Skip to content

Belarus vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belarus has a population of 9.13M (ranked 100/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Belarus' land area is 78,372 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 83rd vs. 97th).

By GDP, Belarus ranks 83/197 ($76B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Belarus ranks 92/197 ($8,318), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Belarus North Korea
Population
9013835
26659144
Population rank 102/197 57/197
GDP
$76B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 83/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$8,318
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 92/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$33,010
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$30.3B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.9%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$3,318
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 97/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$7,345
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 78,372 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
115 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.21
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
42 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
75 years
2026
74 years
2026

Belarus and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Belarus and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Belarus North Korea
2024 $75,961,865,472 $34,943,120,000
2023 $72,478,760,370 $32,155,360,000
2022 $73,775,179,925 $28,971,360,000
2021 $69,673,747,132 $32,301,720,000
2020 $61,371,673,345 $27,728,240,000
2019 $64,410,170,653 $28,222,880,000
2018 $60,031,026,576 $28,536,400,000
2017 $54,725,405,751 $29,105,440,000
2016 $47,723,545,321 $28,882,640,000
2015 $56,454,769,845 $30,723,030,000
2014 $78,813,069,121 $30,554,460,000
2013 $75,527,558,966 $30,588,922,000
2012 $65,685,890,439 $29,890,710,000
2011 $61,762,382,328 $29,005,020,000
2010 $57,231,904,543 $25,995,513,000
2009 $50,873,167,326 $23,356,470,000
2008 $60,752,106,347 -
2007 $45,275,711,996 -
2006 $36,961,894,281 -
2005 $30,210,091,837 -
2004 $23,141,566,293 -
2003 $17,825,444,724 -
2002 $14,594,900,945 -
2001 $12,354,820,144 -
2000 $12,736,856,828 -
1999 $12,138,486,532 -
1998 $15,222,012,660 -
1997 $14,128,408,566 -
1996 $14,500,437,520 -
1995 $13,972,683,274 -
1994 $14,931,435,232 -
1993 $16,275,073,527 -
1992 $16,939,790,094 -
1991 $18,404,907,975 -
1990 $17,389,558,233 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Belarus and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belarus North Korea
2024 $8,318 $1,319
2023 $7,897 $1,217
2022 $7,995 $1,100
2021 $7,490 $1,231
2020 $6,543 $1,061
2019 $6,838 $1,084
2018 $6,360 $1,100
2017 $5,786 $1,127
2016 $5,040 $1,124
2015 $5,967 $1,201
2014 $8,341 $1,201
2013 $7,998 $1,208
2012 $6,953 $1,186
2011 $6,528 $1,156
2010 $6,035 $1,040
2009 $5,352 $939
2008 $6,376 -
2007 $4,735 -
2006 $3,848 -
2005 $3,126 -
2004 $2,378 -
2003 $1,820 -
2002 $1,479 -
2001 $1,244 -
2000 $1,276 -
1999 $1,211 -
1998 $1,511 -
1997 $1,396 -
1996 $1,427 -
1995 $1,371 -
1994 $1,460 -
1993 $1,590 -
1992 $1,658 -
1991 $1,805 -
1990 $1,707 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Belarus vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belarus North Korea
2026 75 74
2025 74.8 73.9
2024 74.6 73.7
2023 74.4 73.6
2022 74.4 73.6
2021 72.2 73.4
2020 72.3 72.8
2019 74.3 72.9
2018 74.3 73
2017 74.4 73
2016 74.2 73
2015 73.8 72.8
2014 73.2 72.5
2013 72.7 71.9
2012 71.8 71.3
2011 71.1 70.8
2010 70.5 70.2
2009 70.4 69.7
2008 70.3 69.3
2007 70 69
2006 69.4 69.1
2005 69 69.2
2004 68.7 69.3
2003 68.4 69.4
2002 68.3 60.9
2001 68.4 60.9
2000 68.5 60.9
1999 68.4 60.9
1998 68.3 60.9
1997 68.5 60.9
1996 68.6 60.8
1995 68.8 60.8
1994 69 70.5
1993 69.5 70.8
1992 70.1 71
1991 70.7 70.7
1990 71.1 70.5
1989 71.5 70.3
1988 71.7 70.1
1987 71.9 69.8
1986 71.7 69.5
1985 71.2 69.2
1984 70.8 68.9
1983 70.7 68.5
1982 70.8 68.1
1981 70.8 67.7
1980 70.7 67.2
1979 70.8 66.7
1978 70.9 66.3
1977 71.1 65.8
1976 71.2 65.3
1975 71.4 64.8
1974 71.7 64.3
1973 71.7 63.8
1972 71.8 63.3
1971 71.6 62.7
1970 71.7 62
1969 71.7 61.4
1968 71.9 60.8
1967 71.9 60.1
1966 71.8 59.4
1965 71.6 58.8
1964 71.3 58.2
1963 70.8 57.6
1962 70.5 57
1961 70 56.4
1960 69.3 55.8
1959 68 55.2
1958 66.6 54.5
1957 65.4 53.7
1956 64.5 52.8
1955 63.5 51.8
1954 62.5 50.6
1953 61.5 40.3
1952 60.5 32.8
1951 59.4 17.7
1950 58.6 14.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Belarus and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Belarus North Korea
2024 9,132,629 26,498,823
2023 9,178,298 26,418,204
2022 9,228,071 26,328,845
2021 9,302,585 26,232,534
2020 9,379,952 26,136,312
2019 9,419,758 26,037,632
2018 9,438,785 25,931,147
2017 9,458,989 25,817,709
2016 9,469,379 25,698,326
2015 9,461,076 25,575,350
2014 9,448,515 25,451,262
2013 9,443,211 25,329,451
2012 9,446,836 25,211,728
2011 9,461,643 25,097,874
2010 9,483,836 24,987,258
2009 9,504,583 24,878,332
2008 9,527,985 24,764,618
2007 9,560,953 24,646,383
2006 9,604,924 24,524,507
2005 9,663,915 24,396,433
2004 9,730,146 24,254,943
2003 9,796,749 24,090,380
2002 9,865,548 23,943,973
2001 9,928,549 23,815,358
2000 9,979,610 23,665,910
1999 10,026,738 23,497,599
1998 10,071,963 23,311,564
1997 10,117,433 23,110,830
1996 10,159,569 22,895,746
1995 10,193,831 22,669,304
1994 10,226,955 22,393,975
1993 10,239,050 22,073,352
1992 10,216,470 21,750,911
1991 10,194,050 21,428,638
1990 10,189,348 21,112,137
1989 10,170,000 20,804,367
1988 10,140,000 20,503,161
1987 10,111,000 20,205,483
1986 10,043,000 19,910,855
1985 9,975,000 19,620,388
1984 9,910,000 19,335,043
1983 9,843,000 19,054,034
1982 9,776,000 18,776,357
1981 9,710,000 18,501,295
1980 9,643,000 18,236,786
1979 9,584,000 17,983,470
1978 9,525,000 17,735,995
1977 9,463,000 17,492,798
1976 9,411,000 17,243,450
1975 9,367,000 16,971,055
1974 9,317,584 16,673,121
1973 9,257,272 16,350,367
1972 9,188,968 15,975,069
1971 9,115,576 15,572,457
1970 9,040,000 15,172,775
1969 8,960,304 14,767,615
1968 8,874,552 14,365,596
1967 8,785,648 13,958,350
1966 8,696,496 13,569,094
1965 8,610,000 13,219,369
1964 8,524,224 12,889,770
1963 8,437,232 12,567,057
1962 8,351,928 12,262,882
1961 8,271,216 11,990,713
1960 8,198,000 11,722,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Belarus and North Korea

Fertility rate
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belarus North Korea
2023 1.21 1.78
2022 1.33 1.8
2021 1.37 1.81
2020 1.37 1.82
2019 1.38 1.83
2018 1.45 1.83
2017 1.54 1.85
2016 1.73 1.86
2015 1.72 1.86
2014 1.7 1.87
2013 1.67 1.88
2012 1.62 1.88
2011 1.52 1.88
2010 1.49 1.89
2009 1.51 1.91
2008 1.49 1.97
2007 1.43 1.94
2006 1.34 1.94
2005 1.25 1.87
2004 1.23 1.9
2003 1.23 1.91
2002 1.24 1.92
2001 1.29 1.94
2000 1.32 1.94
1999 1.31 1.97
1998 1.3 1.99
1997 1.25 2.03
1996 1.34 2.09
1995 1.41 2.15
1994 1.53 2.18
1993 1.62 2.22
1992 1.76 2.29
1991 1.81 2.35
1990 1.91 2.39
1989 2.03 2.41
1988 2.03 2.47
1987 2.03 2.53
1986 2.09 2.59
1985 2.09 2.65
1984 2.11 2.71
1983 2.11 2.78
1982 2.05 2.85
1981 2.02 2.92
1980 2.03 2.84
1979 2.05 2.85
1978 2.06 2.79
1977 2.08 2.77
1976 2.12 2.84
1975 2.17 3.05
1974 2.21 3.14
1973 2.25 3.35
1972 2.28 3.89
1971 2.31 3.74
1970 2.31 3.85
1969 2.26 3.86
1968 2.22 3.87
1967 2.26 4.05
1966 2.29 3.71
1965 2.27 3.56
1964 2.31 3.55
1963 2.4 3.63
1962 2.5 3.41
1961 2.59 3.26
1960 2.67 3.57

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Belarus and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Belarus

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Belarus North Korea
2024 42 37.3
2023 41.6 37.1
2022 41.2 36.8
2021 40.9 36.6
2020 40.6 36.4
2019 40.3 36.2
2018 40 35.9
2017 39.8 35.7
2016 39.7 35.4
2015 39.5 35.2
2014 39.4 35
2013 39.3 34.7
2012 39.2 34.5
2011 39.1 34.3
2010 38.9 34
2009 38.8 33.7
2008 38.7 33.3
2007 38.5 32.9
2006 38.3 32.5
2005 38 32.1
2004 37.7 31.8
2003 37.4 31.4
2002 37.1 31
2001 36.8 30.5
2000 36.5 30.1
1999 36.1 29.6
1998 35.8 29.2
1997 35.4 28.8
1996 35 28.3
1995 34.6 28
1994 34.2 27.6
1993 33.9 27.2
1992 33.6 26.8
1991 33.3 26.4
1990 33 26
1989 32.8 25.6
1988 32.6 25.1
1987 32.4 24.8
1986 32.1 24.5
1985 31.9 24.2
1984 31.7 23.9
1983 31.5 23.5
1982 31.4 23.1
1981 31.2 22.8
1980 31.2 22.5
1979 31.1 22.2
1978 30.9 21.8
1977 30.6 21.4
1976 30.4 21.1
1975 30.4 20.9
1974 30.5 20.7
1973 30.5 20.7
1972 30.5 20.9
1971 30.4 21.2
1970 30.1 21.4
1969 29.7 21.4
1968 29.3 21.4
1967 28.9 21.4
1966 28.6 21.3
1965 28.2 21.2
1964 27.9 21
1963 27.6 20.8
1962 27.3 20.6
1961 26.9 20.2
1960 26.6 19.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belarus/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Belarus and North Korea.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Belarus North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$75.4B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
40.9%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.95%
2023
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.07%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
158,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+1.05%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.04%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
49.7%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
30.7%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
49.1
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
20.7%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
4.5%
2020
n/a
Listed domestic companies
12
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.01B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$8.91B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$1.38B
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
3,598,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
1.46%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
81.2%
2017
n/a

Energy

Belarus North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,862 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$9.93
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
54.2 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.94 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.6%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
8.2%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
7.01%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
77.1%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,903 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
3.15%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.94%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
17.3%
2022
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Belarus North Korea
% of world population
0.11%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-3,020
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
79.2%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
46.6:53.4
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.86 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.48 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
54.1
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
31
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
62
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.33
2019
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
7.6
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
90
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.9%
2019
100%
2018
English speaking
12%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
94.3%
2024
0%
2012

Health

Belarus North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$558
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$159
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
75 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.08%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.72
2023
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
26.9 years
2021
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
1
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.4
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
22.1%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.1%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
70
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
30.1%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
11.6 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Belarus North Korea
% of world land
0.14%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
8,582 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
31,019 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
34,020 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
15,879 mi
2006

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.