Population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea
North Korea: Population ages 65 and above, total was 3.38 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.38 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
36th
of 218 countries
All-time high
3.38 million
in 2025
All-time low
384,738
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 3.38 million for population ages 65 and above, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea peaked at 3.38 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 384,738, in 1960.
North Korea ranks 36th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 384,738 | — |
| 1961 | 400,717 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 415,894 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 430,483 | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 444,804 | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 458,955 | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 472,954 | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 486,921 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 500,692 | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 513,910 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 526,525 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 538,699 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 550,391 | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 562,032 | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 574,201 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 586,958 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 600,406 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 614,736 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 629,700 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 645,060 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 661,344 | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 679,821 | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 701,114 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 725,258 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 751,957 | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 780,482 | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 810,726 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 842,793 | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 876,787 | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 912,820 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 951,146 | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 992,251 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1.04 million | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.08 million | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.19 million | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 1.29 million | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 1.43 million | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 1.51 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 1.60 million | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 1.69 million | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.80 million | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 1.91 million | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 2.01 million | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 2.11 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 2.20 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 2.29 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 2.37 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 2.45 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 2.53 million | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 2.61 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.68 million | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.74 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.80 million | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.82 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 2.81 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 2.81 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 2.84 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.90 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 3.05 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.18 million | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 3.29 million | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 3.38 million | +2.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3.38 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 595,468, 5.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3.38 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,535, 32.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 451,007 | 384,738 | 513,910 | 10 |
| 1970s | 582,871 | 526,525 | 645,060 | 10 |
| 1980s | 774,310 | 661,344 | 912,820 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million | 951,146 | 1.43 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.95 million | 1.51 million | 2.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.71 million | 2.45 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.13 million | 2.90 million | 3.38 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6995 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.031 units per person (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Age population, age 18, female, interpolated 159,845 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in North Korea was 3.38 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.38 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 384,738 in 1960.
- How does North Korea rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- North Korea ranks 36th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.