What is population growth rate in North Korea?

Population growth rate in North Korea was 0.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest population growth rate recorded in North Korea?

The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1967.

What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in North Korea?

The lowest recorded value was -5.0% in 1950.

How does North Korea rank for population growth rate?

North Korea ranks 162nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.

Is population growth rate rising or falling in North Korea?

Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this North Korea data come from?

The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Population growth rate in North Korea

Name: Population growth rate in North Korea
Creator: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

North Korea: Population growth rate was 0.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

0.3%

Change on year

down 11.1%

World rank

162nd

of 236 countries

All-time high

3.0%

in 1967

All-time low

-5.0%

in 1950

Years of data

1950–2023

Population growth rate in North Korea, 1950–2023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

North Korea recorded 0.3% for population growth rate in 2023.

That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population growth rate in North Korea peaked at 3.0% in 1967 and was at its lowest, -5.0%, in 1950.

North Korea ranks 162nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	0.2%	-5.0%	2.8%	10
1960s	2.6%	2.1%	3.0%	10
1970s	1.9%	1.4%	2.7%	10
1980s	1.5%	1.4%	1.5%	10
1990s	1.2%	0.8%	1.5%	10
2000s	0.6%	0.4%	0.7%	10
2010s	0.5%	0.4%	0.5%	10
2020s	0.4%	0.3%	0.4%	4

Countries ranked near North Korea

159 Argentina 0.3% compare
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163 Saint Lucia 0.3% compare
164 Belgium 0.3% compare
165 French Polynesia 0.2% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

Frequently asked questions

What is population growth rate in North Korea?: Population growth rate in North Korea was 0.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest population growth rate recorded in North Korea?: The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1967.
What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in North Korea?: The lowest recorded value was -5.0% in 1950.
How does North Korea rank for population growth rate?: North Korea ranks 162nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is population growth rate rising or falling in North Korea?: Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this North Korea data come from?: The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Population growth rate
Unit: %
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

The annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.