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Nepal vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nepal has a population of 29.7M (ranked 51/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Nepal's land area is 55,348 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 92nd vs. 97th).

By GDP, Nepal ranks 101/197 ($42.9B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Nepal ranks 164/197 ($1,447), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Nepal North Korea
Population
29596762
26659144
Population rank 52/197 57/197
GDP
$42.9B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 101/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$1,447
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 164/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,737
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$20.7B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
48.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$700
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 154/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,170
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 55,348 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
535 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.98
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
26 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
71.2 years
2026
74 years
2026

Nepal and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Nepal and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Nepal North Korea
2024 $42,914,268,287 $34,943,120,000
2023 $41,047,772,331 $32,155,360,000
2022 $41,182,939,601 $28,971,360,000
2021 $36,924,841,394 $32,301,720,000
2020 $33,433,659,301 $27,728,240,000
2019 $34,186,180,699 $28,222,880,000
2018 $33,111,525,237 $28,536,400,000
2017 $28,971,588,940 $29,105,440,000
2016 $24,524,109,484 $28,882,640,000
2015 $24,360,801,287 $30,723,030,000
2014 $22,731,612,922 $30,554,460,000
2013 $22,162,204,925 $30,588,922,000
2012 $21,703,100,877 $29,890,710,000
2011 $21,573,872,421 $29,005,020,000
2010 $16,002,656,434 $25,995,513,000
2009 $12,854,985,464 $23,356,470,000
2008 $12,545,438,605 -
2007 $10,325,618,017 -
2006 $9,043,715,356 -
2005 $8,130,258,378 -
2004 $7,273,938,315 -
2003 $6,330,473,097 -
2002 $6,050,875,807 -
2001 $6,007,055,042 -
2000 $5,494,252,208 -
1999 $5,033,642,384 -
1998 $4,856,255,044 -
1997 $4,918,691,917 -
1996 $4,521,580,381 -
1995 $4,401,104,418 -
1994 $4,066,775,510 -
1993 $3,660,041,667 -
1992 $3,401,211,581 -
1991 $3,921,476,085 -
1990 $3,627,560,239 -
1989 $3,525,225,787 -
1988 $3,487,009,748 -
1987 $2,957,255,380 -
1986 $2,850,782,044 -
1985 $2,619,913,956 -
1984 $2,581,207,388 -
1983 $2,447,174,803 -
1982 $2,395,423,742 -
1981 $2,275,583,317 -
1980 $1,945,916,583 -
1979 $1,851,250,008 -
1978 $1,604,162,497 -
1977 $1,382,400,000 -
1976 $1,452,788,985 -
1975 $1,575,789,254 -
1974 $1,217,953,547 -
1973 $972,101,725 -
1972 $1,024,098,400 -
1971 $882,765,472 -
1970 $865,975,309 -
1969 $788,641,965 -
1968 $772,231,387 -
1967 $841,974,025 -
1966 $906,811,944 -
1965 $735,267,082 -
1964 $496,098,775 -
1963 $496,947,904 -
1962 $574,091,101 -
1961 $531,959,562 -
1960 $508,334,414 -

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

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

Nepal and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Nepal North Korea
2024 $1,447 $1,319
2023 $1,382 $1,217
2022 $1,386 $1,100
2021 $1,253 $1,231
2020 $1,154 $1,061
2019 $1,203 $1,084
2018 $1,179 $1,100
2017 $1,034 $1,127
2016 $877 $1,124
2015 $876 $1,201
2014 $821 $1,201
2013 $803 $1,208
2012 $788 $1,186
2011 $786 $1,156
2010 $585 $1,040
2009 $473 $939
2008 $465 -
2007 $385 -
2006 $340 -
2005 $309 -
2004 $279.6 -
2003 $246.4 -
2002 $238.9 -
2001 $240.8 -
2000 $223.8 -
1999 $208.6 -
1998 $205.1 -
1997 $211.8 -
1996 $198.8 -
1995 $197.8 -
1994 $187.3 -
1993 $172.8 -
1992 $165 -
1991 $195.7 -
1990 $185.8 -
1989 $185 -
1988 $187.1 -
1987 $162 -
1986 $159.5 -
1985 $149.9 -
1984 $151.1 -
1983 $146.6 -
1982 $147 -
1981 $142.9 -
1980 $125.1 -
1979 $121.9 -
1978 $108.1 -
1977 $95.3 -
1976 $102.5 -
1975 $113.6 -
1974 $89.8 -
1973 $73.2 -
1972 $78.8 -
1971 $69.5 -
1970 $69.6 -
1969 $64.8 -
1968 $64.9 -
1967 $72.3 -
1966 $79.5 -
1965 $65.8 -
1964 $45.3 -
1963 $46.3 -
1962 $54.6 -
1961 $51.6 -
1960 $50.2 -

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

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

Nepal vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Nepal North Korea
2026 71.2 74
2025 70.9 73.9
2024 70.6 73.7
2023 70.4 73.6
2022 70.1 73.6
2021 68.4 73.4
2020 69.1 72.8
2019 69.3 72.9
2018 69 73
2017 68.7 73
2016 68.4 73
2015 67.4 72.8
2014 67.8 72.5
2013 67.6 71.9
2012 67.4 71.3
2011 67.1 70.8
2010 66.8 70.2
2009 66.6 69.7
2008 66.4 69.3
2007 66.2 69
2006 65.9 69.1
2005 65.3 69.2
2004 64.7 69.3
2003 64.2 69.4
2002 63.5 60.9
2001 63.3 60.9
2000 62.6 60.9
1999 62 60.9
1998 61.5 60.9
1997 60.8 60.9
1996 60 60.8
1995 59.3 60.8
1994 58.6 70.5
1993 57.6 70.8
1992 56.7 71
1991 55.6 70.7
1990 54.8 70.5
1989 54 70.3
1988 53.1 70.1
1987 52.4 69.8
1986 51.6 69.5
1985 50.9 69.2
1984 50.2 68.9
1983 49.7 68.5
1982 49.2 68.1
1981 48.7 67.7
1980 48.3 67.2
1979 47.8 66.7
1978 47.2 66.3
1977 46.6 65.8
1976 46 65.3
1975 45.5 64.8
1974 44.9 64.3
1973 44.5 63.8
1972 44.1 63.3
1971 43.6 62.7
1970 43.2 62
1969 42.7 61.4
1968 42.2 60.8
1967 41.7 60.1
1966 41.2 59.4
1965 40.7 58.8
1964 40.2 58.2
1963 39.6 57.6
1962 39.3 57
1961 39 56.4
1960 38.7 55.8
1959 38.4 55.2
1958 38.1 54.5
1957 38 53.7
1956 37.9 52.8
1955 37.9 51.8
1954 37.8 50.6
1953 37.7 40.3
1952 37.7 32.8
1951 37.6 17.7
1950 37.6 14.2

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

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

Nepal and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Nepal North Korea
2024 29,651,054 26,498,823
2023 29,694,614 26,418,204
2022 29,715,436 26,328,845
2021 29,475,010 26,232,534
2020 28,966,574 26,136,312
2019 28,414,064 26,037,632
2018 28,079,689 25,931,147
2017 28,011,258 25,817,709
2016 27,955,462 25,698,326
2015 27,823,629 25,575,350
2014 27,672,370 25,451,262
2013 27,589,996 25,329,451
2012 27,534,915 25,211,728
2011 27,464,494 25,097,874
2010 27,341,952 24,987,258
2009 27,173,035 24,878,332
2008 26,990,037 24,764,618
2007 26,788,492 24,646,383
2006 26,565,425 24,524,507
2005 26,309,458 24,396,433
2004 26,016,656 24,254,943
2003 25,688,758 24,090,380
2002 25,328,981 23,943,973
2001 24,946,748 23,815,358
2000 24,546,509 23,665,910
1999 24,125,199 23,497,599
1998 23,680,357 23,311,564
1997 23,219,463 23,110,830
1996 22,741,862 22,895,746
1995 22,245,439 22,669,304
1994 21,717,479 22,393,975
1993 21,180,159 22,073,352
1992 20,609,707 21,750,911
1991 20,036,500 21,428,638
1990 19,524,573 21,112,137
1989 19,057,807 20,804,367
1988 18,638,661 20,503,161
1987 18,250,505 20,205,483
1986 17,868,124 19,910,855
1985 17,477,692 19,620,388
1984 17,085,242 19,335,043
1983 16,689,119 19,054,034
1982 16,297,987 18,776,357
1981 15,922,423 18,501,295
1980 15,553,105 18,236,786
1979 15,190,590 17,983,470
1978 14,839,695 17,735,995
1977 14,499,175 17,492,798
1976 14,177,649 17,243,450
1975 13,870,695 16,971,055
1974 13,568,435 16,673,121
1973 13,275,239 16,350,367
1972 12,989,099 15,975,069
1971 12,710,061 15,572,457
1970 12,436,190 15,172,775
1969 12,167,036 14,767,615
1968 11,906,266 14,365,596
1967 11,652,716 13,958,350
1966 11,408,710 13,569,094
1965 11,173,411 13,219,369
1964 10,946,392 12,889,770
1963 10,729,818 12,567,057
1962 10,521,116 12,262,882
1961 10,318,396 11,990,713
1960 10,123,658 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Nepal and North Korea

Fertility rate
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nepal North Korea
2023 1.98 1.78
2022 2 1.8
2021 2.03 1.81
2020 2.05 1.82
2019 2.08 1.83
2018 2.12 1.83
2017 2.17 1.85
2016 2.23 1.86
2015 2.27 1.86
2014 2.32 1.87
2013 2.36 1.88
2012 2.42 1.88
2011 2.46 1.88
2010 2.54 1.89
2009 2.63 1.91
2008 2.74 1.97
2007 2.86 1.94
2006 2.97 1.94
2005 3.12 1.87
2004 3.28 1.9
2003 3.44 1.91
2002 3.6 1.92
2001 3.79 1.94
2000 3.98 1.94
1999 4.13 1.97
1998 4.28 1.99
1997 4.44 2.03
1996 4.67 2.09
1995 4.87 2.15
1994 4.96 2.18
1993 5.04 2.22
1992 5.07 2.29
1991 5.15 2.35
1990 5.21 2.39
1989 5.26 2.41
1988 5.31 2.47
1987 5.35 2.53
1986 5.4 2.59
1985 5.46 2.65
1984 5.51 2.71
1983 5.54 2.78
1982 5.55 2.85
1981 5.58 2.92
1980 5.6 2.84
1979 5.64 2.85
1978 5.68 2.79
1977 5.69 2.77
1976 5.72 2.84
1975 5.73 3.05
1974 5.75 3.14
1973 5.7 3.35
1972 5.8 3.89
1971 5.85 3.74
1970 5.87 3.85
1969 5.89 3.86
1968 5.94 3.87
1967 5.95 4.05
1966 5.98 3.71
1965 6.01 3.56
1964 6.04 3.55
1963 6.06 3.63
1962 6.08 3.41
1961 6.09 3.26
1960 6.07 3.57

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

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

Nepal and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Nepal

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Nepal North Korea
2024 26 37.3
2023 25.7 37.1
2022 25.4 36.8
2021 25 36.6
2020 24.5 36.4
2019 23.7 36.2
2018 23.2 35.9
2017 22.9 35.7
2016 22.7 35.4
2015 22.4 35.2
2014 22.2 35
2013 22 34.7
2012 21.8 34.5
2011 21.6 34.3
2010 21.3 34
2009 21 33.7
2008 20.8 33.3
2007 20.5 32.9
2006 20.3 32.5
2005 20 32.1
2004 19.8 31.8
2003 19.7 31.4
2002 19.5 31
2001 19.4 30.5
2000 19.3 30.1
1999 19.3 29.6
1998 19.2 29.2
1997 19.2 28.8
1996 19.2 28.3
1995 19.2 28
1994 19.2 27.6
1993 19.2 27.2
1992 19.2 26.8
1991 19.2 26.4
1990 19.2 26
1989 19.2 25.6
1988 19.2 25.1
1987 19.3 24.8
1986 19.4 24.5
1985 19.4 24.2
1984 19.5 23.9
1983 19.5 23.5
1982 19.5 23.1
1981 19.5 22.8
1980 19.6 22.5
1979 19.6 22.2
1978 19.6 21.8
1977 19.7 21.4
1976 19.7 21.1
1975 19.7 20.9
1974 19.7 20.7
1973 19.7 20.7
1972 19.7 20.9
1971 19.7 21.2
1970 19.7 21.4
1969 19.7 21.4
1968 19.7 21.4
1967 19.7 21.4
1966 19.6 21.3
1965 19.6 21.2
1964 19.6 21
1963 19.6 20.8
1962 19.6 20.6
1961 19.5 20.2
1960 19.5 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Nepal North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$43.7B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.1%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.69%
2024
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.98%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
112,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.76%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
10.7%
2017
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
55.2%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
11.4%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
52.9
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.2%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2022
n/a
Number of billionaires
2
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00001%
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$12.5B
2023
n/a
Personal remittances received
$11.3B
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
230,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
13.4%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
60%
2024
n/a

Energy

Nepal North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
520 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$9.81
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
15.9 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.54 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
26.5%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
73.7%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
6.78%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
27.4%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
321 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
83.8%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
94%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Nepal North Korea
% of world population
0.36%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-364,699
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
66.8%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
47.9:52.1
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.39 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
34.5
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
42
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.1
2020
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
16.3
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
71.2%
2021
100%
2018
English speaking
3%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
55.8%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Nepal North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$84
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$49.9
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
71.2 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.95%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.01
2023
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
20.4 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
142
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
26.5
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
7.18%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
4
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
28.3%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.06 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Nepal North Korea
% of world land
0.1%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
1,867 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
14,456 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,020 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
49,758 mi
2025
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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