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Iceland vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 104th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland North Korea
Population
397129
26659144
Population rank 173/197 57/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 108/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 9/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
74 years
2026

Iceland and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Iceland and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Iceland North Korea
2024 $33,255,181,469 $34,943,120,000
2023 $31,677,891,897 $32,155,360,000
2022 $29,166,102,877 $28,971,360,000
2021 $26,234,872,402 $32,301,720,000
2020 $22,034,665,041 $27,728,240,000
2019 $24,985,687,022 $28,222,880,000
2018 $26,677,652,544 $28,536,400,000
2017 $25,060,086,488 $29,105,440,000
2016 $21,083,713,310 $28,882,640,000
2015 $17,700,486,957 $30,723,030,000
2014 $18,052,183,515 $30,554,460,000
2013 $16,244,319,959 $30,588,922,000
2012 $14,943,757,823 $29,890,710,000
2011 $15,394,005,872 $29,005,020,000
2010 $13,922,711,577 $25,995,513,000
2009 $13,212,543,838 $23,356,470,000
2008 $18,247,921,360 -
2007 $21,960,110,030 -
2006 $17,671,649,843 -
2005 $17,146,410,561 -
2004 $13,963,943,244 -
2003 $11,564,687,742 -
2002 $9,416,199,700 -
2001 $8,323,401,820 -
2000 $9,140,168,922 -
1999 $9,107,644,691 -
1998 $8,637,732,542 -
1997 $7,716,781,803 -
1996 $7,686,566,105 -
1995 $7,372,640,169 -
1994 $6,612,804,056 -
1993 $6,435,952,174 -
1992 $7,328,497,599 -
1991 $7,151,260,062 -
1990 $6,694,851,159 -
1989 $5,870,854,233 -
1988 $6,320,093,411 -
1987 $5,713,281,235 -
1986 $4,129,080,094 -
1985 $3,088,359,967 -
1984 $2,964,568,006 -
1983 $2,862,634,164 -
1982 $3,318,714,326 -
1981 $3,615,094,820 -
1980 $3,499,616,683 -
1979 $2,953,176,971 -
1978 $2,599,627,089 -
1977 $2,285,707,749 -
1976 $1,727,845,419 -
1975 $1,456,052,700 -
1974 $1,568,154,077 -
1973 $1,194,794,186 -
1972 $869,002,946 -
1971 $693,679,545 -
1970 $545,115,909 -
1969 $435,659,610 -
1968 $498,365,200 -
1967 $652,609,076 -
1966 $660,663,763 -
1965 $550,150,988 -
1964 $456,206,299 -
1963 $357,240,896 -
1962 $299,309,938 -
1961 $266,711,460 -
1960 $260,984,499 -

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

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

Iceland and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland North Korea
2024 $86,041 $1,319
2023 $82,139 $1,217
2022 $76,350 $1,100
2021 $70,425 $1,231
2020 $60,128 $1,061
2019 $69,296 $1,084
2018 $75,634 $1,100
2017 $72,976 $1,127
2016 $62,854 $1,124
2015 $53,506 $1,201
2014 $55,140 $1,201
2013 $50,173 $1,208
2012 $46,595 $1,186
2011 $48,255 $1,156
2010 $43,776 $1,040
2009 $41,484 $939
2008 $57,489 -
2007 $70,483 -
2006 $58,172 -
2005 $57,784 -
2004 $47,810 -
2003 $39,944 -
2002 $32,749 -
2001 $29,208 -
2000 $32,504 -
1999 $32,834 -
1998 $31,519 -
1997 $28,462 -
1996 $28,584 -
1995 $27,565 -
1994 $24,858 -
1993 $24,404 -
1992 $28,072 -
1991 $27,740 -
1990 $26,272 -
1989 $23,219 -
1988 $25,307 -
1987 $23,238 -
1986 $16,980 -
1985 $12,793 -
1984 $12,378 -
1983 $12,080 -
1982 $14,191 -
1981 $15,666 -
1980 $15,340 -
1979 $13,082 -
1978 $11,630 -
1977 $10,305 -
1976 $7,848 -
1975 $6,680 -
1974 $7,287 -
1973 $5,627 -
1972 $4,155 -
1971 $3,366 -
1970 $2,666 -
1969 $2,142 -
1968 $2,473 -
1967 $3,284 -
1966 $3,378 -
1965 $2,861 -
1964 $2,414 -
1963 $1,924 -
1962 $1,641 -
1961 $1,490 -
1960 $1,486 -

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

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

Iceland vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland North Korea
2026 83.3 74
2025 83.2 73.9
2024 83 73.7
2023 82.7 73.6
2022 81.6 73.6
2021 82.8 73.4
2020 82.7 72.8
2019 82.8 72.9
2018 82.5 73
2017 82.2 73
2016 81.8 73
2015 82.2 72.8
2014 82.4 72.5
2013 81.7 71.9
2012 82.3 71.3
2011 82 70.8
2010 81.6 70.2
2009 81.4 69.7
2008 81.2 69.3
2007 81.1 69
2006 80.9 69.1
2005 81.2 69.2
2004 80.7 69.3
2003 80.8 69.4
2002 80.3 60.9
2001 80.4 60.9
2000 79.5 60.9
1999 79.2 60.9
1998 79.4 60.9
1997 78.7 60.9
1996 78.6 60.8
1995 77.5 60.8
1994 79 70.5
1993 78.8 70.8
1992 78.6 71
1991 77.8 70.7
1990 77.7 70.5
1989 77.9 70.3
1988 76.9 70.1
1987 77.1 69.8
1986 77.9 69.5
1985 77.4 69.2
1984 77.3 68.9
1983 76.4 68.5
1982 76.8 68.1
1981 76.2 67.7
1980 76.6 67.2
1979 76.5 66.7
1978 76.4 66.3
1977 76.1 65.8
1976 76.6 65.3
1975 75.3 64.8
1974 74.1 64.3
1973 74.3 63.8
1972 74.4 63.3
1971 73.5 62.7
1970 73.8 62
1969 73.7 61.4
1968 73.9 60.8
1967 73.7 60.1
1966 73.1 59.4
1965 73.8 58.8
1964 73.5 58.2
1963 72.9 57.6
1962 73.6 57
1961 73.4 56.4
1960 74 55.8
1959 72.6 55.2
1958 73.3 54.5
1957 73.4 53.7
1956 72.9 52.8
1955 73.3 51.8
1954 73.3 50.6
1953 72.3 40.3
1952 72.4 32.8
1951 71 17.7
1950 71 14.2

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

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

Iceland and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Iceland North Korea
2024 386,506 26,498,823
2023 385,663 26,418,204
2022 382,003 26,328,845
2021 372,520 26,232,534
2020 366,463 26,136,312
2019 360,563 26,037,632
2018 352,721 25,931,147
2017 343,400 25,817,709
2016 335,439 25,698,326
2015 330,815 25,575,350
2014 327,386 25,451,262
2013 323,764 25,329,451
2012 320,716 25,211,728
2011 319,014 25,097,874
2010 318,041 24,987,258
2009 318,499 24,878,332
2008 317,414 24,764,618
2007 311,566 24,646,383
2006 303,782 24,524,507
2005 296,734 24,396,433
2004 292,074 24,254,943
2003 289,521 24,090,380
2002 287,523 23,943,973
2001 284,968 23,815,358
2000 281,205 23,665,910
1999 277,381 23,497,599
1998 274,047 23,311,564
1997 271,128 23,110,830
1996 268,916 22,895,746
1995 267,468 22,669,304
1994 266,021 22,393,975
1993 263,725 22,073,352
1992 261,057 21,750,911
1991 257,797 21,428,638
1990 254,826 21,112,137
1989 252,852 20,804,367
1988 249,740 20,503,161
1987 245,859 20,205,483
1986 243,180 19,910,855
1985 241,405 19,620,388
1984 239,511 19,335,043
1983 236,977 19,054,034
1982 233,860 18,776,357
1981 230,755 18,501,295
1980 228,138 18,236,786
1979 225,735 17,983,470
1978 223,537 17,735,995
1977 221,799 17,492,798
1976 220,154 17,243,450
1975 217,979 16,971,055
1974 215,209 16,673,121
1973 212,317 16,350,367
1972 209,137 15,975,069
1971 206,098 15,572,457
1970 204,438 15,172,775
1969 203,369 14,767,615
1968 201,488 14,365,596
1967 198,751 13,958,350
1966 195,570 13,569,094
1965 192,286 13,219,369
1964 188,983 12,889,770
1963 185,653 12,567,057
1962 182,378 12,262,882
1961 179,029 11,990,713
1960 175,574 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Iceland and North Korea

Fertility rate
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland North Korea
2023 1.59 1.78
2022 1.59 1.8
2021 1.82 1.81
2020 1.72 1.82
2019 1.74 1.83
2018 1.71 1.83
2017 1.71 1.85
2016 1.74 1.86
2015 1.8 1.86
2014 1.93 1.87
2013 1.93 1.88
2012 2.04 1.88
2011 2.02 1.88
2010 2.2 1.89
2009 2.23 1.91
2008 2.15 1.97
2007 2.09 1.94
2006 2.08 1.94
2005 2.05 1.87
2004 2.04 1.9
2003 1.99 1.91
2002 1.93 1.92
2001 1.95 1.94
2000 2.08 1.94
1999 1.99 1.97
1998 2.05 1.99
1997 2.04 2.03
1996 2.12 2.09
1995 2.08 2.15
1994 2.14 2.18
1993 2.22 2.22
1992 2.21 2.29
1991 2.18 2.35
1990 2.3 2.39
1989 2.19 2.41
1988 2.26 2.47
1987 2.06 2.53
1986 1.92 2.59
1985 1.93 2.65
1984 2.08 2.71
1983 2.24 2.78
1982 2.27 2.85
1981 2.33 2.92
1980 2.48 2.84
1979 2.49 2.85
1978 2.35 2.79
1977 2.31 2.77
1976 2.52 2.84
1975 2.65 3.05
1974 2.66 3.14
1973 2.94 3.35
1972 3.09 3.89
1971 2.92 3.74
1970 2.81 3.85
1969 2.99 3.86
1968 3.06 3.87
1967 3.28 4.05
1966 3.59 3.71
1965 3.73 3.56
1964 3.88 3.55
1963 3.99 3.63
1962 3.98 3.41
1961 3.88 3.26
1960 4.29 3.57

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

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

Iceland and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland North Korea
2024 37.1 37.3
2023 36.9 37.1
2022 36.7 36.8
2021 36.7 36.6
2020 36.6 36.4
2019 36.5 36.2
2018 36.4 35.9
2017 36.3 35.7
2016 36.2 35.4
2015 36 35.2
2014 35.7 35
2013 35.5 34.7
2012 35.4 34.5
2011 35.1 34.3
2010 34.9 34
2009 34.6 33.7
2008 34.5 33.3
2007 34.6 32.9
2006 34.5 32.5
2005 34.2 32.1
2004 34 31.8
2003 33.7 31.4
2002 33.4 31
2001 33 30.5
2000 32.8 30.1
1999 32.6 29.6
1998 32.4 29.2
1997 32.1 28.8
1996 31.8 28.3
1995 31.5 28
1994 31.1 27.6
1993 30.8 27.2
1992 30.5 26.8
1991 30.2 26.4
1990 30 26
1989 29.6 25.6
1988 29.3 25.1
1987 29.1 24.8
1986 28.8 24.5
1985 28.4 24.2
1984 28 23.9
1983 27.7 23.5
1982 27.5 23.1
1981 27.2 22.8
1980 26.9 22.5
1979 26.7 22.2
1978 26.4 21.8
1977 26 21.4
1976 25.7 21.1
1975 25.4 20.9
1974 25.1 20.7
1973 24.9 20.7
1972 24.8 20.9
1971 24.7 21.2
1970 24.5 21.4
1969 24.3 21.4
1968 24.2 21.4
1967 24.1 21.4
1966 24.1 21.3
1965 24.2 21.2
1964 24.4 21
1963 24.7 20.8
1962 24.9 20.6
1961 25.2 20.2
1960 25.4 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
n/a
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
75
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
n/a
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
n/a
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
n/a

Energy

Iceland North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Iceland North Korea
% of world population
0.005%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
100%
2018
English speaking
98%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Iceland North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
n/a
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland North Korea
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
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. 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) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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