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North Korea vs Sudan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 50.4M in Sudan (ranked 30/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 721,239 sq mi for Sudan (ranked 97th vs. 15th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Sudan ranks 94/197 ($49.7B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Sudan ranks 179/197 ($985).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Sudan
Population
26659144
53335233
Population rank 57/197 29/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$49.7B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 94/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$985
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 179/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$2,116
2024
Government debt n/a
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
261.4%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$2,574
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 109/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$1,704
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 721,239 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
73.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
4.32
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
19.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

North Korea and Sudan: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Sudan economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Sudan
2024 $34,943,120,000 $49,672,435,513
2023 $32,155,360,000 $39,898,289,821
2022 $28,971,360,000 $51,666,875,363
2021 $32,301,720,000 $34,229,513,775
2020 $27,728,240,000 $27,034,593,750
2019 $28,222,880,000 $32,338,079,165
2018 $28,536,400,000 $32,333,780,383
2017 $29,105,440,000 $41,283,617,976
2016 $28,882,640,000 $42,630,376,000
2015 $30,723,030,000 $51,726,758,677
2014 $30,554,460,000 $49,516,748,618
2013 $30,588,922,000 $43,024,018,082
2012 $29,890,710,000 $37,632,919,967
2011 $29,005,020,000 $55,018,567,211
2010 $25,995,513,000 $58,962,978,034
2009 $23,356,470,000 $51,621,044,077
2008 - $64,833,083,257
2007 - $59,440,139,775
2006 - $45,263,831,634
2005 - $35,182,711,988
2004 - $26,646,007,251
2003 - $21,355,298,460
2002 - $18,137,128,388
2001 - $15,716,361,792
2000 - $12,257,299,147
1999 - $10,682,028,340
1998 - $11,250,221,537
1997 - $11,681,175,864
1996 - $9,018,300,725
1995 - $13,830,363,900
1994 - $12,793,794,737
1993 - $8,881,005,436
1992 - $7,031,933,492
1991 - $44,171,194,366
1990 - $33,641,222,222
1989 - $21,408,111,111
1988 - $14,372,555,556
1987 - $12,093,333,333
1986 - $10,092,200,000
1985 - $8,075,259,600
1984 - $10,447,615,385
1983 - $8,230,153,846
1982 - $8,732,542,274
1981 - $10,753,888,154
1980 - $8,951,800,000
1979 - $8,418,407,787
1978 - $8,128,719,315
1977 - $7,499,005,639
1976 - $6,013,210,816
1975 - $4,823,090,192
1974 - $3,958,931,660
1973 - $3,077,254,460
1972 - $2,483,055,722
1971 - $2,288,340,041
1970 - $2,100,229,759
1969 - $1,847,501,441
1968 - $1,677,771,401
1967 - $1,607,409,539
1966 - $1,484,491,676
1965 - $1,446,869,619
1964 - $1,388,282,600
1963 - $1,351,234,926
1962 - $1,328,259,625
1961 - $1,222,860,429
1960 - $1,126,364,162

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

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

North Korea and Sudan economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Sudan
2024 $1,319 $985
2023 $1,217 $797
2022 $1,100 $1,046
2021 $1,231 $712
2020 $1,061 $578
2019 $1,084 $710
2018 $1,100 $731
2017 $1,127 $967
2016 $1,124 $1,033
2015 $1,201 $1,292
2014 $1,201 $1,275
2013 $1,208 $1,139
2012 $1,186 $1,019
2011 $1,156 $1,522
2010 $1,040 $1,665
2009 $939 $1,493
2008 - $1,928
2007 - $1,814
2006 - $1,415
2005 - $1,125
2004 - $872
2003 - $714
2002 - $621
2001 - $551
2000 - $441
1999 - $394
1998 - $425
1997 - $453
1996 - $357
1995 - $561
1994 - $532
1993 - $379
1992 - $307
1991 - $1,966
1990 - $1,528
1989 - $992
1988 - $680
1987 - $584
1986 - $497
1985 - $406
1984 - $534
1983 - $431
1982 - $472
1981 - $605
1980 - $525
1979 - $515
1978 - $518
1977 - $497
1976 - $413
1975 - $343
1974 - $291.5
1973 - $235.8
1972 - $198.2
1971 - $189
1970 - $179.6
1969 - $163.5
1968 - $153.7
1967 - $152.4
1966 - $145.6
1965 - $146.8
1964 - $145.7
1963 - $146.6
1962 - $148.9
1961 - $141.6
1960 - $134.7

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

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

North Korea vs. Sudan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Sudan
2026 74 66.9
2025 73.9 66.7
2024 73.7 66.5
2023 73.6 66.3
2022 73.6 65.7
2021 73.4 64.5
2020 72.8 65.1
2019 72.9 65.8
2018 73 65.5
2017 73 65.1
2016 73 64.7
2015 72.8 64.4
2014 72.5 64
2013 71.9 63.4
2012 71.3 63.4
2011 70.8 63.2
2010 70.2 63
2009 69.7 62.7
2008 69.3 61.3
2007 69 61.4
2006 69.1 60.4
2005 69.2 57.2
2004 69.3 56.8
2003 69.4 58.3
2002 60.9 59.3
2001 60.9 59.3
2000 60.9 58.9
1999 60.9 58.6
1998 60.9 58.3
1997 60.9 58.1
1996 60.8 57.6
1995 60.8 57.4
1994 70.5 57
1993 70.8 56.1
1992 71 56
1991 70.7 55.6
1990 70.5 55.5
1989 70.3 54.9
1988 70.1 55
1987 69.8 54.7
1986 69.5 54.6
1985 69.2 50
1984 68.9 49.8
1983 68.5 49.6
1982 68.1 54.4
1981 67.7 54.4
1980 67.2 54.1
1979 66.7 53.4
1978 66.3 53.3
1977 65.8 53.5
1976 65.3 53.3
1975 64.8 53.3
1974 64.3 53.2
1973 63.8 53
1972 63.3 52.8
1971 62.7 52.5
1970 62 52.3
1969 61.4 52
1968 60.8 51.8
1967 60.1 51.5
1966 59.4 51.3
1965 58.8 51
1964 58.2 50.9
1963 57.6 50.8
1962 57 50.4
1961 56.4 50
1960 55.8 49.6
1959 55.2 49.2
1958 54.5 48.9
1957 53.7 48.5
1956 52.8 48.1
1955 51.8 47.7
1954 50.6 47.3
1953 40.3 46.9
1952 32.8 46.5
1951 17.7 46.2
1950 14.2 45.8

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

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

North Korea and Sudan population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sudan
2024 26,498,823 50,448,963
2023 26,418,204 50,042,791
2022 26,328,845 49,383,346
2021 26,232,534 48,066,924
2020 26,136,312 46,789,231
2019 26,037,632 45,548,175
2018 25,931,147 44,230,596
2017 25,817,709 42,714,306
2016 25,698,326 41,259,892
2015 25,575,350 40,024,431
2014 25,451,262 38,823,318
2013 25,329,451 37,785,849
2012 25,211,728 36,923,178
2011 25,097,874 36,140,806
2010 24,987,258 35,414,399
2009 24,878,332 34,569,113
2008 24,764,618 33,623,980
2007 24,646,383 32,764,135
2006 24,524,507 31,992,435
2005 24,396,433 31,262,444
2004 24,254,943 30,556,637
2003 24,090,380 29,896,035
2002 23,943,973 29,228,727
2001 23,815,358 28,516,770
2000 23,665,910 27,816,745
1999 23,497,599 27,130,613
1998 23,311,564 26,458,999
1997 23,110,830 25,799,821
1996 22,895,746 25,231,528
1995 22,669,304 24,672,143
1994 22,393,975 24,043,948
1993 22,073,352 23,445,592
1992 21,750,911 22,927,355
1991 21,428,638 22,470,676
1990 21,112,137 22,021,481
1989 20,804,367 21,578,022
1988 20,503,161 21,138,431
1987 20,205,483 20,704,904
1986 19,910,855 20,288,238
1985 19,620,388 19,905,872
1984 19,335,043 19,546,528
1983 19,054,034 19,109,770
1982 18,776,357 18,486,645
1981 18,501,295 17,780,572
1980 18,236,786 17,058,905
1979 17,983,470 16,355,352
1978 17,735,995 15,695,003
1977 17,492,798 15,086,614
1976 17,243,450 14,569,716
1975 16,971,055 14,064,798
1974 16,673,121 13,580,723
1973 16,350,367 13,049,315
1972 15,975,069 12,527,856
1971 15,572,457 12,105,539
1970 15,172,775 11,695,771
1969 14,767,615 11,298,936
1968 14,365,596 10,917,999
1967 13,958,350 10,550,597
1966 13,569,094 10,197,578
1965 13,219,369 9,858,030
1964 12,889,770 9,531,109
1963 12,567,057 9,218,077
1962 12,262,882 8,919,028
1961 11,990,713 8,634,941
1960 11,722,953 8,364,489

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Sudan

Fertility rate
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Sudan
2023 1.78 4.32
2022 1.8 4.38
2021 1.81 4.46
2020 1.82 4.54
2019 1.83 4.62
2018 1.83 4.68
2017 1.85 4.76
2016 1.86 4.83
2015 1.86 4.9
2014 1.87 4.91
2013 1.88 4.97
2012 1.88 5.03
2011 1.88 5.09
2010 1.89 5.14
2009 1.91 5.17
2008 1.97 5.21
2007 1.94 5.27
2006 1.94 5.33
2005 1.87 5.4
2004 1.9 5.46
2003 1.91 5.49
2002 1.92 5.53
2001 1.94 5.56
2000 1.94 5.6
1999 1.97 5.62
1998 1.99 5.65
1997 2.03 5.72
1996 2.09 5.79
1995 2.15 5.86
1994 2.18 5.91
1993 2.22 5.97
1992 2.29 6.02
1991 2.35 6.05
1990 2.39 6.07
1989 2.41 6.11
1988 2.47 6.13
1987 2.53 6.18
1986 2.59 6.23
1985 2.65 6.28
1984 2.71 6.34
1983 2.78 6.41
1982 2.85 6.47
1981 2.92 6.53
1980 2.84 6.59
1979 2.85 6.65
1978 2.79 6.72
1977 2.77 6.78
1976 2.84 6.82
1975 3.05 6.87
1974 3.14 6.91
1973 3.35 6.94
1972 3.89 6.98
1971 3.74 7.02
1970 3.85 6.99
1969 3.86 6.97
1968 3.87 6.95
1967 4.05 6.91
1966 3.71 6.88
1965 3.56 6.84
1964 3.55 6.8
1963 3.63 6.76
1962 3.41 6.7
1961 3.26 6.66
1960 3.57 6.66

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

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

North Korea and Sudan demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Sudan
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Sudan
2024 37.3 19.4
2023 37.1 19.3
2022 36.8 19.2
2021 36.6 19
2020 36.4 18.9
2019 36.2 18.7
2018 35.9 18.6
2017 35.7 18.3
2016 35.4 18.1
2015 35.2 17.9
2014 35 17.7
2013 34.7 17.5
2012 34.5 17.5
2011 34.3 17.4
2010 34 17.5
2009 33.7 17.4
2008 33.3 17.3
2007 32.9 17.3
2006 32.5 17.2
2005 32.1 17.1
2004 31.8 17.1
2003 31.4 17.1
2002 31 17
2001 30.5 17
2000 30.1 16.9
1999 29.6 16.9
1998 29.2 16.8
1997 28.8 16.8
1996 28.3 16.8
1995 28 16.8
1994 27.6 16.8
1993 27.2 16.8
1992 26.8 16.8
1991 26.4 16.8
1990 26 16.8
1989 25.6 16.8
1988 25.1 16.9
1987 24.8 16.9
1986 24.5 16.8
1985 24.2 16.8
1984 23.9 16.8
1983 23.5 16.7
1982 23.1 16.7
1981 22.8 16.6
1980 22.5 16.5
1979 22.2 16.4
1978 21.8 16.2
1977 21.4 16.1
1976 21.1 16
1975 20.9 16
1974 20.7 15.9
1973 20.7 16
1972 20.9 16.1
1971 21.2 16.2
1970 21.4 16.2
1969 21.4 16.3
1968 21.4 16.3
1967 21.4 16.4
1966 21.3 16.4
1965 21.2 16.5
1964 21 16.5
1963 20.8 16.6
1962 20.6 16.7
1961 20.2 16.7
1960 19.9 16.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Sudan
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$35.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
6.39%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.02%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.93%
2021
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
144,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-3.46%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
7.53%
2022
Services, % of GDP n/a
54.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
23.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
32.5
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
27.8%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.2%
2014
Total reserves including gold n/a
$178M
2017
Personal remittances received n/a
$900M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
836,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports n/a
20.9%
2018
Banked people share n/a
15.3%
2014

Energy

North Korea Sudan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
412 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$8.15
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
21.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
30.2%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
61%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
4.99%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
18.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
278.8 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
58%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
71.4%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
66%
2023

Society

North Korea Sudan
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.62%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+291,469
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
34.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.6:50.4
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
26.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
14
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
45
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
5.1
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
26.8
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
51
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
60.7%
2018
English speaking
0%
2025
93.7%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
26.4%
2020

Health

North Korea Sudan
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$21.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$12.1
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
16.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.25
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
256
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
50.1
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
17.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
33
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
0.01 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Sudan
% of world land
0.08%
2026
1.25%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
14,296 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
435,002 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
68,892 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
19,263 mi
2019

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)

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