North Korea is a low-income country with a population of 26.5M people. The capital and largest city is Pyongyang, with 2.86M residents. North Korea shares land borders with China, South Korea and Russia.
North Korea ranks 106/197 by GDP ($34.9B) and 168/197 by GDP per capita ($1,319). The top category for both exports and imports is textiles & consumer goods.
Main facts and rankings
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
26621357
|
56/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
106/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
168/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
192/197 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,642
2025 |
178/197 |
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 97/197 |
| Population density | 570 ppl/mi² | 52/197 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 | 112/196 |
| Median age | 37.3 years | 62/196 |
| Life expectancy | 73.9 years | 102/197 |
North Korea trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 |
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 |
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2009 | $939 |
| 2010 | $1,040 |
| 2011 | $1,156 |
| 2012 | $1,186 |
| 2013 | $1,208 |
| 2014 | $1,201 |
| 2015 | $1,201 |
| 2016 | $1,124 |
| 2017 | $1,127 |
| 2018 | $1,100 |
| 2019 | $1,084 |
| 2020 | $1,061 |
| 2021 | $1,231 |
| 2022 | $1,100 |
| 2023 | $1,217 |
| 2024 | $1,319 |
North Korea's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.2 |
| 1951 | 17.7 |
| 1952 | 32.8 |
| 1953 | 40.3 |
| 1954 | 50.6 |
| 1955 | 51.8 |
| 1956 | 52.8 |
| 1957 | 53.7 |
| 1958 | 54.5 |
| 1959 | 55.2 |
| 1960 | 55.8 |
| 1961 | 56.4 |
| 1962 | 57 |
| 1963 | 57.6 |
| 1964 | 58.2 |
| 1965 | 58.8 |
| 1966 | 59.4 |
| 1967 | 60.1 |
| 1968 | 60.8 |
| 1969 | 61.4 |
| 1970 | 62 |
| 1971 | 62.7 |
| 1972 | 63.3 |
| 1973 | 63.8 |
| 1974 | 64.3 |
| 1975 | 64.8 |
| 1976 | 65.3 |
| 1977 | 65.8 |
| 1978 | 66.3 |
| 1979 | 66.7 |
| 1980 | 67.2 |
| 1981 | 67.7 |
| 1982 | 68.1 |
| 1983 | 68.5 |
| 1984 | 68.9 |
| 1985 | 69.2 |
| 1986 | 69.5 |
| 1987 | 69.8 |
| 1988 | 70.1 |
| 1989 | 70.3 |
| 1990 | 70.5 |
| 1991 | 70.7 |
| 1992 | 71 |
| 1993 | 70.8 |
| 1994 | 70.5 |
| 1995 | 60.8 |
| 1996 | 60.8 |
| 1997 | 60.9 |
| 1998 | 60.9 |
| 1999 | 60.9 |
| 2000 | 60.9 |
| 2001 | 60.9 |
| 2002 | 60.9 |
| 2003 | 69.4 |
| 2004 | 69.3 |
| 2005 | 69.2 |
| 2006 | 69.1 |
| 2007 | 69 |
| 2008 | 69.3 |
| 2009 | 69.7 |
| 2010 | 70.2 |
| 2011 | 70.8 |
| 2012 | 71.3 |
| 2013 | 71.9 |
| 2014 | 72.5 |
| 2015 | 72.8 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2018 | 73 |
| 2019 | 72.9 |
| 2020 | 72.8 |
| 2021 | 73.4 |
| 2022 | 73.6 |
| 2023 | 73.6 |
| 2024 | 73.7 |
| 2025 | 73.9 |
North Korea's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 11,722,953 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 |
North Korea's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.57 |
| 1961 | 3.26 |
| 1962 | 3.41 |
| 1963 | 3.63 |
| 1964 | 3.55 |
| 1965 | 3.56 |
| 1966 | 3.71 |
| 1967 | 4.05 |
| 1968 | 3.87 |
| 1969 | 3.86 |
| 1970 | 3.85 |
| 1971 | 3.74 |
| 1972 | 3.89 |
| 1973 | 3.35 |
| 1974 | 3.14 |
| 1975 | 3.05 |
| 1976 | 2.84 |
| 1977 | 2.77 |
| 1978 | 2.79 |
| 1979 | 2.85 |
| 1980 | 2.84 |
| 1981 | 2.92 |
| 1982 | 2.85 |
| 1983 | 2.78 |
| 1984 | 2.71 |
| 1985 | 2.65 |
| 1986 | 2.59 |
| 1987 | 2.53 |
| 1988 | 2.47 |
| 1989 | 2.41 |
| 1990 | 2.39 |
| 1991 | 2.35 |
| 1992 | 2.29 |
| 1993 | 2.22 |
| 1994 | 2.18 |
| 1995 | 2.15 |
| 1996 | 2.09 |
| 1997 | 2.03 |
| 1998 | 1.99 |
| 1999 | 1.97 |
| 2000 | 1.94 |
| 2001 | 1.94 |
| 2002 | 1.92 |
| 2003 | 1.91 |
| 2004 | 1.9 |
| 2005 | 1.87 |
| 2006 | 1.94 |
| 2007 | 1.94 |
| 2008 | 1.97 |
| 2009 | 1.91 |
| 2010 | 1.89 |
| 2011 | 1.88 |
| 2012 | 1.88 |
| 2013 | 1.88 |
| 2014 | 1.87 |
| 2015 | 1.86 |
| 2016 | 1.86 |
| 2017 | 1.85 |
| 2018 | 1.83 |
| 2019 | 1.83 |
| 2020 | 1.82 |
| 2021 | 1.81 |
| 2022 | 1.8 |
| 2023 | 1.78 |
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 19.9 |
| 1961 | 20.2 |
| 1962 | 20.6 |
| 1963 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1965 | 21.2 |
| 1966 | 21.3 |
| 1967 | 21.4 |
| 1968 | 21.4 |
| 1969 | 21.4 |
| 1970 | 21.4 |
| 1971 | 21.2 |
| 1972 | 20.9 |
| 1973 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 20.7 |
| 1975 | 20.9 |
| 1976 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 21.4 |
| 1978 | 21.8 |
| 1979 | 22.2 |
| 1980 | 22.5 |
| 1981 | 22.8 |
| 1982 | 23.1 |
| 1983 | 23.5 |
| 1984 | 23.9 |
| 1985 | 24.2 |
| 1986 | 24.5 |
| 1987 | 24.8 |
| 1988 | 25.1 |
| 1989 | 25.6 |
| 1990 | 26 |
| 1991 | 26.4 |
| 1992 | 26.8 |
| 1993 | 27.2 |
| 1994 | 27.6 |
| 1995 | 28 |
| 1996 | 28.3 |
| 1997 | 28.8 |
| 1998 | 29.2 |
| 1999 | 29.6 |
| 2000 | 30.1 |
| 2001 | 30.5 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2003 | 31.4 |
| 2004 | 31.8 |
| 2005 | 32.1 |
| 2006 | 32.5 |
| 2007 | 32.9 |
| 2008 | 33.3 |
| 2009 | 33.7 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2011 | 34.3 |
| 2012 | 34.5 |
| 2013 | 34.7 |
| 2014 | 35 |
| 2015 | 35.2 |
| 2016 | 35.4 |
| 2017 | 35.7 |
| 2018 | 35.9 |
| 2019 | 36.2 |
| 2020 | 36.4 |
| 2021 | 36.6 |
| 2022 | 36.8 |
| 2023 | 37.1 |
| 2024 | 37.3 |
North Korea vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing North Korea with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
North Korea: National Statistics
Finance
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Armed forces personnel |
1,469,000
2020 |
3/174 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
7/196 |
| Economic freedom index |
3
2025 |
197/197 |
Energy
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
118/177 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
64.3 megatons
2023 |
50/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.43 tons
2023 |
96/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
85.1%
2022 |
43/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
14.7%
2021 |
125/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
8.5%
2022 |
65/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
4.9%
2022 |
97/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
830 kWh
2022 |
108/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
63.2%
2021 |
50/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
62.7%
2022 |
32/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
141/192 |
| Electricity access |
57.5%
2023 |
166/195 |
Society
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.33%
2024 |
56/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-2,473
2024 |
108/196 |
| Urban population |
63.5%
2024 |
97/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.73 ft
2025 |
70/190 |
| Average female height |
5.29 ft
2025 |
86/190 |
| Quality of life index |
11.8
2025 |
190/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2024 |
187/197 |
| Higher education index |
12
2025 |
163/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
77/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
49/197 |
| Visa free countries |
51
2025 |
187/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2018 |
10/196 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
197/197 |
| People using the Internet |
0%
2012 |
195/195 |
Health
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
102/197 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.67
2017 |
34/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
81/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
18
2023 |
86/192 |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
156/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
81/195 |
| Air quality index |
42
2025 |
117/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
16.5%
2022 |
96/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.87 liters
2020 |
101/186 |
Territory
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
97/197 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
146/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2025 |
109/194 |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2025 |
70/196 |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
87/175 |
Compare North Korea with other countries
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