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North Korea vs Syria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 24.7M in Syria (ranked 57/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 70,900 sq mi for Syria (ranked 97th vs. 87th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Syria ranks 129/197 ($20B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Syria ranks 185/197 ($847).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Syria
Population
26659144
26829400
Population rank 57/197 56/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$20B
2023
GDP rank 106/197 129/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$847
2023
GDP per capita rank 168/197 185/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$4,650
2023
Government debt n/a
$18.4B
2010
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
30%
2010
Government debt per person n/a
$820
2010
Government debt per person rank n/a 148/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$730
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 70,900 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
375 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
2.71
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
23.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
73.4 years
2026

North Korea and Syria: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Syria economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Syria
2024 $34,943,120,000 -
2023 $32,155,360,000 $19,993,439,950
2022 $28,971,360,000 $23,622,827,080
2021 $32,301,720,000 $14,353,205,678
2020 $27,728,240,000 $12,047,752,036
2019 $28,222,880,000 $22,583,045,060
2018 $28,536,400,000 $21,497,782,868
2017 $29,105,440,000 $16,369,843,352
2016 $28,882,640,000 $12,597,854,877
2015 $30,723,030,000 $16,466,863,117
2014 $30,554,460,000 $21,502,061,466
2013 $30,588,922,000 $21,361,254,635
2012 $29,890,710,000 $43,190,318,033
2011 $29,005,020,000 $67,539,428,159
2010 $25,995,513,000 $61,390,830,875
2009 $23,356,470,000 $54,111,735,629
2008 - $52,557,913,569
2007 - $40,465,318,382
2006 - $33,751,788,856
2005 - $28,858,965,517
2004 - $25,086,950,495
2003 - $21,828,144,686
2002 - $20,669,357,462
2001 - $20,237,024,725
2000 - $18,937,052,543
1999 - $15,873,875,969
1998 - $15,200,846,154
1997 - $14,505,233,463
1996 - $13,789,560,878
1995 - $11,396,706,587
1994 - $10,122,020,000
1993 - $13,695,962,055
1992 - $13,253,565,861
1991 - $12,981,833,333
1990 - $12,308,624,418
1989 - $9,853,395,762
1988 - $10,577,041,645
1987 - $11,356,215,543
1986 - $13,293,205,278
1985 - $16,403,539,893
1984 - $17,503,078,174
1983 - $17,589,277,143
1982 - $16,298,929,011
1981 - $15,518,201,335
1980 - $13,062,420,382
1979 - $9,929,681,529
1978 - $9,275,200,458
1977 - $7,696,011,396
1976 - $7,633,528,867
1975 - $6,826,980,444
1974 - $5,159,557,148
1973 - $3,239,487,516
1972 - $3,059,681,698
1971 - $2,589,851,325
1970 - $2,140,384,010
1969 - $2,245,011,515
1968 - $1,753,746,430
1967 - $1,580,229,799
1966 - $1,342,287,553
1965 - $1,472,036,540
1964 - $1,339,494,267
1963 - $1,200,447,408
1962 - $1,110,565,881
1961 - $945,244,972
1960 - $857,704,413

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

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

North Korea and Syria economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Syria
2024 $1,319 -
2023 $1,217 $847
2022 $1,100 $1,052
2021 $1,231 $664
2020 $1,061 $572
2019 $1,084 $1,110
2018 $1,100 $1,098
2017 $1,127 $852
2016 $1,124 $656
2015 $1,201 $848
2014 $1,201 $1,061
2013 $1,208 $986
2012 $1,186 $1,898
2011 $1,156 $2,952
2010 $1,040 $2,731
2009 $939 $2,462
2008 - $2,429
2007 - $1,938
2006 - $1,719
2005 - $1,534
2004 - $1,368
2003 - $1,220
2002 - $1,183
2001 - $1,187
2000 - $1,138
1999 - $978
1998 - $961
1997 - $941
1996 - $918
1995 - $780
1994 - $712
1993 - $993
1992 - $990
1991 - $1,000
1990 - $978
1989 - $809
1988 - $898
1987 - $997
1986 - $1,208
1985 - $1,544
1984 - $1,706
1983 - $1,776
1982 - $1,703
1981 - $1,676
1980 - $1,458
1979 - $1,146
1978 - $1,108
1977 - $951
1976 - $976
1975 - $904
1974 - $707
1973 - $459
1972 - $448
1971 - $393
1970 - $335
1969 - $364
1968 - $293.3
1967 - $272.9
1966 - $239.3
1965 - $270.8
1964 - $254.2
1963 - $234.9
1962 - $223.9
1961 - $196.3
1960 - $183.5

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

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

North Korea vs. Syria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Syria
2026 74 73.4
2025 73.9 73
2024 73.7 72.6
2023 73.6 72.1
2022 73.6 72.8
2021 73.4 72.4
2020 72.8 71.9
2019 72.9 71
2018 73 67.4
2017 73 65.7
2016 73 65.2
2015 72.8 63.3
2014 72.5 65.5
2013 71.9 65.1
2012 71.3 66.2
2011 70.8 72.3
2010 70.2 73.5
2009 69.7 73.5
2008 69.3 73.4
2007 69 73.3
2006 69.1 73
2005 69.2 72.8
2004 69.3 72.5
2003 69.4 72.2
2002 60.9 71.7
2001 60.9 71.3
2000 60.9 70.9
1999 60.9 70.5
1998 60.9 70.2
1997 60.9 70.2
1996 60.8 70.2
1995 60.8 70.2
1994 70.5 70.3
1993 70.8 70.3
1992 71 70.2
1991 70.7 70.1
1990 70.5 69.8
1989 70.3 69.5
1988 70.1 69.2
1987 69.8 68.8
1986 69.5 68.4
1985 69.2 68
1984 68.9 67.7
1983 68.5 67.4
1982 68.1 60.8
1981 67.7 64.6
1980 67.2 66.5
1979 66.7 66.2
1978 66.3 65.9
1977 65.8 65.4
1976 65.3 64.8
1975 64.8 64.2
1974 64.3 63.4
1973 63.8 60.8
1972 63.3 62
1971 62.7 61.3
1970 62 60.6
1969 61.4 59.8
1968 60.8 59.1
1967 60.1 58
1966 59.4 57.6
1965 58.8 56.9
1964 58.2 56.2
1963 57.6 55.4
1962 57 54.6
1961 56.4 53.7
1960 55.8 52.7
1959 55.2 51.7
1958 54.5 50.7
1957 53.7 49.6
1956 52.8 48.5
1955 51.8 47.4
1954 50.6 46.4
1953 40.3 45.3
1952 32.8 44.3
1951 17.7 43.4
1950 14.2 42.5

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

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

North Korea and Syria population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year Population
North Korea Syria
2024 26,498,823 24,672,760
2023 26,418,204 23,594,623
2022 26,328,845 22,462,173
2021 26,232,534 21,628,839
2020 26,136,312 21,049,429
2019 26,037,632 20,353,534
2018 25,931,147 19,577,845
2017 25,817,709 19,224,668
2016 25,698,326 19,193,834
2015 25,575,350 19,424,618
2014 25,451,262 20,273,659
2013 25,329,451 21,666,917
2012 25,211,728 22,759,763
2011 25,097,874 22,878,098
2010 24,987,258 22,482,421
2009 24,878,332 21,976,969
2008 24,764,618 21,636,564
2007 24,646,383 20,884,125
2006 24,524,507 19,637,022
2005 24,396,433 18,814,091
2004 24,254,943 18,336,875
2003 24,090,380 17,889,296
2002 23,943,973 17,468,332
2001 23,815,358 17,051,338
2000 23,665,910 16,637,888
1999 23,497,599 16,228,061
1998 23,311,564 15,820,413
1997 23,110,830 15,417,542
1996 22,895,746 15,018,104
1995 22,669,304 14,616,801
1994 22,393,975 14,208,583
1993 22,073,352 13,795,686
1992 21,750,911 13,385,571
1991 21,428,638 12,980,821
1990 21,112,137 12,579,208
1989 20,804,367 12,179,060
1988 20,503,161 11,782,264
1987 20,205,483 11,388,923
1986 19,910,855 11,002,844
1985 19,620,388 10,625,672
1984 19,335,043 10,258,398
1983 19,054,034 9,904,809
1982 18,776,357 9,572,511
1981 18,501,295 9,260,189
1980 18,236,786 8,957,663
1979 17,983,470 8,661,909
1978 17,735,995 8,372,759
1977 17,492,798 8,090,501
1976 17,243,450 7,817,320
1975 16,971,055 7,554,364
1974 16,673,121 7,302,160
1973 16,350,367 7,060,321
1972 15,975,069 6,826,024
1971 15,572,457 6,598,094
1970 15,172,775 6,380,609
1969 14,767,615 6,175,166
1968 14,365,596 5,978,742
1967 13,958,350 5,790,198
1966 13,569,094 5,609,047
1965 13,219,369 5,435,267
1964 12,889,770 5,269,087
1963 12,567,057 5,110,467
1962 12,262,882 4,959,340
1961 11,990,713 4,815,466
1960 11,722,953 4,673,500

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Syria

Fertility rate
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Syria
2023 1.78 2.71
2022 1.8 2.75
2021 1.81 2.8
2020 1.82 2.84
2019 1.83 2.88
2018 1.83 2.93
2017 1.85 2.97
2016 1.86 3.01
2015 1.86 3.07
2014 1.87 3.12
2013 1.88 3.17
2012 1.88 3.22
2011 1.88 3.29
2010 1.89 3.36
2009 1.91 3.42
2008 1.97 3.48
2007 1.94 3.54
2006 1.94 3.56
2005 1.87 3.61
2004 1.9 3.68
2003 1.91 3.76
2002 1.92 3.87
2001 1.94 3.98
2000 1.94 4.07
1999 1.97 4.14
1998 1.99 4.25
1997 2.03 4.37
1996 2.09 4.54
1995 2.15 4.7
1994 2.18 4.86
1993 2.22 4.99
1992 2.29 5.14
1991 2.35 5.34
1990 2.39 5.56
1989 2.41 5.78
1988 2.47 6
1987 2.53 6.2
1986 2.59 6.37
1985 2.65 6.48
1984 2.71 6.59
1983 2.78 6.69
1982 2.85 6.81
1981 2.92 6.97
1980 2.84 7.12
1979 2.85 7.25
1978 2.79 7.35
1977 2.77 7.42
1976 2.84 7.45
1975 3.05 7.49
1974 3.14 7.52
1973 3.35 7.55
1972 3.89 7.57
1971 3.74 7.6
1970 3.85 7.62
1969 3.86 7.59
1968 3.87 7.57
1967 4.05 7.56
1966 3.71 7.55
1965 3.56 7.53
1964 3.55 7.53
1963 3.63 7.51
1962 3.41 7.51
1961 3.26 7.5
1960 3.57 7.51

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

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

North Korea and Syria demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Syria
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Syria
2024 37.3 23.9
2023 37.1 23.3
2022 36.8 22.7
2021 36.6 22.2
2020 36.4 21.6
2019 36.2 20.9
2018 35.9 20.1
2017 35.7 19.6
2016 35.4 19.5
2015 35.2 19.5
2014 35 20.1
2013 34.7 21.2
2012 34.5 21.8
2011 34.3 21.9
2010 34 21.7
2009 33.7 21.5
2008 33.3 21.3
2007 32.9 21
2006 32.5 20.3
2005 32.1 19.7
2004 31.8 19.5
2003 31.4 19.2
2002 31 19
2001 30.5 18.8
2000 30.1 18.5
1999 29.6 18.3
1998 29.2 18.1
1997 28.8 17.9
1996 28.3 17.7
1995 28 17.5
1994 27.6 17.3
1993 27.2 17.1
1992 26.8 16.9
1991 26.4 16.7
1990 26 16.5
1989 25.6 16.4
1988 25.1 16.2
1987 24.8 16.1
1986 24.5 16
1985 24.2 15.9
1984 23.9 15.8
1983 23.5 15.8
1982 23.1 15.7
1981 22.8 15.6
1980 22.5 15.6
1979 22.2 15.6
1978 21.8 15.6
1977 21.4 15.6
1976 21.1 15.6
1975 20.9 15.7
1974 20.7 15.7
1973 20.7 15.7
1972 20.9 15.8
1971 21.2 15.8
1970 21.4 15.9
1969 21.4 16
1968 21.4 16.1
1967 21.4 16.2
1966 21.3 16.4
1965 21.2 16.5
1964 21 16.7
1963 20.8 16.9
1962 20.6 17.1
1961 20.2 17.3
1960 19.9 17.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Syria
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$18.2B
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
28.6%
2010
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.13%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
4.06%
2010
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
269,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-7.79%
2010
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
8.61%
2010
Services, % of GDP n/a
44.9%
2022
Industry, % of GDP n/a
12%
2022
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
51.2
2012
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.8%
2022
Total reserves including gold n/a
$20.6B
2010
Personal remittances received n/a
$1.62B
2010
International tourist arrivals n/a
2,424,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports n/a
32.2%
2010
Banked people share n/a
23.3%
2011

Energy

North Korea Syria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
455 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$10.5
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
31.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
1.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
99.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
1.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
0.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
61.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
690 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
3.91%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
3.76%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
88.4%
2023

Society

North Korea Syria
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.3%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+421,693
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
72.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
18.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
33
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
2.07
2010
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
14.9
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
37
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
94.4%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
4%
2025
People using the Internet
0%
2012
34.7%
2019

Health

North Korea Syria
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$33.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$24.1
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
73.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
11.8%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
1.52
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
20
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
20.6
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
n/a
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
0.09 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Syria
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.12%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
2,874 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
52,533 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
2,016 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
n/a

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 (2010, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.