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North Korea vs Panama statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 4.52M in Panama (ranked 128/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 28,641 sq mi for Panama (ranked 97th vs. 115th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Panama ranks 78/197 ($86.5B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Panama ranks 60/197 ($19,161).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Panama
Population
26659144
4642198
Population rank 57/197 128/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$86.5B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 78/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$19,161
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 60/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$41,369
2024
Government debt n/a
$49.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
57.4%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$10,995
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 51/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$10,196
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 28,641 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
161.6 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
2.12
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
30.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
80.1 years
2026

North Korea and Panama: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Panama economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Panama
2024 $34,943,120,000 $86,523,959,132
2023 $32,155,360,000 $83,812,155,244
2022 $28,971,360,000 $76,479,304,471
2021 $32,301,720,000 $67,396,392,506
2020 $27,728,240,000 $57,059,846,522
2019 $28,222,880,000 $69,778,991,193
2018 $28,536,400,000 $67,316,471,181
2017 $29,105,440,000 $64,327,688,826
2016 $28,882,640,000 $59,760,858,718
2015 $30,723,030,000 $55,767,806,073
2014 $30,554,460,000 $51,427,104,882
2013 $30,588,922,000 $46,949,496,479
2012 $29,890,710,000 $41,595,439,721
2011 $29,005,020,000 $35,687,738,252
2010 $25,995,513,000 $30,231,009,533
2009 $23,356,470,000 $27,791,215,547
2008 - $25,721,327,955
2007 - $21,717,433,808
2006 - $18,659,721,513
2005 - $16,623,906,739
2004 - $15,100,203,362
2003 - $13,603,456,003
2002 - $12,800,851,271
2001 - $12,252,906,341
2000 - $11,966,497,049
1999 - $11,660,704,777
1998 - $11,019,557,689
1997 - $10,058,854,386
1996 - $9,197,503,323
1995 - $9,573,813,700
1994 - $9,365,289,800
1993 - $8,782,585,400
1992 - $8,042,337,700
1991 - $7,074,675,500
1990 - $6,433,967,000
1989 - $5,918,469,800
1988 - $5,902,783,400
1987 - $6,827,665,300
1986 - $6,797,834,200
1985 - $6,541,517,100
1984 - $6,183,387,100
1983 - $5,923,755,900
1982 - $5,769,767,900
1981 - $5,222,421,500
1980 - $4,614,086,400
1979 - $3,704,551,600
1978 - $3,244,558,600
1977 - $2,738,261,900
1976 - $2,588,106,000
1975 - $2,435,304,100
1974 - $2,188,307,600
1973 - $1,913,793,400
1972 - $1,673,411,700
1971 - $1,523,917,200
1970 - $1,351,006,400
1969 - $1,221,305,700
1968 - $1,112,791,100
1967 - $1,034,376,400
1966 - $928,833,000
1965 - $852,485,300
1964 - $776,137,500
1963 - $722,784,500
1962 - $652,120,900
1961 - $599,026,300
1960 - $537,147,100

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

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

North Korea and Panama economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Panama
2024 $1,319 $19,161
2023 $1,217 $18,797
2022 $1,100 $17,379
2021 $1,231 $15,510
2020 $1,061 $13,291
2019 $1,084 $16,478
2018 $1,100 $16,151
2017 $1,127 $15,695
2016 $1,124 $14,832
2015 $1,201 $14,083
2014 $1,201 $13,213
2013 $1,208 $12,273
2012 $1,186 $11,065
2011 $1,156 $9,662
2010 $1,040 $8,331
2009 $939 $7,797
2008 - $7,348
2007 - $6,318
2006 - $5,529
2005 - $5,018
2004 - $4,645
2003 - $4,265
2002 - $4,091
2001 - $3,992
2000 - $3,975
1999 - $3,950
1998 - $3,808
1997 - $3,546
1996 - $3,308
1995 - $3,514
1994 - $3,508
1993 - $3,358
1992 - $3,140
1991 - $2,821
1990 - $2,620
1989 - $2,462
1988 - $2,509
1987 - $2,966
1986 - $3,019
1985 - $2,972
1984 - $2,875
1983 - $2,819
1982 - $2,811
1981 - $2,605
1980 - $2,357
1979 - $1,938
1978 - $1,738
1977 - $1,503
1976 - $1,457
1975 - $1,406
1974 - $1,296
1973 - $1,164
1972 - $1,046
1971 - $979
1970 - $893
1969 - $830
1968 - $778
1967 - $745
1966 - $689
1965 - $651
1964 - $611
1963 - $587
1962 - $546
1961 - $516
1960 - $477

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

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

North Korea vs. Panama life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Panama
2026 74 80.1
2025 73.9 80
2024 73.7 79.8
2023 73.6 79.6
2022 73.6 79.3
2021 73.4 77
2020 72.8 76.3
2019 72.9 78.5
2018 73 78.3
2017 73 77.9
2016 73 77.8
2015 72.8 77.6
2014 72.5 77.4
2013 71.9 77.1
2012 71.3 76.9
2011 70.8 76.7
2010 70.2 76.4
2009 69.7 76.2
2008 69.3 75.9
2007 69 75.7
2006 69.1 75.4
2005 69.2 75.2
2004 69.3 74.8
2003 69.4 74.6
2002 60.9 74.2
2001 60.9 73.8
2000 60.9 73.4
1999 60.9 73.1
1998 60.9 72.8
1997 60.9 72.5
1996 60.8 72.2
1995 60.8 72
1994 70.5 71.9
1993 70.8 71.8
1992 71 71.5
1991 70.7 71.3
1990 70.5 71.3
1989 70.3 70.1
1988 70.1 70.9
1987 69.8 70.8
1986 69.5 70.7
1985 69.2 70.5
1984 68.9 70.4
1983 68.5 70.1
1982 68.1 69.9
1981 67.7 69.8
1980 67.2 69.5
1979 66.7 69.1
1978 66.3 68.7
1977 65.8 68.3
1976 65.3 67.8
1975 64.8 67.2
1974 64.3 66.6
1973 63.8 65.8
1972 63.3 65.2
1971 62.7 64.7
1970 62 64.1
1969 61.4 63.7
1968 60.8 63.2
1967 60.1 62.9
1966 59.4 62.6
1965 58.8 62.3
1964 58.2 62.1
1963 57.6 61.8
1962 57 61.4
1961 56.4 60.9
1960 55.8 60.3
1959 55.2 59.6
1958 54.5 58.9
1957 53.7 58.3
1956 52.8 57.9
1955 51.8 57.5
1954 50.6 57.2
1953 40.3 56.8
1952 32.8 56.4
1951 17.7 55.9
1950 14.2 55.4

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

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

North Korea and Panama population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year Population
North Korea Panama
2024 26,498,823 4,515,577
2023 26,418,204 4,458,759
2022 26,328,845 4,400,773
2021 26,232,534 4,345,405
2020 26,136,312 4,293,261
2019 26,037,632 4,234,700
2018 25,931,147 4,167,860
2017 25,817,709 4,098,707
2016 25,698,326 4,029,086
2015 25,575,350 3,960,035
2014 25,451,262 3,892,101
2013 25,329,451 3,825,329
2012 25,211,728 3,759,256
2011 25,097,874 3,693,505
2010 24,987,258 3,628,535
2009 24,878,332 3,564,381
2008 24,764,618 3,500,648
2007 24,646,383 3,437,490
2006 24,524,507 3,375,024
2005 24,396,433 3,313,026
2004 24,254,943 3,251,155
2003 24,090,380 3,189,807
2002 23,943,973 3,129,344
2001 23,815,358 3,069,537
2000 23,665,910 3,010,369
1999 23,497,599 2,951,822
1998 23,311,564 2,893,914
1997 23,110,830 2,836,695
1996 22,895,746 2,780,227
1995 22,669,304 2,724,557
1994 22,393,975 2,669,546
1993 22,073,352 2,615,099
1992 21,750,911 2,561,336
1991 21,428,638 2,508,265
1990 21,112,137 2,455,583
1989 20,804,367 2,403,820
1988 20,503,161 2,352,848
1987 20,205,483 2,301,970
1986 19,910,855 2,251,325
1985 19,620,388 2,200,915
1984 19,335,043 2,150,782
1983 19,054,034 2,101,106
1982 18,776,357 2,052,271
1981 18,501,295 2,004,418
1980 18,236,786 1,957,534
1979 17,983,470 1,911,552
1978 17,735,995 1,866,311
1977 17,492,798 1,821,543
1976 17,243,450 1,776,935
1975 16,971,055 1,732,389
1974 16,673,121 1,687,926
1973 16,350,367 1,643,690
1972 15,975,069 1,599,723
1971 15,572,457 1,556,081
1970 15,172,775 1,513,070
1969 14,767,615 1,470,886
1968 14,365,596 1,429,447
1967 13,958,350 1,388,628
1966 13,569,094 1,348,388
1965 13,219,369 1,308,835
1964 12,889,770 1,270,065
1963 12,567,057 1,232,124
1962 12,262,882 1,195,301
1961 11,990,713 1,159,870
1960 11,722,953 1,126,005

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Panama

Fertility rate
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Panama
2023 1.78 2.12
2022 1.8 2.14
2021 1.81 2.15
2020 1.82 2.18
2019 1.83 2.29
2018 1.83 2.4
2017 1.85 2.46
2016 1.86 2.5
2015 1.86 2.53
2014 1.87 2.55
2013 1.88 2.57
2012 1.88 2.59
2011 1.88 2.6
2010 1.89 2.59
2009 1.91 2.59
2008 1.97 2.61
2007 1.94 2.61
2006 1.94 2.62
2005 1.87 2.64
2004 1.9 2.68
2003 1.91 2.68
2002 1.92 2.7
2001 1.94 2.72
2000 1.94 2.74
1999 1.97 2.77
1998 1.99 2.79
1997 2.03 2.81
1996 2.09 2.83
1995 2.15 2.85
1994 2.18 2.88
1993 2.22 2.91
1992 2.29 2.95
1991 2.35 3
1990 2.39 3.07
1989 2.41 3.12
1988 2.47 3.17
1987 2.53 3.25
1986 2.59 3.34
1985 2.65 3.43
1984 2.71 3.52
1983 2.78 3.6
1982 2.85 3.66
1981 2.92 3.72
1980 2.84 3.8
1979 2.85 3.88
1978 2.79 3.98
1977 2.77 4.12
1976 2.84 4.26
1975 3.05 4.41
1974 3.14 4.58
1973 3.35 4.74
1972 3.89 4.91
1971 3.74 5.05
1970 3.85 5.18
1969 3.86 5.29
1968 3.87 5.41
1967 4.05 5.53
1966 3.71 5.65
1965 3.56 5.73
1964 3.55 5.81
1963 3.63 5.87
1962 3.41 5.87
1961 3.26 5.87
1960 3.57 5.83

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

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

North Korea and Panama demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Panama
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Panama
2024 37.3 30.9
2023 37.1 30.6
2022 36.8 30.3
2021 36.6 30
2020 36.4 29.7
2019 36.2 29.4
2018 35.9 29.1
2017 35.7 28.8
2016 35.4 28.5
2015 35.2 28.3
2014 35 28
2013 34.7 27.8
2012 34.5 27.5
2011 34.3 27.2
2010 34 27
2009 33.7 26.7
2008 33.3 26.4
2007 32.9 26.1
2006 32.5 25.9
2005 32.1 25.6
2004 31.8 25.3
2003 31.4 25.1
2002 31 24.8
2001 30.5 24.5
2000 30.1 24.3
1999 29.6 24
1998 29.2 23.7
1997 28.8 23.5
1996 28.3 23.2
1995 28 22.9
1994 27.6 22.7
1993 27.2 22.4
1992 26.8 22.1
1991 26.4 21.8
1990 26 21.5
1989 25.6 21.3
1988 25.1 21
1987 24.8 20.7
1986 24.5 20.4
1985 24.2 20.2
1984 23.9 19.9
1983 23.5 19.7
1982 23.1 19.5
1981 22.8 19.2
1980 22.5 19
1979 22.2 18.8
1978 21.8 18.6
1977 21.4 18.4
1976 21.1 18.3
1975 20.9 18.1
1974 20.7 18
1973 20.7 17.8
1972 20.9 17.7
1971 21.2 17.7
1970 21.4 17.6
1969 21.4 17.6
1968 21.4 17.5
1967 21.4 17.5
1966 21.3 17.5
1965 21.2 17.5
1964 21 17.6
1963 20.8 17.6
1962 20.6 17.7
1961 20.2 17.8
1960 19.9 17.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Panama
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$81.3B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
23.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.47%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.97%
1999
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
28,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-7.42%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
8.61%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
69.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
64.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
37.6%
2024
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.2%
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
0
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
36
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$18.3B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$6.86B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$532M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
647,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
9.3%
2020
Banked people share n/a
64.1%
2024

Energy

North Korea Panama
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,063 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$34.2
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
12.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
2.74 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
76.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
28%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
17.3%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
171.2%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
2,546 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
79.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
66.3%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
97%
2023

Society

North Korea Panama
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.06%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+6,151
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
66%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.58 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.19 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
60.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
40
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
11.3
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
13.9
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
138
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
96.3%
2024
English speaking
0%
2025
14%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
68.5%
2023

Health

North Korea Panama
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$1,558
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$630
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
80.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0.76%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
1.63
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
37
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
13.3
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
37.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
11.1%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
79
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
5.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
4.66 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Panama
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
6,343 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
8,456 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
16,138 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. 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)

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