North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 236K in Sao Tome and Principe (ranked 176/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 371 sq mi for Sao Tome and Principe (ranked 97th vs. 172nd).
By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Sao Tome and Principe ranks 189/197 ($764M). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 138/197 ($3,245).
Main facts and rankings
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
26621357
|
244055
|
| Population rank | 56/197 | 176/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
$764M
2024 |
| GDP rank | 106/197 | 189/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$3,245
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 168/197 | 138/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$6,230
2024 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$332M
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
37.3%
2025 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$1,410
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a | 133/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,642
2025 |
$2,715
2025 |
| Land area |
46,491 sq mi
2025 |
371 sq mi
2025 |
| Population density |
570 ppl/mi²
2024 |
635 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
1.78
2023 |
3.64
2023 |
| Median age |
37.3 years
2024 |
20.3 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
70.1 years
2025 |
North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe: Comparison Charts
North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1970 | - | $37,211,826 |
| 1971 | - | $37,288,845 |
| 1972 | - | $41,430,257 |
| 1973 | - | $56,011,245 |
| 1974 | - | $57,817,591 |
| 1975 | - | $60,101,710 |
| 1976 | - | $52,039,421 |
| 1977 | - | $49,207,692 |
| 1978 | - | $55,044,563 |
| 1979 | - | $65,755,928 |
| 1980 | - | $81,662,231 |
| 1981 | - | $83,499,264 |
| 1982 | - | $80,307,763 |
| 1983 | - | $75,110,289 |
| 1984 | - | $78,213,796 |
| 1985 | - | $82,733,069 |
| 1986 | - | $115,928,907 |
| 1987 | - | $115,952,925 |
| 1988 | - | $99,000,764 |
| 1989 | - | $98,545,367 |
| 1990 | - | $119,297,933 |
| 1991 | - | $107,484,143 |
| 1992 | - | $94,861,781 |
| 1993 | - | $125,742,229 |
| 1994 | - | $131,338,415 |
| 1995 | - | $103,695,237 |
| 1996 | - | $135,188,166 |
| 1997 | - | $91,920,274 |
| 1998 | - | $72,285,404 |
| 1999 | - | $77,302,212 |
| 2000 | - | $76,198,395 |
| 2001 | - | $75,951,133 |
| 2002 | - | $85,171,074 |
| 2003 | - | $102,085,769 |
| 2004 | - | $114,582,284 |
| 2005 | - | $136,450,662 |
| 2006 | - | $142,775,104 |
| 2007 | - | $149,146,919 |
| 2008 | - | $188,021,165 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | $200,668,065 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | $190,021,192 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | $226,455,001 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | $229,371,348 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | $267,041,748 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | $293,119,143 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | $259,999,643 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | $292,267,272 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | $322,002,845 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | $383,717,328 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | $412,976,083 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | $471,229,485 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | $524,402,456 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | $540,809,499 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | $678,976,265 |
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | $764,274,043 |
North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1970 | - | $479 |
| 1971 | - | $470 |
| 1972 | - | $511 |
| 1973 | - | $676 |
| 1974 | - | $683 |
| 1975 | - | $693 |
| 1976 | - | $585 |
| 1977 | - | $539 |
| 1978 | - | $587 |
| 1979 | - | $683 |
| 1980 | - | $829 |
| 1981 | - | $830 |
| 1982 | - | $783 |
| 1983 | - | $720 |
| 1984 | - | $735 |
| 1985 | - | $761 |
| 1986 | - | $1,043 |
| 1987 | - | $1,018 |
| 1988 | - | $847 |
| 1989 | - | $821 |
| 1990 | - | $970 |
| 1991 | - | $855 |
| 1992 | - | $740 |
| 1993 | - | $964 |
| 1994 | - | $990 |
| 1995 | - | $769 |
| 1996 | - | $987 |
| 1997 | - | $662 |
| 1998 | - | $514 |
| 1999 | - | $543 |
| 2000 | - | $529 |
| 2001 | - | $519 |
| 2002 | - | $568 |
| 2003 | - | $664 |
| 2004 | - | $727 |
| 2005 | - | $844 |
| 2006 | - | $862 |
| 2007 | - | $879 |
| 2008 | - | $1,082 |
| 2009 | $939 | $1,128 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | $1,045 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $1,220 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | $1,211 |
| 2013 | $1,208 | $1,383 |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $1,490 |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $1,298 |
| 2016 | $1,124 | $1,435 |
| 2017 | $1,127 | $1,556 |
| 2018 | $1,100 | $1,826 |
| 2019 | $1,084 | $1,935 |
| 2020 | $1,061 | $2,167 |
| 2021 | $1,231 | $2,363 |
| 2022 | $1,100 | $2,390 |
| 2023 | $1,217 | $2,941 |
| 2024 | $1,319 | $3,245 |
North Korea vs. Sao Tome and Principe life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1950 | 14.2 | 39.1 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 39.1 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 39.1 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 39.1 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 39.2 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 39.3 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 39.5 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 40.1 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 41 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 42.1 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 43.6 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 45.2 |
| 1962 | 57 | 46.8 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 48.4 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 49.7 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 51.1 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 52.3 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 53.4 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 54.5 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 55.4 |
| 1970 | 62 | 56.3 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 57 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 57.4 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 57.9 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 58.3 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 58.6 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 58.8 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 59 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 59.1 |
| 1979 | 66.7 | 59.3 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 59.4 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 59.4 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 59.5 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 59.7 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 59.9 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 60.1 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 57.6 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 60.7 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 60.8 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 59.7 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 60.7 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 60.8 |
| 1992 | 71 | 60.7 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 60.6 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 60.6 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 60.5 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 60.6 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 60.6 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 60.8 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 61 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 61.2 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 61.5 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 61.8 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 62.2 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 62.6 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 62.4 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 63 |
| 2007 | 69 | 63.3 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 63.4 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 63.7 |
| 2010 | 70.2 | 63.9 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 64.1 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 64.5 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 64.9 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 65.5 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 66 |
| 2016 | 73 | 66.6 |
| 2017 | 73 | 67.1 |
| 2018 | 73 | 67.6 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 68 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 68 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 68 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 69.2 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 69.7 |
| 2024 | 73.7 | 69.9 |
| 2025 | 73.9 | 70.1 |
North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | 68,012 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 68,707 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 69,403 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 70,112 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 70,865 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 71,680 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 72,576 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 73,596 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 74,765 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 76,083 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 77,626 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 79,330 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 81,041 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 82,798 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 84,672 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 86,708 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 88,922 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 91,301 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 93,794 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 96,252 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 98,544 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 100,615 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 102,508 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 104,380 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 106,394 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 108,658 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 111,150 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 113,919 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 116,939 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 119,979 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 122,980 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 125,697 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 128,110 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 130,467 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 132,732 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 134,895 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 136,962 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 138,922 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 140,751 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 142,442 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 144,018 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 146,375 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 149,922 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 153,814 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 157,705 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 161,639 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 165,638 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 169,700 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 173,793 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 177,853 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 181,802 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 185,649 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 189,439 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 193,148 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 196,767 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 200,291 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 203,689 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 206,970 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 210,187 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 213,392 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 217,435 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 221,961 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 226,305 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 230,871 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 235,536 |
Fertility rates in North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 3.57 | 6.24 |
| 1961 | 3.26 | 6.26 |
| 1962 | 3.41 | 6.28 |
| 1963 | 3.63 | 6.31 |
| 1964 | 3.55 | 6.33 |
| 1965 | 3.56 | 6.35 |
| 1966 | 3.71 | 6.37 |
| 1967 | 4.05 | 6.39 |
| 1968 | 3.87 | 6.42 |
| 1969 | 3.86 | 6.44 |
| 1970 | 3.85 | 6.47 |
| 1971 | 3.74 | 6.49 |
| 1972 | 3.89 | 6.51 |
| 1973 | 3.35 | 6.53 |
| 1974 | 3.14 | 6.53 |
| 1975 | 3.05 | 6.53 |
| 1976 | 2.84 | 6.52 |
| 1977 | 2.77 | 6.5 |
| 1978 | 2.79 | 6.47 |
| 1979 | 2.85 | 6.43 |
| 1980 | 2.84 | 6.39 |
| 1981 | 2.92 | 6.33 |
| 1982 | 2.85 | 6.28 |
| 1983 | 2.78 | 6.22 |
| 1984 | 2.71 | 6.16 |
| 1985 | 2.65 | 6.1 |
| 1986 | 2.59 | 6.05 |
| 1987 | 2.53 | 5.99 |
| 1988 | 2.47 | 5.94 |
| 1989 | 2.41 | 5.88 |
| 1990 | 2.39 | 5.83 |
| 1991 | 2.35 | 5.77 |
| 1992 | 2.29 | 5.7 |
| 1993 | 2.22 | 5.64 |
| 1994 | 2.18 | 5.56 |
| 1995 | 2.15 | 5.55 |
| 1996 | 2.09 | 5.47 |
| 1997 | 2.03 | 5.4 |
| 1998 | 1.99 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 1.97 | 5.23 |
| 2000 | 1.94 | 5.16 |
| 2001 | 1.94 | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 1.92 | 5.06 |
| 2003 | 1.91 | 5.01 |
| 2004 | 1.9 | 4.96 |
| 2005 | 1.87 | 4.94 |
| 2006 | 1.94 | 4.93 |
| 2007 | 1.94 | 4.96 |
| 2008 | 1.97 | 4.91 |
| 2009 | 1.91 | 4.84 |
| 2010 | 1.89 | 4.77 |
| 2011 | 1.88 | 4.72 |
| 2012 | 1.88 | 4.66 |
| 2013 | 1.88 | 4.58 |
| 2014 | 1.87 | 4.49 |
| 2015 | 1.86 | 4.35 |
| 2016 | 1.86 | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 1.85 | 4.07 |
| 2018 | 1.83 | 3.98 |
| 2019 | 1.83 | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 1.82 | 3.83 |
| 2021 | 1.81 | 3.76 |
| 2022 | 1.8 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 1.78 | 3.64 |
North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 19.9 | 24.2 |
| 1961 | 20.2 | 24.3 |
| 1962 | 20.6 | 24.1 |
| 1963 | 20.8 | 23.5 |
| 1964 | 21 | 22.4 |
| 1965 | 21.2 | 21 |
| 1966 | 21.3 | 19.5 |
| 1967 | 21.4 | 18.5 |
| 1968 | 21.4 | 17.7 |
| 1969 | 21.4 | 17.2 |
| 1970 | 21.4 | 16.9 |
| 1971 | 21.2 | 16.9 |
| 1972 | 20.9 | 17 |
| 1973 | 20.7 | 17 |
| 1974 | 20.7 | 17.1 |
| 1975 | 20.9 | 17.1 |
| 1976 | 21.1 | 17.1 |
| 1977 | 21.4 | 17.2 |
| 1978 | 21.8 | 17.2 |
| 1979 | 22.2 | 17.3 |
| 1980 | 22.5 | 17.3 |
| 1981 | 22.8 | 17.4 |
| 1982 | 23.1 | 17.4 |
| 1983 | 23.5 | 17.4 |
| 1984 | 23.9 | 17.4 |
| 1985 | 24.2 | 17.4 |
| 1986 | 24.5 | 17.4 |
| 1987 | 24.8 | 17.4 |
| 1988 | 25.1 | 17.4 |
| 1989 | 25.6 | 17.4 |
| 1990 | 26 | 17.4 |
| 1991 | 26.4 | 17.3 |
| 1992 | 26.8 | 17.3 |
| 1993 | 27.2 | 17.2 |
| 1994 | 27.6 | 17.2 |
| 1995 | 28 | 17.3 |
| 1996 | 28.3 | 17.3 |
| 1997 | 28.8 | 17.4 |
| 1998 | 29.2 | 17.5 |
| 1999 | 29.6 | 17.7 |
| 2000 | 30.1 | 17.9 |
| 2001 | 30.5 | 18 |
| 2002 | 31 | 18.1 |
| 2003 | 31.4 | 18.3 |
| 2004 | 31.8 | 18.4 |
| 2005 | 32.1 | 18.5 |
| 2006 | 32.5 | 18.6 |
| 2007 | 32.9 | 18.7 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 18.7 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 18.7 |
| 2010 | 34 | 18.8 |
| 2011 | 34.3 | 18.9 |
| 2012 | 34.5 | 18.9 |
| 2013 | 34.7 | 18.9 |
| 2014 | 35 | 18.9 |
| 2015 | 35.2 | 19 |
| 2016 | 35.4 | 19 |
| 2017 | 35.7 | 19.1 |
| 2018 | 35.9 | 19.3 |
| 2019 | 36.2 | 19.4 |
| 2020 | 36.4 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 36.6 | 19.7 |
| 2022 | 36.8 | 19.9 |
| 2023 | 37.1 | 20.1 |
| 2024 | 37.3 | 20.3 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method | n/a |
$653M
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
24.5%
2025 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
5.03%
2023 |
| Armed forces personnel |
1,469,000
2020 |
1,000
1999 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | n/a |
+2.56%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
8.81%
2017 |
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
76.6%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
2.91%
2024 |
| Economic freedom index |
3
2025 |
60.4
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
32.8%
2017 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
2.6%
2017 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$46.2M
2023 |
| Personal remittances received | n/a |
$10M
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals | n/a |
33,400
2018 |
| International tourism as share of exports | n/a |
73.2%
2018 |
Energy
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
259.3 kg
2007 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use | n/a |
$10.2
2007 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
64.3 megatons
2023 |
0.21 megatons
2023 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.43 tons
2023 |
0.93 tons
2023 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
85.1%
2022 |
0%
2007 |
| Renewable energy use share |
14.7%
2021 |
42.5%
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 |
6.06%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
62.7%
2022 |
5.85%
2021 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Electricity access |
57.5%
2023 |
81.3%
2023 |
Society
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.33%
2024 |
0.003%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-2,473
2024 |
-604
2024 |
| Urban population |
63.5%
2024 |
77%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.73 ft
2025 |
5.59 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.29 ft
2025 |
5.24 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
11.8
2025 |
32.1
2025 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2024 |
45
2024 |
| Higher education index |
12
2025 |
n/a |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
3.23
2011 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
27.9
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
51
2025 |
71
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2018 |
93.8%
2022 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
4.9%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
0%
2012 |
61.5%
2023 |
Health
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita | n/a |
$180.3
2022 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita | n/a |
$21.6
2022 |
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
70.1 years
2025 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure | n/a |
30.9%
2022 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.67
2017 |
0.49
2019 |
| Age at first childbirth | n/a |
19.4 years
2025 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
75
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
18
2023 |
13.9
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
17.2%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
12.1%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
42
2025 |
24
2025 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
16.5%
2022 |
7.8%
2022 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.87 liters
2020 |
4.79 liters
2020 |
Territory
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
0.0006%
2025 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
1,574 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2025 |
166 sq mi
2025 |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2025 |
193.2 sq mi
2025 |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
808 mi
2018 |
In-depth comparisons
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