122 million15.1 million–30.6 million29.2 million16.5 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208221.9 million14.9 million–30.5 million28.8 million15.9 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208321.7 million14.6 million–30.5 million28.4 million15.5 million–53 million10.3 billion
208421.6 million14.3 million–30.6 million27.9 million15.2 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208521.5 million14.1 million–30.6 million27.5 million14.7 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208621.4 million13.8 million–30.7 million27.1 million14.3 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
208721.2 million13.5 million–30.8 million26.7 million13.8 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208821.1 million13.3 million–30.9 million26.3 million13.4 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208921 million13 million–30.9 million25.9 million12.9 million–52.3 million10.3 billion
209020.8 million12.7 million–31 million25.5 million12.5 million–52 million10.3 billion
209120.7 million12.5 million–31.1 million25.1 million12.1 million–51.8 million10.3 billion
209220.6 million12.3 million–31.2 million24.7 million11.8 million–51.6 million10.3 billion
209320.4 million12.1 million–31.4 million24.3 million11.5 million–51.7 million10.3 billion
209420.3 million11.8 million–31.5 million23.9 million11.1 million–52 million10.2 billion
209520.2 million11.6 million–31.5 million23.5 million10.7 million–52.2 million10.2 billion
209620 million11.4 million–31.6 million23.2 million10.4 million–52.1 million10.2 billion
209719.9 million11.2 million–31.6 million22.8 million10.1 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
209819.8 million10.9 million–31.6 million22.5 million9.82 million–51.7 million10.2 billion
209919.6 million10.7 million–31.6 million22.2 million9.53 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
210019.5 million10.5 million–31.6 million21.9 million9.29 million–52 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

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