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North Korea vs Norway statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 5.57M in Norway (ranked 118/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 140,645 sq mi for Norway (ranked 97th vs. 62nd).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Norway ranks 32/197 ($484B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Norway ranks 8/197 ($86,785).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Norway
Population
26659144
5671119
Population rank 57/197 119/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$484B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 32/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$86,785
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 8/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$102,038
2024
Government debt n/a
$207B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
42.7%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$37,074
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 17/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$49,765
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 140,645 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
40.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.4
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
40.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.8 years
2026

North Korea and Norway: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Norway economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Norway
2024 $34,943,120,000 $483,592,648,313
2023 $32,155,360,000 $482,949,731,777
2022 $28,971,360,000 $596,297,651,036
2021 $32,301,720,000 $503,367,986,030
2020 $27,728,240,000 $367,633,418,887
2019 $28,222,880,000 $408,742,840,909
2018 $28,536,400,000 $439,788,625,884
2017 $29,105,440,000 $401,745,275,035
2016 $28,882,640,000 $370,956,547,619
2015 $30,723,030,000 $388,159,512,246
2014 $30,554,460,000 $501,736,471,833
2013 $30,588,922,000 $526,014,468,085
2012 $29,890,710,000 $512,777,309,841
2011 $29,005,020,000 $501,360,549,669
2010 $25,995,513,000 $431,052,143,940
2009 $23,356,470,000 $387,976,400,617
2008 - $464,917,553,191
2007 - $402,643,260,488
2006 - $346,915,160,682
2005 - $309,978,579,744
2004 - $265,268,662,473
2003 - $229,385,469,337
2002 - $195,914,852,576
2001 - $174,239,354,071
2000 - $171,457,201,936
1999 - $162,383,706,021
1998 - $154,230,295,158
1997 - $161,356,631,888
1996 - $163,520,109,151
1995 - $152,029,612,325
1994 - $127,131,319,429
1993 - $120,579,213,713
1992 - $130,838,040,068
1991 - $121,872,464,483
1990 - $119,791,843,060
1989 - $102,633,934,391
1988 - $101,900,260,856
1987 - $94,229,907,236
1986 - $78,693,118,044
1985 - $65,416,879,914
1984 - $62,057,955,033
1983 - $61,627,240,831
1982 - $62,647,195,538
1981 - $63,596,654,761
1980 - $64,439,382,896
1979 - $53,132,244,624
1978 - $46,522,900,254
1977 - $41,508,030,431
1976 - $35,942,270,686
1975 - $32,877,805,200
1974 - $27,145,693,810
1973 - $22,534,253,703
1972 - $17,358,610,850
1971 - $14,583,114,840
1970 - $12,814,123,115
1969 - $11,136,187,440
1968 - $10,227,087,165
1967 - $9,577,383,653
1966 - $8,753,940,267
1965 - $8,111,945,661
1964 - $7,206,522,122
1963 - $6,553,269,536
1962 - $6,107,076,929
1961 - $5,669,689,210
1960 - $5,197,398,721

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

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

North Korea and Norway economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Norway
2024 $1,319 $86,785
2023 $1,217 $87,497
2022 $1,100 $109,270
2021 $1,231 $93,073
2020 $1,061 $68,340
2019 $1,084 $76,431
2018 $1,100 $82,793
2017 $1,127 $76,132
2016 $1,124 $70,867
2015 $1,201 $74,810
2014 $1,201 $97,667
2013 $1,208 $103,554
2012 $1,186 $102,176
2011 $1,156 $101,222
2010 $1,040 $88,163
2009 $939 $80,348
2008 - $97,504
2007 - $85,502
2006 - $74,434
2005 - $67,047
2004 - $57,769
2003 - $50,250
2002 - $43,171
2001 - $38,602
2000 - $38,178
1999 - $36,393
1998 - $34,803
1997 - $36,629
1996 - $37,322
1995 - $34,876
1994 - $29,316
1993 - $27,964
1992 - $30,524
1991 - $28,597
1990 - $28,243
1989 - $24,281
1988 - $24,207
1987 - $22,506
1986 - $18,883
1985 - $15,754
1984 - $14,989
1983 - $14,928
1982 - $15,225
1981 - $15,513
1980 - $15,772
1979 - $13,047
1978 - $11,463
1977 - $10,266
1976 - $8,927
1975 - $8,204
1974 - $6,812
1973 - $5,690
1972 - $4,414
1971 - $3,736
1970 - $3,306
1969 - $2,894
1968 - $2,680
1967 - $2,531
1966 - $2,333
1965 - $2,179
1964 - $1,951
1963 - $1,787
1962 - $1,678
1961 - $1,571
1960 - $1,451

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

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

North Korea vs. Norway life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Norway
2026 74 83.8
2025 73.9 83.6
2024 73.7 83.5
2023 73.6 83.3
2022 73.6 82.6
2021 73.4 83.2
2020 72.8 83.2
2019 72.9 83
2018 73 82.8
2017 73 82.6
2016 73 82.4
2015 72.8 82.3
2014 72.5 82.1
2013 71.9 81.7
2012 71.3 81.4
2011 70.8 81.2
2010 70.2 81
2009 69.7 80.9
2008 69.3 80.7
2007 69 80.5
2006 69.1 80.4
2005 69.2 80.2
2004 69.3 80
2003 69.4 79.5
2002 60.9 79
2001 60.9 78.9
2000 60.9 78.7
1999 60.9 78.4
1998 60.9 78.4
1997 60.9 78.2
1996 60.8 78.2
1995 60.8 77.8
1994 70.5 77.8
1993 70.8 77.2
1992 71 77.2
1991 70.7 77
1990 70.5 76.6
1989 70.3 76.5
1988 70.1 76.3
1987 69.8 76.1
1986 69.5 76.3
1985 69.2 75.9
1984 68.9 76.2
1983 68.5 76.1
1982 68.1 76
1981 67.7 75.9
1980 67.2 75.7
1979 66.7 75.4
1978 66.3 75.4
1977 65.8 75.4
1976 65.3 75
1975 64.8 74.8
1974 64.3 74.8
1973 63.8 74.4
1972 63.3 74.3
1971 62.7 74.2
1970 62 74.1
1969 61.4 73.7
1968 60.8 73.9
1967 60.1 74.1
1966 59.4 74
1965 58.8 73.7
1964 58.2 73.6
1963 57.6 73.1
1962 57 73.5
1961 56.4 73.6
1960 55.8 73.6
1959 55.2 73.6
1958 54.5 73.4
1957 53.7 73.4
1956 52.8 73.5
1955 51.8 73.4
1954 50.6 73.2
1953 40.3 73.1
1952 32.8 72.7
1951 17.7 72.5
1950 14.2 71.6

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

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

North Korea and Norway population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year Population
North Korea Norway
2024 26,498,823 5,572,279
2023 26,418,204 5,519,601
2022 26,328,845 5,457,127
2021 26,232,534 5,408,320
2020 26,136,312 5,379,475
2019 26,037,632 5,347,896
2018 25,931,147 5,311,916
2017 25,817,709 5,276,968
2016 25,698,326 5,234,519
2015 25,575,350 5,188,607
2014 25,451,262 5,137,232
2013 25,329,451 5,079,623
2012 25,211,728 5,018,573
2011 25,097,874 4,953,088
2010 24,987,258 4,889,252
2009 24,878,332 4,828,726
2008 24,764,618 4,768,212
2007 24,646,383 4,709,153
2006 24,524,507 4,660,677
2005 24,396,433 4,623,291
2004 24,254,943 4,591,910
2003 24,090,380 4,564,855
2002 23,943,973 4,538,159
2001 23,815,358 4,513,751
2000 23,665,910 4,490,967
1999 23,497,599 4,461,913
1998 23,311,564 4,431,464
1997 23,110,830 4,405,157
1996 22,895,746 4,381,336
1995 22,669,304 4,359,184
1994 22,393,975 4,336,613
1993 22,073,352 4,311,991
1992 21,750,911 4,286,401
1991 21,428,638 4,261,732
1990 21,112,137 4,241,473
1989 20,804,367 4,226,901
1988 20,503,161 4,209,488
1987 20,205,483 4,186,905
1986 19,910,855 4,167,354
1985 19,620,388 4,152,516
1984 19,335,043 4,140,099
1983 19,054,034 4,128,432
1982 18,776,357 4,114,787
1981 18,501,295 4,099,702
1980 18,236,786 4,085,620
1979 17,983,470 4,072,517
1978 17,735,995 4,058,671
1977 17,492,798 4,043,205
1976 17,243,450 4,026,152
1975 16,971,055 4,007,313
1974 16,673,121 3,985,258
1973 16,350,367 3,960,612
1972 15,975,069 3,933,004
1971 15,572,457 3,903,039
1970 15,172,775 3,875,763
1969 14,767,615 3,847,707
1968 14,365,596 3,816,486
1967 13,958,350 3,784,539
1966 13,569,094 3,753,012
1965 13,219,369 3,723,168
1964 12,889,770 3,694,339
1963 12,567,057 3,666,537
1962 12,262,882 3,638,918
1961 11,990,713 3,609,800
1960 11,722,953 3,581,239

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Norway

Fertility rate
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Norway
2023 1.78 1.4
2022 1.8 1.41
2021 1.81 1.55
2020 1.82 1.48
2019 1.83 1.53
2018 1.83 1.56
2017 1.85 1.62
2016 1.86 1.71
2015 1.86 1.72
2014 1.87 1.75
2013 1.88 1.78
2012 1.88 1.85
2011 1.88 1.88
2010 1.89 1.95
2009 1.91 1.98
2008 1.97 1.96
2007 1.94 1.9
2006 1.94 1.9
2005 1.87 1.84
2004 1.9 1.83
2003 1.91 1.8
2002 1.92 1.75
2001 1.94 1.78
2000 1.94 1.85
1999 1.97 1.85
1998 1.99 1.81
1997 2.03 1.86
1996 2.09 1.89
1995 2.15 1.87
1994 2.18 1.87
1993 2.22 1.86
1992 2.29 1.88
1991 2.35 1.92
1990 2.39 1.93
1989 2.41 1.89
1988 2.47 1.84
1987 2.53 1.74
1986 2.59 1.71
1985 2.65 1.68
1984 2.71 1.66
1983 2.78 1.66
1982 2.85 1.71
1981 2.92 1.7
1980 2.84 1.72
1979 2.85 1.75
1978 2.79 1.77
1977 2.77 1.75
1976 2.84 1.86
1975 3.05 1.98
1974 3.14 2.13
1973 3.35 2.23
1972 3.89 2.38
1971 3.74 2.49
1970 3.85 2.5
1969 3.86 2.7
1968 3.87 2.75
1967 4.05 2.81
1966 3.71 2.9
1965 3.56 2.94
1964 3.55 2.98
1963 3.63 2.93
1962 3.41 2.91
1961 3.26 2.94
1960 3.57 2.85

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

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

North Korea and Norway demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Norway
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Norway
2024 37.3 40.7
2023 37.1 40.5
2022 36.8 40.4
2021 36.6 40.3
2020 36.4 40
2019 36.2 39.8
2018 35.9 39.6
2017 35.7 39.4
2016 35.4 39.3
2015 35.2 39.2
2014 35 39
2013 34.7 38.9
2012 34.5 38.8
2011 34.3 38.7
2010 34 38.6
2009 33.7 38.5
2008 33.3 38.4
2007 32.9 38.3
2006 32.5 38.1
2005 32.1 37.9
2004 31.8 37.7
2003 31.4 37.5
2002 31 37.3
2001 30.5 37.1
2000 30.1 36.9
1999 29.6 36.7
1998 29.2 36.5
1997 28.8 36.4
1996 28.3 36.2
1995 28 36.1
1994 27.6 35.9
1993 27.2 35.8
1992 26.8 35.7
1991 26.4 35.5
1990 26 35.4
1989 25.6 35.2
1988 25.1 35.1
1987 24.8 34.9
1986 24.5 34.8
1985 24.2 34.6
1984 23.9 34.4
1983 23.5 34.1
1982 23.1 33.9
1981 22.8 33.6
1980 22.5 33.3
1979 22.2 33.1
1978 21.8 32.9
1977 21.4 32.7
1976 21.1 32.6
1975 20.9 32.5
1974 20.7 32.4
1973 20.7 32.4
1972 20.9 32.5
1971 21.2 32.7
1970 21.4 32.9
1969 21.4 33.2
1968 21.4 33.5
1967 21.4 33.7
1966 21.3 33.9
1965 21.2 34.1
1964 21 34.2
1963 20.8 34.3
1962 20.6 34.4
1961 20.2 34.4
1960 19.9 34.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Norway
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$547B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
48.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.46%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.09%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
25,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
+13.2%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
3.98%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
51.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
78.8
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.6%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
8.03%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
180
2017
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$296B
2019
Total reserves including gold n/a
$81.2B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$947M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
1,397,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
1.86%
2020
Banked people share n/a
98.6%
2024

Energy

North Korea Norway
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
4,885 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$21.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
40 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
7.18 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
46.3%
2023
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
61.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
48.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
-704%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
23,520 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
99.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
89.1%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Norway
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+29,798
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
83.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.46 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
94.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
93
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
0.73
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
2.1
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
95%
2013
English speaking
0%
2025
87.6%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
99%
2023

Health

North Korea Norway
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$8,296
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$1,136
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.8 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
4.97
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
1
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
19.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
4.8%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
87
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
7.38 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Norway
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
25,240 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
3,792 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
47,118 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
60,737 mi
2025

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)

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