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.

Total current population for North Korea in 2025 is 26,319,924, a 0.29% increase from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Total population for North Korea in 2024 was <strong>26,244,582</strong>, a <strong>0.66% decline</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Total population for North Korea in 2023 was <strong>26,418,204</strong>, a <strong>0.34% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Total population for North Korea in 2022 was <strong>26,328,845</strong>, a <strong>0.37% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.

Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) in North Korea was reported at 6.754 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The total population in North Korea was estimated at 26.2 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - North Korea Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The statistic shows the total population of South Korea from 2020 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.

According to the 2008 and 2014 censuses, it was projected that the population of North Korea would be around 25.87 million in 2024. The population growth in North Korea was expected to decrease gradually, reaching approximately 22.47 million by 2070.

Population, female (% of total population) in North Korea was reported at 50.57 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

According to the 2008 and 2014 censuses, it was estimated that the population growth rate in North Korea would reach about 0.3 percent in 2024. North Korea's population growth rate was expected to slow down, reaching a negative growth of 0.8 percent by 2070.

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.; ;

Population, male in North Korea was reported at 13058006 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

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.; ;

As of February 2025, 5.56 billion individuals worldwide were internet users, which amounted to 67.9 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.24 billion, or 63.9 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 20254. 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 ten 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 significant usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group 15–24 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.

Population growth (annual %) in North Korea was reported at 0.33882 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Pyongyang, North Korea metro area from 1950 to 2025.

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

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in North Korea was reported at 219 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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, employment, and population.

Population ages 15-64 (% of total population) in North Korea was reported at 68.99 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Population ages 15-64 (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, over ** percent of respondents reported no religious affiliation, while approximately ** percent identified as Christians and ** percent as Buddhists. Religious population South Korea is a multi-religious society where Christianity, Buddhism, and various other religions coexist with shamanism. According to a previous study, the domestic religious population appeared to decline over time after reaching its peak in 2005, at nearly ** million people. In contrast, the share of people who are religiously unaffiliated has increased in recent years. Within the last two decades, the religiously unaffiliated population has increased from about ** percent to more than ** percent. Shamanism Shamanism has continued to significantly influence the daily lives of many South Koreans. According to a survey conducted in 2023, about ** percent of respondents reported having consulted a fortune-teller within the past year. Roughly ** percent of those respondents were already affiliated with a religion.