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North Korea vs Palau statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 17.7K in Palau (ranked 194/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 177.6 sq mi for Palau (ranked 97th vs. 180th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Palau ranks 194/197 ($277M). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Palau ranks 67/197 ($15,611).

North Korea and Palau: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Palau economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Palau
2024 $34,943,120,000 -
2023 $32,155,360,000 $276,733,063
2022 $28,971,360,000 $243,826,813
2021 $32,301,720,000 $231,343,460
2020 $27,728,240,000 $261,688,507
2019 $28,222,880,000 $282,041,290
2018 $28,536,400,000 $287,998,352
2017 $29,105,440,000 $292,148,590
2016 $28,882,640,000 $305,227,020
2015 $30,723,030,000 $287,057,526
2014 $30,554,460,000 $245,591,095
2013 $30,588,922,000 $224,110,611
2012 $29,890,710,000 $215,616,882
2011 $29,005,020,000 $198,742,371
2010 $25,995,513,000 $188,042,374
2009 $23,356,470,000 $189,854,706
2008 - $201,067,734
2007 - $200,789,764
2006 - $193,611,359
2005 - $190,961,685
2004 - $166,363,739
2003 - $154,566,788
2002 - $162,658,722
2001 - $159,446,228
2000 - $149,551,483
1999 - $144,206,500
1998 - $149,079,600
1997 - $143,860,800
1996 - $137,494,600
1995 - $121,018,500
1994 - $106,138,500
1993 - $96,455,700
1992 - $104,771,300
1991 - $106,555,300
1990 - $97,702,303
1989 - $85,800,543
1988 - $75,348,615
1987 - $66,169,905
1986 - $58,109,314
1985 - $51,030,637
1984 - $44,814,259
1983 - $39,661,530
1982 - $36,027,583
1981 - $32,726,594
1980 - $29,728,054
1979 - $27,004,251
1978 - $24,530,015
1977 - $22,308,104
1976 - $20,364,420
1975 - $18,521,112
1974 - $16,848,759
1973 - $15,331,889
1972 - $13,956,474
1971 - $12,706,874
1970 - $11,563,041

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea and Palau economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Palau
2024 $1,319 -
2023 $1,217 $15,611
2022 $1,100 $13,730
2021 $1,231 $13,009
2020 $1,061 $14,708
2019 $1,084 $15,847
2018 $1,100 $16,167
2017 $1,127 $16,402
2016 $1,124 $17,150
2015 $1,201 $16,154
2014 $1,201 $13,863
2013 $1,208 $12,699
2012 $1,186 $12,137
2011 $1,156 $10,994
2010 $1,040 $10,222
2009 $939 $10,148
2008 - $10,578
2007 - $10,403
2006 - $9,882
2005 - $9,635
2004 - $8,394
2003 - $7,862
2002 - $8,340
2001 - $8,239
2000 - $7,798
1999 - $7,630
1998 - $8,048
1997 - $7,945
1996 - $7,788
1995 - $7,038
1994 - $6,329
1993 - $5,892
1992 - $6,553
1991 - $6,824
1990 - $6,403
1989 - $5,741
1988 - $5,145
1987 - $4,616
1986 - $4,144
1985 - $3,728
1984 - $3,360
1983 - $3,049
1982 - $2,838
1981 - $2,639
1980 - $2,423
1979 - $2,189
1978 - $1,972
1977 - $1,781
1976 - $1,616
1975 - $1,464
1974 - $1,328
1973 - $1,221
1972 - $1,145
1971 - $1,081
1970 - $1,017

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea vs. Palau life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Palau
2026 74 69.6
2025 73.9 69.5
2024 73.7 69.4
2023 73.6 69.3
2022 73.6 68.9
2021 73.4 68.6
2020 72.8 68.7
2019 72.9 69
2018 73 69
2017 73 69
2016 73 69
2015 72.8 69.1
2014 72.5 69.1
2013 71.9 69
2012 71.3 68.9
2011 70.8 68.6
2010 70.2 68.3
2009 69.7 68
2008 69.3 67.6
2007 69 67.1
2006 69.1 66.6
2005 69.2 66.2
2004 69.3 65.8
2003 69.4 65.4
2002 60.9 65.1
2001 60.9 64.8
2000 60.9 64.5
1999 60.9 64.2
1998 60.9 64
1997 60.9 63.7
1996 60.8 63.5
1995 60.8 63.3
1994 70.5 63.1
1993 70.8 63
1992 71 62.9
1991 70.7 62.8
1990 70.5 62.8
1989 70.3 62.8
1988 70.1 62.8
1987 69.8 62.8
1986 69.5 62.8
1985 69.2 62.7
1984 68.9 62.6
1983 68.5 62.5
1982 68.1 62.3
1981 67.7 62.1
1980 67.2 61.9
1979 66.7 61.6
1978 66.3 61.3
1977 65.8 60.9
1976 65.3 60.5
1975 64.8 60
1974 64.3 59.5
1973 63.8 59
1972 63.3 58.6
1971 62.7 58.1
1970 62 57.7
1969 61.4 57.3
1968 60.8 56.9
1967 60.1 56.5
1966 59.4 56.2
1965 58.8 55.9
1964 58.2 55.8
1963 57.6 55.6
1962 57 55.4
1961 56.4 55.1
1960 55.8 54.9
1959 55.2 54.6
1958 54.5 54.4
1957 53.7 54.1
1956 52.8 53.9
1955 51.8 53.7
1954 50.6 53.5
1953 40.3 53.3
1952 32.8 53.1
1951 17.7 52.9
1950 14.2 52.7

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

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

North Korea and Palau population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year Population
North Korea Palau
2024 26,498,823 17,695
2023 26,418,204 17,727
2022 26,328,845 17,759
2021 26,232,534 17,783
2020 26,136,312 17,792
2019 26,037,632 17,798
2018 25,931,147 17,814
2017 25,817,709 17,812
2016 25,698,326 17,797
2015 25,575,350 17,770
2014 25,451,262 17,715
2013 25,329,451 17,648
2012 25,211,728 17,765
2011 25,097,874 18,078
2010 24,987,258 18,396
2009 24,878,332 18,709
2008 24,764,618 19,009
2007 24,646,383 19,302
2006 24,524,507 19,593
2005 24,396,433 19,819
2004 24,254,943 19,820
2003 24,090,380 19,659
2002 23,943,973 19,503
2001 23,815,358 19,352
2000 23,665,910 19,178
1999 23,497,599 18,901
1998 23,311,564 18,524
1997 23,110,830 18,108
1996 22,895,746 17,654
1995 22,669,304 17,195
1994 22,393,975 16,770
1993 22,073,352 16,372
1992 21,750,911 15,989
1991 21,428,638 15,614
1990 21,112,137 15,259
1989 20,804,367 14,945
1988 20,503,161 14,645
1987 20,205,483 14,334
1986 19,910,855 14,024
1985 19,620,388 13,688
1984 19,335,043 13,337
1983 19,054,034 13,006
1982 18,776,357 12,694
1981 18,501,295 12,402
1980 18,236,786 12,271
1979 17,983,470 12,337
1978 17,735,995 12,440
1977 17,492,798 12,525
1976 17,243,450 12,598
1975 16,971,055 12,655
1974 16,673,121 12,687
1973 16,350,367 12,552
1972 15,975,069 12,194
1971 15,572,457 11,759
1970 15,172,775 11,368
1969 14,767,615 11,159
1968 14,365,596 11,080
1967 13,958,350 10,988
1966 13,569,094 10,805
1965 13,219,369 10,547
1964 12,889,770 10,292
1963 12,567,057 10,037
1962 12,262,882 9,793
1961 11,990,713 9,555
1960 11,722,953 9,328

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Palau

Fertility rate
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Palau
2023 1.78 1.91
2022 1.8 1.93
2021 1.81 1.95
2020 1.82 1.97
2019 1.83 1.98
2018 1.83 1.97
2017 1.85 2.02
2016 1.86 2.06
2015 1.86 2
2014 1.87 2.03
2013 1.88 2.05
2012 1.88 2.01
2011 1.88 1.97
2010 1.89 1.94
2009 1.91 1.94
2008 1.97 1.95
2007 1.94 1.97
2006 1.94 2
2005 1.87 2.02
2004 1.9 1.99
2003 1.91 1.96
2002 1.92 1.92
2001 1.94 1.87
2000 1.94 1.82
1999 1.97 1.91
1998 1.99 2.01
1997 2.03 2.19
1996 2.09 2.39
1995 2.15 2.55
1994 2.18 2.66
1993 2.22 2.73
1992 2.29 2.71
1991 2.35 2.74
1990 2.39 2.88
1989 2.41 2.92
1988 2.47 2.91
1987 2.53 2.93
1986 2.59 2.98
1985 2.65 3.01
1984 2.71 3.08
1983 2.78 3.14
1982 2.85 3.22
1981 2.92 3.28
1980 2.84 3.35
1979 2.85 3.49
1978 2.79 3.74
1977 2.77 4.09
1976 2.84 4.53
1975 3.05 4.9
1974 3.14 5.26
1973 3.35 5.59
1972 3.89 5.9
1971 3.74 6.16
1970 3.85 6.39
1969 3.86 6.58
1968 3.87 6.71
1967 4.05 6.84
1966 3.71 6.93
1965 3.56 7.01
1964 3.55 7.08
1963 3.63 7.12
1962 3.41 7.15
1961 3.26 7.17
1960 3.57 7.19

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

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

North Korea and Palau demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Palau
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Palau
2024 37.3 39.2
2023 37.1 38.8
2022 36.8 38.5
2021 36.6 38.1
2020 36.4 37.8
2019 36.2 37.4
2018 35.9 37
2017 35.7 36.7
2016 35.4 36.3
2015 35.2 36
2014 35 35.6
2013 34.7 35.3
2012 34.5 35
2011 34.3 34.6
2010 34 34.2
2009 33.7 33.9
2008 33.3 33.5
2007 32.9 33.1
2006 32.5 32.7
2005 32.1 32.3
2004 31.8 32
2003 31.4 31.8
2002 31 31.5
2001 30.5 31.2
2000 30.1 30.8
1999 29.6 30.2
1998 29.2 29.4
1997 28.8 28.8
1996 28.3 28.3
1995 28 27.8
1994 27.6 27.4
1993 27.2 26.9
1992 26.8 26.4
1991 26.4 26
1990 26 25.6
1989 25.6 24.9
1988 25.1 24
1987 24.8 23.1
1986 24.5 22.2
1985 24.2 21.6
1984 23.9 21.1
1983 23.5 20.5
1982 23.1 19.9
1981 22.8 19.3
1980 22.5 18.9
1979 22.2 18.6
1978 21.8 18.3
1977 21.4 18.1
1976 21.1 17.8
1975 20.9 17.4
1974 20.7 17.1
1973 20.7 16.8
1972 20.9 16.6
1971 21.2 16.6
1970 21.4 16.5
1969 21.4 16.1
1968 21.4 15.7
1967 21.4 15.2
1966 21.3 14.9
1965 21.2 14.9
1964 21 15
1963 20.8 15.1
1962 20.6 15.5
1961 20.2 16.1
1960 19.9 16.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Palau
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$262M
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
52.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
3.53%
2023
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
n/a
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
+1.67%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
2.09%
2023
Services, % of GDP n/a
74.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP n/a
10.1%
2023
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
62
2025
Personal remittances received n/a
$1.95M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
18,399
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
93.5%
2017

Energy

North Korea Palau
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
4,814 kg
1990
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$2
1990
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
1.47 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
82.8 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
0%
1990
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
0.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
4.6%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Palau
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.0002%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-16
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
79.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
53.9:46.1
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.6 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
52.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
49
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
n/a
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
11.2
2018
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
4.78
2013
Visa free countries
48
2025
120
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
100%
2020
English speaking
0%
2025
92.5%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
27%
2004

Health

North Korea Palau
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$1,684
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$203.8
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
69.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
18.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
1.81
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
89
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
22.3
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
42.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
19.3%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
65
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
17.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

North Korea Palau
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.0003%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
10,037 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
16.6 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
160.8 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
n/a

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. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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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