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 |
26659144
|
57/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
106/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
168/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
193/197 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,426
2026 |
183/197 |
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 97/197 |
| Population density | 573 ppl/mi² | 52/197 |
| Fertility rate | 1.78 | 112/196 |
| Median age | 37.3 years | 62/196 |
| Life expectancy | 74 years | 104/197 |
North Korea trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 |
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,319 |
| 2023 | $1,217 |
| 2022 | $1,100 |
| 2021 | $1,231 |
| 2020 | $1,061 |
| 2019 | $1,084 |
| 2018 | $1,100 |
| 2017 | $1,127 |
| 2016 | $1,124 |
| 2015 | $1,201 |
| 2014 | $1,201 |
| 2013 | $1,208 |
| 2012 | $1,186 |
| 2011 | $1,156 |
| 2010 | $1,040 |
| 2009 | $939 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (2009–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY
North Korea's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 74 |
| 2025 | 73.9 |
| 2024 | 73.7 |
| 2023 | 73.6 |
| 2022 | 73.6 |
| 2021 | 73.4 |
| 2020 | 72.8 |
| 2019 | 72.9 |
| 2018 | 73 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2015 | 72.8 |
| 2014 | 72.5 |
| 2013 | 71.9 |
| 2012 | 71.3 |
| 2011 | 70.8 |
| 2010 | 70.2 |
| 2009 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 69 |
| 2006 | 69.1 |
| 2005 | 69.2 |
| 2004 | 69.3 |
| 2003 | 69.4 |
| 2002 | 60.9 |
| 2001 | 60.9 |
| 2000 | 60.9 |
| 1999 | 60.9 |
| 1998 | 60.9 |
| 1997 | 60.9 |
| 1996 | 60.8 |
| 1995 | 60.8 |
| 1994 | 70.5 |
| 1993 | 70.8 |
| 1992 | 71 |
| 1991 | 70.7 |
| 1990 | 70.5 |
| 1989 | 70.3 |
| 1988 | 70.1 |
| 1987 | 69.8 |
| 1986 | 69.5 |
| 1985 | 69.2 |
| 1984 | 68.9 |
| 1983 | 68.5 |
| 1982 | 68.1 |
| 1981 | 67.7 |
| 1980 | 67.2 |
| 1979 | 66.7 |
| 1978 | 66.3 |
| 1977 | 65.8 |
| 1976 | 65.3 |
| 1975 | 64.8 |
| 1974 | 64.3 |
| 1973 | 63.8 |
| 1972 | 63.3 |
| 1971 | 62.7 |
| 1970 | 62 |
| 1969 | 61.4 |
| 1968 | 60.8 |
| 1967 | 60.1 |
| 1966 | 59.4 |
| 1965 | 58.8 |
| 1964 | 58.2 |
| 1963 | 57.6 |
| 1962 | 57 |
| 1961 | 56.4 |
| 1960 | 55.8 |
| 1959 | 55.2 |
| 1958 | 54.5 |
| 1957 | 53.7 |
| 1956 | 52.8 |
| 1955 | 51.8 |
| 1954 | 50.6 |
| 1953 | 40.3 |
| 1952 | 32.8 |
| 1951 | 17.7 |
| 1950 | 14.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY
North Korea's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 26,498,823 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY
North Korea's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.78 |
| 2022 | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 1.81 |
| 2020 | 1.82 |
| 2019 | 1.83 |
| 2018 | 1.83 |
| 2017 | 1.85 |
| 2016 | 1.86 |
| 2015 | 1.86 |
| 2014 | 1.87 |
| 2013 | 1.88 |
| 2012 | 1.88 |
| 2011 | 1.88 |
| 2010 | 1.89 |
| 2009 | 1.91 |
| 2008 | 1.97 |
| 2007 | 1.94 |
| 2006 | 1.94 |
| 2005 | 1.87 |
| 2004 | 1.9 |
| 2003 | 1.91 |
| 2002 | 1.92 |
| 2001 | 1.94 |
| 2000 | 1.94 |
| 1999 | 1.97 |
| 1998 | 1.99 |
| 1997 | 2.03 |
| 1996 | 2.09 |
| 1995 | 2.15 |
| 1994 | 2.18 |
| 1993 | 2.22 |
| 1992 | 2.29 |
| 1991 | 2.35 |
| 1990 | 2.39 |
| 1989 | 2.41 |
| 1988 | 2.47 |
| 1987 | 2.53 |
| 1986 | 2.59 |
| 1985 | 2.65 |
| 1984 | 2.71 |
| 1983 | 2.78 |
| 1982 | 2.85 |
| 1981 | 2.92 |
| 1980 | 2.84 |
| 1979 | 2.85 |
| 1978 | 2.79 |
| 1977 | 2.77 |
| 1976 | 2.84 |
| 1975 | 3.05 |
| 1974 | 3.14 |
| 1973 | 3.35 |
| 1972 | 3.89 |
| 1971 | 3.74 |
| 1970 | 3.85 |
| 1969 | 3.86 |
| 1968 | 3.87 |
| 1967 | 4.05 |
| 1966 | 3.71 |
| 1965 | 3.56 |
| 1964 | 3.55 |
| 1963 | 3.63 |
| 1962 | 3.41 |
| 1961 | 3.26 |
| 1960 | 3.57 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 37.3 |
| 2023 | 37.1 |
| 2022 | 36.8 |
| 2021 | 36.6 |
| 2020 | 36.4 |
| 2019 | 36.2 |
| 2018 | 35.9 |
| 2017 | 35.7 |
| 2016 | 35.4 |
| 2015 | 35.2 |
| 2014 | 35 |
| 2013 | 34.7 |
| 2012 | 34.5 |
| 2011 | 34.3 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2009 | 33.7 |
| 2008 | 33.3 |
| 2007 | 32.9 |
| 2006 | 32.5 |
| 2005 | 32.1 |
| 2004 | 31.8 |
| 2003 | 31.4 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2001 | 30.5 |
| 2000 | 30.1 |
| 1999 | 29.6 |
| 1998 | 29.2 |
| 1997 | 28.8 |
| 1996 | 28.3 |
| 1995 | 28 |
| 1994 | 27.6 |
| 1993 | 27.2 |
| 1992 | 26.8 |
| 1991 | 26.4 |
| 1990 | 26 |
| 1989 | 25.6 |
| 1988 | 25.1 |
| 1987 | 24.8 |
| 1986 | 24.5 |
| 1985 | 24.2 |
| 1984 | 23.9 |
| 1983 | 23.5 |
| 1982 | 23.1 |
| 1981 | 22.8 |
| 1980 | 22.5 |
| 1979 | 22.2 |
| 1978 | 21.8 |
| 1977 | 21.4 |
| 1976 | 21.1 |
| 1975 | 20.9 |
| 1974 | 20.7 |
| 1973 | 20.7 |
| 1972 | 20.9 |
| 1971 | 21.2 |
| 1970 | 21.4 |
| 1969 | 21.4 |
| 1968 | 21.4 |
| 1967 | 21.4 |
| 1966 | 21.3 |
| 1965 | 21.2 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1963 | 20.8 |
| 1962 | 20.6 |
| 1961 | 20.2 |
| 1960 | 19.9 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea | CC BY
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.
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 |
3.1
2026 |
197/197 |
Energy
|
North Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
119/177 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
66.2 megatons
2024 |
51/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.5 tons
2024 |
97/187 |
| 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 |
-2,787
2025 |
104/196 |
| Urban population |
63.9%
2024 |
96/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.5:50.5
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 |
10.1
2026 |
191/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2025 |
188/197 |
| Higher education index |
10
2026 |
166/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
78/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
49/197 |
| Visa free countries |
48
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 |
74 years
2026 |
104/197 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.63
2017 |
40/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
81/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
18
2023 |
86/192 |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
156/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
81/195 |
| Air quality index |
42
2026 |
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%
2026 |
97/197 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
146/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2026 |
109/194 |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2026 |
70/196 |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
88/176 |
Compare North Korea with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2015, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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