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Cuba vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a population of 11M (ranked 87/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Cuba's land area is 40,077 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 103rd vs. 97th).

By GDP, Cuba ranks 69/197 ($107B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Cuba ranks 86/197 ($9,605), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Cuba and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Cuba and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Cuba North Korea
2024 - $34,943,120,000
2023 - $32,155,360,000
2022 - $28,971,360,000
2021 - $32,301,720,000
2020 $107,352,000,000 $27,728,240,000
2019 $103,427,600,000 $28,222,880,000
2018 $100,050,036,100 $28,536,400,000
2017 $96,850,649,700 $29,105,440,000
2016 $91,370,407,900 $28,882,640,000
2015 $87,132,800,000 $30,723,030,000
2014 $80,656,100,000 $30,554,460,000
2013 $77,148,000,000 $30,588,922,000
2012 $73,141,000,000 $29,890,710,000
2011 $68,990,000,000 $29,005,020,000
2010 $59,562,962,963 $25,995,513,000
2009 $57,481,481,481 $23,356,470,000
2008 $56,302,129,630 -
2007 $54,262,870,370 -
2006 $48,835,925,926 -
2005 $42,643,836,100 -
2004 $38,203,000,000 -
2003 $35,901,200,000 -
2002 $33,590,500,000 -
2001 $31,682,400,000 -
2000 $30,565,400,000 -
1999 $28,364,615,200 -
1998 $25,736,331,200 -
1997 $25,365,908,100 -
1996 $25,017,368,700 -
1995 $30,429,803,651 -
1994 $28,448,326,757 -
1993 $22,367,254,865 -
1992 $22,085,858,243 -
1991 $24,316,556,026 -
1990 $28,645,436,569 -
1989 $27,023,468,666 -
1988 $27,458,999,472 -
1987 $25,213,935,012 -
1986 $24,226,574,634 -
1985 $22,920,490,774 -
1984 $24,039,383,608 -
1983 $22,204,940,512 -
1982 $20,953,510,235 -
1981 $20,150,254,096 -
1980 $19,912,889,861 -
1979 $19,584,443,288 -
1978 $17,844,705,325 -
1977 $14,206,158,675 -
1976 $13,789,579,903 -
1975 $13,027,415,244 -
1974 $11,405,957,317 -
1973 $9,987,709,650 -
1972 $8,135,150,892 -
1971 $6,914,658,400 -
1970 $5,693,005,200 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2020, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Cuba and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Cuba North Korea
2024 - $1,319
2023 - $1,217
2022 - $1,100
2021 - $1,231
2020 $9,605 $1,061
2019 $9,232 $1,084
2018 $8,911 $1,100
2017 $8,611 $1,127
2016 $8,111 $1,124
2015 $7,728 $1,201
2014 $7,147 $1,201
2013 $6,828 $1,208
2012 $6,471 $1,186
2011 $6,104 $1,156
2010 $5,272 $1,040
2009 $5,089 $939
2008 $4,986 -
2007 $4,807 -
2006 $4,330 -
2005 $3,786 -
2004 $3,399 -
2003 $3,203 -
2002 $3,005 -
2001 $2,843 -
2000 $2,751 -
1999 $2,562 -
1998 $2,332 -
1997 $2,306 -
1996 $2,282 -
1995 $2,785 -
1994 $2,613 -
1993 $2,063 -
1992 $2,048 -
1991 $2,269 -
1990 $2,694 -
1989 $2,566 -
1988 $2,632 -
1987 $2,440 -
1986 $2,365 -
1985 $2,257 -
1984 $2,386 -
1983 $2,222 -
1982 $2,114 -
1981 $2,046 -
1980 $2,031 -
1979 $2,006 -
1978 $1,837 -
1977 $1,472 -
1976 $1,441 -
1975 $1,374 -
1974 $1,217 -
1973 $1,079 -
1972 $892 -
1971 $770 -
1970 $645 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Cuba vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Cuba North Korea
2026 78.6 74
2025 78.4 73.9
2024 78.3 73.7
2023 78.1 73.6
2022 77.6 73.6
2021 73.2 73.4
2020 77.4 72.8
2019 77.4 72.9
2018 77.4 73
2017 77.3 73
2016 77.6 73
2015 77.7 72.8
2014 77.8 72.5
2013 78 71.9
2012 78.2 71.3
2011 78.1 70.8
2010 77.9 70.2
2009 77.6 69.7
2008 77.6 69.3
2007 77.6 69
2006 77.4 69.1
2005 77.5 69.2
2004 77.3 69.3
2003 77.4 69.4
2002 76.8 60.9
2001 76.4 60.9
2000 75.9 60.9
1999 75.7 60.9
1998 75.4 60.9
1997 75.1 60.9
1996 74.7 60.8
1995 74.3 60.8
1994 74.1 70.5
1993 73.9 70.8
1992 73.8 71
1991 73.8 70.7
1990 73.8 70.5
1989 73.7 70.3
1988 73.7 70.1
1987 73.6 69.8
1986 73.6 69.5
1985 73.5 69.2
1984 73.6 68.9
1983 73.6 68.5
1982 73.4 68.1
1981 73 67.7
1980 72.6 67.2
1979 72.3 66.7
1978 71.9 66.3
1977 71.4 65.8
1976 70.9 65.3
1975 70.4 64.8
1974 69.9 64.3
1973 69.3 63.8
1972 68.9 63.3
1971 68.4 62.7
1970 67.9 62
1969 67.4 61.4
1968 66.9 60.8
1967 66.5 60.1
1966 66.1 59.4
1965 65.6 58.8
1964 65.3 58.2
1963 64.3 57.6
1962 64.4 57
1961 63.7 56.4
1960 63.3 55.8
1959 62.8 55.2
1958 62.3 54.5
1957 61.9 53.7
1956 61.5 52.8
1955 61.2 51.8
1954 60.7 50.6
1953 60.2 40.3
1952 59.8 32.8
1951 59.4 17.7
1950 59 14.2

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

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

Cuba and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Cuba North Korea
2024 10,979,783 26,498,823
2023 11,019,931 26,418,204
2022 11,059,820 26,328,845
2021 11,122,168 26,232,534
2020 11,176,354 26,136,312
2019 11,202,846 26,037,632
2018 11,227,118 25,931,147
2017 11,247,829 25,817,709
2016 11,265,612 25,698,326
2015 11,275,065 25,575,350
2014 11,285,775 25,451,262
2013 11,298,167 25,329,451
2012 11,303,175 25,211,728
2011 11,301,571 25,097,874
2010 11,297,409 24,987,258
2009 11,294,719 24,878,332
2008 11,291,762 24,764,618
2007 11,287,272 24,646,383
2006 11,278,550 24,524,507
2005 11,262,554 24,396,433
2004 11,238,756 24,254,943
2003 11,209,383 24,090,380
2002 11,177,418 23,943,973
2001 11,144,132 23,815,358
2000 11,109,109 23,665,910
1999 11,072,230 23,497,599
1998 11,034,712 23,311,564
1997 10,997,934 23,110,830
1996 10,962,010 22,895,746
1995 10,925,362 22,669,304
1994 10,886,021 22,393,975
1993 10,841,031 22,073,352
1992 10,785,801 21,750,911
1991 10,717,640 21,428,638
1990 10,631,799 21,112,137
1989 10,533,243 20,804,367
1988 10,432,585 20,503,161
1987 10,335,342 20,205,483
1986 10,244,247 19,910,855
1985 10,157,228 19,620,388
1984 10,073,299 19,335,043
1983 9,991,026 19,054,034
1982 9,912,681 18,776,357
1981 9,849,320 18,501,295
1980 9,804,796 18,236,786
1979 9,763,355 17,983,470
1978 9,711,980 17,735,995
1977 9,648,440 17,492,798
1976 9,571,242 17,243,450
1975 9,479,726 16,971,055
1974 9,374,183 16,673,121
1973 9,255,328 16,350,367
1972 9,123,891 15,975,069
1971 8,979,085 15,572,457
1970 8,824,382 15,172,775
1969 8,666,640 14,767,615
1968 8,509,522 14,365,596
1967 8,352,625 13,958,350
1966 8,193,450 13,569,094
1965 8,030,797 13,219,369
1964 7,866,020 12,889,770
1963 7,701,660 12,567,057
1962 7,541,098 12,262,882
1961 7,387,117 11,990,713
1960 7,238,081 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Cuba and North Korea

Fertility rate
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cuba North Korea
2023 1.44 1.78
2022 1.41 1.8
2021 1.43 1.81
2020 1.49 1.82
2019 1.54 1.83
2018 1.61 1.83
2017 1.59 1.85
2016 1.6 1.86
2015 1.69 1.86
2014 1.66 1.87
2013 1.68 1.88
2012 1.67 1.88
2011 1.73 1.88
2010 1.67 1.89
2009 1.68 1.91
2008 1.58 1.97
2007 1.44 1.94
2006 1.4 1.94
2005 1.49 1.87
2004 1.55 1.9
2003 1.63 1.91
2002 1.65 1.92
2001 1.6 1.94
2000 1.61 1.94
1999 1.64 1.97
1998 1.62 1.99
1997 1.59 2.03
1996 1.46 2.09
1995 1.48 2.15
1994 1.47 2.18
1993 1.49 2.22
1992 1.56 2.29
1991 1.66 2.35
1990 1.81 2.39
1989 1.83 2.41
1988 1.85 2.47
1987 1.8 2.53
1986 1.78 2.59
1985 1.77 2.65
1984 1.77 2.71
1983 1.8 2.78
1982 1.78 2.85
1981 1.59 2.92
1980 1.64 2.84
1979 1.77 2.85
1978 1.88 2.79
1977 2.21 2.77
1976 2.51 2.84
1975 2.82 3.05
1974 3.16 3.14
1973 3.4 3.35
1972 3.61 3.89
1971 3.8 3.74
1970 3.98 3.85
1969 4.12 3.86
1968 4.19 3.87
1967 4.29 4.05
1966 4.4 3.71
1965 4.5 3.56
1964 4.53 3.55
1963 4.56 3.63
1962 4.42 3.41
1961 4.26 3.26
1960 4.13 3.57

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

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

Cuba and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Cuba

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Cuba North Korea
2024 43.1 37.3
2023 42.8 37.1
2022 42.5 36.8
2021 42.3 36.6
2020 42.1 36.4
2019 41.9 36.2
2018 41.6 35.9
2017 41.3 35.7
2016 40.9 35.4
2015 40.6 35.2
2014 40.2 35
2013 39.7 34.7
2012 39.1 34.5
2011 38.6 34.3
2010 38.2 34
2009 37.7 33.7
2008 37.3 33.3
2007 36.8 32.9
2006 36.2 32.5
2005 35.7 32.1
2004 35.2 31.8
2003 34.7 31.4
2002 34.2 31
2001 33.6 30.5
2000 33.1 30.1
1999 32.5 29.6
1998 32 29.2
1997 31.4 28.8
1996 30.9 28.3
1995 30.3 28
1994 29.7 27.6
1993 29.2 27.2
1992 28.7 26.8
1991 28.3 26.4
1990 27.9 26
1989 27.5 25.6
1988 27.1 25.1
1987 26.7 24.8
1986 26.3 24.5
1985 25.9 24.2
1984 25.5 23.9
1983 25.1 23.5
1982 24.8 23.1
1981 24.5 22.8
1980 24.1 22.5
1979 23.7 22.2
1978 23.4 21.8
1977 23 21.4
1976 22.7 21.1
1975 22.5 20.9
1974 22.2 20.7
1973 22.1 20.7
1972 21.9 20.9
1971 21.9 21.2
1970 21.8 21.4
1969 21.8 21.4
1968 21.9 21.4
1967 21.9 21.4
1966 22 21.3
1965 22.1 21.2
1964 22.2 21
1963 22.3 20.8
1962 22.4 20.6
1961 22.5 20.2
1960 22.5 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Cuba North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$101B
2019
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49%
2025
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
8.44%
2022
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.88%
2018
n/a
Armed forces personnel
76,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Unemployment rate
1.7%
2018
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
73.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
23.8%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
25.2
2026
3.1
2026
Total reserves including gold
$144M
1960
n/a
International tourist arrivals
1,086,000
2020
n/a

Energy

Cuba North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
816 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
21 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.91 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
88.1%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
20.9%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.34%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
62.8%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,102 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
5.19%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.77%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Cuba North Korea
% of world population
0.14%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-22,244
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
77.2%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.7 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.25 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
47.2
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
40
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
51
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.42
2019
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.9
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
72
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.7%
2021
100%
2018
English speaking
6%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
71.3%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Cuba North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,199
2020
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$107
2020
n/a
Life expectancy
78.6 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.02%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
9.54
2021
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
35
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.3
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
22.6%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.4%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
90
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
17.4%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
5.38 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Cuba North Korea
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
3,650 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
24,714 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
12,517 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
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. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  6. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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)

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