North Korea Demographics

Population of North Korea (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of North Korea

DPRK Population
26,633,691
see live
Yearly Change
+0.24%
Global Share
0.32%
Global Rank
56

Median Age

The median age in North Korea is 36.8 years (2026).

Fertility in North Korea

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.75
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in North Korea

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
74.0
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
76.2
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
71.8
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in North Korea


Infant Mortality
12.8
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
16.1
(per 1,000 live births)


North Korea Urban Population

Currently, 64.5% of the population of North Korea is urban (17,186,914 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in North Korea is 221 people per km² (573 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 120,408 km² (46,490 sq. miles).

Largest Cities in North Korea

The 30 largest of 31 cities, ranked by population at the census of October 1, 2008 (by Central Bureau of Statistics, DPR Korea).

RankCityPopulation
1Pyongyang2,521,785
2Hamhungincl. Hŭngnam703,610
3Ch'ongjin614,892
4Sinuiju334,031
5Wonsan328,467
6Namp'o310,531
7Sariwon271,434
8Kaech'on262,389
9Kanggye251,971
10Sunch'on250,738
11Haeju241,599
12Tanch'on240,873
13P'yongsong236,583
14Tokch'on210,571
15Kaesong192,578
16Hyesan174,015
17Anju167,646
18Rason158,337
19Kimch'aek155,284
20Kusong155,181
21Huich'on136,093
22Sinp'o130,951
23Kangso119,848
24Chongju102,659
25Ch'ollima102,436
26Songrim95,878
27Munch'on92,525
28Hoeryong92,494
29Manp'o82,631
30Taean66,261
See all 31 cities in North Korea

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.