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Netherlands vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has a population of 18M (ranked 72/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). The Netherlands' land area is 13,000 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 134th vs. 97th).

By GDP, The Netherlands ranks 19/197 ($1.21T) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, The Netherlands ranks 13/197 ($67,520), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Netherlands North Korea
Population
18252623
26659144
Population rank 72/197 57/197
GDP
$1.21T
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 19/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$67,520
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 13/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$86,174
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$532B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$29,571
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 24/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,815
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 13,000 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
1,402 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.43
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
42.4 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
74 years
2026

Netherlands and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Netherlands and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Netherlands North Korea
2024 $1,214,927,698,573 $34,943,120,000
2023 $1,135,475,867,551 $32,155,360,000
2022 $1,046,540,797,549 $28,971,360,000
2021 $1,054,472,123,450 $32,301,720,000
2020 $932,560,861,701 $27,728,240,000
2019 $928,903,005,576 $28,222,880,000
2018 $929,733,599,797 $28,536,400,000
2017 $848,233,537,846 $29,105,440,000
2016 $797,163,949,290 $28,882,640,000
2015 $775,743,675,303 $30,723,030,000
2014 $901,556,501,756 $30,554,460,000
2013 $883,951,539,007 $30,588,922,000
2012 $845,689,017,066 $29,890,710,000
2011 $913,140,741,333 $29,005,020,000
2010 $852,464,982,433 $25,995,513,000
2009 $878,954,223,140 $23,356,470,000
2008 $957,901,566,041 -
2007 $853,499,460,873 -
2006 $737,593,995,289 -
2005 $688,133,699,636 -
2004 $661,224,886,143 -
2003 $582,435,617,082 -
2002 $475,529,972,123 -
2001 $432,536,219,669 -
2000 $417,649,282,154 -
1999 $447,778,514,140 -
1998 $438,612,530,549 -
1997 $417,506,211,882 -
1996 $451,372,549,020 -
1995 $452,967,334,614 -
1994 $379,688,232,232 -
1993 $354,070,495,966 -
1992 $363,497,050,125 -
1991 $327,982,316,124 -
1990 $318,799,003,994 -
1989 $258,716,904,292 -
1988 $262,295,966,105 -
1987 $245,406,949,521 -
1986 $201,157,708,221 -
1985 $144,057,523,222 -
1984 $144,124,462,912 -
1983 $153,671,294,109 -
1982 $158,712,765,536 -
1981 $164,375,775,854 -
1980 $195,439,301,707 -
1979 $179,933,827,310 -
1978 $156,089,077,205 -
1977 $127,203,923,857 -
1976 $109,329,386,564 -
1975 $100,397,061,694 -
1974 $87,371,810,804 -
1973 $71,946,639,603 -
1972 $54,787,070,173 -
1971 $44,644,730,576 -
1970 $38,220,884,519 -
1969 $34,086,038,090 -
1968 $30,097,635,751 -
1967 $27,143,828,099 -
1966 $24,741,480,717 -
1965 $22,721,869,808 -
1964 $20,232,048,553 -
1963 $17,193,744,109 -
1962 $15,847,582,341 -
1961 $14,599,836,396 -
1960 $13,282,979,015 -

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

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

Netherlands and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Netherlands North Korea
2024 $67,520 $1,319
2023 $63,516 $1,217
2022 $59,123 $1,100
2021 $60,142 $1,231
2020 $53,468 $1,061
2019 $53,555 $1,084
2018 $53,955 $1,100
2017 $49,514 $1,127
2016 $46,809 $1,124
2015 $45,794 $1,201
2014 $53,457 $1,201
2013 $52,602 $1,208
2012 $50,474 $1,186
2011 $54,702 $1,156
2010 $51,306 $1,040
2009 $53,172 $939
2008 $58,247 -
2007 $52,101 -
2006 $45,124 -
2005 $42,165 -
2004 $40,611 -
2003 $35,897 -
2002 $29,447 -
2001 $26,956 -
2000 $26,225 -
1999 $28,319 -
1998 $27,924 -
1997 $26,745 -
1996 $29,064 -
1995 $29,301 -
1994 $24,683 -
1993 $23,156 -
1992 $23,939 -
1991 $21,764 -
1990 $21,322 -
1989 $17,423 -
1988 $17,771 -
1987 $16,734 -
1986 $13,804 -
1985 $9,941 -
1984 $9,992 -
1983 $10,696 -
1982 $11,089 -
1981 $11,537 -
1980 $13,812 -
1979 $12,817 -
1978 $11,196 -
1977 $9,180 -
1976 $7,937 -
1975 $7,346 -
1974 $6,450 -
1973 $5,353 -
1972 $4,110 -
1971 $3,384 -
1970 $2,931 -
1969 $2,647 -
1968 $2,364 -
1967 $2,155 -
1966 $1,986 -
1965 $1,848 -
1964 $1,668 -
1963 $1,437 -
1962 $1,342 -
1961 $1,254 -
1960 $1,156 -

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

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

Netherlands vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Netherlands North Korea
2026 82.6 74
2025 82.4 73.9
2024 82.3 73.7
2023 82.2 73.6
2022 81.9 73.6
2021 81.4 73.4
2020 81.4 72.8
2019 82.1 72.9
2018 81.8 73
2017 81.7 73
2016 81.6 73
2015 81.5 72.8
2014 81.7 72.5
2013 81.3 71.9
2012 81.1 71.3
2011 81.1 70.8
2010 80.8 70.2
2009 80.7 69.7
2008 80.4 69.3
2007 80.3 69
2006 79.8 69.1
2005 79.5 69.2
2004 79.2 69.3
2003 78.7 69.4
2002 78.4 60.9
2001 78.3 60.9
2000 78.1 60.9
1999 78 60.9
1998 78 60.9
1997 77.9 60.9
1996 77.6 60.8
1995 77.6 60.8
1994 77.5 70.5
1993 77 70.8
1992 77.4 71
1991 77.2 70.7
1990 77 70.5
1989 76.8 70.3
1988 77 70.1
1987 76.8 69.8
1986 76.4 69.5
1985 76.4 69.2
1984 76.3 68.9
1983 76.3 68.5
1982 76.1 68.1
1981 76 67.7
1980 75.8 67.2
1979 75.6 66.7
1978 75.2 66.3
1977 75.3 65.8
1976 74.7 65.3
1975 74.6 64.8
1974 74.6 64.3
1973 74.2 63.8
1972 73.8 63.3
1971 73.9 62.7
1970 73.6 62
1969 73.6 61.4
1968 73.6 60.8
1967 73.8 60.1
1966 73.6 59.4
1965 73.6 58.8
1964 73.7 58.2
1963 73.4 57.6
1962 73.2 57
1961 73.6 56.4
1960 73.4 55.8
1959 73.2 55.2
1958 73.1 54.5
1957 73 53.7
1956 72.5 52.8
1955 72.5 51.8
1954 72.4 50.6
1953 71.7 40.3
1952 72.1 32.8
1951 71.5 17.7
1950 71.4 14.2

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

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

Netherlands and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Netherlands North Korea
2024 17,993,485 26,498,823
2023 17,877,117 26,418,204
2022 17,700,982 26,328,845
2021 17,533,044 26,232,534
2020 17,441,500 26,136,312
2019 17,344,874 26,037,632
2018 17,231,624 25,931,147
2017 17,131,296 25,817,709
2016 17,030,314 25,698,326
2015 16,939,923 25,575,350
2014 16,865,008 25,451,262
2013 16,804,432 25,329,451
2012 16,754,962 25,211,728
2011 16,693,074 25,097,874
2010 16,615,394 24,987,258
2009 16,530,388 24,878,332
2008 16,445,593 24,764,618
2007 16,381,696 24,646,383
2006 16,346,101 24,524,507
2005 16,319,868 24,396,433
2004 16,281,779 24,254,943
2003 16,225,302 24,090,380
2002 16,148,929 23,943,973
2001 16,046,180 23,815,358
2000 15,925,513 23,665,910
1999 15,812,088 23,497,599
1998 15,707,209 23,311,564
1997 15,610,650 23,110,830
1996 15,530,498 22,895,746
1995 15,459,006 22,669,304
1994 15,382,838 22,393,975
1993 15,290,368 22,073,352
1992 15,184,166 21,750,911
1991 15,069,798 21,428,638
1990 14,951,510 21,112,137
1989 14,848,907 20,804,367
1988 14,760,094 20,503,161
1987 14,665,037 20,205,483
1986 14,572,278 19,910,855
1985 14,491,632 19,620,388
1984 14,424,211 19,335,043
1983 14,367,070 19,054,034
1982 14,312,690 18,776,357
1981 14,247,208 18,501,295
1980 14,149,800 18,236,786
1979 14,038,270 17,983,470
1978 13,941,700 17,735,995
1977 13,856,185 17,492,798
1976 13,774,037 17,243,450
1975 13,666,335 16,971,055
1974 13,545,056 16,673,121
1973 13,439,322 16,350,367
1972 13,328,593 15,975,069
1971 13,194,497 15,572,457
1970 13,038,526 15,172,775
1969 12,877,984 14,767,615
1968 12,729,721 14,365,596
1967 12,598,201 13,958,350
1966 12,456,251 13,569,094
1965 12,294,732 13,219,369
1964 12,127,120 12,889,770
1963 11,965,966 12,567,057
1962 11,805,689 12,262,882
1961 11,638,712 11,990,713
1960 11,486,631 11,722,953

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

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

Fertility rates in Netherlands and North Korea

Fertility rate
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands North Korea
2023 1.43 1.78
2022 1.49 1.8
2021 1.62 1.81
2020 1.54 1.82
2019 1.57 1.83
2018 1.59 1.83
2017 1.62 1.85
2016 1.66 1.86
2015 1.66 1.86
2014 1.71 1.87
2013 1.68 1.88
2012 1.72 1.88
2011 1.76 1.88
2010 1.79 1.89
2009 1.79 1.91
2008 1.77 1.97
2007 1.72 1.94
2006 1.72 1.94
2005 1.71 1.87
2004 1.72 1.9
2003 1.75 1.91
2002 1.73 1.92
2001 1.71 1.94
2000 1.72 1.94
1999 1.65 1.97
1998 1.63 1.99
1997 1.56 2.03
1996 1.53 2.09
1995 1.53 2.15
1994 1.57 2.18
1993 1.57 2.22
1992 1.59 2.29
1991 1.61 2.35
1990 1.62 2.39
1989 1.55 2.41
1988 1.55 2.47
1987 1.56 2.53
1986 1.55 2.59
1985 1.51 2.65
1984 1.49 2.71
1983 1.47 2.78
1982 1.5 2.85
1981 1.56 2.92
1980 1.6 2.84
1979 1.56 2.85
1978 1.58 2.79
1977 1.58 2.77
1976 1.63 2.84
1975 1.66 3.05
1974 1.77 3.14
1973 1.9 3.35
1972 2.15 3.89
1971 2.36 3.74
1970 2.57 3.85
1969 2.75 3.86
1968 2.72 3.87
1967 2.81 4.05
1966 2.9 3.71
1965 3.04 3.56
1964 3.17 3.55
1963 3.19 3.63
1962 3.18 3.41
1961 3.22 3.26
1960 3.12 3.57

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

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

Netherlands and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Netherlands

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Netherlands North Korea
2024 42.4 37.3
2023 42.4 37.1
2022 42.5 36.8
2021 42.6 36.6
2020 42.5 36.4
2019 42.5 36.2
2018 42.4 35.9
2017 42.3 35.7
2016 42.2 35.4
2015 42 35.2
2014 41.8 35
2013 41.6 34.7
2012 41.3 34.5
2011 41 34.3
2010 40.7 34
2009 40.3 33.7
2008 40 33.3
2007 39.7 32.9
2006 39.3 32.5
2005 38.9 32.1
2004 38.5 31.8
2003 38.1 31.4
2002 37.8 31
2001 37.5 30.5
2000 37.3 30.1
1999 37 29.6
1998 36.7 29.2
1997 36.4 28.8
1996 36.1 28.3
1995 35.7 28
1994 35.4 27.6
1993 35.1 27.2
1992 34.8 26.8
1991 34.6 26.4
1990 34.3 26
1989 34.1 25.6
1988 33.8 25.1
1987 33.5 24.8
1986 33.2 24.5
1985 32.9 24.2
1984 32.6 23.9
1983 32.3 23.5
1982 31.9 23.1
1981 31.6 22.8
1980 31.3 22.5
1979 31 22.2
1978 30.7 21.8
1977 30.3 21.4
1976 29.8 21.1
1975 29.4 20.9
1974 29.3 20.7
1973 29 20.7
1972 28.9 20.9
1971 28.7 21.2
1970 28.6 21.4
1969 28.6 21.4
1968 28.6 21.4
1967 28.5 21.4
1966 28.6 21.3
1965 28.6 21.2
1964 28.6 21
1963 28.7 20.8
1962 28.7 20.6
1961 28.8 20.2
1960 28.8 19.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Netherlands North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$1.12T
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.18%
2022
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.92%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
41,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.94%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
70.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
17.5%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
78.5
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.4%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2021
n/a
Number of millionaires
1,267,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
8.87%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
13
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00009%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
103
2018
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.1T
2017
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$79.1B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$4.72B
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
7,265,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
1.44%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
99.2%
2024
n/a

Energy

Netherlands North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,418 kg
2023
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$23.9
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
118.8 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.6 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
83.5%
2023
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
12.2%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.01%
2023
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
87%
2023
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,189 kWh
2023
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
33.1%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.06%
2023
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
3.28%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Netherlands North Korea
% of world population
0.22%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
+104,681
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
95.6%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
6.03 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.59 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.4
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
78
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
96
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.69
2023
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
100%
2018
English speaking
90.9%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
97%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Netherlands North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,845
2024
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$807
2024
n/a
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2022
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
30.4 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
4
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
15%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
76
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
21.3%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
8.71 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Netherlands North Korea
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
722 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,961 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,437 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
88,123 mi
2022
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.