In 2024, the population of South Korea was estimated to be about ***** million. The population of North Korea was approximately ***** million, which is roughly half the population of South Korea. Economic comparison between South and North Korea Following the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea and North Korea pursued vastly different trajectories, both politically and economically. South Korea embraced capitalism and free market principles, which fueled its rapid economic growth and transformed it into one of the world's leading economies. In contrast, North Korea adopted a state-controlled, centrally planned economy, leading to isolation and economic stagnation. While South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) reached around ***** trillion South Korean won in 2023, only about ** trillion won was recorded for North Korea. Food crisis in North Korea North Korea has faced food insecurity for a long time, and this has been exacerbated in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was estimated that the country had a food shortage of around ******* metric tons in 2023. Although the North Korean government maintains a centrally planned economic system, food distribution has long been a problem, as an increasing number of North Korean defectors have reported that they have never received food from North Korean authorities.

La población total en Corea del Norte se estimó en 26.5 millones de personas en 2024, según las últimas cifras del censo y proyecciones de Trading Economics. Esta página proporciona - Población de Corea del Norte - valores reales, datos históricos, pronóstico, gráfico, estadísticas, calendario económico y noticias.

The statistic shows the total population of South Korea from 1980 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. In 2024, the total population of South Korea was about 51.75 million people. Population of South Korea South Korea, also called Republic of Korea, has one of the highest population densities worldwide, i.e. a very high number of inhabitants per square kilometer. However, this does not equal bad standard of living; on the Human Development Index, which ranks countries by their level of living standards using key factors, such as unemployment rate, literacy rate, fertility and mortality rates, etc., South Korea is among the highest-ranked countries. When looking at the aforementioned key factors, South Korea indeed seems to offer a fairly stable environment for its inhabitants, economically and demographically: The country’s unemployment rate has been relatively steady for the past decade, its gross domestic product (GDP) is constantly increasing, and it is among the countries with the highest trade surplus worldwide. As for standard of living, life expectancy at birth in South Korea is among the highest worldwide – South Korea is even mentioned in a recent ranking of the best birthplaces for children. Despite the high population density, South Korea is now one of the countries with the lowest fertility rates, i.e. the number of babies born by women of childbearing age. This apparent discrepancy could be explained by a high number of immigrants coupled with the aforementioned high life expectancy.

North Korea: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 12.4 percent, an increase from 12.03 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1960 to 2024 is 6.24 percent. The minimum value, 3.28 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 12.4 percent was recorded in 2024.

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Male

North Korea KP: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data was reported at 7.499 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.581 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.560 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.224 % in 1991 and a record low of 5.643 % in 1974. North Korea KP: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

North Korea KP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data was reported at 8.170 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.244 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 9.302 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.232 % in 1991 and a record low of 5.868 % in 1974. North Korea KP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Ages 20 24 Female Percent Of Female Population

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPPOPGROWPRK) from 1961 to 2024 about North Korea, population, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Democratic People's Republic of Korea (POPTOTKPA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about North Korea and population.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPPOP0014TOZSPRK) from 1960 to 2024 about North Korea, 0 to 14 years, and population.

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Ages 15 64 Percent Of Total

In 1800, it is estimated that approximately 9.4 million people lived in the region of modern-day South Korea (and 13.8 million on the entire peninsula). The population of this region would remain fairly constant through much of the 19th century, but would begin to grow gradually starting in the mid-1800s, as the fall of the Joseon dynasty and pressure from the U.S. and Japan would end centuries of Korean isolationism. Following the opening of the country to foreign trade, the Korean peninsula would begin to modernize, and by the start of the 20th century, it would have a population of just over ten million. The Korean peninsula was then annexed by Japan in 1910, whose regime implemented industrialization and modernization policies that saw the population of South Korea rising from just under ten million in 1900, to over fifteen million by the start of the Second World War in 1939.

The Korean War Like most regions, the end of the Second World War coincided with a baby boom, that helped see South Korea's population grow by almost two million between 1945 and 1950. However, this boom would stop suddenly in the early 1950s, due to disruption caused by the Korean War. After WWII, the peninsula was split along the 38th parallel, with governments on both sides claiming to be the legitimate rulers of all Korea. Five years of tensions then culminated in North Korea's invasion of the South in June 1950, in the first major conflict of the Cold War. In September, the UN-backed South then repelled the Soviet- and Chinese-backed Northern army, and the frontlines would then fluctuate on either side of the 38th parallel throughout the next three years. The war came to an end in July, 1953, and had an estimated death toll of three million fatalities. The majority of fatalities were civilians on both sides, although the North suffered a disproportionate amount due to extensive bombing campaigns of the U.S. Unlike North Korea, the South's total population did not fall during the war.

Post-war South Korea Between the war's end and the late 1980s, the South's total population more than doubled. In these decades, South Korea was generally viewed as a nominal democracy under authoritarian and military leadership; it was not until 1988 when South Korea transitioned into a stable democracy, and grew its international presence. Much of South Korea's rapid socio-economic growth in the late 20th century was based on the West German model, and was greatly assisted by Japanese and U.S. investment. Today, South Korea is considered one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations, ranking highly in terms of GDP, human development and life expectancy; it is home to some of the most valuable brands in the world, such as Samsung and Hyundai; and has a growing international cultural presence in music and cinema. In the past decades, South Korea's population growth has somewhat slowed, however it remains one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with total population of more than 51 million people.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SLEMPTOTLSPZSPRK) from 1991 to 2024 about North Korea, employment-population ratio, population, and employment.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPPOP65UPTOZSPRK) from 1960 to 2024 about North Korea, 65-years +, and population.

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Female Percent Of Total

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Ages 0 14 Male

As of October 2025, 6.04 billion individuals worldwide were internet users, which amounted to 73.2 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.66 billion, or 68.7 percent of the world's population, were social media users. Global internet usage Connecting billions of people worldwide, the internet is a core pillar of the modern information society. Northern Europe ranked first among worldwide regions by the share of the population using the internet in 2025. In the Netherlands, Norway, and Saudi Arabia, 99 percent of the population used the internet as of February 2025. North Korea was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with virtually no internet usage penetration among the general population, ranking last worldwide. Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of online users worldwide—over 1.34 billion at the latest count. Southern Asia ranked second, with around 1.2 billion internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide by the number of internet users. Worldwide internet user demographics As of 2024, the share of female internet users worldwide was 65 percent, five percent less than that of men. Gender disparity in internet usage was bigger in African countries, with around a 10-percent difference. Worldwide regions, like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe, showed a smaller usage gap between these two genders. As of 2024, global internet usage was higher among individuals between 15 and 24 years old across all regions, with young people in Europe representing the most considerable usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group of 15 to 24 years was 79 percent. The income level of the countries was also an essential factor for internet access, as 93 percent of the population of the countries with high income reportedly used the internet, as opposed to only 27 percent of the low-income markets.

In 2024, Jeonju had the largest population among the 16 administrative divisions in Jeonbuk (North Jeolla Province), South Korea, with around ****** thousand inhabitants. That year, the total population of Jeonbuk stood at about **** million.

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Population Density People Per Sq Km