North Korea population pyramid 1950

11,116,736 people in 1950 (historical estimate). This page shows North Korea’s age and sex structure in 1950 and how it differs from 2026.

1950 population
11.1Mhistorical estimate
Median age
16.3 years2026: 36.8
Under age 15
44.4%2026: 18.9%
Age 65+
2.7%2026: 13.0%

North Korea population pyramid

1950 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex

Historical estimate
North Korea population pyramid for 1950: males on the left and females on the right Male share Female share 100+ males: 0 (0.0%) 100+ females: 6 (0.0%) 100+ 95–99 males: 9 (0.0%) 95–99 females: 42 (0.0%) 95–99 90–94 males: 107 (0.0%) 90–94 females: 539 (0.0%) 90–94 85–89 males: 1,106 (0.0%) 85–89 females: 2,936 (0.0%) 85–89 80–84 males: 4,495 (0.0%) 80–84 females: 8,560 (0.1%) 80–84 75–79 males: 17,148 (0.2%) 75–79 females: 27,989 (0.3%) 75–79 70–74 males: 32,855 (0.3%) 70–74 females: 47,691 (0.4%) 70–74 65–69 males: 67,526 (0.6%) 65–69 females: 93,146 (0.8%) 65–69 60–64 males: 91,183 (0.8%) 60–64 females: 123,414 (1.1%) 60–64 55–59 males: 122,962 (1.1%) 55–59 females: 167,144 (1.5%) 55–59 50–54 males: 147,971 (1.3%) 50–54 females: 187,137 (1.7%) 50–54 45–49 males: 171,361 (1.5%) 45–49 females: 215,596 (1.9%) 45–49 40–44 males: 189,565 (1.7%) 40–44 females: 240,988 (2.2%) 40–44 35–39 males: 248,417 (2.2%) 35–39 females: 266,043 (2.4%) 35–39 30–34 males: 281,675 (2.5%) 30–34 females: 361,963 (3.3%) 30–34 25–29 males: 334,671 (3.0%) 25–29 females: 472,231 (4.2%) 25–29 20–24 males: 420,213 (3.8%) 20–24 females: 574,152 (5.2%) 20–24 15–19 males: 572,644 (5.2%) 15–19 females: 684,615 (6.2%) 15–19 10–14 males: 747,419 (6.7%) 10–14 females: 813,609 (7.3%) 10–14 5–9 males: 793,447 (7.1%) 5–9 females: 831,798 (7.5%) 5–9 0–4 males: 867,535 (7.8%) 0–4 females: 884,827 (8.0%) 0–4 10%5% Age 5%10%

Download this population pyramid

Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.

SVG CSV data

Historical estimate

Values for 1950 are UN estimates reconstructed from censuses, surveys, and registration data available up to 2023; earlier years generally carry more uncertainty.

North Korea age structure in 1950

In 1950, children under 15 made up 44.4% of the population, people aged 15–64 52.8%, and people aged 65 or older 2.7%. On these shares the structure is classed as youthful; see the guide to expansive population pyramids.

The total age dependency ratio was 89.3 (84.1 children and 5.2 people aged 65+ per 100 aged 15–64). The largest five-year groups were 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, which together accounted for 44.4% of the population.

Fertility was 4.99 births per woman and life expectancy at birth 14.2 years. The population changed by −5.00% during the year.

North Korea in 1950 compared with 2026

Between 1950 and 2026, North Korea’s population grew by 140% and the median age rose by 20.5 years. The table sets the two years side by side; percentage-point differences compare shares, not counts.

Indicator19502026Change
Population11,116,73626,633,691+139.6%
Median age (years)16.336.8+20.5
Under 1544.4%18.9%−25.5 pts
Aged 15–6452.8%68.1%+15.3 pts
Aged 65+2.7%13.0%+10.3 pts
Fertility rate4.991.75−3.24
Life expectancy (years)14.274.0+59.8
Males per 100 females85.198.2+13.1

North Korea population by age and sex in 1950

Counts by five-year age group, with everyone aged 100 or older combined. Download the CSV for every chart year.

North Korea population by age and sex in 1950
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalShare
0–4867,535884,8271,752,36215.8%
5–9793,447831,7981,625,24514.6%
10–14747,419813,6091,561,02814.0%
15–19572,644684,6151,257,25911.3%
20–24420,213574,152994,3658.9%
25–29334,671472,231806,9027.3%
30–34281,675361,963643,6385.8%
35–39248,417266,043514,4604.6%
40–44189,565240,988430,5533.9%
45–49171,361215,596386,9573.5%
50–54147,971187,137335,1083.0%
55–59122,962167,144290,1062.6%
60–6491,183123,414214,5971.9%
65–6967,52693,146160,6721.4%
70–7432,85547,69180,5460.7%
75–7917,14827,98945,1370.4%
80–844,4958,56013,0550.1%
85–891,1062,9364,0420.0%
90–941075396460.0%
95–99942510.0%
100+0660.0%

Use this chart in your work

Charts and tables may be reused with attribution. Please link to this page and credit the United Nations as the data source.

Embed the population pyramid

Cite this page

APA

World Population Pyramid. (2026, September 28). North Korea Population Pyramid 1950. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/north-korea/1950/

MLA

“North Korea Population Pyramid 1950.” World Population Pyramid, 28 Sept. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/north-korea/1950/.

Chicago

World Population Pyramid. “North Korea Population Pyramid 1950.” Last modified September 28, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/north-korea/1950/.

Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.

Frequently asked questions

What was the population of North Korea in 1950?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 estimates North Korea's population in 1950 at 11,116,736.

What was the median age in North Korea in 1950?

The median age was 16.3 years, compared with 36.8 years in 2026.

What share of North Korea was under 15 or 65+ in 1950?

44.4% were under 15 and 2.7% aged 65 or older, giving a total age dependency ratio of 89.3.

Sources and notes