North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 23.4M in Taiwan (ranked 60/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 13,976 sq mi for Taiwan (ranked 97th vs. 133rd).
By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Taiwan ranks 22/197 ($797B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Taiwan ranks 34/197 ($34,041).
Main facts and rankings
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
26621357
|
23308308
|
| Population rank | 56/197 | 60/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
$797B
2024 |
| GDP rank | 106/197 | 22/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$34,041
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 168/197 | 34/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$50,500
2017 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$209B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
24%
2025 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$8,907
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a | 61/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,642
2025 |
$17,771
2025 |
| Land area |
46,491 sq mi
2025 |
13,976 sq mi
2025 |
| Population density |
570 ppl/mi²
2024 |
1,675 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
1.78
2023 |
0.89
2024 |
| Median age |
37.3 years
2024 |
45.1 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
80.9 years
2025 |
North Korea and Taiwan: Comparison Charts
North Korea and Taiwan economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1961 | - | $1,778,000,000 |
| 1962 | - | $1,960,000,000 |
| 1963 | - | $2,218,000,000 |
| 1964 | - | $2,592,000,000 |
| 1965 | - | $2,869,000,000 |
| 1966 | - | $3,207,000,000 |
| 1967 | - | $3,709,000,000 |
| 1968 | - | $4,325,000,000 |
| 1969 | - | $5,017,000,000 |
| 1970 | - | $5,785,000,000 |
| 1971 | - | $6,727,000,000 |
| 1972 | - | $8,063,000,000 |
| 1973 | - | $10,940,000,000 |
| 1974 | - | $14,739,000,000 |
| 1975 | - | $15,836,000,000 |
| 1976 | - | $18,988,000,000 |
| 1977 | - | $22,252,000,000 |
| 1978 | - | $27,373,000,000 |
| 1979 | - | $33,875,000,000 |
| 1980 | - | $42,292,000,000 |
| 1981 | - | $49,047,000,000 |
| 1982 | - | $49,540,000,000 |
| 1983 | - | $54,155,000,000 |
| 1984 | - | $61,036,000,000 |
| 1985 | - | $63,599,000,000 |
| 1986 | - | $78,347,000,000 |
| 1987 | - | $104,956,000,000 |
| 1988 | - | $126,378,000,000 |
| 1989 | - | $152,687,000,000 |
| 1990 | - | $166,392,000,000 |
| 1991 | - | $187,100,000,000 |
| 1992 | - | $222,947,000,000 |
| 1993 | - | $234,943,000,000 |
| 1994 | - | $256,213,000,000 |
| 1995 | - | $279,013,000,000 |
| 1996 | - | $292,473,000,000 |
| 1997 | - | $303,315,000,000 |
| 1998 | - | $279,926,000,000 |
| 1999 | - | $303,827,000,000 |
| 2000 | - | $330,725,000,000 |
| 2001 | - | $299,303,000,000 |
| 2002 | - | $307,429,000,000 |
| 2003 | - | $317,374,000,000 |
| 2004 | - | $346,881,000,000 |
| 2005 | - | $374,042,000,000 |
| 2006 | - | $386,492,000,000 |
| 2007 | - | $406,940,000,000 |
| 2008 | - | $415,824,000,000 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | $390,788,000,000 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | $444,245,000,000 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | $483,957,000,000 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | $495,536,000,000 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | $512,957,000,000 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | $535,332,000,000 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | $534,474,000,000 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | $543,002,000,000 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | $591,734,000,000 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | $610,744,000,000 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | $613,453,000,000 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | $676,935,000,000 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | $777,062,000,000 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | $765,529,000,000 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | $757,276,000,000 |
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | $796,904,000,000 |
North Korea and Taiwan economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1961 | - | $161.2 |
| 1962 | - | $172 |
| 1963 | - | $188.6 |
| 1964 | - | $213.6 |
| 1965 | - | $229.3 |
| 1966 | - | $249.1 |
| 1967 | - | $280.8 |
| 1968 | - | $319 |
| 1969 | - | $357 |
| 1970 | - | $397 |
| 1971 | - | $451 |
| 1972 | - | $530 |
| 1973 | - | $706 |
| 1974 | - | $934 |
| 1975 | - | $985 |
| 1976 | - | $1,158 |
| 1977 | - | $1,330 |
| 1978 | - | $1,606 |
| 1979 | - | $1,950 |
| 1980 | - | $2,389 |
| 1981 | - | $2,720 |
| 1982 | - | $2,699 |
| 1983 | - | $2,903 |
| 1984 | - | $3,224 |
| 1985 | - | $3,314 |
| 1986 | - | $4,036 |
| 1987 | - | $5,350 |
| 1988 | - | $6,370 |
| 1989 | - | $7,613 |
| 1990 | - | $8,205 |
| 1991 | - | $9,125 |
| 1992 | - | $10,768 |
| 1993 | - | $11,242 |
| 1994 | - | $12,150 |
| 1995 | - | $13,119 |
| 1996 | - | $13,641 |
| 1997 | - | $14,020 |
| 1998 | - | $12,820 |
| 1999 | - | $13,804 |
| 2000 | - | $14,908 |
| 2001 | - | $13,397 |
| 2002 | - | $13,686 |
| 2003 | - | $14,066 |
| 2004 | - | $15,317 |
| 2005 | - | $16,456 |
| 2006 | - | $16,934 |
| 2007 | - | $17,757 |
| 2008 | - | $18,081 |
| 2009 | $939 | $16,933 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | $19,197 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $20,866 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | $21,295 |
| 2013 | $1,208 | $21,973 |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $22,874 |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $22,780 |
| 2016 | $1,124 | $23,091 |
| 2017 | $1,127 | $25,121 |
| 2018 | $1,100 | $25,901 |
| 2019 | $1,084 | $25,998 |
| 2020 | $1,061 | $28,705 |
| 2021 | $1,231 | $33,111 |
| 2022 | $1,100 | $32,827 |
| 2023 | $1,217 | $32,442 |
| 2024 | $1,319 | $34,041 |
North Korea vs. Taiwan life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1950 | 14.2 | 56.6 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 57.2 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 57.9 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 58.6 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 58.9 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 59.8 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 60.3 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 61 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 61 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 61.6 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 62.5 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 63 |
| 1962 | 57 | 63.8 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 64.5 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 64.9 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 65.7 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 66.1 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 66.7 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 66.8 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 67.7 |
| 1970 | 62 | 69 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 69.4 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 69.6 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 69.8 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 70.3 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 70.9 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 71.2 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 71.3 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 71.7 |
| 1979 | 66.7 | 71.7 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 72 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 72 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 72.4 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 72.4 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 73 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 73.3 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 73.3 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 73.6 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 73.4 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 73.7 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 73.9 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 74.3 |
| 1992 | 71 | 74.3 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 74.6 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 74.7 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 74.6 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 74.9 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 75.3 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 75.5 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 75.6 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 76.1 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 76.5 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 76.9 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 77 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 77.2 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 77.1 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 77.8 |
| 2007 | 69 | 78 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 78.3 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 78.7 |
| 2010 | 70.2 | 79 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 79.2 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 79.6 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 79.5 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 79.9 |
| 2016 | 73 | 79.7 |
| 2017 | 73 | 80.1 |
| 2018 | 73 | 80.4 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 80.6 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 81.1 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 80.8 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 80.2 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 80.6 |
| 2024 | 73.7 | 80.7 |
| 2025 | 73.9 | 80.9 |
North Korea and Taiwan population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | - |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | 11,030,385 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | 11,392,513 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | 11,762,101 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | 12,137,143 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | 12,511,863 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | 12,874,153 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | 13,210,344 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | 13,548,537 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | 14,068,984 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | 14,582,944 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | 14,913,564 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | 15,220,495 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | 15,505,121 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | 15,784,817 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | 16,075,128 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | 16,401,413 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | 16,730,895 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | 17,042,272 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | 17,372,779 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | 17,704,538 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | 18,029,982 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | 18,354,855 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | 18,653,146 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | 18,929,866 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | 19,191,510 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | 19,411,454 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | 19,617,046 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | 19,839,704 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | 20,055,492 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | 20,278,946 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | 20,503,568 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | 20,704,227 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | 20,899,019 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | 21,086,645 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | 21,267,653 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | 21,441,432 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | 21,634,124 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | 21,835,703 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | 22,010,489 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 22,184,530 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 22,341,120 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 22,463,172 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 22,562,663 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 22,646,836 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 22,729,753 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 22,823,455 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 22,917,444 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 22,997,696 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 23,078,402 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 23,140,948 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 23,193,518 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 23,270,367 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 23,344,670 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 23,403,635 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 23,462,914 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | 23,515,945 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 23,555,522 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | 23,580,080 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 23,596,027 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | 23,582,179 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | 23,468,275 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | 23,319,977 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | 23,342,541 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | 23,410,331 |
Fertility rates in North Korea and Taiwan
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1951 | - | 7.04 |
| 1952 | - | - |
| 1953 | - | - |
| 1954 | - | - |
| 1955 | - | - |
| 1956 | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1960 | 3.57 | - |
| 1961 | 3.26 | - |
| 1962 | 3.41 | - |
| 1963 | 3.63 | - |
| 1964 | 3.55 | - |
| 1965 | 3.56 | - |
| 1966 | 3.71 | - |
| 1967 | 4.05 | - |
| 1968 | 3.87 | - |
| 1969 | 3.86 | - |
| 1970 | 3.85 | - |
| 1971 | 3.74 | - |
| 1972 | 3.89 | - |
| 1973 | 3.35 | - |
| 1974 | 3.14 | - |
| 1975 | 3.05 | - |
| 1976 | 2.84 | - |
| 1977 | 2.77 | - |
| 1978 | 2.79 | - |
| 1979 | 2.85 | - |
| 1980 | 2.84 | - |
| 1981 | 2.92 | 2.46 |
| 1982 | 2.85 | - |
| 1983 | 2.78 | - |
| 1984 | 2.71 | - |
| 1985 | 2.65 | - |
| 1986 | 2.59 | - |
| 1987 | 2.53 | - |
| 1988 | 2.47 | - |
| 1989 | 2.41 | - |
| 1990 | 2.39 | - |
| 1991 | 2.35 | 1.72 |
| 1992 | 2.29 | - |
| 1993 | 2.22 | - |
| 1994 | 2.18 | - |
| 1995 | 2.15 | - |
| 1996 | 2.09 | - |
| 1997 | 2.03 | - |
| 1998 | 1.99 | - |
| 1999 | 1.97 | - |
| 2000 | 1.94 | - |
| 2001 | 1.94 | 1.4 |
| 2002 | 1.92 | - |
| 2003 | 1.91 | - |
| 2004 | 1.9 | - |
| 2005 | 1.87 | - |
| 2006 | 1.94 | - |
| 2007 | 1.94 | - |
| 2008 | 1.97 | - |
| 2009 | 1.91 | - |
| 2010 | 1.89 | - |
| 2011 | 1.88 | 1.07 |
| 2012 | 1.88 | - |
| 2013 | 1.88 | - |
| 2014 | 1.87 | - |
| 2015 | 1.86 | 1.18 |
| 2016 | 1.86 | 1.17 |
| 2017 | 1.85 | 1.13 |
| 2018 | 1.83 | 1.06 |
| 2019 | 1.83 | 1.05 |
| 2020 | 1.82 | 0.99 |
| 2021 | 1.81 | 0.98 |
| 2022 | 1.8 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 1.78 | 0.87 |
| 2024 | - | 0.89 |
North Korea and Taiwan demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 19.9 | - |
| 1961 | 20.2 | - |
| 1962 | 20.6 | - |
| 1963 | 20.8 | - |
| 1964 | 21 | - |
| 1965 | 21.2 | - |
| 1966 | 21.3 | - |
| 1967 | 21.4 | - |
| 1968 | 21.4 | - |
| 1969 | 21.4 | - |
| 1970 | 21.4 | - |
| 1971 | 21.2 | - |
| 1972 | 20.9 | - |
| 1973 | 20.7 | - |
| 1974 | 20.7 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 20.9 | 21.2 |
| 1976 | 21.1 | 21.5 |
| 1977 | 21.4 | 21.9 |
| 1978 | 21.8 | 22.3 |
| 1979 | 22.2 | 22.6 |
| 1980 | 22.5 | 23 |
| 1981 | 22.8 | 23.4 |
| 1982 | 23.1 | 23.8 |
| 1983 | 23.5 | 24.1 |
| 1984 | 23.9 | 24.6 |
| 1985 | 24.2 | 25.1 |
| 1986 | 24.5 | 25.6 |
| 1987 | 24.8 | 26.1 |
| 1988 | 25.1 | 26.5 |
| 1989 | 25.6 | 27 |
| 1990 | 26 | 27.5 |
| 1991 | 26.4 | 28 |
| 1992 | 26.8 | 28.4 |
| 1993 | 27.2 | 28.9 |
| 1994 | 27.6 | 29.4 |
| 1995 | 28 | 29.8 |
| 1996 | 28.3 | 30.3 |
| 1997 | 28.8 | 30.7 |
| 1998 | 29.2 | 31.2 |
| 1999 | 29.6 | 31.6 |
| 2000 | 30.1 | 32.1 |
| 2001 | 30.5 | 32.6 |
| 2002 | 31 | 33.1 |
| 2003 | 31.4 | 33.6 |
| 2004 | 31.8 | 34.1 |
| 2005 | 32.1 | 34.7 |
| 2006 | 32.5 | 35.2 |
| 2007 | 32.9 | 35.8 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 36.3 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 36.8 |
| 2010 | 34 | 37.4 |
| 2011 | 34.3 | 37.9 |
| 2012 | 34.5 | 38.3 |
| 2013 | 34.7 | 38.9 |
| 2014 | 35 | 39.3 |
| 2015 | 35.2 | 39.9 |
| 2016 | 35.4 | 40.4 |
| 2017 | 35.7 | 41 |
| 2018 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| 2019 | 36.2 | 42.1 |
| 2020 | 36.4 | 42.7 |
| 2021 | 36.6 | 43.3 |
| 2022 | 36.8 | 43.9 |
| 2023 | 37.1 | 44.5 |
| 2024 | 37.3 | 45.1 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Taiwan.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method | n/a |
$825B
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
15.9%
2024 |
| Armed forces personnel |
1,469,000
2020 |
n/a |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | n/a |
+0.43%
2024 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
3.38%
2024 |
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
58.8%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
39.8%
2024 |
| Economic freedom index |
3
2025 |
79.7
2025 |
| Number of millionaires | n/a |
788,799
2024 |
| Percentage of millionaires | n/a |
4.01%
2024 |
| Number of billionaires | n/a |
54
2025 |
| Percentage of billionaires | n/a |
0.0003%
2025 |
Energy
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
2,308 kg
2024 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
64.3 megatons
2023 |
273.7 megatons
2022 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.43 tons
2023 |
11.7 tons
2022 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
85.1%
2022 |
n/a |
| Renewable energy use share |
14.7%
2021 |
n/a |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
8.5%
2022 |
n/a |
| Net energy imports use share |
4.9%
2022 |
n/a |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
830 kWh
2022 |
n/a |
| Renewable electricity output share |
63.2%
2021 |
n/a |
| Hydroelectric share |
62.7%
2022 |
n/a |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
n/a |
| Electricity access |
57.5%
2023 |
n/a |
Society
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.33%
2024 |
0.29%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-2,473
2024 |
+47,029
2024 |
| Urban population |
63.5%
2024 |
n/a |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.73 ft
2025 |
5.69 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.29 ft
2025 |
5.27 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
11.8
2025 |
78.9
2025 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2024 |
67
2024 |
| Higher education index |
12
2025 |
88
2025 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
0.8
2015 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
2
2024 |
| Visa free countries |
51
2025 |
129
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2018 |
98.5%
2014 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
30%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
0%
2012 |
n/a |
Health
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy |
73.9 years
2025 |
80.9 years
2025 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.67
2017 |
n/a |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
14
2024 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
18
2023 |
n/a |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
11.3%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
n/a |
| Air quality index |
42
2025 |
55
2025 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
16.5%
2022 |
n/a |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.87 liters
2020 |
n/a |
Territory
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
0.02%
2025 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
597 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2025 |
3,000 sq mi
2025 |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2025 |
8,495 sq mi
2025 |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
25,771 mi
2019 |
In-depth comparisons
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