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North Korea vs Rwanda statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 14.3M in Rwanda (ranked 77/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 9,525 sq mi for Rwanda (ranked 97th vs. 146th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Rwanda ranks 144/197 ($14.3B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Rwanda ranks 178/197 ($1,000).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Rwanda
Population
26659144
14975051
Population rank 57/197 77/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$14.3B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 144/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$1,000
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 178/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$3,711
2024
Government debt n/a
$9.58B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
67.2%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$672
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 157/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$2,194
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 9,525 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
1,563 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
3.7
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
20.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
68.5 years
2026

North Korea and Rwanda: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Rwanda economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Rwanda
2024 $34,943,120,000 $14,251,642,235
2023 $32,155,360,000 $14,331,722,703
2022 $28,971,360,000 $13,316,161,002
2021 $32,301,720,000 $11,078,787,090
2020 $27,728,240,000 $10,174,386,857
2019 $28,222,880,000 $10,349,300,277
2018 $28,536,400,000 $9,637,904,521
2017 $29,105,440,000 $9,252,833,891
2016 $28,882,640,000 $8,695,272,058
2015 $30,723,030,000 $8,543,760,200
2014 $30,554,460,000 $8,238,966,124
2013 $30,588,922,000 $7,819,964,030
2012 $29,890,710,000 $7,654,761,050
2011 $29,005,020,000 $6,884,913,658
2010 $25,995,513,000 $6,124,756,654
2009 $23,356,470,000 $5,674,476,969
2008 - $5,179,854,065
2007 - $4,070,507,895
2006 - $3,319,784,539
2005 - $2,933,819,766
2004 - $2,376,496,067
2003 - $2,138,237,279
2002 - $1,966,003,468
2001 - $1,966,600,715
2000 - $2,068,836,754
1999 - $2,157,108,263
1998 - $1,989,343,546
1997 - $1,851,558,197
1996 - $1,382,334,879
1995 - $1,293,535,193
1994 - $753,636,370
1993 - $1,971,525,712
1992 - $2,029,026,962
1991 - $1,911,600,237
1990 - $2,550,185,679
1989 - $2,405,022,593
1988 - $2,395,492,687
1987 - $2,157,432,668
1986 - $1,944,710,684
1985 - $1,715,626,331
1984 - $1,587,413,084
1983 - $1,479,687,587
1982 - $1,407,243,139
1981 - $1,407,062,527
1980 - $1,254,765,642
1979 - $1,109,346,131
1978 - $905,709,076
1977 - $746,650,613
1976 - $637,753,853
1975 - $571,863,500
1974 - $308,458,423
1973 - $290,746,157
1972 - $246,457,838
1971 - $222,952,504
1970 - $219,900,006
1969 - $188,700,037
1968 - $172,200,018
1967 - $159,560,018
1966 - $124,525,703
1965 - $148,799,980
1964 - $129,999,994
1963 - $128,000,000
1962 - $125,000,008
1961 - $122,000,016
1960 - $119,000,024

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

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

North Korea and Rwanda economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Rwanda
2024 $1,319 $1,000
2023 $1,217 $1,027
2022 $1,100 $975
2021 $1,231 $830
2020 $1,061 $779
2019 $1,084 $810
2018 $1,100 $772
2017 $1,127 $758
2016 $1,124 $730
2015 $1,201 $734
2014 $1,201 $725
2013 $1,208 $705
2012 $1,186 $707
2011 $1,156 $651
2010 $1,040 $594
2009 $939 $564
2008 - $528
2007 - $426
2006 - $357
2005 - $324
2004 - $269.5
2003 - $249
2002 - $234
2001 - $237.3
2000 - $251.9
1999 - $264.7
1998 - $246.2
1997 - $238.7
1996 - $206
1995 - $228
1994 - $111
1993 - $247
1992 - $264.1
1991 - $254
1990 - $346
1989 - $335
1988 - $344
1987 - $320
1986 - $297.7
1985 - $271.6
1984 - $259.9
1983 - $250.6
1982 - $246.4
1981 - $254.6
1980 - $234.4
1979 - $213.8
1978 - $179.9
1977 - $152.7
1976 - $134.4
1975 - $124.1
1974 - $68.9
1973 - $66.9
1972 - $58.4
1971 - $54.4
1970 - $55.2
1969 - $48.9
1968 - $46
1967 - $44
1966 - $35.4
1965 - $43.5
1964 - $39
1963 - $39.3
1962 - $39.2
1961 - $39.3
1960 - $39.4

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

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

North Korea vs. Rwanda life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Rwanda
2026 74 68.5
2025 73.9 68.2
2024 73.7 68
2023 73.6 67.8
2022 73.6 67.5
2021 73.4 66.8
2020 72.8 67
2019 72.9 66.7
2018 73 66.4
2017 73 66.1
2016 73 65.7
2015 72.8 65.4
2014 72.5 65.1
2013 71.9 64.7
2012 71.3 64.2
2011 70.8 63.5
2010 70.2 62.8
2009 69.7 61.8
2008 69.3 60.6
2007 69 59.5
2006 69.1 58.3
2005 69.2 57
2004 69.3 55.5
2003 69.4 53.5
2002 60.9 51.3
2001 60.9 49.5
2000 60.9 47.8
1999 60.9 45.7
1998 60.9 43.1
1997 60.9 42
1996 60.8 42.5
1995 60.8 41.5
1994 70.5 12.2
1993 70.8 42.9
1992 71 44.4
1991 70.7 46.2
1990 70.5 47.8
1989 70.3 49.5
1988 70.1 50.9
1987 69.8 51.5
1986 69.5 51.7
1985 69.2 51.7
1984 68.9 51.4
1983 68.5 50.9
1982 68.1 50.2
1981 67.7 49.2
1980 67.2 48.1
1979 66.7 47.1
1978 66.3 46.2
1977 65.8 45.6
1976 65.3 45.3
1975 64.8 45.3
1974 64.3 45.6
1973 63.8 45.9
1972 63.3 46.3
1971 62.7 46.8
1970 62 47.1
1969 61.4 47.4
1968 60.8 47.7
1967 60.1 48
1966 59.4 48.1
1965 58.8 48.2
1964 58.2 48.1
1963 57.6 44
1962 57 47.8
1961 56.4 47.5
1960 55.8 47
1959 55.2 46.5
1958 54.5 46.1
1957 53.7 45.6
1956 52.8 45.2
1955 51.8 44.8
1954 50.6 44.4
1953 40.3 44.1
1952 32.8 43.8
1951 17.7 43.5
1950 14.2 43.2

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

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

North Korea and Rwanda population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year Population
North Korea Rwanda
2024 26,498,823 14,256,567
2023 26,418,204 13,954,471
2022 26,328,845 13,651,030
2021 26,232,534 13,355,260
2020 26,136,312 13,065,837
2019 26,037,632 12,776,103
2018 25,931,147 12,487,996
2017 25,817,709 12,202,060
2016 25,698,326 11,919,183
2015 25,575,350 11,640,022
2014 25,451,262 11,364,757
2013 25,329,451 11,093,340
2012 25,211,728 10,829,901
2011 25,097,874 10,573,733
2010 24,987,258 10,317,553
2009 24,878,332 10,060,432
2008 24,764,618 9,804,269
2007 24,646,383 9,549,933
2006 24,524,507 9,299,246
2005 24,396,433 9,054,528
2004 24,254,943 8,816,844
2003 24,090,380 8,586,875
2002 23,943,973 8,400,180
2001 23,815,358 8,287,094
2000 23,665,910 8,213,931
1999 23,497,599 8,147,912
1998 23,311,564 8,081,681
1997 23,110,830 7,755,238
1996 22,895,746 6,708,764
1995 22,669,304 5,674,118
1994 22,393,975 6,792,352
1993 22,073,352 7,981,132
1992 21,750,911 7,683,266
1991 21,428,638 7,526,966
1990 21,112,137 7,375,307
1989 20,804,367 7,184,706
1988 20,503,161 6,968,071
1987 20,205,483 6,749,493
1986 19,910,855 6,531,881
1985 19,620,388 6,317,228
1984 19,335,043 6,107,627
1983 19,054,034 5,905,311
1982 18,776,357 5,711,549
1981 18,501,295 5,527,230
1980 18,236,786 5,353,259
1979 17,983,470 5,189,541
1978 17,735,995 5,035,171
1977 17,492,798 4,888,240
1976 17,243,450 4,745,954
1975 16,971,055 4,607,728
1974 16,673,121 4,474,228
1973 16,350,367 4,345,047
1972 15,975,069 4,220,335
1971 15,572,457 4,100,044
1970 15,172,775 3,980,669
1969 14,767,615 3,861,271
1968 14,365,596 3,744,010
1967 13,958,350 3,629,577
1966 13,569,094 3,521,626
1965 13,219,369 3,423,210
1964 12,889,770 3,334,834
1963 12,567,057 3,258,890
1962 12,262,882 3,186,025
1961 11,990,713 3,106,779
1960 11,722,953 3,022,294

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Rwanda

Fertility rate
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Rwanda
2023 1.78 3.7
2022 1.8 3.78
2021 1.81 3.84
2020 1.82 3.91
2019 1.83 3.99
2018 1.83 4.05
2017 1.85 4.08
2016 1.86 4.11
2015 1.86 4.11
2014 1.87 4.12
2013 1.88 4.14
2012 1.88 4.2
2011 1.88 4.33
2010 1.89 4.52
2009 1.91 4.71
2008 1.97 4.92
2007 1.94 5.14
2006 1.94 5.34
2005 1.87 5.5
2004 1.9 5.64
2003 1.91 5.74
2002 1.92 5.82
2001 1.94 5.89
2000 1.94 5.97
1999 1.97 6.06
1998 1.99 6.17
1997 2.03 6.24
1996 2.09 6.29
1995 2.15 6.35
1994 2.18 6.42
1993 2.22 6.48
1992 2.29 6.54
1991 2.35 6.62
1990 2.39 6.8
1989 2.41 7.03
1988 2.47 7.23
1987 2.53 7.43
1986 2.59 7.61
1985 2.65 7.79
1984 2.71 7.91
1983 2.78 8
1982 2.85 8.06
1981 2.92 8.1
1980 2.84 8.12
1979 2.85 8.13
1978 2.79 8.16
1977 2.77 8.14
1976 2.84 8.12
1975 3.05 8.1
1974 3.14 8.1
1973 3.35 8.09
1972 3.89 8.09
1971 3.74 8.09
1970 3.85 8.15
1969 3.86 8.18
1968 3.87 8.19
1967 4.05 8.21
1966 3.71 8.23
1965 3.56 8.25
1964 3.55 8.27
1963 3.63 8.27
1962 3.41 8.27
1961 3.26 8.28
1960 3.57 8.28

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

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

North Korea and Rwanda demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Rwanda
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Rwanda
2024 37.3 20.8
2023 37.1 20.5
2022 36.8 20.3
2021 36.6 20
2020 36.4 19.9
2019 36.2 19.8
2018 35.9 19.7
2017 35.7 19.6
2016 35.4 19.4
2015 35.2 19.3
2014 35 19.1
2013 34.7 19
2012 34.5 18.8
2011 34.3 18.7
2010 34 18.5
2009 33.7 18.4
2008 33.3 18.3
2007 32.9 18.1
2006 32.5 18
2005 32.1 17.8
2004 31.8 17.6
2003 31.4 17.4
2002 31 17.1
2001 30.5 16.8
2000 30.1 16.3
1999 29.6 15.8
1998 29.2 15.3
1997 28.8 14.8
1996 28.3 14.6
1995 28 14.3
1994 27.6 15
1993 27.2 15.7
1992 26.8 15.6
1991 26.4 15.5
1990 26 15.5
1989 25.6 15.5
1988 25.1 15.6
1987 24.8 15.6
1986 24.5 15.7
1985 24.2 15.8
1984 23.9 16
1983 23.5 16.1
1982 23.1 16.2
1981 22.8 16.4
1980 22.5 16.5
1979 22.2 16.5
1978 21.8 16.6
1977 21.4 16.6
1976 21.1 16.5
1975 20.9 16.4
1974 20.7 16.3
1973 20.7 16.2
1972 20.9 16
1971 21.2 15.9
1970 21.4 15.7
1969 21.4 15.5
1968 21.4 15.3
1967 21.4 15.1
1966 21.3 14.9
1965 21.2 14.8
1964 21 14.7
1963 20.8 14.8
1962 20.6 14.9
1961 20.2 15.1
1960 19.9 15.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Rwanda
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$14.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
28.8%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
4.69%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.25%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
35,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-6.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
11.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
47.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
21%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
56.5
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
33.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.1%
2023
Listed domestic companies n/a
5
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.75B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$2.41B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$517M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
1,634,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports n/a
11%
2020
Banked people share n/a
50%
2017

Energy

North Korea Rwanda
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
373 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$8.31
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
2.31 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.16 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
0%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
79.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
0.97%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
10.6%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
68.1 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
61%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
50.3%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
63.9%
2023

Society

North Korea Rwanda
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.18%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+6,282
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
29.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.45 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
32.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
58
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
17
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
3.59
2020
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
29.4
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
72
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
78.8%
2022
English speaking
0%
2025
15%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
34.2%
2023

Health

North Korea Rwanda
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$52.7
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$2.16
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
68.5 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
37%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.09
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
23 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
229
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
40
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
4.99%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
2.1%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
6
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
14.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
2.87 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Rwanda
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
668 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
7,271 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
1,077 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
2,920 mi
2021

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) (2000–2025, 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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