PopulationPyramids
UN World Population Prospects Data Visualized

South Korea vs North Korea: Population Comparison 2026

South Korea has 24,966,697 more people than North Korea (1.9× as many): 51.6 million vs 26.6 million in 2026. Median age is 46.2 in South Korea and 36.8 in North Korea; fertility is 0.76 vs 1.75 children per woman.

South Korea

2026
0
people
Median age
46.2
Fertility (TFR)
0.76
Working age (15–64)
68.7%
Trend
Declining (-0.13%)

North Korea

2026
0
people
Median age
36.8
Fertility (TFR)
1.75
Working age (15–64)
68.1%
Trend
Growing (+0.24%)

Population pyramids, 2026

Total Population

South Korea

51.6M

vs

North Korea

26.6M

Youth (0-14)

South Korea

9.8%

vs

North Korea

18.9%

Elderly (65+)

South Korea

21.4%

vs

North Korea

13.0%

Where the two pyramids differ

The pyramids are overlaid so you can read the difference by age and sex: the longer bar in each band marks the country with more people of that age.

📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart

This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between South Korea and North Korea for each age group, split by gender:

Left Side (Males)

Blue = South Korea has more males

Green = North Korea has more males

Right Side (Females)

Pink = South Korea has more females

Orange = North Korea has more females

💡 How to Read: Each age group shows up to 2 bars - one on the left (male difference) and one on the right (female difference). The bar's color tells you which country has more people, and the bar's length shows by how much. For example, if you see a green bar on the left, it means North Korea has more males in that age group.

Notable Differences (>20% variance):

Ages 0-4: North Korea has 26.1% more people
Men: 226K more in North Korea • Women: 211K more in North Korea
South Korea: 635K men, 603K women • North Korea: 862K men, 815K women
Population Ratio
1.2M
1.7M
Ages 10-14: South Korea has 35.2% more people
Men: 296K more in South Korea • Women: 284K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.1M men, 1.1M women • North Korea: 846K men, 804K women
Population Ratio
2.2M
1.6M
Ages 15-19: South Korea has 44.4% more people
Men: 375K more in South Korea • Women: 345K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.2M men, 1.1M women • North Korea: 830K men, 791K women
Population Ratio
2.3M
1.6M
Ages 20-24: South Korea has 52.1% more people
Men: 475K more in South Korea • Women: 411K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.3M men, 1.2M women • North Korea: 869K men, 833K women
Population Ratio
2.6M
1.7M
Ages 25-29: South Korea has 76.2% more people
Men: 784K more in South Korea • Women: 665K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.8M men, 1.6M women • North Korea: 968K men, 932K women
Population Ratio
3.3M
1.9M
Ages 30-34: South Korea has 84.7% more people
Men: 956K more in South Korea • Women: 723K more in South Korea
South Korea: 2.0M men, 1.7M women • North Korea: 1.0M men, 976K women
Population Ratio
3.7M
2.0M
Ages 35-39: South Korea has 75.5% more people
Men: 797K more in South Korea • Women: 630K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.8M men, 1.6M women • North Korea: 957K men, 933K women
Population Ratio
3.3M
1.9M
Ages 40-44: South Korea has 108.1% more people
Men: 1.0M more in South Korea • Women: 896K more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.9M men, 1.8M women • North Korea: 889K men, 872K women
Population Ratio
3.7M
1.8M
Ages 45-49: South Korea has 146.9% more people
Men: 1.2M more in South Korea • Women: 1.1M more in South Korea
South Korea: 2.0M men, 1.9M women • North Korea: 801K men, 793K women
Population Ratio
3.9M
1.6M
Ages 50-54: South Korea has 117.7% more people
Men: 1.2M more in South Korea • Women: 1.1M more in South Korea
South Korea: 2.1M men, 2.1M women • North Korea: 956K men, 962K women
Population Ratio
4.2M
1.9M
Ages 55-59: South Korea has 106.4% more people
Men: 1.1M more in South Korea • Women: 1.1M more in South Korea
South Korea: 2.2M men, 2.2M women • North Korea: 1.0M men, 1.1M women
Population Ratio
4.4M
2.1M
Ages 60-64: South Korea has 146.8% more people
Men: 1.2M more in South Korea • Women: 1.2M more in South Korea
South Korea: 2.0M men, 2.0M women • North Korea: 798K men, 846K women
Population Ratio
4.1M
1.6M
Ages 65-69: South Korea has 189.6% more people
Men: 1.2M more in South Korea • Women: 1.3M more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.9M men, 2.0M women • North Korea: 633K men, 704K women
Population Ratio
3.9M
1.3M
Ages 70-74: South Korea has 246.3% more people
Men: 918K more in South Korea • Women: 1.0M more in South Korea
South Korea: 1.3M men, 1.4M women • North Korea: 358K men, 427K women
Population Ratio
2.7M
785K
Ages 75-79: South Korea has 187.7% more people
Men: 569K more in South Korea • Women: 644K more in South Korea
South Korea: 835K men, 1.0M women • North Korea: 266K men, 380K women
Population Ratio
1.9M
646K
Ages 80-84: South Korea has 200.2% more people
Men: 371K more in South Korea • Women: 506K more in South Korea
South Korea: 529K men, 786K women • North Korea: 158K men, 280K women
Population Ratio
1.3M
438K
Ages 85-89: South Korea has 313.9% more people
Men: 216K more in South Korea • Women: 417K more in South Korea
South Korea: 276K men, 559K women • North Korea: 59K men, 142K women
Population Ratio
835K
202K
Ages 90-94: South Korea has 615.7% more people
Men: 72K more in South Korea • Women: 231K more in South Korea
South Korea: 83K men, 270K women • North Korea: 11K men, 38K women
Population Ratio
352K
49K
Ages 95-99: South Korea has 1324.4% more people
Men: 11K more in South Korea • Women: 73K more in South Korea
South Korea: 12K men, 79K women • North Korea: 887 men, 5K women
Population Ratio
91K
6K
Ages 100+: South Korea has 2807.3% more people
Men: 646 more in South Korea • Women: 12K more in South Korea
South Korea: 684 men, 12K women • North Korea: 38 men, 413 women
Population Ratio
13K
451

Demographic comparison, 2026

IndicatorSouth KoreaNorth KoreaDifference
Population (2026)51,600,38826,633,691South Korea has 25.0 million more (1.9×)
Change 2025–2026-0.1% (Declining)+0.2% (Growing)
Median age (2026)46.236.8South Korea older by 9.4 yrs
Total fertility rate0.76 — 1.34 below replacement1.75 — 0.35 below replacement
Fertility rate, 2030 (UN projection)0.811.72
Birth rate (per 1,000)4.812.3
Population 2050 (UN projection)45.1 million (-12.5%)25.8 million (-3.2%)
Peak populationPeaks 2020Peaks 2032

Differences by age group, 2026

AgeSouth Korea (M / F)North Korea (M / F)Difference
0-4635K / 603K862K / 815KNorth Korea has 35.4% more people aged 0-4
5-9818K / 779K876K / 830KNorth Korea has 6.8% more people aged 5-9
10-141142K / 1088K846K / 804KSouth Korea has 35.2% more people aged 10-14
15-191205K / 1136K830K / 791KSouth Korea has 44.4% more people aged 15-19
20-241345K / 1244K869K / 833KSouth Korea has 52.1% more people aged 20-24
25-291752K / 1597K968K / 932KSouth Korea has 76.2% more people aged 25-29
30-341965K / 1699K1009K / 976KSouth Korea has 84.7% more people aged 30-34
35-391754K / 1563K957K / 933KSouth Korea has 75.5% more people aged 35-39
40-441898K / 1769K889K / 872KSouth Korea has 108.1% more people aged 40-44
45-492008K / 1928K801K / 793KSouth Korea has 146.9% more people aged 45-49
50-542113K / 2063K956K / 962KSouth Korea has 117.7% more people aged 50-54
55-592185K / 2194K1046K / 1075KSouth Korea has 106.4% more people aged 55-59
60-642020K / 2038K798K / 846KSouth Korea has 146.8% more people aged 60-64
65-691875K / 1999K633K / 704KSouth Korea has 189.6% more people aged 65-69
70-741276K / 1444K358K / 427KSouth Korea has 246.3% more people aged 70-74
75-79835K / 1024K266K / 380KSouth Korea has 187.7% more people aged 75-79
80-84529K / 786K158K / 280KSouth Korea has 200.2% more people aged 80-84
85-89276K / 559K59K / 142KSouth Korea has 313.9% more people aged 85-89
90-9483K / 270K11K / 38KSouth Korea has 615.7% more people aged 90-94
95-9912K / 79K1K / 5KSouth Korea has 1324.4% more people aged 95-99
100+1K / 12K0K / 0KSouth Korea has 2807.3% more people aged 100+

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has more people, South Korea or North Korea?

South Korea has more: 51.6 million vs 26.6 million in 2026 — 1.9× as many, 25.0 million more people.

Which country is older?

South Korea, with a median age of 46.2 vs 36.8 in North Korea (2026).

Which has higher fertility?

North Korea, at 1.75 children per woman vs 0.76 in South Korea. Replacement is 2.1, so both are below it.

How will South Korea and North Korea compare in 2050?

By 2050 the UN projects South Korea at 45.1 million (-12.5% from 2026) and North Korea at 25.8 million (-3.2%).

Are South Korea and North Korea growing or shrinking?

South Korea is declining (-0.1% in 2026); North Korea is growing (+0.2%).

Explore Individual Countries

South Korea population pyramid→North Korea population pyramid→

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