North Korea vs South Korea: Population by labor force status bars
North Korea
5.03 million
in 2025
South Korea
5.27 million
in 2025
North Korea rank
72nd
South Korea rank
69th
Population by labor force status bars over time
- North Korea
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 5.27 million against 5.03 million in North Korea, a difference of 242,900.
Across all 35 years both countries report, South Korea has been ahead every year.
North Korea ranks 72nd and South Korea ranks 69th of 186 countries.
South Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.92 million | 10.50 million | 4.58 million | South Korea |
| 2000s | 5.82 million | 9.18 million | 3.36 million | South Korea |
| 2010s | 5.13 million | 7.14 million | 2.00 million | South Korea |
| 2020s | 5.01 million | 5.79 million | 777,895 | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population by labor force status bars, North Korea or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 5.27 million against 5.03 million in North Korea as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population by labor force status bars between North Korea and South Korea?
- 242,900, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and South Korea?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do North Korea and South Korea rank globally for population by labor force status bars?
- North Korea ranks 72nd and South Korea ranks 69th of 186 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Population by labor force status bars. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.