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North Korea vs Sri Lanka statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 21.9M in Sri Lanka (ranked 61/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 23,884 sq mi for Sri Lanka (ranked 97th vs. 122nd).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Sri Lanka ranks 72/197 ($99B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Sri Lanka ranks 124/197 ($4,516).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Sri Lanka
Population
26659144
22185425
Population rank 57/197 63/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$99B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 72/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$4,516
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 124/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$15,633
2024
Government debt n/a
$99.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
100.8%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,554
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 85/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$2,874
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 23,884 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
928 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.97
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
34.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
78 years
2026

North Korea and Sri Lanka: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Sri Lanka
2024 $34,943,120,000 $98,963,185,510
2023 $32,155,360,000 $83,716,142,582
2022 $28,971,360,000 $74,143,020,263
2021 $32,301,720,000 $88,556,698,938
2020 $27,728,240,000 $84,335,574,582
2019 $28,222,880,000 $88,998,706,297
2018 $28,536,400,000 $94,450,015,983
2017 $29,105,440,000 $94,369,350,286
2016 $28,882,640,000 $88,000,211,172
2015 $30,723,030,000 $85,090,301,052
2014 $30,554,460,000 $82,531,125,191
2013 $30,588,922,000 $76,976,203,829
2012 $29,890,710,000 $70,447,217,164
2011 $29,005,020,000 $67,753,285,897
2010 $25,995,513,000 $58,636,049,434
2009 $23,356,470,000 $42,066,224,093
2008 - $40,713,826,215
2007 - $32,350,238,760
2006 - $28,267,410,543
2005 - $24,405,791,045
2004 - $20,662,525,941
2003 - $18,881,765,437
2002 - $16,536,535,647
2001 - $15,749,753,805
2000 - $16,595,882,819
1999 - $15,711,933,513
1998 - $15,760,736,956
1997 - $15,091,913,884
1996 - $13,897,738,375
1995 - $13,029,697,561
1994 - $11,717,604,209
1993 - $10,338,679,636
1992 - $9,703,011,636
1991 - $9,000,362,582
1990 - $8,032,551,173
1989 - $6,987,267,684
1988 - $6,978,371,581
1987 - $6,682,167,120
1986 - $6,405,210,564
1985 - $5,978,460,972
1984 - $6,043,474,843
1983 - $5,167,913,302
1982 - $4,768,765,017
1981 - $4,415,844,156
1980 - $4,024,621,900
1979 - $3,364,611,432
1978 - $2,733,183,857
1977 - $4,104,509,583
1976 - $3,591,319,857
1975 - $3,791,298,146
1974 - $3,574,586,466
1973 - $2,875,625,000
1972 - $2,553,936,348
1971 - $2,369,308,600
1970 - $2,296,470,588
1969 - $1,965,546,218
1968 - $1,801,344,538
1967 - $1,859,465,021
1966 - $1,751,470,588
1965 - $1,698,319,328
1964 - $1,309,747,899
1963 - $1,240,672,269
1962 - $1,434,156,379
1961 - $1,444,327,731
1960 - $1,409,873,950

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

North Korea and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Sri Lanka
2024 $1,319 $4,516
2023 $1,217 $3,799
2022 $1,100 $3,343
2021 $1,231 $3,997
2020 $1,061 $3,848
2019 $1,084 $4,082
2018 $1,100 $4,359
2017 $1,127 $4,399
2016 $1,124 $4,149
2015 $1,201 $4,058
2014 $1,201 $3,972
2013 $1,208 $3,739
2012 $1,186 $3,328
2011 $1,156 $3,225
2010 $1,040 $2,808
2009 $939 $2,027
2008 - $1,974
2007 - $1,579
2006 - $1,389
2005 - $1,207
2004 - $1,029
2003 - $946
2002 - $835
2001 - $804
2000 - $860
1999 - $829
1998 - $848
1997 - $827
1996 - $776
1995 - $742
1994 - $678
1993 - $607
1992 - $580
1991 - $546
1990 - $491
1989 - $430
1988 - $434
1987 - $420
1986 - $407
1985 - $385
1984 - $391
1983 - $336
1982 - $312
1981 - $292.5
1980 - $271.1
1979 - $230.8
1978 - $191
1977 - $292.1
1976 - $260.3
1975 - $279.8
1974 - $268.7
1973 - $220.2
1972 - $199.4
1971 - $188.8
1970 - $186.9
1969 - $163.6
1968 - $153.5
1967 - $162.3
1966 - $156.6
1965 - $155.6
1964 - $122.9
1963 - $119.4
1962 - $141.4
1961 - $145.9
1960 - $145.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

North Korea vs. Sri Lanka life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Sri Lanka
2026 74 78
2025 73.9 77.9
2024 73.7 77.7
2023 73.6 77.5
2022 73.6 77.3
2021 73.4 76.3
2020 72.8 76.9
2019 72.9 76.7
2018 73 76.5
2017 73 76.2
2016 73 76.1
2015 72.8 76
2014 72.5 75.8
2013 71.9 75.5
2012 71.3 75.2
2011 70.8 74.7
2010 70.2 74.5
2009 69.7 70.3
2008 69.3 72.6
2007 69 73
2006 69.1 72.8
2005 69.2 73.1
2004 69.3 68
2003 69.4 72.4
2002 60.9 72.3
2001 60.9 71.8
2000 60.9 71.2
1999 60.9 70.4
1998 60.9 70.1
1997 60.9 69.9
1996 60.8 69.8
1995 60.8 69.7
1994 70.5 70.2
1993 70.8 70
1992 71 69.6
1991 70.7 69.1
1990 70.5 69.2
1989 70.3 67.3
1988 70.1 69
1987 69.8 69
1986 69.5 69
1985 69.2 68.9
1984 68.9 68.8
1983 68.5 68.7
1982 68.1 68.7
1981 67.7 68.4
1980 67.2 68
1979 66.7 67.5
1978 66.3 66.8
1977 65.8 66.4
1976 65.3 65.8
1975 64.8 65.4
1974 64.3 65
1973 63.8 64.8
1972 63.3 64.6
1971 62.7 64.2
1970 62 64.4
1969 61.4 64.1
1968 60.8 63.9
1967 60.1 63.6
1966 59.4 63.2
1965 58.8 62.8
1964 58.2 62.4
1963 57.6 62
1962 57 61.6
1961 56.4 61.2
1960 55.8 60.6
1959 55.2 60
1958 54.5 59.3
1957 53.7 58.5
1956 52.8 57.9
1955 51.8 57.2
1954 50.6 56.4
1953 40.3 55.6
1952 32.8 54.9
1951 17.7 54
1950 14.2 53.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

North Korea and Sri Lanka population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sri Lanka
2024 26,498,823 21,916,000
2023 26,418,204 22,037,000
2022 26,328,845 22,181,000
2021 26,232,534 22,156,000
2020 26,136,312 21,919,000
2019 26,037,632 21,803,000
2018 25,931,147 21,670,000
2017 25,817,709 21,453,000
2016 25,698,326 21,209,000
2015 25,575,350 20,970,000
2014 25,451,262 20,778,000
2013 25,329,451 20,585,000
2012 25,211,728 21,169,458
2011 25,097,874 21,009,048
2010 24,987,258 20,879,089
2009 24,878,332 20,756,435
2008 24,764,618 20,629,378
2007 24,646,383 20,492,545
2006 24,524,507 20,352,411
2005 24,396,433 20,216,524
2004 24,254,943 20,087,605
2003 24,090,380 19,951,521
2002 23,943,973 19,805,752
2001 23,815,358 19,600,362
2000 23,665,910 19,293,054
1999 23,497,599 18,944,731
1998 23,311,564 18,596,003
1997 23,110,830 18,248,200
1996 22,895,746 17,905,018
1995 22,669,304 17,564,068
1994 22,393,975 17,275,773
1993 22,073,352 17,025,918
1992 21,750,911 16,739,284
1991 21,428,638 16,475,354
1990 21,112,137 16,352,458
1989 20,804,367 16,248,557
1988 20,503,161 16,078,621
1987 20,205,483 15,916,576
1986 19,910,855 15,731,256
1985 19,620,388 15,544,154
1984 19,335,043 15,441,860
1983 19,054,034 15,388,794
1982 18,776,357 15,286,567
1981 18,501,295 15,099,414
1980 18,236,786 14,847,974
1979 17,983,470 14,579,614
1978 17,735,995 14,310,128
1977 17,492,798 14,049,371
1976 17,243,450 13,796,770
1975 16,971,055 13,548,984
1974 16,673,121 13,305,693
1973 16,350,367 13,060,916
1972 15,975,069 12,809,205
1971 15,572,457 12,551,910
1970 15,172,775 12,287,110
1969 14,767,615 12,013,858
1968 14,365,596 11,736,088
1967 13,958,350 11,457,328
1966 13,569,094 11,183,928
1965 13,219,369 10,916,965
1964 12,889,770 10,653,397
1963 12,567,057 10,395,040
1962 12,262,882 10,143,754
1961 11,990,713 9,899,372
1960 11,722,953 9,661,389

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

Fertility rates in North Korea and Sri Lanka

Fertility rate
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Sri Lanka
2023 1.78 1.97
2022 1.8 1.98
2021 1.81 2
2020 1.82 2.01
2019 1.83 2.02
2018 1.83 2.03
2017 1.85 2.04
2016 1.86 2.06
2015 1.86 2.09
2014 1.87 2.13
2013 1.88 2.18
2012 1.88 2.17
2011 1.88 2.14
2010 1.89 2.13
2009 1.91 2.18
2008 1.97 2.23
2007 1.94 2.3
2006 1.94 2.29
2005 1.87 2.26
2004 1.9 2.27
2003 1.91 2.3
2002 1.92 2.31
2001 1.94 2.28
2000 1.94 2.21
1999 1.97 2.14
1998 1.99 2.14
1997 2.03 2.22
1996 2.09 2.29
1995 2.15 2.35
1994 2.18 2.4
1993 2.22 2.44
1992 2.29 2.49
1991 2.35 2.51
1990 2.39 2.54
1989 2.41 2.58
1988 2.47 2.57
1987 2.53 2.64
1986 2.59 2.74
1985 2.65 2.9
1984 2.71 3.01
1983 2.78 3.11
1982 2.85 3.32
1981 2.92 3.65
1980 2.84 3.73
1979 2.85 3.82
1978 2.79 3.81
1977 2.77 3.74
1976 2.84 3.78
1975 3.05 3.82
1974 3.14 3.86
1973 3.35 4
1972 3.89 4.16
1971 3.74 4.27
1970 3.85 4.39
1969 3.86 4.5
1968 3.87 4.66
1967 4.05 4.79
1966 3.71 4.83
1965 3.56 4.93
1964 3.55 5.06
1963 3.63 5.12
1962 3.41 5.18
1961 3.26 5.24
1960 3.57 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

North Korea and Sri Lanka demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Sri Lanka
2024 37.3 34.1
2023 37.1 33.8
2022 36.8 33.6
2021 36.6 33.3
2020 36.4 33.1
2019 36.2 32.8
2018 35.9 32.5
2017 35.7 32.3
2016 35.4 32
2015 35.2 31.7
2014 35 31.4
2013 34.7 31.1
2012 34.5 30.8
2011 34.3 30.5
2010 34 30.2
2009 33.7 29.9
2008 33.3 29.6
2007 32.9 29.3
2006 32.5 29
2005 32.1 28.8
2004 31.8 28.5
2003 31.4 28.2
2002 31 27.9
2001 30.5 27.6
2000 30.1 27.2
1999 29.6 26.9
1998 29.2 26.5
1997 28.8 26.2
1996 28.3 25.8
1995 28 25.3
1994 27.6 24.9
1993 27.2 24.6
1992 26.8 24.3
1991 26.4 23.9
1990 26 23.6
1989 25.6 23.4
1988 25.1 23.1
1987 24.8 22.8
1986 24.5 22.5
1985 24.2 22.2
1984 23.9 22
1983 23.5 21.9
1982 23.1 21.7
1981 22.8 21.6
1980 22.5 21.5
1979 22.2 21.3
1978 21.8 21.2
1977 21.4 21
1976 21.1 20.9
1975 20.9 20.7
1974 20.7 20.6
1973 20.7 20.4
1972 20.9 20.2
1971 21.2 20.1
1970 21.4 20
1969 21.4 19.9
1968 21.4 19.8
1967 21.4 19.7
1966 21.3 19.6
1965 21.2 19.5
1964 21 19.5
1963 20.8 19.5
1962 20.6 19.5
1961 20.2 19.5
1960 19.9 19.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Sri Lanka
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$84.6B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
19.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.83%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
317,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-5.64%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
4.67%
2023
Services, % of GDP n/a
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
50.3
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
30.8%
2019
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.1%
2019
Listed domestic companies n/a
284
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$19.5B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$6.09B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$6.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
540,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
8.22%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.7%
2024

Energy

North Korea Sri Lanka
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
474 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$29.9
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
23.3 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
1.06 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
53.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
48.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
6.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
60%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
684 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
49.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
40.8%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Sri Lanka
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.27%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-30,724
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
20.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.4:51.6
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.52 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.11 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
51.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
35
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
53
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
3.43
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
19.7
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
55
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
92.7%
2023
English speaking
0%
2025
18.3%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
51.2%
2023

Health

North Korea Sri Lanka
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$134.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$73.6
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
78 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
6.05%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
1.14
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
25.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
18
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
6.1
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
10.9%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
40
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
19.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
2.91 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Sri Lanka
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.04%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
1,090 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
11,610 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
8,122 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
70,894 mi
2010

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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