Editing Demographics of North Korea (section)

==Population structure and projections==
[[File:Pyramide Corée du Nord (english).png|thumb|right|300px|[[Population pyramid]] of North Korea]]
Demographers determine the age structure of a given population by dividing it into five-year age-groups and arranging them chronologically in a pyramid-like structure that "bulges" or recedes in relation to the number of persons in a given age cohort.<ref name=":2" /> Many poor, [[Developing country|developing countries]] have a broad base and steadily tapering higher levels, which reflects a large number of births and young children but much smaller age [[Demographics#Generational cohorts|cohorts]] in later years as a result of relatively short life expectancies.<ref name=":3">{{Harvnb|Savada|1994|p=58}}.</ref> North Korea does not entirely fit this pattern; data reveal a "bulge" in the lower ranges of adulthood. In 1991, life expectancy at birth was approximately 66 years for males, almost 73 for females.<ref name=":3" />

It is likely that annual population growth rates will increase, as well as difficulties in employing the many young men and women entering the labor force in a socialist economy already suffering from stagnant growth.<ref name=":3" /> Eberstadt and Banister project that the population will stabilize (that is, cease to grow) at 34 million persons in 2045 and will then experience a gradual decline.<ref name=":4">{{Harvnb|Savada|1994|p=59}}.</ref>