Demographics of North Korea

Current Population

As of July 1, 2023, the estimated population of North Korea is 26,250,011, according to projections based on the latest United Nations data. This represents a slight decline in population growth compared to previous years.

Historical and Projected Population Growth Rate

During the 1960s, North Korea experienced a rapid population growth rate of around 3% per year. However, in the 1970s, the growth rate began to decline and has continued to slow down since then. In the 1980s, the growth rate was around 2% per year, and in the 1990s, it fell to around 1% per year. The current population growth rate is estimated to be around 0.5% per year.

The United Nations World Population Prospects 2022 report projects that the population of North Korea will continue to decline slowly over the next few decades. By 2050, the population is projected to be around 25.7 million.

Immigration and Median Age

Immigration to North Korea is very limited. The country maintains strict border controls and does not allow free movement of people. As a result, the foreign-born population in North Korea is very small.

The median age in North Korea is 35.5 years. This is slightly higher than the global median age of 30.8 years.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The TFR in North Korea is estimated to be 1.9 children per woman. This is below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, which is the fertility rate required for a population to maintain its size.

The decline in the TFR in North Korea is attributed to factors such as the country's economic challenges, late marriage and childbirth, and the increasing cost of raising children.