North Korea Population Pyramid (2026)
North Korea has a population of 26,633,691 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 56th-largest population in the world and 0.32% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 18.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 13.0%, with 98.2 males for every 100 females.
North Korea Demographics
North Korea has 26.6 million people in 2026, up 75.5% from 15.2 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 60,709 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 36.8 — the 60th-highest of 194 countries.
65+ share 13.0% — the 65th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen X — 22.6% (6,006,024)
All generations in North Korea →Compare North Korea Demographics
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how North Korea's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
North Korea has 98.2 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 244,273 (0.9% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:13,194,709
- Percentage:49.5%
Female Statistics
- Population:13,438,982
- Percentage:50.5%
- Ratio Format:1:1.019
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of North Korea indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 328,497 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 348,026 | 13.3 | 1.81 | estimate |
| 2022 | 346,185 | 13.1 | 1.80 | estimate |
| 2023 | 342,038 | 12.9 | 1.78 | estimate |
| 2024 | 340,728 | 12.9 | 1.78 | projection |
| 2025 | 334,881 | 12.6 | 1.77 | projection |
| 2026 | 328,497 | 12.3 | 1.75 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (328,497 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
North Korea's median age is 36.8 years
Half the population is younger than 36.8 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,676,179 | 6.3% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 1,706,056 | 6.4% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 1,649,614 | 6.2% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 1,621,199 | 6.1% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 1,702,180 | 6.4% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 1,900,214 | 7.1% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,984,419 | 7.5% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,889,492 | 7.1% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,761,909 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,594,045 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,918,336 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 2,120,932 | 8.0% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,644,147 | 6.2% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,337,321 | 5.0% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 785,449 | 2.9% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 646,371 | 2.4% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 438,075 | 1.6% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 201,699 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 49,251 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 6,354 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 451 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.75 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (12.3 vs 10.1 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
North Korea Total Fertility Rate: 1.75 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.81 | 13.3 | |
| 2022 | 1.80 | 13.1 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.78 | 12.9 | ↓0.02 |
| 2024 | 1.78 | 12.9 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.77 | 12.6 | ↓0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.75 | 12.3 | ↓0.02 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.72
North Korea's total fertility rate is 1.75 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. North Korea ranks 112 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −64.9% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, North Korea's population has increased by 139.6%.
The median age has increased from 16.3 in 1950 to 36.8 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding North Korea's Demographics
North Korea has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 18.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 13.0%.
The largest five-year age band is 55–59, at 8.0% of the population, compared with 6.3% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: North Korea's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
North Korea's working-age share peaked in 2019 at 70.0% and is 68.1% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
North Korea is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.75 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
North Korea's median age changed by +2.4 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 26,633,691 |
| Male Population | 13,194,709(49.5%) |
| Female Population | 13,438,982(50.5%) |
| Median Age | 36.8 years |
| Sex Ratio | 98.2 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 5,031,849(18.9%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 18,136,871(68.1%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 3,464,971(13.0%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 46.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 27.7 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 19.1 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in North Korea
How long the average person in North Korea is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
North Korea is projected to shrink to 25.8 million people by 2050 (−3.2% from 2026).
The median age rises from 36.8 in 2026 to 42.9 by 2050.
North Korea's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 20.2%, growing from 15.2 million in 1970 to 18.2 million by 1980
The median age increased by 1.0 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 5.0 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 15.2M to 18.2M
- • Growth rate of 20.2% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 20.4 to 21.4 years (+1.0y)
- • 65+ share changed by +0.2 points; under-15 share by −5.0 points
How Does North Korea Compare to Its Neighbors?
North Korea has a younger population than China, Japan, South Korea. North Korea has an older population than Mongolia.
North Korea
China
Japan
South Korea
Mongolia
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Korea (Current) | 26,633,691 | 36.8 | 18.9% | 13.0% | constrictive |
| China | 1,412,914,088 | 40.6 | 14.8% | 15.1% | constrictive |
| Japan | 122,427,731 | 50.2 | 11.0% | 30.2% | constrictive |
| South Korea | 51,600,388 | 46.2 | 9.8% | 21.4% | constrictive |
| Mongolia | 3,556,798 | 27.0 | 30.9% | 5.7% | expansive |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea
How does North Korea rank globally by population?
North Korea ranks 56th in the world by population with 26.6 million people as of 2026, representing 0.32% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does North Korea's age structure reveal about its development?
North Korea's age structure — 18.9% under 15, 68.1% working-age (15–64) and 13.0% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 36.8 years.
What is the dependency ratio in North Korea?
North Korea has 46.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is North Korea experiencing a demographic dividend?
North Korea has moved past its demographic-dividend window. North Korea's working-age share peaked in 2019 at 70.0% and is 68.1% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in North Korea's population?
North Korea has more females than males, with 98.2 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). North Korea Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/north-korea
View UN World Population Prospects Data →