North Korea Population Decline

North Korea's Unique Demographics: A Declining Population in a Poor Economy

Declining Population Expected after 2044

North Korea, one of the world's poorest economies, stands out as an outlier due to its declining population. While South Korea's population is projected to start declining in the coming years, North Korea's population is not expected to begin its decline until around 2044, some two decades later.

Urban Population at 63.2%

As of 2023, North Korea's urban population stands at 63.2%, with 16,533,344 people residing in urban areas. This urbanization rate is expected to increase in the coming years.

Population Peak in 2037

According to current projections, North Korea's population will reach its peak in 2037 with a population of 26.87 million people, just over 1 million more than its current population.

Low Fertility Rate

The United Nations Population Fund estimates that as of 2023, North Korea's fertility rate, or the average number of children being born to a woman, is around 1.95, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.