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North Korea vs Sweden statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 10.6M in Sweden (ranked 93/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 157,248 sq mi for Sweden (ranked 97th vs. 58th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Sweden ranks 26/197 ($604B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Sweden ranks 17/197 ($57,117).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Sweden
Population
26659144
10680056
Population rank 57/197 91/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$604B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 26/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$57,117
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 17/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$71,845
2024
Government debt n/a
$199B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
33%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$18,842
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 32/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$42,066
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 157,248 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
67.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.45
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.7 years
2026

North Korea and Sweden: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Sweden economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Sweden
2024 $34,943,120,000 $603,715,224,266
2023 $32,155,360,000 $578,990,915,246
2022 $28,971,360,000 $575,071,237,641
2021 $32,301,720,000 $631,693,331,301
2020 $27,728,240,000 $544,265,668,452
2019 $28,222,880,000 $530,894,124,494
2018 $28,536,400,000 $549,649,344,043
2017 $29,105,440,000 $535,172,356,785
2016 $28,882,640,000 $513,058,312,951
2015 $30,723,030,000 $501,602,351,912
2014 $30,554,460,000 $577,727,767,304
2013 $30,588,922,000 $584,125,353,119
2012 $29,890,710,000 $549,739,674,655
2011 $29,005,020,000 $570,538,581,144
2010 $25,995,513,000 $492,750,897,239
2009 $23,356,470,000 $434,311,714,442
2008 - $514,614,100,833
2007 - $490,047,789,548
2006 - $422,528,394,459
2005 - $391,688,455,929
2004 - $384,545,442,175
2003 - $334,072,443,516
2002 - $267,371,907,447
2001 - $242,497,797,485
2000 - $262,903,560,280
1999 - $274,318,357,862
1998 - $270,887,306,759
1997 - $268,249,616,891
1996 - $291,949,597,375
1995 - $267,050,453,507
1994 - $228,699,066,874
1993 - $212,644,602,616
1992 - $283,908,914,454
1991 - $273,831,464,572
1990 - $261,466,577,009
1989 - $217,632,340,195
1988 - $206,686,590,776
1987 - $182,744,315,974
1986 - $150,279,869,729
1985 - $113,958,084,357
1984 - $109,043,045,407
1983 - $104,862,109,663
1982 - $114,214,731,799
1981 - $129,498,921,476
1980 - $141,886,067,004
1979 - $123,207,527,699
1978 - $104,290,933,496
1977 - $94,331,782,622
1976 - $89,232,517,046
1975 - $82,765,232,648
1974 - $65,917,634,590
1973 - $59,318,842,992
1972 - $48,883,173,400
1971 - $41,506,151,115
1970 - $38,037,226,668
1969 - $33,967,301,561
1968 - $31,277,871,669
1967 - $29,474,881,506
1966 - $27,154,716,721
1965 - $24,963,947,415
1964 - $22,685,490,195
1963 - $20,342,131,882
1962 - $18,794,066,990
1961 - $17,329,620,585
1960 - $15,930,075,467

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

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

North Korea and Sweden economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Sweden
2024 $1,319 $57,117
2023 $1,217 $54,950
2022 $1,100 $54,837
2021 $1,231 $60,648
2020 $1,061 $52,569
2019 $1,084 $51,649
2018 $1,100 $54,018
2017 $1,127 $53,210
2016 $1,124 $51,704
2015 $1,201 $51,188
2014 $1,201 $59,583
2013 $1,208 $60,844
2012 $1,186 $57,750
2011 $1,156 $60,379
2010 $1,040 $52,543
2009 $939 $46,708
2008 - $55,817
2007 - $53,568
2006 - $46,531
2005 - $43,378
2004 - $42,758
2003 - $37,292
2002 - $29,958
2001 - $27,259
2000 - $29,633
1999 - $30,969
1998 - $30,605
1997 - $30,324
1996 - $33,022
1995 - $30,254
1994 - $26,046
1993 - $24,390
1992 - $32,753
1991 - $31,777
1990 - $30,549
1989 - $25,625
1988 - $24,499
1987 - $21,761
1986 - $17,955
1985 - $13,647
1984 - $13,080
1983 - $12,590
1982 - $13,719
1981 - $15,564
1980 - $17,073
1979 - $14,856
1978 - $12,602
1977 - $11,432
1976 - $10,853
1975 - $10,103
1974 - $8,078
1973 - $7,291
1972 - $6,018
1971 - $5,125
1970 - $4,729
1969 - $4,263
1968 - $3,953
1967 - $3,746
1966 - $3,478
1965 - $3,228
1964 - $2,961
1963 - $2,675
1962 - $2,485
1961 - $2,304
1960 - $2,128

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

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

North Korea vs. Sweden life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Sweden
2026 74 83.7
2025 73.9 83.6
2024 73.7 83.4
2023 73.6 83.3
2022 73.6 83
2021 73.4 83
2020 72.8 82.4
2019 72.9 83.1
2018 73 82.5
2017 73 82.4
2016 73 82.3
2015 72.8 82.2
2014 72.5 82.2
2013 71.9 81.9
2012 71.3 81.7
2011 70.8 81.8
2010 70.2 81.5
2009 69.7 81.4
2008 69.3 81.1
2007 69 81
2006 69.1 80.8
2005 69.2 80.6
2004 69.3 80.5
2003 69.4 80.2
2002 60.9 79.9
2001 60.9 79.8
2000 60.9 79.7
1999 60.9 79.5
1998 60.9 79.4
1997 60.9 79.3
1996 60.8 79
1995 60.8 78.8
1994 70.5 78.7
1993 70.8 78.1
1992 71 78.1
1991 70.7 77.7
1990 70.5 77.6
1989 70.3 77.7
1988 70.1 77
1987 69.8 77.1
1986 69.5 77
1985 69.2 76.7
1984 68.9 76.8
1983 68.5 76.6
1982 68.1 76.3
1981 67.7 76
1980 67.2 75.7
1979 66.7 75.5
1978 66.3 75.5
1977 65.8 75.4
1976 65.3 75
1975 64.8 75
1974 64.3 75
1973 63.8 74.9
1972 63.3 74.7
1971 62.7 74.6
1970 62 74.7
1969 61.4 74.1
1968 60.8 74
1967 60.1 74.1
1966 59.4 74.1
1965 58.8 73.9
1964 58.2 73.7
1963 57.6 73.5
1962 57 73.4
1961 56.4 73.5
1960 55.8 73
1959 55.2 73.4
1958 54.5 73.2
1957 53.7 72.5
1956 52.8 72.7
1955 51.8 72.6
1954 50.6 72.4
1953 40.3 71.9
1952 32.8 71.8
1951 17.7 71.4
1950 14.2 71.1

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

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

North Korea and Sweden population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Population
North Korea Sweden
2024 26,498,823 10,569,709
2023 26,418,204 10,536,632
2022 26,328,845 10,486,941
2021 26,232,534 10,415,811
2020 26,136,312 10,353,442
2019 26,037,632 10,278,887
2018 25,931,147 10,175,214
2017 25,817,709 10,057,698
2016 25,698,326 9,923,085
2015 25,575,350 9,799,186
2014 25,451,262 9,696,110
2013 25,329,451 9,600,379
2012 25,211,728 9,519,374
2011 25,097,874 9,449,213
2010 24,987,258 9,378,126
2009 24,878,332 9,298,515
2008 24,764,618 9,219,637
2007 24,646,383 9,148,092
2006 24,524,507 9,080,505
2005 24,396,433 9,029,572
2004 24,254,943 8,993,531
2003 24,090,380 8,958,229
2002 23,943,973 8,924,958
2001 23,815,358 8,895,960
2000 23,665,910 8,872,109
1999 23,497,599 8,857,874
1998 23,311,564 8,850,974
1997 23,110,830 8,846,062
1996 22,895,746 8,840,998
1995 22,669,304 8,826,939
1994 22,393,975 8,780,745
1993 22,073,352 8,718,561
1992 21,750,911 8,668,067
1991 21,428,638 8,617,375
1990 21,112,137 8,558,835
1989 20,804,367 8,492,964
1988 20,503,161 8,436,489
1987 20,205,483 8,397,804
1986 19,910,855 8,369,829
1985 19,620,388 8,350,386
1984 19,335,043 8,336,605
1983 19,054,034 8,329,033
1982 18,776,357 8,325,263
1981 18,501,295 8,320,503
1980 18,236,786 8,310,531
1979 17,983,470 8,293,678
1978 17,735,995 8,275,599
1977 17,492,798 8,251,540
1976 17,243,450 8,222,286
1975 16,971,055 8,192,437
1974 16,673,121 8,159,955
1973 16,350,367 8,136,312
1972 15,975,069 8,122,300
1971 15,572,457 8,098,334
1970 15,172,775 8,042,801
1969 14,767,615 7,968,072
1968 14,365,596 7,912,273
1967 13,958,350 7,867,931
1966 13,569,094 7,807,797
1965 13,219,369 7,733,853
1964 12,889,770 7,661,354
1963 12,567,057 7,604,328
1962 12,262,882 7,561,588
1961 11,990,713 7,519,998
1960 11,722,953 7,484,656

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Sweden

Fertility rate
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Sweden
2023 1.78 1.45
2022 1.8 1.53
2021 1.81 1.67
2020 1.82 1.67
2019 1.83 1.71
2018 1.83 1.76
2017 1.85 1.78
2016 1.86 1.85
2015 1.86 1.85
2014 1.87 1.88
2013 1.88 1.89
2012 1.88 1.91
2011 1.88 1.9
2010 1.89 1.98
2009 1.91 1.94
2008 1.97 1.91
2007 1.94 1.88
2006 1.94 1.85
2005 1.87 1.77
2004 1.9 1.75
2003 1.91 1.71
2002 1.92 1.65
2001 1.94 1.57
2000 1.94 1.54
1999 1.97 1.5
1998 1.99 1.5
1997 2.03 1.52
1996 2.09 1.6
1995 2.15 1.73
1994 2.18 1.88
1993 2.22 1.99
1992 2.29 2.09
1991 2.35 2.11
1990 2.39 2.13
1989 2.41 2.01
1988 2.47 1.96
1987 2.53 1.84
1986 2.59 1.8
1985 2.65 1.74
1984 2.71 1.66
1983 2.78 1.61
1982 2.85 1.62
1981 2.92 1.63
1980 2.84 1.68
1979 2.85 1.66
1978 2.79 1.6
1977 2.77 1.64
1976 2.84 1.68
1975 3.05 1.77
1974 3.14 1.87
1973 3.35 1.87
1972 3.89 1.91
1971 3.74 1.96
1970 3.85 1.92
1969 3.86 1.93
1968 3.87 2.07
1967 4.05 2.28
1966 3.71 2.37
1965 3.56 2.39
1964 3.55 2.47
1963 3.63 2.33
1962 3.41 2.25
1961 3.26 2.21
1960 3.57 2.17

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

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

North Korea and Sweden demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Sweden
2024 37.3 41.1
2023 37.1 40.9
2022 36.8 40.7
2021 36.6 40.7
2020 36.4 40.6
2019 36.2 40.5
2018 35.9 40.6
2017 35.7 40.7
2016 35.4 40.8
2015 35.2 40.9
2014 35 40.9
2013 34.7 40.9
2012 34.5 40.9
2011 34.3 40.8
2010 34 40.7
2009 33.7 40.7
2008 33.3 40.6
2007 32.9 40.5
2006 32.5 40.4
2005 32.1 40.2
2004 31.8 40
2003 31.4 39.8
2002 31 39.7
2001 30.5 39.5
2000 30.1 39.4
1999 29.6 39.2
1998 29.2 39
1997 28.8 38.8
1996 28.3 38.6
1995 28 38.5
1994 27.6 38.4
1993 27.2 38.4
1992 26.8 38.4
1991 26.4 38.3
1990 26 38.3
1989 25.6 38.3
1988 25.1 38.2
1987 24.8 38.1
1986 24.5 37.9
1985 24.2 37.6
1984 23.9 37.4
1983 23.5 37.1
1982 23.1 36.8
1981 22.8 36.5
1980 22.5 36.2
1979 22.2 36
1978 21.8 35.7
1977 21.4 35.5
1976 21.1 35.4
1975 20.9 35.3
1974 20.7 35.3
1973 20.7 35.3
1972 20.9 35.3
1971 21.2 35.3
1970 21.4 35.4
1969 21.4 35.6
1968 21.4 35.8
1967 21.4 35.9
1966 21.3 36
1965 21.2 36.2
1964 21 36.3
1963 20.8 36.3
1962 20.6 36.3
1961 20.2 36.2
1960 19.9 36

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Sweden
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$615B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
49.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
7.32%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-1.72%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
8.31%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
66.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
21.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
22.3%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
490,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
6.01%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
45
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
278
2002
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$290B
2003
Total reserves including gold n/a
$62.6B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$4.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
1,957,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
4.85%
2010
Banked people share n/a
98.6%
2024

Energy

North Korea Sweden
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
4,289 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$16.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
37.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
3.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
24.9%
2023
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
57.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
49.9%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
27.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
12,150 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
67.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
39.9%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.2%
2023
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Sweden
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+47,079
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
88.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.47 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
94.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
94
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
1.15
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
0%
2025
89%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
95.5%
2024

Health

North Korea Sweden
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$6,485
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$868
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.7 years
2026
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
4.41
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
30 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
2.5
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
15.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
5.8%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
89
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
22.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
9.57 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Sweden
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.27%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
14,877 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
11,514 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
108,031 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
356,129 mi
2016

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)

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