Urban population growth (annual %) in North Korea
North Korea: Urban population growth (annual %) was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in North Korea, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 0.8% for urban population growth in 2025.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in North Korea peaked at 6.4% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2002.
That places North Korea 134th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth (annual %) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.4% | — |
| 1962 | 5.6% | -13.0% |
| 1963 | 5.3% | -4.9% |
| 1964 | 5.2% | -1.8% |
| 1965 | 5.3% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 5.6% | +6.7% |
| 1967 | 5.9% | +5.4% |
| 1968 | 5.8% | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 5.2% | -9.8% |
| 1970 | 4.5% | -14.1% |
| 1971 | 3.9% | -12.5% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | -4.4% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | -11.6% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | -19.7% |
| 1975 | 2.1% | -20.5% |
| 1976 | 1.7% | -19.6% |
| 1977 | 1.5% | -11.5% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | -15.1% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | -17.7% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | -2.5% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | -2.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.0%, 20% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.9%, 85% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.6% | 1.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More climate change data for North Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 17.06 million (2025)
- Population, total 26.57 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions from cement 0.2% (2024)
- Global warming contributions from fossil fuels and land use, per 0 °C per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in North Korea?
- Urban population growth in North Korea was 0.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 1961.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for urban population growth?
- North Korea ranks 134th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.