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Kuwait vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Kuwait has a population of 4.9M (ranked 127/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Kuwait's land area is 6,880 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 153rd vs. 97th).

By GDP, Kuwait ranks 59/197 ($160B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Kuwait ranks 37/197 ($32,718), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Kuwait North Korea
Population
5100145
26659144
Population rank 127/197 57/197
GDP
$160B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 59/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$32,718
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 37/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,444
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$4.68B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.92%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$956
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 143/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,828
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 6,880 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
738 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.52
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
35.8 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
74 years
2026

Kuwait and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Kuwait and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Kuwait North Korea
2024 $160,227,273,053 $34,943,120,000
2023 $165,384,407,116 $32,155,360,000
2022 $183,502,046,694 $28,971,360,000
2021 $148,350,671,489 $32,301,720,000
2020 $111,045,470,606 $27,728,240,000
2019 $140,856,394,861 $28,222,880,000
2018 $138,646,316,351 $28,536,400,000
2017 $120,687,539,806 $29,105,440,000
2016 $109,406,674,125 $28,882,640,000
2015 $114,585,555,689 $30,723,030,000
2014 $162,650,450,685 $30,554,460,000
2013 $174,168,116,535 $30,588,922,000
2012 $174,047,662,680 $29,890,710,000
2011 $154,039,231,246 $29,005,020,000
2010 $115,416,245,242 $25,995,513,000
2009 $105,968,691,905 $23,356,470,000
2008 $147,379,737,230 -
2007 $114,634,043,362 -
2006 $101,557,330,723 -
2005 $80,798,630,137 -
2004 $59,439,090,601 -
2003 $47,874,582,232 -
2002 $38,135,788,414 -
2001 $34,889,559,870 -
2000 $37,718,743,480 -
1999 $30,122,365,849 -
1998 $25,943,705,784 -
1997 $30,350,190,704 -
1996 $31,492,373,309 -
1995 $27,186,980,647 -
1994 $24,848,483,838 -
1993 $23,941,391,391 -
1992 $19,858,555,215 -
1991 $11,009,993,703 -
1990 $18,427,777,778 -
1989 $24,313,855,653 -
1988 $20,690,322,153 -
1987 $22,368,704,134 -
1986 $17,903,989,745 -
1985 $21,445,970,614 -
1984 $21,700,082,753 -
1983 $20,871,081,080 -
1982 $21,577,153,356 -
1981 $25,058,020,338 -
1980 $28,638,868,356 -
1979 $24,749,063,922 -
1978 $15,503,557,496 -
1977 $14,137,406,741 -
1976 $13,132,252,802 -
1975 $12,022,811,621 -
1974 $13,006,948,296 -
1973 $5,408,804,607 -
1972 $4,450,537,925 -
1971 $3,880,392,195 -
1970 $2,873,638,851 -
1969 $2,769,198,892 -
1968 $2,662,798,935 -
1967 $2,441,599,023 -
1966 $2,391,199,044 -
1965 $2,097,199,161 -
1964 $2,071,668,533 -
1963 $1,900,895,857 -
1962 $1,828,107,503 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Kuwait and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Kuwait North Korea
2024 $32,718 $1,319
2023 $34,076 $1,217
2022 $39,982 $1,100
2021 $34,019 $1,231
2020 $25,236 $1,061
2019 $31,708 $1,084
2018 $32,068 $1,100
2017 $29,048 $1,127
2016 $27,324 $1,124
2015 $29,882 $1,201
2014 $44,369 $1,201
2013 $49,651 $1,208
2012 $52,155 $1,186
2011 $49,170 $1,156
2010 $39,212 $1,040
2009 $37,907 $939
2008 $55,585 -
2007 $45,709 -
2006 $42,947 -
2005 $36,123 -
2004 $27,552 -
2003 $22,691 -
2002 $18,513 -
2001 $17,374 -
2000 $19,296 -
1999 $15,854 -
1998 $14,067 -
1997 $16,977 -
1996 $18,201 -
1995 $16,168 -
1994 $14,930 -
1993 $14,318 -
1992 $12,146 -
1991 $8,147 -
1990 $10,938 -
1989 $10,965 -
1988 $9,692 -
1987 $10,896 -
1986 $9,077 -
1985 $11,322 -
1984 $11,919 -
1983 $11,965 -
1982 $12,979 -
1981 $15,825 -
1980 $19,032 -
1979 $17,386 -
1978 $11,567 -
1977 $11,238 -
1976 $11,141 -
1975 $10,882 -
1974 $12,527 -
1973 $5,532 -
1972 $4,836 -
1971 $4,486 -
1970 $3,552 -
1969 $3,695 -
1968 $3,872 -
1967 $3,887 -
1966 $4,176 -
1965 $4,024 -
1964 $4,379 -
1963 $4,445 -
1962 $4,748 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Kuwait vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Kuwait North Korea
2026 81 74
2025 80.8 73.9
2024 80.6 73.7
2023 80.4 73.6
2022 78.8 73.6
2021 77.6 73.4
2020 78.2 72.8
2019 80 72.9
2018 79.9 73
2017 79.7 73
2016 79.5 73
2015 79.2 72.8
2014 78.9 72.5
2013 78.6 71.9
2012 78.2 71.3
2011 77.9 70.8
2010 77.5 70.2
2009 77.2 69.7
2008 76.9 69.3
2007 76.7 69
2006 76.6 69.1
2005 76.5 69.2
2004 76.4 69.3
2003 76.3 69.4
2002 76.2 60.9
2001 76 60.9
2000 75.9 60.9
1999 75.7 60.9
1998 75.6 60.9
1997 75.6 60.9
1996 75.6 60.8
1995 75.7 60.8
1994 75.7 70.5
1993 75.8 70.8
1992 75.7 71
1991 73.3 70.7
1990 72.9 70.5
1989 75 70.3
1988 74.6 70.1
1987 74.2 69.8
1986 73.8 69.5
1985 73.3 69.2
1984 72.9 68.9
1983 72.4 68.5
1982 71.9 68.1
1981 71.5 67.7
1980 71.1 67.2
1979 70.8 66.7
1978 70.5 66.3
1977 70.2 65.8
1976 69.9 65.3
1975 69.7 64.8
1974 69.4 64.3
1973 69.2 63.8
1972 68.9 63.3
1971 68.5 62.7
1970 68 62
1969 67.3 61.4
1968 66.6 60.8
1967 65.8 60.1
1966 64.9 59.4
1965 63.9 58.8
1964 63 58.2
1963 62 57.6
1962 61 57
1961 60 56.4
1960 58.9 55.8
1959 57.9 55.2
1958 56.9 54.5
1957 55.9 53.7
1956 54.9 52.8
1955 54 51.8
1954 53.1 50.6
1953 52.3 40.3
1952 51.4 32.8
1951 50.6 17.7
1950 49.7 14.2

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

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

Kuwait and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Kuwait North Korea
2024 4,897,263 26,498,823
2023 4,853,420 26,418,204
2022 4,589,643 26,328,845
2021 4,360,865 26,232,534
2020 4,400,267 26,136,312
2019 4,442,316 26,037,632
2018 4,323,515 25,931,147
2017 4,154,812 25,817,709
2016 4,004,096 25,698,326
2015 3,834,574 25,575,350
2014 3,665,876 25,451,262
2013 3,507,844 25,329,451
2012 3,337,109 25,211,728
2011 3,132,814 25,097,874
2010 2,943,372 24,987,258
2009 2,795,484 24,878,332
2008 2,651,421 24,764,618
2007 2,507,887 24,646,383
2006 2,364,733 24,524,507
2005 2,236,788 24,396,433
2004 2,157,320 24,254,943
2003 2,109,881 24,090,380
2002 2,059,974 23,943,973
2001 2,008,121 23,815,358
2000 1,954,709 23,665,910
1999 1,900,030 23,497,599
1998 1,844,302 23,311,564
1997 1,787,683 23,110,830
1996 1,730,246 22,895,746
1995 1,681,513 22,669,304
1994 1,664,361 22,393,975
1993 1,672,151 22,073,352
1992 1,634,961 21,750,911
1991 1,351,399 21,428,638
1990 1,684,819 21,112,137
1989 2,217,468 20,804,367
1988 2,134,707 20,503,161
1987 2,052,994 20,205,483
1986 1,972,520 19,910,855
1985 1,894,242 19,620,388
1984 1,820,688 19,335,043
1983 1,744,295 19,054,034
1982 1,662,480 18,776,357
1981 1,583,426 18,501,295
1980 1,504,782 18,236,786
1979 1,423,514 17,983,470
1978 1,340,319 17,735,995
1977 1,258,023 17,492,798
1976 1,178,711 17,243,450
1975 1,104,863 16,971,055
1974 1,038,346 16,673,121
1973 977,654 16,350,367
1972 920,352 15,975,069
1971 865,076 15,572,457
1970 809,114 15,172,775
1969 749,452 14,767,615
1968 687,716 14,365,596
1967 628,089 13,958,350
1966 572,590 13,569,094
1965 521,174 13,219,369
1964 473,115 12,889,770
1963 427,694 12,567,057
1962 384,995 12,262,882
1961 345,945 11,990,713
1960 311,060 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Kuwait and North Korea

Fertility rate
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kuwait North Korea
2023 1.52 1.78
2022 1.55 1.8
2021 2.15 1.81
2020 2.03 1.82
2019 2.08 1.83
2018 2.12 1.83
2017 2.16 1.85
2016 2.06 1.86
2015 2.03 1.86
2014 2.06 1.87
2013 1.97 1.88
2012 1.99 1.88
2011 1.96 1.88
2010 2.04 1.89
2009 2.15 1.91
2008 2.27 1.97
2007 2.41 1.94
2006 2.59 1.94
2005 2.73 1.87
2004 2.76 1.9
2003 2.77 1.91
2002 2.8 1.92
2001 2.84 1.94
2000 2.89 1.94
1999 2.95 1.97
1998 3.04 1.99
1997 3.14 2.03
1996 3.22 2.09
1995 3.25 2.15
1994 3.27 2.18
1993 3.31 2.22
1992 3.35 2.29
1991 3.4 2.35
1990 3.49 2.39
1989 3.59 2.41
1988 3.7 2.47
1987 3.83 2.53
1986 4 2.59
1985 4.22 2.65
1984 4.45 2.71
1983 4.66 2.78
1982 4.85 2.85
1981 5.02 2.92
1980 5.18 2.84
1979 5.33 2.85
1978 5.52 2.79
1977 5.71 2.77
1976 5.9 2.84
1975 6.06 3.05
1974 6.23 3.14
1973 6.43 3.35
1972 6.64 3.89
1971 6.84 3.74
1970 7.03 3.85
1969 7.18 3.86
1968 7.28 3.87
1967 7.33 4.05
1966 7.34 3.71
1965 7.31 3.56
1964 7.29 3.55
1963 7.28 3.63
1962 7.25 3.41
1961 7.25 3.26
1960 7.22 3.57

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

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

Kuwait and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Kuwait

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Kuwait North Korea
2024 35.8 37.3
2023 35.5 37.1
2022 34.4 36.8
2021 35.8 36.6
2020 37.7 36.4
2019 37.1 36.2
2018 36.4 35.9
2017 35.6 35.7
2016 34.7 35.4
2015 33.8 35.2
2014 33 35
2013 32.3 34.7
2012 31.5 34.5
2011 30.5 34.3
2010 29.6 34
2009 29.2 33.7
2008 28.8 33.3
2007 28.6 32.9
2006 28.5 32.5
2005 28.3 32.1
2004 27.9 31.8
2003 27.3 31.4
2002 26.8 31
2001 26.3 30.5
2000 25.9 30.1
1999 25.6 29.6
1998 25.5 29.2
1997 25.5 28.8
1996 25.5 28.3
1995 25.5 28
1994 25.1 27.6
1993 24.2 27.2
1992 23.8 26.8
1991 23.6 26.4
1990 23.4 26
1989 23.2 25.6
1988 23 25.1
1987 22.8 24.8
1986 22.7 24.5
1985 22.4 24.2
1984 22.1 23.9
1983 21.7 23.5
1982 21.3 23.1
1981 20.9 22.8
1980 20.5 22.5
1979 20.1 22.2
1978 19.6 21.8
1977 19.2 21.4
1976 18.7 21.1
1975 18.4 20.9
1974 18.4 20.7
1973 18.3 20.7
1972 18.3 20.9
1971 18.3 21.2
1970 18.5 21.4
1969 18.8 21.4
1968 19.2 21.4
1967 19.6 21.4
1966 20 21.3
1965 20.4 21.2
1964 20.7 21
1963 21 20.8
1962 21.5 20.6
1961 21.8 20.2
1960 22 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Kuwait North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$200B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.4%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.44%
2024
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
4.84%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
25,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+23.8%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.16%
2016
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
55.9%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
57.1%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
59.9
2026
3.1
2026
Listed domestic companies
138
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$141B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$50.7B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$20.4M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
2,161,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
1.11%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
74.5%
2024
n/a

Energy

Kuwait North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9,130 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.03
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
115.9 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
23.7 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.9%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.1%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.08%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-283.1%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
16,571 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.27%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Kuwait North Korea
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+42,775
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
100%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
61.1:38.9
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.74 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.25 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
71
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
46
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
51
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.25
2020
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.4
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
110
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.5%
2020
100%
2018
English speaking
20%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
99.7%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Kuwait North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,679
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$168
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.27
2020
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
8
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.8
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
44.4%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
25.6%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
16
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.9%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Kuwait North Korea
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
1,405 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
579 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24.1 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,572 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)

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