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Iran vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population of 91.6M (ranked 17/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Iran's land area is 626,451 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 17th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Iran North Korea
Population
93468444
26659144
Population rank 17/197 57/197
GDP
$475B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 34/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$5,190
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 119/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,874
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$162B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
34%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,764
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 122/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,964
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 626,451 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.7
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
34.3 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
74 years
2026

Iran and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Iran and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Iran North Korea
2024 $475,252,089,215 $34,943,120,000
2023 $457,510,482,317 $32,155,360,000
2022 $422,662,261,526 $28,971,360,000
2021 $407,350,685,583 $32,301,720,000
2020 $280,934,329,280 $27,728,240,000
2019 $347,988,400,958 $28,222,880,000
2018 $411,903,303,606 $28,536,400,000
2017 $510,239,893,418 $29,105,440,000
2016 $478,618,064,871 $28,882,640,000
2015 $409,191,686,497 $30,723,030,000
2014 $462,284,793,281 $30,554,460,000
2013 $500,399,839,840 $30,588,922,000
2012 $644,019,315,004 $29,890,710,000
2011 $629,082,257,472 $29,005,020,000
2010 $487,069,570,464 $25,995,513,000
2009 $414,059,094,949 $23,356,470,000
2008 $406,070,949,554 -
2007 $349,736,591,832 -
2006 $265,602,187,404 -
2005 $224,970,371,325 -
2004 $187,754,571,248 -
2003 $151,911,222,119 -
2002 $128,626,917,504 -
2001 $126,878,750,296 -
2000 $109,591,707,802 -
1999 $113,848,450,088 -
1998 $110,276,913,363 -
1997 $113,919,163,421 -
1996 $120,403,931,885 -
1995 $96,419,225,744 -
1994 $71,841,461,173 -
1993 $63,743,623,232 -
1992 $119,768,691,217 -
1991 $131,637,664,958 -
1990 $124,813,263,926 -
1989 $120,496,362,916 -
1988 $123,057,861,334 -
1987 $134,009,995,923 -
1986 $209,094,561,833 -
1985 $180,183,629,600 -
1984 $162,276,728,620 -
1983 $156,365,156,618 -
1982 $125,948,756,439 -
1981 $100,499,312,750 -
1980 $94,362,275,580 -
1979 $90,391,877,326 -
1978 $77,994,316,621 -
1977 $80,600,122,702 -
1976 $68,055,295,081 -
1975 $51,776,222,350 -
1974 $46,209,092,072 -
1973 $27,081,698,250 -
1972 $17,153,463,263 -
1971 $13,731,802,833 -
1970 $10,976,245,154 -
1969 $9,743,089,607 -
1968 $8,623,172,960 -
1967 $7,555,383,690 -
1966 $6,789,938,672 -
1965 $6,197,319,929 -
1964 $5,379,845,648 -
1963 $4,928,628,018 -
1962 $4,693,566,416 -
1961 $4,426,949,095 -
1960 $4,199,134,390 -

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

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

Iran and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iran North Korea
2024 $5,190 $1,319
2023 $5,049 $1,217
2022 $4,721 $1,100
2021 $4,605 $1,231
2020 $3,203 $1,061
2019 $3,997 $1,084
2018 $4,783 $1,100
2017 $6,001 $1,127
2016 $5,711 $1,124
2015 $4,953 $1,201
2014 $5,672 $1,201
2013 $6,223 $1,208
2012 $8,114 $1,186
2011 $8,026 $1,156
2010 $6,291 $1,040
2009 $5,416 $939
2008 $5,377 -
2007 $4,688 -
2006 $3,619 -
2005 $3,132 -
2004 $2,672 -
2003 $2,209 -
2002 $1,891 -
2001 $1,881 -
2000 $1,650 -
1999 $1,740 -
1998 $1,709 -
1997 $1,790 -
1996 $1,915 -
1995 $1,550 -
1994 $1,168 -
1993 $1,038 -
1992 $1,957 -
1991 $2,194 -
1990 $2,138 -
1989 $2,125 -
1988 $2,234 -
1987 $2,513 -
1986 $4,064 -
1985 $3,634 -
1984 $3,395 -
1983 $3,397 -
1982 $2,845 -
1981 $2,393 -
1980 $2,368 -
1979 $2,352 -
1978 $2,101 -
1977 $2,243 -
1976 $1,954 -
1975 $1,532 -
1974 $1,409 -
1973 $851 -
1972 $555 -
1971 $457 -
1970 $377 -
1969 $345 -
1968 $314 -
1967 $283.7 -
1966 $262.9 -
1965 $247.5 -
1964 $221.7 -
1963 $209.6 -
1962 $205.8 -
1961 $200.1 -
1960 $195.6 -

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

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

Iran vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iran North Korea
2026 78.2 74
2025 78.1 73.9
2024 77.9 73.7
2023 77.7 73.6
2022 76.8 73.6
2021 73.8 73.4
2020 74.1 72.8
2019 76.9 72.9
2018 76.6 73
2017 76.4 73
2016 76.2 73
2015 75.9 72.8
2014 75.6 72.5
2013 75.3 71.9
2012 75 71.3
2011 74.7 70.8
2010 74.4 70.2
2009 74 69.7
2008 73.7 69.3
2007 73.3 69
2006 72.9 69.1
2005 72.4 69.2
2004 72 69.3
2003 70.5 69.4
2002 71.1 60.9
2001 70.6 60.9
2000 70.2 60.9
1999 69.7 60.9
1998 69.2 60.9
1997 68.6 60.9
1996 68.3 60.8
1995 67.9 60.8
1994 67.5 70.5
1993 67 70.8
1992 66.7 71
1991 66.2 70.7
1990 64.1 70.5
1989 65.3 70.3
1988 63.3 70.1
1987 62.7 69.8
1986 62.1 69.5
1985 61.5 69.2
1984 60.9 68.9
1983 58.5 68.5
1982 57.6 68.1
1981 56.6 67.7
1980 58.4 67.2
1979 58.5 66.7
1978 56 66.3
1977 56.7 65.8
1976 55.8 65.3
1975 54.8 64.8
1974 53.9 64.3
1973 52.9 63.8
1972 51.7 63.3
1971 51.1 62.7
1970 50.2 62
1969 49.4 61.4
1968 47.9 60.8
1967 47.8 60.1
1966 47.1 59.4
1965 46.4 58.8
1964 45.7 58.2
1963 45.1 57.6
1962 43.8 57
1961 43.9 56.4
1960 43.3 55.8
1959 42.8 55.2
1958 42.2 54.5
1957 41.3 53.7
1956 41.1 52.8
1955 40.6 51.8
1954 40 50.6
1953 39.5 40.3
1952 39.2 32.8
1951 38.7 17.7
1950 38.2 14.2

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

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

Iran and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Iran North Korea
2024 91,567,738 26,498,823
2023 90,608,707 26,418,204
2022 89,524,246 26,328,845
2021 88,455,488 26,232,534
2020 87,723,443 26,136,312
2019 87,051,648 26,037,632
2018 86,117,998 25,931,147
2017 85,026,754 25,817,709
2016 83,812,228 25,698,326
2015 82,619,362 25,575,350
2014 81,502,045 25,451,262
2013 80,414,686 25,329,451
2012 79,370,580 25,211,728
2011 78,383,598 25,097,874
2010 77,420,842 24,987,258
2009 76,457,825 24,878,332
2008 75,514,204 24,764,618
2007 74,602,648 24,646,383
2006 73,392,747 24,524,507
2005 71,828,455 24,396,433
2004 70,256,316 24,254,943
2003 68,769,340 24,090,380
2002 68,011,317 23,943,973
2001 67,452,005 23,815,358
2000 66,418,659 23,665,910
1999 65,445,391 23,497,599
1998 64,519,859 23,311,564
1997 63,639,638 23,110,830
1996 62,881,300 22,895,746
1995 62,205,567 22,669,304
1994 61,520,598 22,393,975
1993 61,403,543 22,073,352
1992 61,184,983 21,750,911
1991 59,986,931 21,428,638
1990 58,380,092 21,112,137
1989 56,704,914 20,804,367
1988 55,072,694 20,503,161
1987 53,323,493 20,205,483
1986 51,446,045 19,910,855
1985 49,582,289 19,620,388
1984 47,793,998 19,335,043
1983 46,029,535 19,054,034
1982 44,272,141 18,776,357
1981 41,989,312 18,501,295
1980 39,842,324 18,236,786
1979 38,424,952 17,983,470
1978 37,126,535 17,735,995
1977 35,933,181 17,492,798
1976 34,837,271 17,243,450
1975 33,802,973 16,971,055
1974 32,796,463 16,673,121
1973 31,839,838 16,350,367
1972 30,921,179 15,975,069
1971 30,029,071 15,572,457
1970 29,145,100 15,172,775
1969 28,273,482 14,767,615
1968 27,437,391 14,365,596
1967 26,628,432 13,958,350
1966 25,829,270 13,569,094
1965 25,036,978 13,219,369
1964 24,262,859 12,889,770
1963 23,519,005 12,567,057
1962 22,807,907 12,262,882
1961 22,125,726 11,990,713
1960 21,470,434 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Iran and North Korea

Fertility rate
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iran North Korea
2023 1.7 1.78
2022 1.7 1.8
2021 1.71 1.81
2020 1.7 1.82
2019 1.77 1.83
2018 1.92 1.83
2017 2.02 1.85
2016 2.05 1.86
2015 2.02 1.86
2014 1.98 1.87
2013 1.91 1.88
2012 1.85 1.88
2011 1.79 1.88
2010 1.75 1.89
2009 1.74 1.91
2008 1.74 1.97
2007 1.75 1.94
2006 1.76 1.94
2005 1.76 1.87
2004 1.78 1.9
2003 1.8 1.91
2002 1.84 1.92
2001 1.92 1.94
2000 2 1.94
1999 2.09 1.97
1998 2.19 1.99
1997 2.32 2.03
1996 2.54 2.09
1995 2.85 2.15
1994 3.24 2.18
1993 3.67 2.22
1992 4.1 2.29
1991 4.57 2.35
1990 4.93 2.39
1989 5.17 2.41
1988 5.43 2.47
1987 5.72 2.53
1986 6.01 2.59
1985 6.24 2.65
1984 6.43 2.71
1983 6.53 2.78
1982 6.59 2.85
1981 6.62 2.92
1980 6.63 2.84
1979 6.55 2.85
1978 6.34 2.79
1977 6.18 2.77
1976 6.07 2.84
1975 5.95 3.05
1974 5.97 3.14
1973 6.06 3.35
1972 6.26 3.89
1971 6.55 3.74
1970 6.8 3.85
1969 7.01 3.86
1968 7.12 3.87
1967 7.19 4.05
1966 7.21 3.71
1965 7.22 3.56
1964 7.24 3.55
1963 7.32 3.63
1962 7.4 3.41
1961 7.46 3.26
1960 7.52 3.57

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

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

Iran and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Iran

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Iran North Korea
2024 34.3 37.3
2023 33.8 37.1
2022 33.3 36.8
2021 32.8 36.6
2020 32.3 36.4
2019 31.7 36.2
2018 31.2 35.9
2017 30.7 35.7
2016 30.2 35.4
2015 29.7 35.2
2014 29.2 35
2013 28.7 34.7
2012 28.2 34.5
2011 27.7 34.3
2010 27.2 34
2009 26.6 33.7
2008 26.1 33.3
2007 25.5 32.9
2006 24.8 32.5
2005 24.3 32.1
2004 23.7 31.8
2003 23.1 31.4
2002 22.6 31
2001 22 30.5
2000 21.4 30.1
1999 20.7 29.6
1998 20 29.2
1997 19.5 28.8
1996 19.1 28.3
1995 18.7 28
1994 18.4 27.6
1993 18.3 27.2
1992 18.4 26.8
1991 18.3 26.4
1990 18.2 26
1989 18.1 25.6
1988 18.2 25.1
1987 18.2 24.8
1986 18.2 24.5
1985 18.3 24.2
1984 18.4 23.9
1983 18.5 23.5
1982 18.6 23.1
1981 18.4 22.8
1980 18.2 22.5
1979 18.3 22.2
1978 18.3 21.8
1977 18.3 21.4
1976 18.2 21.1
1975 18.1 20.9
1974 18 20.7
1973 17.9 20.7
1972 17.8 20.9
1971 17.7 21.2
1970 17.6 21.4
1969 17.6 21.4
1968 17.6 21.4
1967 17.7 21.4
1966 17.7 21.3
1965 17.8 21.2
1964 17.9 21
1963 18.1 20.8
1962 18.4 20.6
1961 18.7 20.2
1960 19.1 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iran North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$469B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.2%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.82%
2023
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.01%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
650,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.83%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
7.63%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
49.8%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
36.1%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
41.8
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.2%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
n/a
Listed domestic companies
594
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$172B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$7.69B
1982
n/a
Personal remittances received
$1.03B
2004
n/a
International tourist arrivals
1,550,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
2.28%
2000
n/a
Banked people share
91.1%
2024
n/a

Energy

Iran North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,266 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.37
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
829 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.05 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.8%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.9%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.14%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-32.5%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,664 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
4.24%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.43%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
2.2%
2022
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Iran North Korea
% of world population
1.13%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+116,786
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
77%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.8:49.2
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
40.7
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
78
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.42
2014
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
21.5
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
88.9%
2023
100%
2018
English speaking
12%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
79.6%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Iran North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$267.1
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$115.2
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
78.2 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.71%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.81
2023
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
11.8
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
25.1%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
27
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
13.3%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Iran North Korea
% of world land
1.09%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
6,841 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
181,727 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
41,654 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
138,867 mi
2018
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)

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.