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North Korea vs Spain statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 48.8M in Spain (ranked 32/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 192,934 sq mi for Spain (ranked 97th vs. 51st).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Spain ranks 15/197 ($1.73T). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Spain ranks 32/197 ($35,327).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Spain
Population
26659144
48806901
Population rank 57/197 32/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$1.73T
2024
GDP rank 106/197 15/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$35,327
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 32/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$57,965
2024
Government debt n/a
$1.75T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
101.6%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$35,909
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 20/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$25,470
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 192,934 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
253 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.12
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
46.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
84.1 years
2026

North Korea and Spain: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Spain economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Spain
2024 $34,943,120,000 $1,725,671,652,742
2023 $32,155,360,000 $1,619,481,980,720
2022 $28,971,360,000 $1,448,850,658,407
2021 $32,301,720,000 $1,461,244,901,853
2020 $27,728,240,000 $1,289,783,836,971
2019 $28,222,880,000 $1,403,496,387,686
2018 $28,536,400,000 $1,431,642,809,327
2017 $29,105,440,000 $1,321,754,088,819
2016 $28,882,640,000 $1,243,015,667,917
2015 $30,723,030,000 $1,206,164,777,553
2014 $30,554,460,000 $1,380,244,561,362
2013 $30,588,922,000 $1,362,186,923,158
2012 $29,890,710,000 $1,330,994,811,670
2011 $29,005,020,000 $1,487,568,659,241
2010 $25,995,513,000 $1,427,989,078,917
2009 $23,356,470,000 $1,496,587,590,848
2008 - $1,636,115,447,613
2007 - $1,476,746,276,855
2006 - $1,261,846,683,275
2005 - $1,154,667,551,776
2004 - $1,069,829,382,515
2003 - $907,963,217,058
2002 - $708,938,227,244
2001 - $627,798,682,379
2000 - $598,102,854,756
1999 - $634,394,904,387
1998 - $618,731,484,575
1997 - $589,739,772,727
1996 - $642,251,412,058
1995 - $614,170,002,669
1994 - $530,183,651,720
1993 - $524,700,572,624
1992 - $630,465,353,486
1991 - $576,753,902,322
1990 - $536,175,326,477
1989 - $414,460,794,097
1988 - $375,891,716,898
1987 - $318,520,253,335
1986 - $251,141,555,186
1985 - $180,664,322,896
1984 - $171,979,977,230
1983 - $170,829,074,246
1982 - $195,856,752,991
1981 - $202,663,023,968
1980 - $232,600,556,974
1979 - $214,448,666,336
1978 - $160,484,969,618
1977 - $132,354,665,936
1976 - $118,422,534,195
1975 - $114,695,060,870
1974 - $97,204,522,642
1973 - $78,583,355,226
1972 - $59,090,176,029
1971 - $46,586,119,760
1970 - $40,963,715,237
1969 - $37,090,689,288
1968 - $32,394,326,464
1967 - $32,570,905,397
1966 - $29,559,436,183
1965 - $25,479,619,607
1964 - $21,966,876,027
1963 - $19,631,714,760
1962 - $16,609,632,791
1961 - $14,238,126,760
1960 - $12,424,514,014

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

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

North Korea and Spain economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Spain
2024 $1,319 $35,327
2023 $1,217 $33,493
2022 $1,100 $30,319
2021 $1,231 $30,799
2020 $1,061 $27,234
2019 $1,084 $29,787
2018 $1,100 $30,602
2017 $1,127 $28,381
2016 $1,124 $26,756
2015 $1,201 $25,982
2014 $1,201 $29,708
2013 $1,208 $29,229
2012 $1,186 $28,456
2011 $1,156 $31,825
2010 $1,040 $30,659
2009 $939 $32,280
2008 - $35,603
2007 - $32,652
2006 - $28,422
2005 - $26,451
2004 - $24,925
2003 - $21,522
2002 - $17,111
2001 - $15,368
2000 - $14,743
1999 - $15,708
1998 - $15,382
1997 - $14,722
1996 - $16,101
1995 - $15,461
1994 - $13,406
1993 - $13,330
1992 - $16,101
1991 - $14,801
1990 - $13,795
1989 - $10,674
1988 - $9,696
1987 - $8,234
1986 - $6,509
1985 - $4,696
1984 - $4,487
1983 - $4,475
1982 - $5,156
1981 - $5,367
1980 - $6,204
1979 - $5,766
1978 - $4,353
1977 - $3,625
1976 - $3,277
1975 - $3,208
1974 - $2,748
1973 - $2,246
1972 - $1,708
1971 - $1,361
1970 - $1,211
1969 - $1,109
1968 - $978
1967 - $997
1966 - $916
1965 - $797
1964 - $695
1963 - $627
1962 - $535
1961 - $463
1960 - $408

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

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

North Korea vs. Spain life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Spain
2026 74 84.1
2025 73.9 84
2024 73.7 83.8
2023 73.6 83.7
2022 73.6 82.4
2021 73.4 83
2020 72.8 82.2
2019 72.9 83.5
2018 73 83.1
2017 73 83
2016 73 83
2015 72.8 82.6
2014 72.5 82.8
2013 71.9 82.7
2012 71.3 82.2
2011 70.8 82.2
2010 70.2 82
2009 69.7 81.6
2008 69.3 81.3
2007 69 81
2006 69.1 81
2005 69.2 80.3
2004 69.3 80.3
2003 69.4 79.7
2002 60.9 79.8
2001 60.9 79.7
2000 60.9 79.4
1999 60.9 78.9
1998 60.9 78.9
1997 60.9 78.9
1996 60.8 78.3
1995 60.8 78.2
1994 70.5 78.1
1993 70.8 77.7
1992 71 77.6
1991 70.7 77.1
1990 70.5 77
1989 70.3 77
1988 70.1 76.9
1987 69.8 77
1986 69.5 76.7
1985 69.2 76.4
1984 68.9 76.5
1983 68.5 76.1
1982 68.1 76.3
1981 67.7 75.7
1980 67.2 75.5
1979 66.7 75
1978 66.3 74.5
1977 65.8 74.3
1976 65.3 73.8
1975 64.8 73.5
1974 64.3 73.1
1973 63.8 72.7
1972 63.3 73
1971 62.7 71.7
1970 62 72.1
1969 61.4 71.1
1968 60.8 71.7
1967 60.1 71.3
1966 59.4 71.2
1965 58.8 70.9
1964 58.2 70.5
1963 57.6 69.8
1962 57 69.6
1961 56.4 69.6
1960 55.8 69.2
1959 55.2 68.7
1958 54.5 68.8
1957 53.7 66.6
1956 52.8 66.8
1955 51.8 66.7
1954 50.6 66.9
1953 40.3 65.7
1952 32.8 64.8
1951 17.7 61.5
1950 14.2 61.8

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

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

North Korea and Spain population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year Population
North Korea Spain
2024 26,498,823 48,848,840
2023 26,418,204 48,352,528
2022 26,328,845 47,786,102
2021 26,232,534 47,443,821
2020 26,136,312 47,359,424
2019 26,037,632 47,118,501
2018 25,931,147 46,782,011
2017 25,817,709 46,571,232
2016 25,698,326 46,458,139
2015 25,575,350 46,422,303
2014 25,451,262 46,460,733
2013 25,329,451 46,604,197
2012 25,211,728 46,773,055
2011 25,097,874 46,742,697
2010 24,987,258 46,576,897
2009 24,878,332 46,362,946
2008 24,764,618 45,954,106
2007 24,646,383 45,226,803
2006 24,524,507 44,397,319
2005 24,396,433 43,653,155
2004 24,254,943 42,921,895
2003 24,090,380 42,187,645
2002 23,943,973 41,431,558
2001 23,815,358 40,850,412
2000 23,665,910 40,567,864
1999 23,497,599 40,386,875
1998 23,311,564 40,223,509
1997 23,110,830 40,057,389
1996 22,895,746 39,889,852
1995 22,669,304 39,724,050
1994 22,393,975 39,549,108
1993 22,073,352 39,361,262
1992 21,750,911 39,157,685
1991 21,428,638 38,966,376
1990 21,112,137 38,867,322
1989 20,804,367 38,827,764
1988 20,503,161 38,766,939
1987 20,205,483 38,684,815
1986 19,910,855 38,584,624
1985 19,620,388 38,469,512
1984 19,335,043 38,330,364
1983 19,054,034 38,171,525
1982 18,776,357 37,986,012
1981 18,501,295 37,758,631
1980 18,236,786 37,491,165
1979 17,983,470 37,191,330
1978 17,735,995 36,864,898
1977 17,492,798 36,511,638
1976 17,243,450 36,137,812
1975 16,971,055 35,757,900
1974 16,673,121 35,373,335
1973 16,350,367 34,988,947
1972 15,975,069 34,604,469
1971 15,572,457 34,224,490
1970 15,172,775 33,814,531
1969 14,767,615 33,441,054
1968 14,365,596 33,113,134
1967 13,958,350 32,682,947
1966 13,569,094 32,283,194
1965 13,219,369 31,954,292
1964 12,889,770 31,609,195
1963 12,567,057 31,296,651
1962 12,262,882 31,023,366
1961 11,990,713 30,739,250
1960 11,722,953 30,455,000

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Spain

Fertility rate
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Spain
2023 1.78 1.12
2022 1.8 1.16
2021 1.81 1.18
2020 1.82 1.18
2019 1.83 1.23
2018 1.83 1.26
2017 1.85 1.31
2016 1.86 1.33
2015 1.86 1.33
2014 1.87 1.32
2013 1.88 1.27
2012 1.88 1.32
2011 1.88 1.34
2010 1.89 1.37
2009 1.91 1.38
2008 1.97 1.45
2007 1.94 1.38
2006 1.94 1.36
2005 1.87 1.33
2004 1.9 1.31
2003 1.91 1.3
2002 1.92 1.25
2001 1.94 1.23
2000 1.94 1.22
1999 1.97 1.17
1998 1.99 1.13
1997 2.03 1.15
1996 2.09 1.14
1995 2.15 1.16
1994 2.18 1.19
1993 2.22 1.26
1992 2.29 1.31
1991 2.35 1.33
1990 2.39 1.36
1989 2.41 1.4
1988 2.47 1.45
1987 2.53 1.49
1986 2.59 1.56
1985 2.65 1.64
1984 2.71 1.73
1983 2.78 1.8
1982 2.85 1.94
1981 2.92 2.04
1980 2.84 2.22
1979 2.85 2.37
1978 2.79 2.54
1977 2.77 2.65
1976 2.84 2.77
1975 3.05 2.77
1974 3.14 2.88
1973 3.35 2.84
1972 3.89 2.87
1971 3.74 2.9
1970 3.85 2.84
1969 3.86 2.86
1968 3.87 2.87
1967 4.05 2.94
1966 3.71 2.91
1965 3.56 2.94
1964 3.55 3.01
1963 3.63 2.88
1962 3.41 2.8
1961 3.26 2.77
1960 3.57 2.86

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

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

North Korea and Spain demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Spain
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Spain
2024 37.3 46.4
2023 37.1 45.9
2022 36.8 45.4
2021 36.6 44.9
2020 36.4 44.5
2019 36.2 44.1
2018 35.9 43.8
2017 35.7 43.5
2016 35.4 43.1
2015 35.2 42.7
2014 35 42.2
2013 34.7 41.7
2012 34.5 41.1
2011 34.3 40.6
2010 34 40.2
2009 33.7 39.8
2008 33.3 39.4
2007 32.9 39.2
2006 32.5 39
2005 32.1 38.8
2004 31.8 38.5
2003 31.4 38.3
2002 31 38.1
2001 30.5 37.8
2000 30.1 37.4
1999 29.6 37
1998 29.2 36.6
1997 28.8 36.2
1996 28.3 35.7
1995 28 35.3
1994 27.6 34.9
1993 27.2 34.6
1992 26.8 34.2
1991 26.4 33.9
1990 26 33.6
1989 25.6 33.2
1988 25.1 32.9
1987 24.8 32.5
1986 24.5 32.2
1985 24.2 31.9
1984 23.9 31.6
1983 23.5 31.4
1982 23.1 31.1
1981 22.8 30.9
1980 22.5 30.7
1979 22.2 30.6
1978 21.8 30.4
1977 21.4 30.2
1976 21.1 30.1
1975 20.9 30
1974 20.7 30
1973 20.7 30
1972 20.9 30
1971 21.2 30.1
1970 21.4 30.1
1969 21.4 30.2
1968 21.4 30.4
1967 21.4 30.4
1966 21.3 30.3
1965 21.2 30.2
1964 21 30.1
1963 20.8 29.9
1962 20.6 29.7
1961 20.2 29.6
1960 19.9 29.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Spain
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$1.64T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
45.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
4.59%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
199,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-3.15%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
11.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
68.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
19.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
66.8
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.5%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.2%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
1,202,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.01%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
34
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00009%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
277
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$754B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$108B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$6.33B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
36,410,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
19.8%
1998
Banked people share n/a
98.4%
2024

Energy

North Korea Spain
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
2,294 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$24.3
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
220.1 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
4.51 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
68.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
25.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
77%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
5,118 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
47%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
10.9%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
19.9%
2023
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Spain
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.6%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+96,630
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
80.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.1:50.9
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.78 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
82.5
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
55
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
90
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
3.9
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
173
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
99.7%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
22%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
95.8%
2024

Health

North Korea Spain
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$3,107
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$648
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
84.1 years
2026
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
4.29
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
31.5 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
3.1
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
16.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
9.7%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
77
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
28.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
9.16 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Spain
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
3,950 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
95,648 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
71,757 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
424,505 mi
2020

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) (2000–2019, 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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.