Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population was 64.15% in 2025, ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population stood at 64.15% in 2025, a rise of +0.30% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 64.15% by 2025. Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranked 109th globally.
North Korea’s urban population has risen steadily from 40.60 percent in 1960 to 64.15 percent in 2025, marking both the lowest and highest points in the 66‑year series. The all‑time peak of 64.15 percent, recorded in 2025, places the country at rank 109 globally and aligns closely with peers such as Ireland (64.56 percent) and the Republic of Congo (63.88 percent). This upward trajectory reflects gradual migration to cities despite the nation’s centrally planned economy and limited infrastructure development, suggesting that urbanization is being driven more by state‑directed industrial projects than by market forces. The increase from the 1960 trough to the current level represents an average annual rise of roughly 0.36 percentage points, indicating a persistent, albeit modest, shift toward urban living. Continued investment in housing, transportation, and services will be crucial to sustain this trend, while any major policy shift or external shock could alter the trajectory of urban growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 64.77% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 64.46% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 64.15% | - | - |
| 2025 | 64.15% | +0.30% | #109 |
| 2024 | 63.86% | +0.32% | #107 |
| 2023 | 63.54% | +0.31% | #106 |
| 2022 | 63.23% | +0.30% | #106 |
| 2021 | 62.93% | +0.29% | #107 |
| 2020 | 62.64% | +0.28% | #107 |
| 2019 | 62.35% | +0.27% | #107 |
| 2018 | 62.08% | +0.26% | #107 |
| 2017 | 61.82% | +0.25% | #107 |
| 2016 | 61.57% | +0.24% | #106 |
| 2015 | 61.32% | +0.23% | #106 |
| 2014 | 61.09% | +0.21% | #106 |
| 2013 | 60.88% | +0.21% | #106 |
| 2012 | 60.68% | +0.19% | #107 |
| 2011 | 60.48% | +0.18% | #107 |
Analysis
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population was 64.15% in 2025, a rise of +0.30% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 64.15% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population was 64.15% in 2025. Ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous year.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population peaked at 64.15% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of was 40.60% in 1960.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranks 109th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's urban population is projected to reach 64.15% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of in 2025 was 64.15%. This ranks 109th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of_urban-population,
title = {Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}