North Korea Population (1960-2026) & Projected decline
The current population of North Korea is 26,659,144 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 26,498,823 in 2024.
georank.orgHere are the latest publicly available figures and recent context on North Korea’s population in 2026, based on UN estimates and reputable aggregators.
Direct answer
- North Korea’s mid-2026 population is generally estimated in the mid-26 million range, with figures around 26.6 million by UN-linked projections and similar population-stat sites.
Key sources and notes
- Population estimates in 2024–2026 commonly place the total around 26.5–26.7 million, reflecting slow growth and net migration largely offset by natural change.[3][4][6]
- Depth and precision vary slightly by source due to differences in methodology (UN projections, World Bank data interpretations, and model-based estimates) and updated census or survey inputs.[6][7][3]
What that means
- Growth rate: Expected to be modest, near 0.2–0.3% per year in recent projections, contributing to a gradual increase toward mid-to-late 2020s estimates.[4][3]
- Urbanization and density: Urban share remains around two-thirds of the population, with ongoing urban growth influencing planning and resource allocation.[3][4]
Illustrative snapshot (approximate ranges)
- Population (mid-2026): ~26.6 million
- Year-over-year change: around +0.2% to +0.3% (varies by source)
- Urban population: about 60–65% of total
Would you like me to pull the most recent figure from a specific source (e.g., UN, World Bank, or Worldometer) and show a small chart of 2020–2026 trends? I can also provide a quick comparison table of the top divergent estimates and their methodologies.
Citations
- Population estimates and ranges mentioned reflect multiple publicly available sources and the common ranges cited for 2024–2026.[4][6][3]