North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 6.59M in Serbia (ranked 109/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 32,467 sq mi for Serbia (ranked 97th vs. 111th).
By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Serbia ranks 75/197 ($89.1B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Serbia ranks 74/197 ($13,524).
Main facts and rankings
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
26621357
|
6541064
|
| Population rank | 56/197 | 110/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
$89.1B
2024 |
| GDP rank | 106/197 | 75/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$13,524
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 168/197 | 74/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$31,867
2024 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$39.6B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
44.4%
2025 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$6,015
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a | 74/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,642
2025 |
$11,469
2025 |
| Land area |
46,491 sq mi
2025 |
32,467 sq mi
2025 |
| Population density |
570 ppl/mi²
2024 |
202.9 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
1.78
2023 |
1.61
2023 |
| Median age |
37.3 years
2024 |
45.1 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
77.1 years
2025 |
North Korea and Serbia: Comparison Charts
North Korea and Serbia economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1995 | - | $17,921,892,655 |
| 1996 | - | $23,277,430,168 |
| 1997 | - | $27,153,408,995 |
| 1998 | - | $21,004,077,441 |
| 1999 | - | $20,878,694,851 |
| 2000 | - | $7,326,373,882 |
| 2001 | - | $13,599,378,662 |
| 2002 | - | $17,930,583,571 |
| 2003 | - | $23,593,044,418 |
| 2004 | - | $26,845,632,342 |
| 2005 | - | $28,334,256,181 |
| 2006 | - | $33,298,057,362 |
| 2007 | - | $44,888,028,946 |
| 2008 | - | $54,220,641,202 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | $46,955,984,410 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | $43,536,629,233 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | $51,251,098,408 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | $45,103,269,969 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | $50,455,529,604 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | $49,114,321,280 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | $41,297,410,635 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | $42,225,495,910 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | $45,972,834,714 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | $52,787,520,249 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | $53,864,693,665 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | $55,874,017,669 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | $66,159,884,073 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | $66,797,564,758 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | $81,342,660,752 |
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | $89,083,506,277 |
North Korea and Serbia economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1995 | - | $2,349 |
| 1996 | - | $3,054 |
| 1997 | - | $3,574 |
| 1998 | - | $2,775 |
| 1999 | - | $2,769 |
| 2000 | - | $975 |
| 2001 | - | $1,812 |
| 2002 | - | $2,391 |
| 2003 | - | $3,154 |
| 2004 | - | $3,597 |
| 2005 | - | $3,808 |
| 2006 | - | $4,493 |
| 2007 | - | $6,081 |
| 2008 | - | $7,377 |
| 2009 | $939 | $6,414 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | $5,971 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $7,082 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | $6,263 |
| 2013 | $1,208 | $7,040 |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $6,887 |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $5,820 |
| 2016 | $1,124 | $5,982 |
| 2017 | $1,127 | $6,548 |
| 2018 | $1,100 | $7,560 |
| 2019 | $1,084 | $7,756 |
| 2020 | $1,061 | $8,099 |
| 2021 | $1,231 | $9,681 |
| 2022 | $1,100 | $10,023 |
| 2023 | $1,217 | $12,282 |
| 2024 | $1,319 | $13,524 |
North Korea vs. Serbia life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1950 | 14.2 | 55.1 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 55.6 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 57.4 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 59.8 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 60.7 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 61.3 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 61.9 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 63.2 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 64.3 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 65.2 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 65.7 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 66.3 |
| 1962 | 57 | 67 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 67.4 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 68 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 68.7 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 69.4 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 70.1 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 70.1 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 70 |
| 1970 | 62 | 69.7 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 69.7 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 70 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 70.5 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 71.1 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 71.6 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 71.9 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 71.8 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 71.4 |
| 1979 | 66.7 | 71.2 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 71.1 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 71.1 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 71 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 71.1 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 71.2 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 71.4 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 71.6 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 71.9 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 72 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 72.3 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 72.2 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 71.9 |
| 1992 | 71 | 71.6 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 71.9 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 72.3 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 72.7 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 72.9 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 72.9 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 72.3 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 70 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 72.3 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 72.3 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 72.6 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 72.7 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 72.9 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 73.1 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 73.4 |
| 2007 | 69 | 73.7 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 73.9 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 74.1 |
| 2010 | 70.2 | 74.4 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 74.7 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 75.1 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 75.3 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 75.5 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 75.7 |
| 2016 | 73 | 75.7 |
| 2017 | 73 | 75.8 |
| 2018 | 73 | 76 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 76.1 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 74.5 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 72.9 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 75.5 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 76.8 |
| 2024 | 73.7 | 76.9 |
| 2025 | 73.9 | 77.1 |
North Korea and Serbia population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | 6,638,992 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 6,689,077 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 6,740,264 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 6,787,950 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 6,832,855 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 6,876,624 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 6,927,969 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 6,966,522 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 7,007,586 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 7,123,249 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 7,164,993 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 7,211,716 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 7,252,012 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 7,283,902 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 7,326,043 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 7,368,717 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 7,418,973 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 7,462,783 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 7,504,017 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 7,541,997 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 7,709,544 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 7,736,787 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 7,763,335 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 7,788,100 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 7,813,549 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 7,835,902 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 7,853,824 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 7,868,027 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 7,884,218 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 7,893,787 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 7,897,937 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 7,595,636 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 7,604,063 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 7,614,328 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 7,622,711 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 7,628,264 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 7,622,185 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 7,598,538 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 7,567,745 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 7,540,401 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 7,516,346 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 7,503,433 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 7,500,031 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 7,480,591 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 7,463,157 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 7,440,769 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 7,411,569 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 7,381,579 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 7,350,222 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 7,320,807 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 7,291,436 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 7,236,519 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 7,201,497 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 7,166,553 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 7,131,787 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 7,095,383 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 7,058,322 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 7,020,858 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 6,982,604 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 6,945,235 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 6,899,126 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 6,834,326 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 6,664,449 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 6,623,183 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 6,587,202 |
Fertility rates in North Korea and Serbia
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 3.57 | 2.15 |
| 1961 | 3.26 | 2.13 |
| 1962 | 3.41 | 2.11 |
| 1963 | 3.63 | 2.08 |
| 1964 | 3.55 | 2.07 |
| 1965 | 3.56 | 2.06 |
| 1966 | 3.71 | 2.04 |
| 1967 | 4.05 | 2.02 |
| 1968 | 3.87 | 2.01 |
| 1969 | 3.86 | 1.99 |
| 1970 | 3.85 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 3.74 | 1.96 |
| 1972 | 3.89 | 1.95 |
| 1973 | 3.35 | 1.94 |
| 1974 | 3.14 | 1.93 |
| 1975 | 3.05 | 1.92 |
| 1976 | 2.84 | 1.91 |
| 1977 | 2.77 | 1.9 |
| 1978 | 2.79 | 1.89 |
| 1979 | 2.85 | 1.88 |
| 1980 | 2.84 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 2.92 | 1.85 |
| 1982 | 2.85 | 1.84 |
| 1983 | 2.78 | 1.83 |
| 1984 | 2.71 | 1.81 |
| 1985 | 2.65 | 1.8 |
| 1986 | 2.59 | 1.78 |
| 1987 | 2.53 | 1.75 |
| 1988 | 2.47 | 1.72 |
| 1989 | 2.41 | 1.69 |
| 1990 | 2.39 | 1.65 |
| 1991 | 2.35 | 1.61 |
| 1992 | 2.29 | 1.57 |
| 1993 | 2.22 | 1.54 |
| 1994 | 2.18 | 1.51 |
| 1995 | 2.15 | 1.47 |
| 1996 | 2.09 | 1.44 |
| 1997 | 2.03 | 1.4 |
| 1998 | 1.99 | 1.37 |
| 1999 | 1.97 | 1.35 |
| 2000 | 1.94 | 1.48 |
| 2001 | 1.94 | 1.58 |
| 2002 | 1.92 | 1.57 |
| 2003 | 1.91 | 1.59 |
| 2004 | 1.9 | 1.57 |
| 2005 | 1.87 | 1.45 |
| 2006 | 1.94 | 1.43 |
| 2007 | 1.94 | 1.38 |
| 2008 | 1.97 | 1.4 |
| 2009 | 1.91 | 1.44 |
| 2010 | 1.89 | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 1.88 | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 1.88 | 1.45 |
| 2013 | 1.88 | 1.43 |
| 2014 | 1.87 | 1.46 |
| 2015 | 1.86 | 1.46 |
| 2016 | 1.86 | 1.46 |
| 2017 | 1.85 | 1.49 |
| 2018 | 1.83 | 1.49 |
| 2019 | 1.83 | 1.52 |
| 2020 | 1.82 | 1.48 |
| 2021 | 1.81 | 1.52 |
| 2022 | 1.8 | 1.59 |
| 2023 | 1.78 | 1.61 |
North Korea and Serbia demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 19.9 | 28.7 |
| 1961 | 20.2 | 29.1 |
| 1962 | 20.6 | 29.4 |
| 1963 | 20.8 | 29.8 |
| 1964 | 21 | 30.2 |
| 1965 | 21.2 | 30.5 |
| 1966 | 21.3 | 30.8 |
| 1967 | 21.4 | 31.1 |
| 1968 | 21.4 | 31.4 |
| 1969 | 21.4 | 31.7 |
| 1970 | 21.4 | 32 |
| 1971 | 21.2 | 32.2 |
| 1972 | 20.9 | 32.5 |
| 1973 | 20.7 | 32.7 |
| 1974 | 20.7 | 32.8 |
| 1975 | 20.9 | 33 |
| 1976 | 21.1 | 33.2 |
| 1977 | 21.4 | 33.4 |
| 1978 | 21.8 | 33.5 |
| 1979 | 22.2 | 33.7 |
| 1980 | 22.5 | 33.8 |
| 1981 | 22.8 | 33.9 |
| 1982 | 23.1 | 34.1 |
| 1983 | 23.5 | 34.4 |
| 1984 | 23.9 | 34.7 |
| 1985 | 24.2 | 35 |
| 1986 | 24.5 | 35.4 |
| 1987 | 24.8 | 35.7 |
| 1988 | 25.1 | 36.1 |
| 1989 | 25.6 | 36.5 |
| 1990 | 26 | 36.8 |
| 1991 | 26.4 | 37.1 |
| 1992 | 26.8 | 37.5 |
| 1993 | 27.2 | 37.8 |
| 1994 | 27.6 | 38.2 |
| 1995 | 28 | 38.5 |
| 1996 | 28.3 | 38.9 |
| 1997 | 28.8 | 39.2 |
| 1998 | 29.2 | 39.5 |
| 1999 | 29.6 | 39.8 |
| 2000 | 30.1 | 40.1 |
| 2001 | 30.5 | 40.3 |
| 2002 | 31 | 40.5 |
| 2003 | 31.4 | 40.7 |
| 2004 | 31.8 | 40.9 |
| 2005 | 32.1 | 41.1 |
| 2006 | 32.5 | 41.3 |
| 2007 | 32.9 | 41.5 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 41.7 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 41.9 |
| 2010 | 34 | 42.1 |
| 2011 | 34.3 | 42.4 |
| 2012 | 34.5 | 42.6 |
| 2013 | 34.7 | 42.8 |
| 2014 | 35 | 43 |
| 2015 | 35.2 | 43.3 |
| 2016 | 35.4 | 43.5 |
| 2017 | 35.7 | 43.7 |
| 2018 | 35.9 | 44 |
| 2019 | 36.2 | 44.2 |
| 2020 | 36.4 | 44.4 |
| 2021 | 36.6 | 44.5 |
| 2022 | 36.8 | 44.7 |
| 2023 | 37.1 | 44.9 |
| 2024 | 37.3 | 45.1 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Serbia.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method | n/a |
$76.2B
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
43.4%
2025 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
3.4%
2023 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
2.85%
2023 |
| Armed forces personnel |
1,469,000
2020 |
32,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | n/a |
-2.77%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
7.24%
2024 |
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
58.5%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
23.3%
2024 |
| Economic freedom index |
3
2025 |
64.4
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
24.7%
2022 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
2.4%
2022 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies | n/a |
$4.06B
2011 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$30.5B
2024 |
| Personal remittances received | n/a |
$5.68B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals | n/a |
446,000
2020 |
| International tourism as share of exports | n/a |
5.58%
2020 |
| Banked people share | n/a |
83.3%
2024 |
Energy
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
2,378 kg
2023 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use | n/a |
$12.1
2023 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
64.3 megatons
2023 |
n/a |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.43 tons
2023 |
n/a |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
85.1%
2022 |
83%
2022 |
| Renewable energy use share |
14.7%
2021 |
27.2%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
8.5%
2022 |
7.3%
2023 |
| Net energy imports use share |
4.9%
2022 |
42.6%
2023 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
830 kWh
2022 |
5,090 kWh
2023 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
63.2%
2021 |
35%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
62.7%
2022 |
32.7%
2023 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Electricity access |
57.5%
2023 |
100%
2023 |
Society
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.33%
2024 |
0.08%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-2,473
2024 |
-8,132
2024 |
| Urban population |
63.5%
2024 |
57.4%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.73 ft
2025 |
5.93 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.29 ft
2025 |
5.52 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
11.8
2025 |
62.7
2025 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2024 |
35
2024 |
| Higher education index |
12
2025 |
82
2025 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
1.31
2023 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
7.5
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
51
2025 |
134
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2018 |
99.3%
2022 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
55%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
0%
2012 |
87.7%
2024 |
Health
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita | n/a |
$903
2022 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita | n/a |
$330
2022 |
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
77.1 years
2025 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure | n/a |
0.14%
2021 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.67
2017 |
2.84
2021 |
| Age at first childbirth | n/a |
28.4 years
2023 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
11
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
18
2023 |
5.2
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
23.1%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
10.5%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
42
2025 |
39
2025 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
16.5%
2022 |
39.5%
2022 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.87 liters
2020 |
7.89 liters
2019 |
Territory
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
0.06%
2025 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
4,929 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2025 |
13,112 sq mi
2025 |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2025 |
10,516 sq mi
2025 |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
28,222 mi
2024 |
In-depth comparisons
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