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North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

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 ($822M). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 134/197 ($3,491).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Sao Tome
Population
26659144
246362
Population rank 57/197 176/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$822M
2024
GDP rank 106/197 189/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$3,491
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 134/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$6,242
2024
Government debt n/a
$533M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
64.8%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$2,262
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 116/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$3,111
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 371 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
661 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
3.64
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
20.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
70.3 years
2026

North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Sao Tome
2024 $34,943,120,000 $822,154,621
2023 $32,155,360,000 $690,456,807
2022 $28,971,360,000 $540,809,499
2021 $32,301,720,000 $524,402,456
2020 $27,728,240,000 $471,229,485
2019 $28,222,880,000 $412,976,083
2018 $28,536,400,000 $383,717,328
2017 $29,105,440,000 $322,002,845
2016 $28,882,640,000 $292,267,272
2015 $30,723,030,000 $259,999,643
2014 $30,554,460,000 $293,119,143
2013 $30,588,922,000 $267,041,748
2012 $29,890,710,000 $225,815,132
2011 $29,005,020,000 $226,455,001
2010 $25,995,513,000 $190,021,192
2009 $23,356,470,000 $200,668,065
2008 - $188,021,165
2007 - $149,146,919
2006 - $142,775,104
2005 - $136,450,662
2004 - $114,582,284
2003 - $102,085,769
2002 - $85,171,074
2001 - $75,951,133
2000 - $76,198,395
1999 - $77,302,212
1998 - $72,285,404
1997 - $91,920,274
1996 - $135,188,166
1995 - $103,695,237
1994 - $131,338,415
1993 - $125,742,229
1992 - $94,861,781
1991 - $107,484,143
1990 - $119,297,933
1989 - $98,545,367
1988 - $99,000,764
1987 - $115,952,925
1986 - $115,928,907
1985 - $82,733,069
1984 - $78,213,796
1983 - $75,110,289
1982 - $80,307,763
1981 - $83,499,264
1980 - $81,662,231
1979 - $65,755,928
1978 - $55,044,563
1977 - $49,207,692
1976 - $52,039,421
1975 - $60,101,710
1974 - $57,817,591
1973 - $56,011,245
1972 - $41,430,257
1971 - $37,288,845
1970 - $37,211,826

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Sao Tome
2024 $1,319 $3,491
2023 $1,217 $2,991
2022 $1,100 $2,390
2021 $1,231 $2,363
2020 $1,061 $2,167
2019 $1,084 $1,935
2018 $1,100 $1,826
2017 $1,127 $1,556
2016 $1,124 $1,435
2015 $1,201 $1,298
2014 $1,201 $1,490
2013 $1,208 $1,383
2012 $1,186 $1,192
2011 $1,156 $1,220
2010 $1,040 $1,045
2009 $939 $1,128
2008 - $1,082
2007 - $879
2006 - $862
2005 - $844
2004 - $727
2003 - $664
2002 - $568
2001 - $519
2000 - $529
1999 - $543
1998 - $514
1997 - $662
1996 - $987
1995 - $769
1994 - $990
1993 - $964
1992 - $740
1991 - $855
1990 - $970
1989 - $821
1988 - $847
1987 - $1,018
1986 - $1,043
1985 - $761
1984 - $735
1983 - $720
1982 - $783
1981 - $830
1980 - $829
1979 - $683
1978 - $587
1977 - $539
1976 - $585
1975 - $693
1974 - $683
1973 - $676
1972 - $511
1971 - $470
1970 - $479

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

North Korea vs. Sao Tome and Principe life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Sao Tome
2026 74 70.3
2025 73.9 70.1
2024 73.7 69.9
2023 73.6 69.7
2022 73.6 69.2
2021 73.4 68
2020 72.8 68
2019 72.9 68
2018 73 67.6
2017 73 67.1
2016 73 66.6
2015 72.8 66
2014 72.5 65.5
2013 71.9 64.9
2012 71.3 64.5
2011 70.8 64.1
2010 70.2 63.9
2009 69.7 63.7
2008 69.3 63.4
2007 69 63.3
2006 69.1 63
2005 69.2 62.4
2004 69.3 62.6
2003 69.4 62.2
2002 60.9 61.8
2001 60.9 61.5
2000 60.9 61.2
1999 60.9 61
1998 60.9 60.8
1997 60.9 60.6
1996 60.8 60.6
1995 60.8 60.5
1994 70.5 60.6
1993 70.8 60.6
1992 71 60.7
1991 70.7 60.8
1990 70.5 60.7
1989 70.3 59.7
1988 70.1 60.8
1987 69.8 60.7
1986 69.5 57.6
1985 69.2 60.1
1984 68.9 59.9
1983 68.5 59.7
1982 68.1 59.5
1981 67.7 59.4
1980 67.2 59.4
1979 66.7 59.3
1978 66.3 59.1
1977 65.8 59
1976 65.3 58.8
1975 64.8 58.6
1974 64.3 58.3
1973 63.8 57.9
1972 63.3 57.4
1971 62.7 57
1970 62 56.3
1969 61.4 55.4
1968 60.8 54.5
1967 60.1 53.4
1966 59.4 52.3
1965 58.8 51.1
1964 58.2 49.7
1963 57.6 48.4
1962 57 46.8
1961 56.4 45.2
1960 55.8 43.6
1959 55.2 42.1
1958 54.5 41
1957 53.7 40.1
1956 52.8 39.5
1955 51.8 39.3
1954 50.6 39.2
1953 40.3 39.1
1952 32.8 39.1
1951 17.7 39.1
1950 14.2 39.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sao Tome
2024 26,498,823 235,536
2023 26,418,204 230,871
2022 26,328,845 226,305
2021 26,232,534 221,961
2020 26,136,312 217,435
2019 26,037,632 213,392
2018 25,931,147 210,187
2017 25,817,709 206,970
2016 25,698,326 203,689
2015 25,575,350 200,291
2014 25,451,262 196,767
2013 25,329,451 193,148
2012 25,211,728 189,439
2011 25,097,874 185,649
2010 24,987,258 181,802
2009 24,878,332 177,853
2008 24,764,618 173,793
2007 24,646,383 169,700
2006 24,524,507 165,638
2005 24,396,433 161,639
2004 24,254,943 157,705
2003 24,090,380 153,814
2002 23,943,973 149,922
2001 23,815,358 146,375
2000 23,665,910 144,018
1999 23,497,599 142,442
1998 23,311,564 140,751
1997 23,110,830 138,922
1996 22,895,746 136,962
1995 22,669,304 134,895
1994 22,393,975 132,732
1993 22,073,352 130,467
1992 21,750,911 128,110
1991 21,428,638 125,697
1990 21,112,137 122,980
1989 20,804,367 119,979
1988 20,503,161 116,939
1987 20,205,483 113,919
1986 19,910,855 111,150
1985 19,620,388 108,658
1984 19,335,043 106,394
1983 19,054,034 104,380
1982 18,776,357 102,508
1981 18,501,295 100,615
1980 18,236,786 98,544
1979 17,983,470 96,252
1978 17,735,995 93,794
1977 17,492,798 91,301
1976 17,243,450 88,922
1975 16,971,055 86,708
1974 16,673,121 84,672
1973 16,350,367 82,798
1972 15,975,069 81,041
1971 15,572,457 79,330
1970 15,172,775 77,626
1969 14,767,615 76,083
1968 14,365,596 74,765
1967 13,958,350 73,596
1966 13,569,094 72,576
1965 13,219,369 71,680
1964 12,889,770 70,865
1963 12,567,057 70,112
1962 12,262,882 69,403
1961 11,990,713 68,707
1960 11,722,953 68,012

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Fertility rates in North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe

Fertility rate
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 1.78 3.64
2022 1.8 3.7
2021 1.81 3.76
2020 1.82 3.83
2019 1.83 3.9
2018 1.83 3.98
2017 1.85 4.07
2016 1.86 4.2
2015 1.86 4.35
2014 1.87 4.49
2013 1.88 4.58
2012 1.88 4.66
2011 1.88 4.72
2010 1.89 4.77
2009 1.91 4.84
2008 1.97 4.91
2007 1.94 4.96
2006 1.94 4.93
2005 1.87 4.94
2004 1.9 4.96
2003 1.91 5.01
2002 1.92 5.06
2001 1.94 5.1
2000 1.94 5.16
1999 1.97 5.23
1998 1.99 5.3
1997 2.03 5.4
1996 2.09 5.47
1995 2.15 5.55
1994 2.18 5.56
1993 2.22 5.64
1992 2.29 5.7
1991 2.35 5.77
1990 2.39 5.83
1989 2.41 5.88
1988 2.47 5.94
1987 2.53 5.99
1986 2.59 6.05
1985 2.65 6.1
1984 2.71 6.16
1983 2.78 6.22
1982 2.85 6.28
1981 2.92 6.33
1980 2.84 6.39
1979 2.85 6.43
1978 2.79 6.47
1977 2.77 6.5
1976 2.84 6.52
1975 3.05 6.53
1974 3.14 6.53
1973 3.35 6.53
1972 3.89 6.51
1971 3.74 6.49
1970 3.85 6.47
1969 3.86 6.44
1968 3.87 6.42
1967 4.05 6.39
1966 3.71 6.37
1965 3.56 6.35
1964 3.55 6.33
1963 3.63 6.31
1962 3.41 6.28
1961 3.26 6.26
1960 3.57 6.24

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Sao Tome
2024 37.3 20.3
2023 37.1 20.1
2022 36.8 19.9
2021 36.6 19.7
2020 36.4 19.5
2019 36.2 19.4
2018 35.9 19.3
2017 35.7 19.1
2016 35.4 19
2015 35.2 19
2014 35 18.9
2013 34.7 18.9
2012 34.5 18.9
2011 34.3 18.9
2010 34 18.8
2009 33.7 18.7
2008 33.3 18.7
2007 32.9 18.7
2006 32.5 18.6
2005 32.1 18.5
2004 31.8 18.4
2003 31.4 18.3
2002 31 18.1
2001 30.5 18
2000 30.1 17.9
1999 29.6 17.7
1998 29.2 17.5
1997 28.8 17.4
1996 28.3 17.3
1995 28 17.3
1994 27.6 17.2
1993 27.2 17.2
1992 26.8 17.3
1991 26.4 17.3
1990 26 17.4
1989 25.6 17.4
1988 25.1 17.4
1987 24.8 17.4
1986 24.5 17.4
1985 24.2 17.4
1984 23.9 17.4
1983 23.5 17.4
1982 23.1 17.4
1981 22.8 17.4
1980 22.5 17.3
1979 22.2 17.3
1978 21.8 17.2
1977 21.4 17.2
1976 21.1 17.1
1975 20.9 17.1
1974 20.7 17.1
1973 20.7 17
1972 20.9 17
1971 21.2 16.9
1970 21.4 16.9
1969 21.4 17.2
1968 21.4 17.7
1967 21.4 18.5
1966 21.3 19.5
1965 21.2 21
1964 21 22.4
1963 20.8 23.5
1962 20.6 24.1
1961 20.2 24.3
1960 19.9 24.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Sao Tome
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$671M
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
24.7%
2024
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
+0.92%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
6.66%
2017
Services, % of GDP n/a
80.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
2.83%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
60.6
2026
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
$80.1M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
33,400
2018
International tourism as share of exports n/a
73.2%
2018

Energy

North Korea Sao Tome
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
66.2 megatons
2024
0.15 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.63 tons
2024
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

North Korea Sao Tome
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.003%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-650
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
68.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.7:50.3
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
10.1
2026
32.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
45
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
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
48
2025
70
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

North Korea Sao Tome
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$171.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$28.5
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
70.3 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
43.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.46
2022
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
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
2026
24
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
7.8%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
4.79 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Sao Tome
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.0006%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
1,574 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
166 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
193.2 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
808 mi
2018

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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