North Korea vs South Sudan: Population by labor force status bars
North Korea
5.03 million
in 2025
South Sudan
4.58 million
in 2023
North Korea rank
72nd
South Sudan rank
74th
Population by labor force status bars over time
- North Korea
- South Sudan
How they compare
North Korea currently reports 5.03 million against 4.58 million in South Sudan, a difference of 453,140.
That makes North Korea's figure about 1.1 times South Sudan's.
Across all 33 years both countries report, North Korea has been ahead every year.
North Korea ranks 72nd and South Sudan ranks 74th of 186 countries.
North Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | South Sudan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.92 million | 2.40 million | 3.52 million | North Korea |
| 2000s | 5.82 million | 3.37 million | 2.45 million | North Korea |
| 2010s | 5.13 million | 4.57 million | 564,127 | North Korea |
| 2020s | 5.00 million | 4.54 million | 466,768 | North 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 Sudan?
- North Korea, at 5.03 million against 4.58 million in South Sudan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population by labor force status bars between North Korea and South Sudan?
- 453,140, with North Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and South Sudan?
- 33 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2023.
- How do North Korea and South Sudan rank globally for population by labor force status bars?
- North Korea ranks 72nd and South Sudan ranks 74th 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.