Skip to content

North Korea vs Romania statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 19.1M in Romania (ranked 67/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 88,834 sq mi for Romania (ranked 97th vs. 80th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Romania ranks 42/197 ($383B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Romania ranks 58/197 ($20,080).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Romania
Population
26659144
18839108
Population rank 57/197 70/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$383B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 42/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$20,080
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 58/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$49,077
2024
Government debt n/a
$220B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
57.4%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$11,533
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 48/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$13,912
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 88,834 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
212.1 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.71
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
43.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
76.4 years
2026

North Korea and Romania: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Romania economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Romania
2024 $34,943,120,000 $382,564,217,989
2023 $32,155,360,000 $347,757,995,759
2022 $28,971,360,000 $295,319,437,557
2021 $32,301,720,000 $285,071,280,114
2020 $27,728,240,000 $250,625,048,304
2019 $28,222,880,000 $250,080,428,512
2018 $28,536,400,000 $241,791,427,224
2017 $29,105,440,000 $210,147,385,855
2016 $28,882,640,000 $185,290,759,249
2015 $30,723,030,000 $177,885,131,240
2014 $30,554,460,000 $199,722,319,676
2013 $30,588,922,000 $189,798,603,751
2012 $29,890,710,000 $179,117,323,107
2011 $29,005,020,000 $192,623,977,894
2010 $25,995,513,000 $170,064,350,672
2009 $23,356,470,000 $174,110,532,659
2008 - $214,315,932,061
2007 - $174,588,782,939
2006 - $122,023,735,993
2005 - $98,454,380,120
2004 - $74,973,656,852
2003 - $57,806,384,143
2002 - $46,065,502,703
2001 - $40,395,116,581
2000 - $37,253,739,511
1999 - $35,953,156,754
1998 - $41,696,091,974
1997 - $35,575,214,078
1996 - $36,937,074,278
1995 - $37,430,162,103
1994 - $30,072,805,104
1993 - $26,361,160,450
1992 - $25,121,666,667
1991 - $28,850,634,900
1990 - $38,247,882,300
1989 - $41,450,777,202
1988 - $40,424,528,302
1987 - $38,067,567,568

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea and Romania economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Romania
2024 $1,319 $20,080
2023 $1,217 $18,244
2022 $1,100 $15,504
2021 $1,231 $14,908
2020 $1,061 $13,009
2019 $1,084 $12,910
2018 $1,100 $12,416
2017 $1,127 $10,728
2016 $1,124 $9,405
2015 $1,201 $8,977
2014 $1,201 $10,032
2013 $1,208 $9,498
2012 $1,186 $8,930
2011 $1,156 $9,561
2010 $1,040 $8,400
2009 $939 $8,548
2008 - $10,435
2007 - $8,360
2006 - $5,758
2005 - $4,618
2004 - $3,495
2003 - $2,679
2002 - $2,120
2001 - $1,825
2000 - $1,660
1999 - $1,600
1998 - $1,853
1997 - $1,577
1996 - $1,633
1995 - $1,650
1994 - $1,323
1993 - $1,158
1992 - $1,102
1991 - $1,254
1990 - $1,648
1989 - $1,790
1988 - $1,753
1987 - $1,659

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea vs. Romania life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Romania
2026 74 76.4
2025 73.9 76.2
2024 73.7 76.1
2023 73.6 75.9
2022 73.6 75.3
2021 73.4 72.7
2020 72.8 74
2019 72.9 75.3
2018 73 75.1
2017 73 75
2016 73 75
2015 72.8 74.7
2014 72.5 74.8
2013 71.9 74.9
2012 71.3 74.3
2011 70.8 74.3
2010 70.2 73.6
2009 69.7 73.5
2008 69.3 73.2
2007 69 72.8
2006 69.1 72.2
2005 69.2 71.6
2004 69.3 71.1
2003 69.4 70.8
2002 60.9 70.8
2001 60.9 71.1
2000 60.9 71.2
1999 60.9 70.6
1998 60.9 69.9
1997 60.9 69.1
1996 60.8 68.8
1995 60.8 69.3
1994 70.5 69.3
1993 70.8 69.5
1992 71 69.5
1991 70.7 70
1990 70.5 69.8
1989 70.3 69.5
1988 70.1 69.4
1987 69.8 69.1
1986 69.5 69.7
1985 69.2 69.4
1984 68.9 69.9
1983 68.5 69.8
1982 68.1 69.8
1981 67.7 69.5
1980 67.2 69.2
1979 66.7 69.5
1978 66.3 69.8
1977 65.8 69.5
1976 65.3 69.9
1975 64.8 69.6
1974 64.3 69.5
1973 63.8 68.7
1972 63.3 69
1971 62.7 68.4
1970 62 67.9
1969 61.4 67.2
1968 60.8 67.9
1967 60.1 68.1
1966 59.4 68.2
1965 58.8 68.4
1964 58.2 68.4
1963 57.6 67.8
1962 57 67.2
1961 56.4 66.4
1960 55.8 65.6
1959 55.2 64.9
1958 54.5 64.4
1957 53.7 64
1956 52.8 63.6
1955 51.8 63.3
1954 50.6 63
1953 40.3 62.5
1952 32.8 61.8
1951 17.7 61.2
1950 14.2 60.5

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

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

North Korea and Romania population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year Population
North Korea Romania
2024 26,498,823 19,051,804
2023 26,418,204 19,061,062
2022 26,328,845 19,048,502
2021 26,232,534 19,122,059
2020 26,136,312 19,265,250
2019 26,037,632 19,371,648
2018 25,931,147 19,473,970
2017 25,817,709 19,588,715
2016 25,698,326 19,702,267
2015 25,575,350 19,815,616
2014 25,451,262 19,908,979
2013 25,329,451 19,983,693
2012 25,211,728 20,058,035
2011 25,097,874 20,147,528
2010 24,987,258 20,246,871
2009 24,878,332 20,367,487
2008 24,764,618 20,537,875
2007 24,646,383 20,882,982
2006 24,524,507 21,193,760
2005 24,396,433 21,319,685
2004 24,254,943 21,451,748
2003 24,090,380 21,574,326
2002 23,943,973 21,730,496
2001 23,815,358 22,131,970
2000 23,665,910 22,442,971
1999 23,497,599 22,472,040
1998 23,311,564 22,507,344
1997 23,110,830 22,553,978
1996 22,895,746 22,619,004
1995 22,669,304 22,684,270
1994 22,393,975 22,730,211
1993 22,073,352 22,763,280
1992 21,750,911 22,794,284
1991 21,428,638 23,001,155
1990 21,112,137 23,201,835
1989 20,804,367 23,161,458
1988 20,503,161 23,057,662
1987 20,205,483 22,949,430
1986 19,910,855 22,836,841
1985 19,620,388 22,732,999
1984 19,335,043 22,640,547
1983 19,054,034 22,560,478
1982 18,776,357 22,475,741
1981 18,501,295 22,353,070
1980 18,236,786 22,207,282
1979 17,983,470 22,090,488
1978 17,735,995 21,951,464
1977 17,492,798 21,756,096
1976 17,243,450 21,551,634
1975 16,971,055 21,293,583
1974 16,673,121 21,029,429
1973 16,350,367 20,835,681
1972 15,975,069 20,657,957
1971 15,572,457 20,461,567
1970 15,172,775 20,250,398
1969 14,767,615 20,009,141
1968 14,365,596 19,799,831
1967 13,958,350 19,534,242
1966 13,569,094 19,215,450
1965 13,219,369 19,031,576
1964 12,889,770 18,919,126
1963 12,567,057 18,797,850
1962 12,262,882 18,676,550
1961 11,990,713 18,555,250
1960 11,722,953 18,406,905

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Romania

Fertility rate
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Romania
2023 1.78 1.71
2022 1.8 1.71
2021 1.81 1.81
2020 1.82 1.8
2019 1.83 1.77
2018 1.83 1.76
2017 1.85 1.78
2016 1.86 1.69
2015 1.86 1.62
2014 1.87 1.56
2013 1.88 1.46
2012 1.88 1.52
2011 1.88 1.47
2010 1.89 1.59
2009 1.91 1.66
2008 1.97 1.6
2007 1.94 1.45
2006 1.94 1.42
2005 1.87 1.4
2004 1.9 1.33
2003 1.91 1.3
2002 1.92 1.27
2001 1.94 1.27
2000 1.94 1.31
1999 1.97 1.3
1998 1.99 1.32
1997 2.03 1.32
1996 2.09 1.3
1995 2.15 1.33
1994 2.18 1.4
1993 2.22 1.43
1992 2.29 1.51
1991 2.35 1.59
1990 2.39 1.83
1989 2.41 2.22
1988 2.47 2.3
1987 2.53 2.38
1986 2.59 2.39
1985 2.65 2.31
1984 2.71 2.26
1983 2.78 2.06
1982 2.85 2.17
1981 2.92 2.36
1980 2.84 2.43
1979 2.85 2.49
1978 2.79 2.52
1977 2.77 2.57
1976 2.84 2.54
1975 3.05 2.59
1974 3.14 2.71
1973 3.35 2.44
1972 3.89 2.55
1971 3.74 2.67
1970 3.85 2.89
1969 3.86 3.19
1968 3.87 3.63
1967 4.05 3.66
1966 3.71 1.9
1965 3.56 1.91
1964 3.55 1.96
1963 3.63 2.01
1962 3.41 2.04
1961 3.26 2.17
1960 3.57 2.34

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

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

North Korea and Romania demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Romania
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Romania
2024 37.3 43.8
2023 37.1 43.5
2022 36.8 43.3
2021 36.6 43.2
2020 36.4 42.9
2019 36.2 42.6
2018 35.9 42.3
2017 35.7 42
2016 35.4 41.7
2015 35.2 41.3
2014 35 40.9
2013 34.7 40.5
2012 34.5 40.2
2011 34.3 39.8
2010 34 39.3
2009 33.7 38.8
2008 33.3 38.2
2007 32.9 37.7
2006 32.5 37.3
2005 32.1 37
2004 31.8 36.6
2003 31.4 36
2002 31 35.3
2001 30.5 34.8
2000 30.1 34.8
1999 29.6 34.7
1998 29.2 34.6
1997 28.8 34.4
1996 28.3 34.2
1995 28 34
1994 27.6 33.8
1993 27.2 33.6
1992 26.8 33.3
1991 26.4 33.1
1990 26 33
1989 25.6 32.9
1988 25.1 32.8
1987 24.8 32.8
1986 24.5 32.7
1985 24.2 32.5
1984 23.9 32.3
1983 23.5 32.1
1982 23.1 32
1981 22.8 31.9
1980 22.5 31.8
1979 22.2 31.7
1978 21.8 31.7
1977 21.4 31.8
1976 21.1 31.8
1975 20.9 31.7
1974 20.7 31.6
1973 20.7 31.5
1972 20.9 31.5
1971 21.2 31.4
1970 21.4 31.4
1969 21.4 31.3
1968 21.4 31.3
1967 21.4 31.3
1966 21.3 31
1965 21.2 30.6
1964 21 30.2
1963 20.8 29.7
1962 20.6 29.3
1961 20.2 28.9
1960 19.9 28.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Romania.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Romania
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$335B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
39.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
3.28%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.3%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
128,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-8.68%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
5.43%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
25.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
65.4
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.4%
2023
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
83
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$47.4B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$73.4B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$9.53B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
5,023,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
1.73%
2020
Banked people share n/a
71.3%
2024

Energy

North Korea Romania
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,601 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$28.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
70.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
3.72 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
70.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
23.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
17.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
28.1%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
2,585 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
44.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
32.2%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
19.3%
2023
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Romania
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.23%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-29,041
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
52.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.4:51.6
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.83 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
71.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
45
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
69
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
1.12
2024
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
10.3
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
170
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
99.2%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
91.3%
2024

Health

North Korea Romania
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$1,051
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$241.3
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
76.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
3.63
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
27.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
12
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
6.6
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
35%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
7.5%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
50
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
30%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
16.8 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Romania
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.15%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
4,663 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
49,093 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
26,753 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
53,964 mi
2024

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.