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Brunei vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Brunei has a population of 463K (ranked 170/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Brunei's land area is 2,035 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 165th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Brunei ranks 142/197 ($15.3B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Brunei ranks 36/197 ($33,153), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Brunei North Korea
Population
470884
26659144
Population rank 170/197 57/197
GDP
$15.3B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 142/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$33,153
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 36/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$351M
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.29%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$759
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 153/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$24,405
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 2,035 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
231 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.75
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
33.2 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.8 years
2026
74 years
2026

Brunei and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Brunei and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Brunei North Korea
2024 $15,340,808,592 $34,943,120,000
2023 $15,095,084,656 $32,155,360,000
2022 $16,681,536,467 $28,971,360,000
2021 $14,006,496,617 $32,301,720,000
2020 $12,005,799,654 $27,728,240,000
2019 $13,469,235,365 $28,222,880,000
2018 $13,566,908,391 $28,536,400,000
2017 $12,128,168,045 $29,105,440,000
2016 $11,400,266,045 $28,882,640,000
2015 $12,930,296,870 $30,723,030,000
2014 $17,097,797,386 $30,554,460,000
2013 $18,094,148,099 $30,588,922,000
2012 $19,048,443,341 $29,890,710,000
2011 $18,524,791,063 $29,005,020,000
2010 $13,707,121,038 $25,995,513,000
2009 $11,912,904,510 $23,356,470,000
2008 $15,926,456,515 -
2007 $13,432,029,484 -
2006 $12,644,616,419 -
2005 $10,547,202,621 -
2004 $8,619,178,774 -
2003 $7,167,725,262 -
2002 $6,333,082,876 -
2001 $6,096,155,767 -
2000 $6,570,999,088 -
1999 $6,309,070,378 -
1998 $5,550,846,020 -
1997 $7,793,034,376 -
1996 $7,663,377,306 -
1995 $7,700,144,069 -
1994 $6,467,782,518 -
1993 $6,203,339,912 -
1992 $6,327,966,435 -
1991 $6,284,497,294 -
1990 $6,039,881,087 -
1989 $4,983,622,881 -
1988 $4,535,130,305 -
1987 $4,918,010,080 -
1986 $4,190,280,003 -
1985 $6,967,623,884 -
1984 $7,632,788,075 -
1983 $7,927,590,750 -
1982 $8,932,198,186 -
1981 $9,367,218,664 -
1980 $10,795,432,294 -
1979 $6,044,367,628 -
1978 $4,100,423,674 -
1977 $3,681,242,528 -
1976 $3,054,765,590 -
1975 $2,496,420,258 -
1974 $2,319,576,214 -
1973 $433,095,527 -
1972 $270,822,782 -
1971 $197,525,768 -
1970 $179,078,929 -
1969 $161,210,236 -
1968 $160,818,236 -
1967 $139,029,537 -
1966 $132,757,528 -
1965 $114,039,501 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Brunei and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Brunei North Korea
2024 $33,153 $1,319
2023 $32,891 $1,217
2022 $36,633 $1,100
2021 $31,007 $1,231
2020 $26,834 $1,061
2019 $30,427 $1,084
2018 $30,988 $1,100
2017 $28,024 $1,127
2016 $26,663 $1,124
2015 $30,625 $1,201
2014 $41,027 $1,201
2013 $44,003 $1,208
2012 $46,969 $1,186
2011 $46,383 $1,156
2010 $34,938 $1,040
2009 $30,946 $939
2008 $42,157 -
2007 $36,217 -
2006 $34,675 -
2005 $29,386 -
2004 $24,423 -
2003 $20,678 -
2002 $18,621 -
2001 $18,288 -
2000 $20,130 -
1999 $19,752 -
1998 $17,769 -
1997 $25,522 -
1996 $25,692 -
1995 $26,443 -
1994 $22,767 -
1993 $22,397 -
1992 $23,451 -
1991 $23,932 -
1990 $23,659 -
1989 $20,090 -
1988 $18,825 -
1987 $21,030 -
1986 $18,501 -
1985 $31,827 -
1984 $36,061 -
1983 $38,720 -
1982 $45,075 -
1981 $48,793 -
1980 $58,005 -
1979 $33,501 -
1978 $23,447 -
1977 $21,747 -
1976 $18,671 -
1975 $15,793 -
1974 $15,195 -
1973 $2,939 -
1972 $1,905 -
1971 $1,432 -
1970 $1,325 -
1969 $1,226 -
1968 $1,274 -
1967 $1,149 -
1966 $1,146 -
1965 $1,029 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Brunei vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Brunei North Korea
2026 75.8 74
2025 75.7 73.9
2024 75.5 73.7
2023 75.3 73.6
2022 72.9 73.6
2021 74.9 73.4
2020 75.1 72.8
2019 75 72.9
2018 75 73
2017 74.9 73
2016 74.9 73
2015 74.9 72.8
2014 74.9 72.5
2013 74.9 71.9
2012 74.8 71.3
2011 74.8 70.8
2010 74.8 70.2
2009 74.8 69.7
2008 74.8 69.3
2007 74.8 69
2006 74.8 69.1
2005 74.7 69.2
2004 74.6 69.3
2003 74.5 69.4
2002 74.4 60.9
2001 74.2 60.9
2000 74 60.9
1999 73.8 60.9
1998 73.6 60.9
1997 73.3 60.9
1996 73.1 60.8
1995 72.8 60.8
1994 72.6 70.5
1993 72.3 70.8
1992 72.1 71
1991 71.9 70.7
1990 71.6 70.5
1989 71.4 70.3
1988 71.2 70.1
1987 71 69.8
1986 70.8 69.5
1985 70.5 69.2
1984 70.2 68.9
1983 70 68.5
1982 69.7 68.1
1981 69.3 67.7
1980 69 67.2
1979 68.6 66.7
1978 68.3 66.3
1977 67.8 65.8
1976 67.4 65.3
1975 67 64.8
1974 66.4 64.3
1973 66 63.8
1972 65.4 63.3
1971 65 62.7
1970 64.5 62
1969 64 61.4
1968 63.5 60.8
1967 62.9 60.1
1966 62.4 59.4
1965 61.7 58.8
1964 61.3 58.2
1963 60.6 57.6
1962 58.8 57
1961 59.4 56.4
1960 58.7 55.8
1959 58 55.2
1958 57.3 54.5
1957 56.5 53.7
1956 55.7 52.8
1955 55 51.8
1954 54.2 50.6
1953 53.3 40.3
1952 52.4 32.8
1951 51.5 17.7
1950 50.6 14.2

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

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

Brunei and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Brunei North Korea
2024 462,721 26,498,823
2023 458,949 26,418,204
2022 455,370 26,328,845
2021 451,721 26,232,534
2020 447,404 26,136,312
2019 442,680 26,037,632
2018 437,810 25,931,147
2017 432,772 25,817,709
2016 427,564 25,698,326
2015 422,212 25,575,350
2014 416,750 25,451,262
2013 411,202 25,329,451
2012 405,557 25,211,728
2011 399,389 25,097,874
2010 392,332 24,987,258
2009 384,952 24,878,332
2008 377,793 24,764,618
2007 370,873 24,646,383
2006 364,663 24,524,507
2005 358,916 24,396,433
2004 352,911 24,254,943
2003 346,637 24,090,380
2002 340,099 23,943,973
2001 333,345 23,815,358
2000 326,424 23,665,910
1999 319,411 23,497,599
1998 312,385 23,311,564
1997 305,341 23,110,830
1996 298,276 22,895,746
1995 291,195 22,669,304
1994 284,091 22,393,975
1993 276,971 22,073,352
1992 269,839 21,750,911
1991 262,596 21,428,638
1990 255,292 21,112,137
1989 248,064 20,804,367
1988 240,913 20,503,161
1987 233,860 20,205,483
1986 226,495 19,910,855
1985 218,919 19,620,388
1984 211,661 19,335,043
1983 204,741 19,054,034
1982 198,165 18,776,357
1981 191,977 18,501,295
1980 186,111 18,236,786
1979 180,422 17,983,470
1978 174,884 17,735,995
1977 169,277 17,492,798
1976 163,607 17,243,450
1975 158,070 16,971,055
1974 152,656 16,673,121
1973 147,369 16,350,367
1972 142,189 15,975,069
1971 137,921 15,572,457
1970 135,138 15,172,775
1969 131,446 14,767,615
1968 126,222 14,365,596
1967 121,017 13,958,350
1966 115,874 13,569,094
1965 110,838 13,219,369
1964 105,922 12,889,770
1963 101,159 12,567,057
1962 96,719 12,262,882
1961 92,517 11,990,713
1960 88,347 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Brunei and North Korea

Fertility rate
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Brunei North Korea
2023 1.75 1.78
2022 1.76 1.8
2021 1.78 1.81
2020 1.8 1.82
2019 1.82 1.83
2018 1.85 1.83
2017 1.88 1.85
2016 1.92 1.86
2015 1.95 1.86
2014 1.97 1.87
2013 1.98 1.88
2012 1.97 1.88
2011 1.96 1.88
2010 1.94 1.89
2009 1.92 1.91
2008 1.92 1.97
2007 1.93 1.94
2006 1.97 1.94
2005 2.02 1.87
2004 2.1 1.9
2003 2.19 1.91
2002 2.26 1.92
2001 2.34 1.94
2000 2.4 1.94
1999 2.46 1.97
1998 2.53 1.99
1997 2.6 2.03
1996 2.68 2.09
1995 2.79 2.15
1994 2.9 2.18
1993 3.01 2.22
1992 3.11 2.29
1991 3.21 2.35
1990 3.29 2.39
1989 3.36 2.41
1988 3.44 2.47
1987 3.49 2.53
1986 3.55 2.59
1985 3.61 2.65
1984 3.68 2.71
1983 3.75 2.78
1982 3.84 2.85
1981 3.94 2.92
1980 4.07 2.84
1979 4.22 2.85
1978 4.39 2.79
1977 4.58 2.77
1976 4.78 2.84
1975 4.99 3.05
1974 5.18 3.14
1973 5.36 3.35
1972 5.5 3.89
1971 5.62 3.74
1970 5.8 3.85
1969 6.01 3.86
1968 6.2 3.87
1967 6.37 4.05
1966 6.51 3.71
1965 6.65 3.56
1964 6.77 3.55
1963 6.89 3.63
1962 7.03 3.41
1961 7.19 3.26
1960 7.32 3.57

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

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

Brunei and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Brunei

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Brunei North Korea
2024 33.2 37.3
2023 32.8 37.1
2022 32.3 36.8
2021 31.8 36.6
2020 31.4 36.4
2019 31 36.2
2018 30.6 35.9
2017 30.2 35.7
2016 29.8 35.4
2015 29.5 35.2
2014 29.1 35
2013 28.8 34.7
2012 28.4 34.5
2011 28.1 34.3
2010 28 34
2009 28 33.7
2008 28 33.3
2007 28.1 32.9
2006 27.9 32.5
2005 27.5 32.1
2004 27.1 31.8
2003 26.8 31.4
2002 26.4 31
2001 26.1 30.5
2000 25.8 30.1
1999 25.5 29.6
1998 25.2 29.2
1997 24.9 28.8
1996 24.7 28.3
1995 24.4 28
1994 24.1 27.6
1993 23.8 27.2
1992 23.6 26.8
1991 23.4 26.4
1990 23.1 26
1989 22.8 25.6
1988 22.6 25.1
1987 22.3 24.8
1986 22 24.5
1985 21.7 24.2
1984 21.3 23.9
1983 21 23.5
1982 20.6 23.1
1981 20.3 22.8
1980 20 22.5
1979 19.6 22.2
1978 19.4 21.8
1977 19.1 21.4
1976 18.8 21.1
1975 18.6 20.9
1974 18.3 20.7
1973 18.2 20.7
1972 18 20.9
1971 17.9 21.2
1970 17.8 21.4
1969 17.7 21.4
1968 17.5 21.4
1967 17.3 21.4
1966 17.2 21.3
1965 17 21.2
1964 17 21
1963 17.1 20.8
1962 17.5 20.6
1961 18.1 20.2
1960 18.8 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Brunei North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.8%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.43%
2016
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
3.58%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
8,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-10.2%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
39%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
61.7%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
67.5
2026
3.1
2026
Total reserves including gold
$4.41B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$1M
2023
n/a
International tourist arrivals
1,071,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
2.7%
2018
n/a

Energy

Brunei North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9,537 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.58
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
9.37 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
20.2 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
100%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.01%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-172.6%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
11,197 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.02%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Brunei North Korea
% of world population
0.006%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+0
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
74.9%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
53.1:46.9
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.46 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.08 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
73.9
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
50
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.49
2013
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
7.5
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
152
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.6%
2021
100%
2018
English speaking
37.8%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
99%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Brunei North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$733
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$54.3
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
75.8 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.89
2021
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
36
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
9.4
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate n/a
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.7%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
62
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.4%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Brunei North Korea
% of world land
0.004%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
4,397 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
51.7 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,467 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
1,849 mi
2014
15,879 mi
2006

In-depth comparisons

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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. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.