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DR Congo vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population of 109M (ranked 15/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). The DR Congo's land area is 875,313 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 11th vs. 97th).

By GDP, The DR Congo ranks 87/197 ($71B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, The DR Congo ranks 190/197 ($649), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

DR Congo North Korea
Population
117507801
26659144
Population rank 15/197 57/197
GDP
$71B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 87/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$649
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 190/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,821
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$16B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
22.5%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$146.4
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 183/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,693
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 875,313 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
133.1 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.05
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
16.9 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
74 years
2026

DR Congo and North Korea: Comparison Charts

DR Congo and North Korea economies compared

GDP
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
DR Congo North Korea
2024 $70,962,185,791 $34,943,120,000
2023 $69,843,655,425 $32,155,360,000
2022 $70,422,346,142 $28,971,360,000
2021 $59,067,289,574 $32,301,720,000
2020 $46,691,989,749 $27,728,240,000
2019 $46,845,900,350 $28,222,880,000
2018 $46,659,954,092 $28,536,400,000
2017 $37,537,521,566 $29,105,440,000
2016 $38,600,224,214 $28,882,640,000
2015 $40,179,574,490 $30,723,030,000
2014 $38,352,980,553 $30,554,460,000
2013 $34,891,189,160 $30,588,922,000
2012 $30,029,369,929 $29,890,710,000
2011 $26,392,379,642 $29,005,020,000
2010 $24,161,641,931 $25,995,513,000
2009 $18,607,259,481 $23,356,470,000
2008 $22,723,488,723 -
2007 $18,374,807,773 -
2006 $15,484,044,535 -
2005 $12,609,728,573 -
2004 $10,297,483,481 -
2003 $8,937,567,060 -
2002 $8,728,038,525 -
2001 $7,438,189,100 -
2000 $19,088,046,306 -
1999 $4,711,259,427 -
1998 $6,217,805,821 -
1997 $6,090,838,693 -
1996 $5,771,456,952 -
1995 $5,643,439,376 -
1994 $5,820,382,248 -
1993 $10,706,259,937 -
1992 $8,227,343,907 -
1991 $9,625,436,873 -
1990 $9,349,764,580 -
1989 $9,021,862,775 -
1988 $8,861,299,977 -
1987 $7,661,625,473 -
1986 $8,095,367,168 -
1985 $7,195,042,616 -
1984 $7,857,729,193 -
1983 $11,006,712,650 -
1982 $13,651,667,371 -
1981 $12,537,821,038 -
1980 $14,394,927,495 -
1979 $15,068,422,236 -
1978 $15,372,608,002 -
1977 $12,344,424,764 -
1976 $9,648,583,225 -
1975 $10,237,343,174 -
1974 $9,596,960,180 -
1973 $7,870,239,461 -
1972 $6,173,712,814 -
1971 $5,594,770,359 -
1970 $4,877,684,910 -
1969 $5,032,434,970 -
1968 $3,909,780,539 -
1967 $3,384,063,372 -
1966 $4,532,660,182 -
1965 $4,043,901,818 -
1964 $2,881,545,273 -
1963 $6,213,185,743 -
1962 $3,779,841,429 -
1961 $3,086,746,857 -
1960 $3,359,404,118 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

DR Congo and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
DR Congo North Korea
2024 $649 $1,319
2023 $660 $1,217
2022 $688 $1,100
2021 $596 $1,231
2020 $486 $1,061
2019 $504 $1,084
2018 $518 $1,100
2017 $431 $1,127
2016 $460 $1,124
2015 $496 $1,201
2014 $489 $1,201
2013 $460 $1,208
2012 $410 $1,186
2011 $373 $1,156
2010 $352 $1,040
2009 $280.2 $939
2008 $353 -
2007 $294.1 -
2006 $255.4 -
2005 $214.5 -
2004 $180.7 -
2003 $161.5 -
2002 $162.4 -
2001 $142.7 -
2000 $378 -
1999 $96.3 -
1998 $131.5 -
1997 $132.3 -
1996 $127.4 -
1995 $127 -
1994 $136.5 -
1993 $263.3 -
1992 $209.7 -
1991 $253.8 -
1990 $254.9 -
1989 $254.2 -
1988 $257.7 -
1987 $230.1 -
1986 $250.9 -
1985 $230.1 -
1984 $259.8 -
1983 $376 -
1982 $482 -
1981 $456 -
1980 $539 -
1979 $582 -
1978 $615 -
1977 $509 -
1976 $408 -
1975 $445 -
1974 $428 -
1973 $361 -
1972 $290.5 -
1971 $270.3 -
1970 $242.2 -
1969 $257.1 -
1968 $205.6 -
1967 $183.3 -
1966 $252.8 -
1965 $232 -
1964 $169.9 -
1963 $376 -
1962 $235.1 -
1961 $197.1 -
1960 $220.1 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

DR Congo vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
DR Congo North Korea
2026 62.4 74
2025 62.2 73.9
2024 62.1 73.7
2023 61.9 73.6
2022 61 73.6
2021 60 73.4
2020 60.4 72.8
2019 60.2 72.9
2018 59.9 73
2017 59.5 73
2016 59.1 73
2015 58.7 72.8
2014 58.2 72.5
2013 57.8 71.9
2012 57.4 71.3
2011 56.9 70.8
2010 56.4 70.2
2009 55.8 69.7
2008 55.4 69.3
2007 55 69
2006 54.5 69.1
2005 54 69.2
2004 53.5 69.3
2003 53 69.4
2002 52.4 60.9
2001 52.2 60.9
2000 51.9 60.9
1999 50.1 60.9
1998 49.7 60.9
1997 50.5 60.9
1996 49.4 60.8
1995 50.4 60.8
1994 49.9 70.5
1993 49.6 70.8
1992 49.3 71
1991 48.9 70.7
1990 48.5 70.5
1989 48.1 70.3
1988 47.8 70.1
1987 47.4 69.8
1986 47 69.5
1985 46.7 69.2
1984 46.5 68.9
1983 46.2 68.5
1982 45.9 68.1
1981 45.7 67.7
1980 45.5 67.2
1979 45.3 66.7
1978 44.6 66.3
1977 44.9 65.8
1976 44.7 65.3
1975 44.5 64.8
1974 44.3 64.3
1973 44.1 63.8
1972 43.9 63.3
1971 43.6 62.7
1970 43.3 62
1969 43 61.4
1968 42.7 60.8
1967 42.3 60.1
1966 42.2 59.4
1965 40.8 58.8
1964 40.1 58.2
1963 40.6 57.6
1962 40.4 57
1961 40.2 56.4
1960 40.8 55.8
1959 40.6 55.2
1958 40.5 54.5
1957 40.2 53.7
1956 39.9 52.8
1955 39.7 51.8
1954 39.4 50.6
1953 39.1 40.3
1952 38.9 32.8
1951 38.5 17.7
1950 38.2 14.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

DR Congo and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year Population
DR Congo North Korea
2024 109,276,265 26,498,823
2023 105,789,731 26,418,204
2022 102,396,968 26,328,845
2021 99,148,932 26,232,534
2020 95,989,998 26,136,312
2019 92,947,442 26,037,632
2018 90,047,644 25,931,147
2017 87,083,398 25,817,709
2016 83,956,415 25,698,326
2015 81,035,531 25,575,350
2014 78,403,242 25,451,262
2013 75,789,395 25,329,451
2012 73,254,618 25,211,728
2011 70,849,311 25,097,874
2010 68,563,038 24,987,258
2009 66,412,044 24,878,332
2008 64,390,664 24,764,618
2007 62,477,752 24,646,383
2006 60,615,908 24,524,507
2005 58,775,724 24,396,433
2004 56,997,741 24,254,943
2003 55,343,867 24,090,380
2002 53,750,524 23,943,973
2001 52,132,646 23,815,358
2000 50,507,442 23,665,910
1999 48,912,971 23,497,599
1998 47,297,600 23,311,564
1997 46,029,902 23,110,830
1996 45,296,124 22,895,746
1995 44,433,704 22,669,304
1994 42,626,876 22,393,975
1993 40,656,336 22,073,352
1992 39,228,910 21,750,911
1991 37,925,817 21,428,638
1990 36,684,063 21,112,137
1989 35,486,866 20,804,367
1988 34,382,752 20,503,161
1987 33,298,904 20,205,483
1986 32,265,196 19,910,855
1985 31,264,816 19,620,388
1984 30,245,081 19,335,043
1983 29,250,963 19,054,034
1982 28,338,190 18,776,357
1981 27,500,515 18,501,295
1980 26,711,099 18,236,786
1979 25,886,782 17,983,470
1978 24,992,689 17,735,995
1977 24,229,061 17,492,798
1976 23,624,031 17,243,450
1975 23,021,101 16,971,055
1974 22,418,878 16,673,121
1973 21,827,665 16,350,367
1972 21,251,160 15,975,069
1971 20,695,569 15,572,457
1970 20,137,436 15,172,775
1969 19,570,445 14,767,615
1968 19,012,189 14,365,596
1967 18,462,782 13,958,350
1966 17,931,929 13,569,094
1965 17,427,802 13,219,369
1964 16,955,327 12,889,770
1963 16,507,599 12,567,057
1962 16,075,724 12,262,882
1961 15,662,374 11,990,713
1960 15,264,846 11,722,953

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in DR Congo and North Korea

Fertility rate
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo North Korea
2023 6.05 1.78
2022 6.11 1.8
2021 6.16 1.81
2020 6.21 1.82
2019 6.25 1.83
2018 6.3 1.83
2017 6.35 1.85
2016 6.39 1.86
2015 6.44 1.86
2014 6.48 1.87
2013 6.53 1.88
2012 6.56 1.88
2011 6.58 1.88
2010 6.59 1.89
2009 6.59 1.91
2008 6.58 1.97
2007 6.56 1.94
2006 6.55 1.94
2005 6.53 1.87
2004 6.53 1.9
2003 6.55 1.91
2002 6.61 1.92
2001 6.66 1.94
2000 6.7 1.94
1999 6.69 1.97
1998 6.7 1.99
1997 6.69 2.03
1996 6.67 2.09
1995 6.68 2.15
1994 6.64 2.18
1993 6.64 2.22
1992 6.64 2.29
1991 6.65 2.35
1990 6.65 2.39
1989 6.65 2.41
1988 6.66 2.47
1987 6.65 2.53
1986 6.63 2.59
1985 6.61 2.65
1984 6.59 2.71
1983 6.56 2.78
1982 6.54 2.85
1981 6.52 2.92
1980 6.5 2.84
1979 6.48 2.85
1978 6.46 2.79
1977 6.45 2.77
1976 6.44 2.84
1975 6.42 3.05
1974 6.4 3.14
1973 6.39 3.35
1972 6.37 3.89
1971 6.34 3.74
1970 6.33 3.85
1969 6.3 3.86
1968 6.29 3.87
1967 6.27 4.05
1966 6.24 3.71
1965 6.21 3.56
1964 6.19 3.55
1963 6.16 3.63
1962 6.14 3.41
1961 6.12 3.26
1960 6.11 3.57

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

DR Congo and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
DR Congo

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
DR Congo North Korea
2024 16.9 37.3
2023 16.9 37.1
2022 16.9 36.8
2021 16.9 36.6
2020 16.9 36.4
2019 16.9 36.2
2018 17 35.9
2017 17 35.7
2016 16.9 35.4
2015 16.9 35.2
2014 16.9 35
2013 16.9 34.7
2012 16.9 34.5
2011 16.9 34.3
2010 16.9 34
2009 16.9 33.7
2008 16.9 33.3
2007 17 32.9
2006 17 32.5
2005 17 32.1
2004 17 31.8
2003 17.1 31.4
2002 17.1 31
2001 17.1 30.5
2000 17.2 30.1
1999 17.2 29.6
1998 17.2 29.2
1997 17.4 28.8
1996 17.7 28.3
1995 18.1 28
1994 18 27.6
1993 17.8 27.2
1992 17.8 26.8
1991 17.8 26.4
1990 17.8 26
1989 17.8 25.6
1988 17.8 25.1
1987 17.9 24.8
1986 17.9 24.5
1985 17.9 24.2
1984 17.9 23.9
1983 17.9 23.5
1982 17.8 23.1
1981 17.9 22.8
1980 17.9 22.5
1979 17.9 22.2
1978 17.8 21.8
1977 17.8 21.4
1976 17.8 21.1
1975 17.9 20.9
1974 18 20.7
1973 18.1 20.7
1972 18.2 20.9
1971 18.3 21.2
1970 18.4 21.4
1969 18.5 21.4
1968 18.5 21.4
1967 18.5 21.4
1966 18.5 21.3
1965 18.5 21.2
1964 18.5 21
1963 18.5 20.8
1962 18.4 20.6
1961 18.4 20.2
1960 18.4 19.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

DR Congo North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$72.7B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.7%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.84%
2022
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
134,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.48%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.47%
2020
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
46.6%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
47
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
35.7%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2020
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$5.1B
2023
n/a
Personal remittances received
$2B
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
351,000
2016
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
0.38%
2018
n/a
Banked people share
39.2%
2024
n/a

Energy

DR Congo North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
391 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$4.07
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
6.21 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.06 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
3.97%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
96.3%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.84%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
1.6%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
130.7 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
90.4%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
22.1%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

DR Congo North Korea
% of world population
1.34%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-27,309
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
44.7%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.6:50.4
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.13 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
8.38
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
20
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
43
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
13.6
2015
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
34.9
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
51
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
80.5%
2022
100%
2018
English speaking
1%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
30.5%
2023
0%
2012

Health

DR Congo North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$23.4
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$8.9
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
37%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.21
2022
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
427
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
73.2
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
6.89%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
5
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12.2%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.92 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

DR Congo North Korea
% of world land
1.52%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
8,010 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
135,505 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
474,331 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
94,680 mi
2015
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) (2000–2025, 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)

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