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North Korea vs Singapore statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 6.04M in Singapore (ranked 113/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 277.2 sq mi for Singapore (ranked 97th vs. 177th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Singapore ranks 28/197 ($547B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Singapore ranks 7/197 ($90,674).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Singapore
Population
26659144
6125852
Population rank 57/197 113/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 28/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 7/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$150,689
2024
Government debt n/a
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 1/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$52,793
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 277.2 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
22,064 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
0.97
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
36.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
84.1 years
2026

North Korea and Singapore: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Singapore economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Singapore
2024 $34,943,120,000 $547,386,645,892
2023 $32,155,360,000 $505,439,514,078
2022 $28,971,360,000 $509,017,841,147
2021 $32,301,720,000 $436,591,382,250
2020 $27,728,240,000 $349,165,858,545
2019 $28,222,880,000 $376,161,998,830
2018 $28,536,400,000 $377,123,710,561
2017 $29,105,440,000 $343,673,334,902
2016 $28,882,640,000 $319,646,468,521
2015 $30,723,030,000 $307,998,545,269
2014 $30,554,460,000 $314,863,580,758
2013 $30,588,922,000 $307,576,360,585
2012 $29,890,710,000 $295,092,888,077
2011 $29,005,020,000 $279,356,499,090
2010 $25,995,513,000 $239,807,980,591
2009 $23,356,470,000 $194,150,283,772
2008 - $193,617,323,539
2007 - $180,941,701,358
2006 - $148,627,286,361
2005 - $127,807,848,728
2004 - $115,033,593,101
2003 - $97,646,401,096
2002 - $92,538,372,870
2001 - $89,793,790,670
2000 - $96,076,539,926
1999 - $86,286,849,755
1998 - $85,728,207,782
1997 - $100,123,787,215
1996 - $96,293,086,513
1995 - $87,812,540,788
1994 - $73,688,724,431
1993 - $60,603,815,716
1992 - $52,131,320,033
1991 - $45,466,164,978
1990 - $36,144,336,769
1989 - $30,465,364,739
1988 - $25,371,462,488
1987 - $20,919,215,578
1986 - $18,586,746,057
1985 - $19,156,532,746
1984 - $19,749,361,098
1983 - $17,784,112,150
1982 - $16,084,252,378
1981 - $14,175,228,844
1980 - $11,896,256,783
1979 - $9,296,921,724
1978 - $7,517,176,355
1977 - $6,618,585,074
1976 - $6,327,077,974
1975 - $5,633,673,930
1974 - $5,221,534,956
1973 - $3,696,213,333
1972 - $2,721,440,981
1971 - $2,263,785,444
1970 - $1,920,574,150
1969 - $1,659,893,768
1968 - $1,425,706,091
1967 - $1,238,035,816
1966 - $1,096,425,608
1965 - $974,644,096
1964 - $894,153,311
1963 - $917,608,012
1962 - $826,239,212
1961 - $764,629,788
1960 - $704,751,700

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

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

North Korea and Singapore economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Singapore
2024 $1,319 $90,674
2023 $1,217 $85,412
2022 $1,100 $90,299
2021 $1,231 $80,056
2020 $1,061 $61,410
2019 $1,084 $65,952
2018 $1,100 $66,882
2017 $1,127 $61,236
2016 $1,124 $57,006
2015 $1,201 $55,646
2014 $1,201 $57,565
2013 $1,208 $56,967
2012 $1,186 $55,548
2011 $1,156 $53,891
2010 $1,040 $47,237
2009 $939 $38,927
2008 - $40,009
2007 - $39,433
2006 - $33,768
2005 - $29,961
2004 - $27,608
2003 - $23,730
2002 - $22,160
2001 - $21,700
2000 - $23,853
1999 - $21,797
1998 - $21,829
1997 - $26,376
1996 - $26,233
1995 - $24,915
1994 - $21,552
1993 - $18,290
1992 - $16,136
1991 - $14,502
1990 - $11,862
1989 - $10,395
1988 - $8,914
1987 - $7,539
1986 - $6,800
1985 - $7,002
1984 - $7,228
1983 - $6,633
1982 - $6,078
1981 - $5,597
1980 - $4,928
1979 - $3,901
1978 - $3,194
1977 - $2,846
1976 - $2,759
1975 - $2,490
1974 - $2,342
1973 - $1,685
1972 - $1,264
1971 - $1,071
1970 - $926
1969 - $813
1968 - $709
1967 - $626
1966 - $567
1965 - $517
1964 - $486
1963 - $511
1962 - $472
1961 - $449
1960 - $428

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

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

North Korea vs. Singapore life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Singapore
2026 74 84.1
2025 73.9 84
2024 73.7 83.9
2023 73.6 83.7
2022 73.6 82.9
2021 73.4 83.5
2020 72.8 83.7
2019 72.9 83.7
2018 73 83.4
2017 73 83.1
2016 73 82.9
2015 72.8 82.7
2014 72.5 82.6
2013 71.9 82.5
2012 71.3 82.2
2011 70.8 81.9
2010 70.2 81.6
2009 69.7 81.4
2008 69.3 81.1
2007 69 80.9
2006 69.1 80.6
2005 69.2 80.3
2004 69.3 79.7
2003 69.4 79.2
2002 60.9 78.7
2001 60.9 78.3
2000 60.9 77.8
1999 60.9 77.3
1998 60.9 76.9
1997 60.9 76.4
1996 60.8 76.1
1995 60.8 75.7
1994 70.5 75.6
1993 70.8 75.5
1992 71 75.3
1991 70.7 75.1
1990 70.5 74.6
1989 70.3 74.3
1988 70.1 74
1987 69.8 74
1986 69.5 73.6
1985 69.2 73.1
1984 68.9 72.6
1983 68.5 72.4
1982 68.1 72
1981 67.7 71.7
1980 67.2 71.5
1979 66.7 71.4
1978 66.3 71.2
1977 65.8 70.9
1976 65.3 70.6
1975 64.8 70.2
1974 64.3 69.7
1973 63.8 69.4
1972 63.3 69
1971 62.7 68.8
1970 62 68.5
1969 61.4 68.1
1968 60.8 67.7
1967 60.1 67.3
1966 59.4 67.2
1965 58.8 66.9
1964 58.2 66.7
1963 57.6 66.5
1962 57 66.1
1961 56.4 65.7
1960 55.8 65.3
1959 55.2 64.8
1958 54.5 64
1957 53.7 63.4
1956 52.8 62.6
1955 51.8 61.2
1954 50.6 59.4
1953 40.3 57.5
1952 32.8 56.4
1951 17.7 55.3
1950 14.2 54.1

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

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

North Korea and Singapore population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year Population
North Korea Singapore
2024 26,498,823 6,036,860
2023 26,418,204 5,917,648
2022 26,328,845 5,637,022
2021 26,232,534 5,453,566
2020 26,136,312 5,685,807
2019 26,037,632 5,703,569
2018 25,931,147 5,638,676
2017 25,817,709 5,612,253
2016 25,698,326 5,607,283
2015 25,575,350 5,535,002
2014 25,451,262 5,469,724
2013 25,329,451 5,399,162
2012 25,211,728 5,312,437
2011 25,097,874 5,183,688
2010 24,987,258 5,076,732
2009 24,878,332 4,987,573
2008 24,764,618 4,839,396
2007 24,646,383 4,588,599
2006 24,524,507 4,401,365
2005 24,396,433 4,265,762
2004 24,254,943 4,166,664
2003 24,090,380 4,114,826
2002 23,943,973 4,175,950
2001 23,815,358 4,138,012
2000 23,665,910 4,027,887
1999 23,497,599 3,958,723
1998 23,311,564 3,927,213
1997 23,110,830 3,796,038
1996 22,895,746 3,670,704
1995 22,669,304 3,524,506
1994 22,393,975 3,419,048
1993 22,073,352 3,313,471
1992 21,750,911 3,230,698
1991 21,428,638 3,135,083
1990 21,112,137 3,047,132
1989 20,804,367 2,930,901
1988 20,503,161 2,846,108
1987 20,205,483 2,774,789
1986 19,910,855 2,733,373
1985 19,620,388 2,735,957
1984 19,335,043 2,732,221
1983 19,054,034 2,681,061
1982 18,776,357 2,646,466
1981 18,501,295 2,532,835
1980 18,236,786 2,413,945
1979 17,983,470 2,383,500
1978 17,735,995 2,353,600
1977 17,492,798 2,325,300
1976 17,243,450 2,293,300
1975 16,971,055 2,262,600
1974 16,673,121 2,229,800
1973 16,350,367 2,193,000
1972 15,975,069 2,152,400
1971 15,572,457 2,112,900
1970 15,172,775 2,074,507
1969 14,767,615 2,042,500
1968 14,365,596 2,012,000
1967 13,958,350 1,977,600
1966 13,569,094 1,934,400
1965 13,219,369 1,886,900
1964 12,889,770 1,841,600
1963 12,567,057 1,795,000
1962 12,262,882 1,750,200
1961 11,990,713 1,702,400
1960 11,722,953 1,646,400

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Singapore

Fertility rate
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Singapore
2023 1.78 0.97
2022 1.8 1.04
2021 1.81 1.12
2020 1.82 1.1
2019 1.83 1.14
2018 1.83 1.14
2017 1.85 1.16
2016 1.86 1.2
2015 1.86 1.24
2014 1.87 1.25
2013 1.88 1.19
2012 1.88 1.29
2011 1.88 1.2
2010 1.89 1.15
2009 1.91 1.22
2008 1.97 1.28
2007 1.94 1.29
2006 1.94 1.28
2005 1.87 1.26
2004 1.9 1.26
2003 1.91 1.27
2002 1.92 1.37
2001 1.94 1.41
2000 1.94 1.6
1999 1.97 1.47
1998 1.99 1.48
1997 2.03 1.61
1996 2.09 1.66
1995 2.15 1.67
1994 2.18 1.71
1993 2.22 1.74
1992 2.29 1.72
1991 2.35 1.73
1990 2.39 1.83
1989 2.41 1.75
1988 2.47 1.96
1987 2.53 1.62
1986 2.59 1.43
1985 2.65 1.61
1984 2.71 1.62
1983 2.78 1.61
1982 2.85 1.74
1981 2.92 1.78
1980 2.84 1.82
1979 2.85 1.79
1978 2.79 1.79
1977 2.77 1.82
1976 2.84 2.11
1975 3.05 2.07
1974 3.14 2.35
1973 3.35 2.79
1972 3.89 3.04
1971 3.74 3.02
1970 3.85 3.07
1969 3.86 3.22
1968 3.87 3.53
1967 4.05 3.91
1966 3.71 4.46
1965 3.56 4.66
1964 3.55 4.97
1963 3.63 5.16
1962 3.41 5.21
1961 3.26 5.41
1960 3.57 5.76

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

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

North Korea and Singapore demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Singapore
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Singapore
2024 37.3 36.8
2023 37.1 36.2
2022 36.8 35.9
2021 36.6 35.8
2020 36.4 35.5
2019 36.2 35.2
2018 35.9 35
2017 35.7 34.8
2016 35.4 34.5
2015 35.2 34.4
2014 35 34.2
2013 34.7 34.1
2012 34.5 34
2011 34.3 33.9
2010 34 33.7
2009 33.7 33.6
2008 33.3 33.5
2007 32.9 33.6
2006 32.5 33.6
2005 32.1 33.5
2004 31.8 33.3
2003 31.4 33
2002 31 32.7
2001 30.5 32.5
2000 30.1 32.2
1999 29.6 31.9
1998 29.2 31.6
1997 28.8 31.4
1996 28.3 31.2
1995 28 31
1994 27.6 30.7
1993 27.2 30.4
1992 26.8 30.1
1991 26.4 29.8
1990 26 29.5
1989 25.6 29.1
1988 25.1 28.7
1987 24.8 28.3
1986 24.5 27.8
1985 24.2 27.3
1984 23.9 26.9
1983 23.5 26.4
1982 23.1 25.9
1981 22.8 25.3
1980 22.5 24.7
1979 22.2 24.2
1978 21.8 23.6
1977 21.4 23.1
1976 21.1 22.6
1975 20.9 22
1974 20.7 21.5
1973 20.7 21
1972 20.9 20.6
1971 21.2 20.1
1970 21.4 19.7
1969 21.4 19.3
1968 21.4 18.9
1967 21.4 18.6
1966 21.3 18.4
1965 21.2 18.2
1964 21 18.1
1963 20.8 18
1962 20.6 18
1961 20.2 18.1
1960 19.9 18.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Singapore
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$451B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
14.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.19%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.84%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
59,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
+4.44%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
2.74%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
21.4%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
84.4
2026
Number of millionaires n/a
331,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
6.65%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.001%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
400
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$638B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$384B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
2,742,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
3.04%
2018
Banked people share n/a
98%
2024

Energy

North Korea Singapore
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
5,283 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$27.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
58.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
9.75 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
97.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
1.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
0.38%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
279.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
9,750 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
4.02%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Singapore
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+16,892
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
100%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
51.7:48.3
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.69 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
95.6
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
84
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
96
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
0.07
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
2.1
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
175
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
97.7%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
96.4%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
94.4%
2024

Health

North Korea Singapore
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$3,922
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$997
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
84.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
2.83
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.5 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
6
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
2.1
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
14%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
11.4%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
68
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
16.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
1.81 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Singapore
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.0005%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
45.9 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
2.55 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
58 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
2,175 mi
2017

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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