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Ireland vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population of 5.4M (ranked 120/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Ireland's land area is 26,599 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 119th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Ireland North Korea
Population
5518360
26659144
Population rank 121/197 57/197
GDP
$609B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 25/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 4/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$236B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 11/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 26,599 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
207 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
39.7 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
74 years
2026

Ireland and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Ireland and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Ireland North Korea
2024 $609,157,459,747 $34,943,120,000
2023 $567,372,737,459 $32,155,360,000
2022 $548,341,794,599 $28,971,360,000
2021 $530,394,123,830 $32,301,720,000
2020 $436,009,027,819 $27,728,240,000
2019 $407,211,793,801 $28,222,880,000
2018 $395,780,319,817 $28,536,400,000
2017 $348,355,212,569 $29,105,440,000
2016 $305,431,252,709 $28,882,640,000
2015 $302,101,388,556 $30,723,030,000
2014 $266,490,442,124 $30,554,460,000
2013 $242,924,245,719 $30,588,922,000
2012 $226,921,827,888 $29,890,710,000
2011 $240,975,871,047 $29,005,020,000
2010 $221,732,824,603 $25,995,513,000
2009 $236,443,115,854 $23,356,470,000
2008 $275,447,471,451 -
2007 $270,079,279,420 -
2006 $232,180,617,162 -
2005 $211,876,989,656 -
2004 $194,372,115,041 -
2003 $164,670,771,260 -
2002 $128,596,035,288 -
2001 $109,346,669,230 -
2000 $100,207,610,430 -
1999 $98,893,958,263 -
1998 $90,199,410,116 -
1997 $82,856,648,758 -
1996 $75,790,786,290 -
1995 $69,139,823,232 -
1994 $57,097,656,066 -
1993 $52,417,477,614 -
1992 $55,918,538,121 -
1991 $49,787,501,584 -
1990 $49,305,632,408 -
1989 $39,238,392,678 -
1988 $37,772,896,221 -
1987 $33,920,518,493 -
1986 $28,714,571,852 -
1985 $21,270,013,326 -
1984 $20,106,648,455 -
1983 $20,766,047,764 -
1982 $21,474,752,962 -
1981 $20,670,190,138 -
1980 $21,747,855,640 -
1979 $18,319,334,300 -
1978 $14,647,996,074 -
1977 $11,248,340,431 -
1976 $9,453,756,015 -
1975 $9,483,808,362 -
1974 $7,896,860,615 -
1973 $7,481,173,066 -
1972 $6,318,060,582 -
1971 $5,098,250,287 -
1970 $4,395,995,086 -
1969 $3,902,721,632 -
1968 $3,378,701,147 -
1967 $3,445,739,915 -
1966 $3,198,820,904 -
1965 $3,035,655,794 -
1964 $2,851,091,646 -
1963 $2,505,073,358 -
1962 $2,329,372,972 -
1961 $2,151,772,980 -
1960 $1,998,550,222 -

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

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

Ireland and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ireland North Korea
2024 $112,895 $1,319
2023 $106,819 $1,217
2022 $105,191 $1,100
2021 $103,783 $1,231
2020 $86,514 $1,061
2019 $81,828 $1,084
2018 $80,804 $1,100
2017 $72,161 $1,127
2016 $64,130 $1,124
2015 $64,250 $1,201
2014 $57,215 $1,201
2013 $52,538 $1,208
2012 $49,336 $1,186
2011 $52,614 $1,156
2010 $48,624 $1,040
2009 $52,133 $939
2008 $61,353 -
2007 $61,396 -
2006 $54,329 -
2005 $50,933 -
2004 $47,754 -
2003 $41,204 -
2002 $32,705 -
2001 $28,282 -
2000 $26,335 -
1999 $26,338 -
1998 $24,295 -
1997 $22,551 -
1996 $20,836 -
1995 $19,158 -
1994 $15,903 -
1993 $14,657 -
1992 $15,714 -
1991 $14,087 -
1990 $14,031 -
1989 $11,176 -
1988 $10,716 -
1987 $9,582 -
1986 $8,112 -
1985 $6,012 -
1984 $5,692 -
1983 $5,915 -
1982 $6,161 -
1981 $5,986 -
1980 $6,372 -
1979 $5,430 -
1978 $4,400 -
1977 $3,427 -
1976 $2,920 -
1975 $2,973 -
1974 $2,517 -
1973 $2,424 -
1972 $2,080 -
1971 $1,704 -
1970 $1,487 -
1969 $1,331 -
1968 $1,159 -
1967 $1,187 -
1966 $1,107 -
1965 $1,055 -
1964 $995 -
1963 $878 -
1962 $821 -
1961 $762 -
1960 $707 -

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

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

Ireland vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ireland North Korea
2026 82.9 74
2025 82.7 73.9
2024 82.6 73.7
2023 82.4 73.6
2022 82.1 73.6
2021 81.9 73.4
2020 82.4 72.8
2019 82.4 72.9
2018 82.1 73
2017 82.1 73
2016 81.7 73
2015 81.5 72.8
2014 81.4 72.5
2013 81.1 71.9
2012 80.9 71.3
2011 80.7 70.8
2010 80.6 70.2
2009 80.1 69.7
2008 79.8 69.3
2007 79.6 69
2006 79.2 69.1
2005 78.9 69.2
2004 78.5 69.3
2003 78.1 69.4
2002 77.6 60.9
2001 77.1 60.9
2000 76.5 60.9
1999 76.1 60.9
1998 76.2 60.9
1997 76 60.9
1996 75.8 60.8
1995 75.5 60.8
1994 75.8 70.5
1993 75.3 70.8
1992 75.4 71
1991 75 70.7
1990 74.8 70.5
1989 74.5 70.3
1988 74.4 70.1
1987 74.4 69.8
1986 73.6 69.5
1985 73.6 69.2
1984 73.6 68.9
1983 73.2 68.5
1982 73.2 68.1
1981 72.9 67.7
1980 72.5 67.2
1979 72.2 66.7
1978 71.9 66.3
1977 71.9 65.8
1976 71.8 65.3
1975 71.7 64.8
1974 71.1 64.3
1973 71.2 63.8
1972 71 63.3
1971 71.6 62.7
1970 70.8 62
1969 70.8 61.4
1968 70.9 60.8
1967 71.2 60.1
1966 70.2 59.4
1965 70.6 58.8
1964 70.4 58.2
1963 70.2 57.6
1962 69.9 57
1961 69.6 56.4
1960 70.2 55.8
1959 69.4 55.2
1958 69.3 54.5
1957 69 53.7
1956 69 52.8
1955 68 51.8
1954 68 50.6
1953 67.9 40.3
1952 67.2 32.8
1951 64.8 17.7
1950 65.6 14.2

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

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

Ireland and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Ireland North Korea
2024 5,395,790 26,498,823
2023 5,311,538 26,418,204
2022 5,212,836 26,328,845
2021 5,110,585 26,232,534
2020 5,039,747 26,136,312
2019 4,976,456 26,037,632
2018 4,898,022 25,931,147
2017 4,827,445 25,817,709
2016 4,762,722 25,698,326
2015 4,701,957 25,575,350
2014 4,657,740 25,451,262
2013 4,623,816 25,329,451
2012 4,599,533 25,211,728
2011 4,580,084 25,097,874
2010 4,560,155 24,987,258
2009 4,535,375 24,878,332
2008 4,489,544 24,764,618
2007 4,398,942 24,646,383
2006 4,273,591 24,524,507
2005 4,159,914 24,396,433
2004 4,070,262 24,254,943
2003 3,996,521 24,090,380
2002 3,931,947 23,943,973
2001 3,866,243 23,815,358
2000 3,805,174 23,665,910
1999 3,754,786 23,497,599
1998 3,712,696 23,311,564
1997 3,674,171 23,110,830
1996 3,637,510 22,895,746
1995 3,608,841 22,669,304
1994 3,590,386 22,393,975
1993 3,576,261 22,073,352
1992 3,558,430 21,750,911
1991 3,534,235 21,428,638
1990 3,513,974 21,112,137
1989 3,511,009 20,804,367
1988 3,524,949 20,503,161
1987 3,540,057 20,205,483
1986 3,539,690 19,910,855
1985 3,538,082 19,620,388
1984 3,532,423 19,335,043
1983 3,510,600 19,054,034
1982 3,485,800 18,776,357
1981 3,453,000 18,501,295
1980 3,412,800 18,236,786
1979 3,373,750 17,983,470
1978 3,329,100 17,735,995
1977 3,282,200 17,492,798
1976 3,238,050 17,243,450
1975 3,189,550 16,971,055
1974 3,137,500 16,673,121
1973 3,085,950 16,350,367
1972 3,036,850 15,975,069
1971 2,992,050 15,572,457
1970 2,957,250 15,172,775
1969 2,932,650 14,767,615
1968 2,915,550 14,365,596
1967 2,902,450 13,958,350
1966 2,888,800 13,569,094
1965 2,877,300 13,219,369
1964 2,866,550 12,889,770
1963 2,852,650 12,567,057
1962 2,836,050 12,262,882
1961 2,824,400 11,990,713
1960 2,828,600 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Ireland and North Korea

Fertility rate
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland North Korea
2023 1.5 1.78
2022 1.54 1.8
2021 1.78 1.81
2020 1.63 1.82
2019 1.71 1.83
2018 1.75 1.83
2017 1.77 1.85
2016 1.81 1.86
2015 1.85 1.86
2014 1.89 1.87
2013 1.93 1.88
2012 1.98 1.88
2011 2.03 1.88
2010 2.05 1.89
2009 2.06 1.91
2008 2.06 1.97
2007 2.01 1.94
2006 1.91 1.94
2005 1.86 1.87
2004 1.93 1.9
2003 1.96 1.91
2002 1.97 1.92
2001 1.94 1.94
2000 1.89 1.94
1999 1.9 1.97
1998 1.94 1.99
1997 1.93 2.03
1996 1.88 2.09
1995 1.84 2.15
1994 1.85 2.18
1993 1.9 2.22
1992 1.99 2.29
1991 2.08 2.35
1990 2.11 2.39
1989 2.08 2.41
1988 2.17 2.47
1987 2.32 2.53
1986 2.44 2.59
1985 2.48 2.65
1984 2.58 2.71
1983 2.74 2.78
1982 2.94 2.85
1981 3.05 2.92
1980 3.21 2.84
1979 3.21 2.85
1978 3.21 2.79
1977 3.24 2.77
1976 3.29 2.84
1975 3.37 3.05
1974 3.59 3.14
1973 3.71 3.35
1972 3.84 3.89
1971 3.93 3.74
1970 3.85 3.85
1969 3.83 3.86
1968 3.77 3.87
1967 3.84 4.05
1966 3.94 3.71
1965 4.04 3.56
1964 4.07 3.55
1963 4.01 3.63
1962 3.92 3.41
1961 3.78 3.26
1960 3.78 3.57

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

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

Ireland and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Ireland

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Ireland North Korea
2024 39.7 37.3
2023 39.4 37.1
2022 38.9 36.8
2021 38.6 36.6
2020 38.2 36.4
2019 37.8 36.2
2018 37.4 35.9
2017 37.1 35.7
2016 36.8 35.4
2015 36.4 35.2
2014 36 35
2013 35.6 34.7
2012 35.2 34.5
2011 34.8 34.3
2010 34.3 34
2009 33.9 33.7
2008 33.5 33.3
2007 33.4 32.9
2006 33.4 32.5
2005 33.4 32.1
2004 33.4 31.8
2003 33.2 31.4
2002 33 31
2001 32.7 30.5
2000 32.5 30.1
1999 32.2 29.6
1998 31.9 29.2
1997 31.6 28.8
1996 31.3 28.3
1995 30.9 28
1994 30.6 27.6
1993 30.2 27.2
1992 29.9 26.8
1991 29.6 26.4
1990 29.2 26
1989 28.8 25.6
1988 28.4 25.1
1987 27.9 24.8
1986 27.6 24.5
1985 27.3 24.2
1984 27.1 23.9
1983 26.9 23.5
1982 26.7 23.1
1981 26.6 22.8
1980 26.5 22.5
1979 26.5 22.2
1978 26.5 21.8
1977 26.5 21.4
1976 26.4 21.1
1975 26.5 20.9
1974 26.5 20.7
1973 26.7 20.7
1972 26.9 20.9
1971 27.1 21.2
1970 27.4 21.4
1969 27.6 21.4
1968 27.8 21.4
1967 28 21.4
1966 28.2 21.3
1965 28.6 21.2
1964 28.9 21
1963 29.2 20.8
1962 29.5 20.6
1961 29.8 20.2
1960 30.1 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ireland North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.9%
2021
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.24%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.09%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
83.3
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$656M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
10,951,000
2019
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
0.68%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
n/a

Energy

Ireland North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,468 kg
2023
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$52.6
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
32.6 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.04 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
82.4%
2023
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
12.7%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.94%
2023
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
85.8%
2023
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,145 kWh
2023
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
37.2%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.88%
2023
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Ireland North Korea
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+35,417
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
64.3%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.9
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.65
2023
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.1
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
100%
2018
English speaking
98.4%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
96.5%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Ireland North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,395
2024
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$784
2024
n/a
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2023
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
31.6 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.8
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
29.3%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3.6%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.3%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Ireland North Korea
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
4,930 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
16,174 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,066 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
62,031 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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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.