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North Korea vs Thailand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 71.7M in Thailand (ranked 20/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 197,256 sq mi for Thailand (ranked 97th vs. 50th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Thailand ranks 31/197 ($527B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Thailand ranks 100/197 ($7,347).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Thailand
Population
26659144
71571743
Population rank 57/197 21/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$527B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 31/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 100/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$24,712
2024
Government debt n/a
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$6,733
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 197,256 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
363 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.21
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
77.1 years
2026

North Korea and Thailand: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Thailand economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Thailand
2024 $34,943,120,000 $526,517,658,842
2023 $32,155,360,000 $515,906,283,941
2022 $28,971,360,000 $495,644,697,588
2021 $32,301,720,000 $506,194,668,790
2020 $27,728,240,000 $500,461,898,480
2019 $28,222,880,000 $543,976,691,794
2018 $28,536,400,000 $506,754,208,404
2017 $29,105,440,000 $456,356,813,537
2016 $28,882,640,000 $413,366,349,748
2015 $30,723,030,000 $401,296,238,228
2014 $30,554,460,000 $407,339,040,198
2013 $30,588,922,000 $420,333,654,593
2012 $29,890,710,000 $397,558,325,279
2011 $29,005,020,000 $370,818,739,624
2010 $25,995,513,000 $341,104,766,329
2009 $23,356,470,000 $281,710,630,187
2008 - $291,382,982,431
2007 - $262,942,621,455
2006 - $221,758,296,022
2005 - $189,318,408,469
2004 - $172,895,685,155
2003 - $152,280,615,246
2002 - $134,300,904,400
2001 - $120,296,476,180
2000 - $126,392,224,254
1999 - $126,669,211,779
1998 - $113,675,596,788
1997 - $150,180,456,566
1996 - $183,035,237,429
1995 - $169,278,916,593
1994 - $146,683,778,959
1993 - $128,889,262,951
1992 - $111,452,746,518
1991 - $98,234,714,971
1990 - $85,343,190,719
1989 - $72,250,748,100
1988 - $61,667,253,471
1987 - $50,535,446,555
1986 - $43,096,773,981
1985 - $38,900,711,333
1984 - $41,797,647,776
1983 - $40,042,798,388
1982 - $36,589,772,404
1981 - $34,846,039,194
1980 - $32,353,514,989
1979 - $27,371,650,825
1978 - $24,006,566,637
1977 - $19,779,312,261
1976 - $16,985,208,648
1975 - $14,882,770,594
1974 - $13,702,998,512
1973 - $10,838,587,358
1972 - $8,177,873,151
1971 - $7,375,000,024
1970 - $7,086,538,438
1969 - $6,695,336,567
1968 - $6,081,009,428
1967 - $5,638,461,442
1966 - $5,279,230,817
1965 - $4,388,937,649
1964 - $3,889,129,942
1963 - $3,540,403,457
1962 - $3,308,912,797
1961 - $3,034,037,811
1960 - $2,760,750,861

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

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

North Korea and Thailand economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Thailand
2024 $1,319 $7,347
2023 $1,217 $7,195
2022 $1,100 $6,909
2021 $1,231 $7,057
2020 $1,061 $6,986
2019 $1,084 $7,606
2018 $1,100 $7,100
2017 $1,127 $6,413
2016 $1,124 $5,834
2015 $1,201 $5,689
2014 $1,201 $5,801
2013 $1,208 $6,018
2012 $1,186 $5,726
2011 $1,156 $5,374
2010 $1,040 $4,974
2009 $939 $4,135
2008 - $4,309
2007 - $3,919
2006 - $3,331
2005 - $2,868
2004 - $2,642
2003 - $2,348
2002 - $2,090
2001 - $1,890
2000 - $2,006
1999 - $2,033
1998 - $1,848
1997 - $2,473
1996 - $3,055
1995 - $2,864
1994 - $2,518
1993 - $2,245
1992 - $1,972
1991 - $1,766
1990 - $1,559
1989 - $1,342
1988 - $1,164
1987 - $970
1986 - $842
1985 - $774
1984 - $847
1983 - $827
1982 - $770
1981 - $748
1980 - $709
1979 - $612
1978 - $548
1977 - $462
1976 - $405
1975 - $364
1974 - $343
1973 - $278.3
1972 - $215.6
1971 - $199.7
1970 - $197.1
1969 - $191.4
1968 - $178.8
1967 - $170.7
1966 - $164.5
1965 - $140.9
1964 - $128.6
1963 - $120.7
1962 - $116.2
1961 - $109.7
1960 - $102.8

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

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

North Korea vs. Thailand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Thailand
2026 74 77.1
2025 73.9 76.8
2024 73.7 76.6
2023 73.6 76.4
2022 73.6 75.3
2021 73.4 77.6
2020 72.8 77.3
2019 72.9 77.2
2018 73 77.2
2017 73 77
2016 73 76.8
2015 72.8 76.6
2014 72.5 76.3
2013 71.9 76
2012 71.3 75.6
2011 70.8 75.3
2010 70.2 75
2009 69.7 74.7
2008 69.3 74.2
2007 69 73.8
2006 69.1 73.3
2005 69.2 72.9
2004 69.3 72.1
2003 69.4 72.1
2002 60.9 71.8
2001 60.9 71.5
2000 60.9 71.2
1999 60.9 71
1998 60.9 70.7
1997 60.9 70.4
1996 60.8 69.9
1995 60.8 69.8
1994 70.5 69.7
1993 70.8 69.6
1992 71 69.4
1991 70.7 69.1
1990 70.5 68.9
1989 70.3 68.6
1988 70.1 68.2
1987 69.8 67.8
1986 69.5 67.3
1985 69.2 66.5
1984 68.9 65.5
1983 68.5 64.5
1982 68.1 63.6
1981 67.7 62.9
1980 67.2 62.2
1979 66.7 61.7
1978 66.3 61.3
1977 65.8 60.9
1976 65.3 60.4
1975 64.8 59.7
1974 64.3 59
1973 63.8 58.3
1972 63.3 57.7
1971 62.7 57.1
1970 62 56.5
1969 61.4 55.7
1968 60.8 55
1967 60.1 54.3
1966 59.4 53.7
1965 58.8 53.1
1964 58.2 52.5
1963 57.6 52
1962 57 51.4
1961 56.4 51.1
1960 55.8 50.6
1959 55.2 50.1
1958 54.5 49.5
1957 53.7 49.1
1956 52.8 48.6
1955 51.8 48.1
1954 50.6 47.6
1953 40.3 47.1
1952 32.8 46.5
1951 17.7 45.9
1950 14.2 45.2

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

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

North Korea and Thailand population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Population
North Korea Thailand
2024 26,498,823 71,668,011
2023 26,418,204 71,702,435
2022 26,328,845 71,735,329
2021 26,232,534 71,727,332
2020 26,136,312 71,641,484
2019 26,037,632 71,522,271
2018 25,931,147 71,376,079
2017 25,817,709 71,160,187
2016 25,698,326 70,859,841
2015 25,575,350 70,540,795
2014 25,451,262 70,216,367
2013 25,329,451 69,845,114
2012 25,211,728 69,436,098
2011 25,097,874 69,007,208
2010 24,987,258 68,579,447
2009 24,878,332 68,121,080
2008 24,764,618 67,619,830
2007 24,646,383 67,102,394
2006 24,524,507 66,567,687
2005 24,396,433 66,017,420
2004 24,254,943 65,452,047
2003 24,090,380 64,868,166
2002 23,943,973 64,266,437
2001 23,815,358 63,651,141
2000 23,665,910 63,007,815
1999 23,497,599 62,299,043
1998 23,311,564 61,522,630
1997 23,110,830 60,724,584
1996 22,895,746 59,920,064
1995 22,669,304 59,098,232
1994 22,393,975 58,260,854
1993 22,073,352 57,408,198
1992 21,750,911 56,528,834
1991 21,428,638 55,637,434
1990 21,112,137 54,738,329
1989 20,804,367 53,848,956
1988 20,503,161 52,969,595
1987 20,205,483 52,074,105
1986 19,910,855 51,177,834
1985 19,620,388 50,270,753
1984 19,335,043 49,351,708
1983 19,054,034 48,423,309
1982 18,776,357 47,494,577
1981 18,501,295 46,575,855
1980 18,236,786 45,650,022
1979 17,983,470 44,718,434
1978 17,735,995 43,788,976
1977 17,492,798 42,843,974
1976 17,243,450 41,896,504
1975 16,971,055 40,940,005
1974 16,673,121 39,952,891
1973 16,350,367 38,947,787
1972 15,975,069 37,933,929
1971 15,572,457 36,937,387
1970 15,172,775 35,954,408
1969 14,767,615 34,973,782
1968 14,365,596 34,002,560
1967 13,958,350 33,037,801
1966 13,569,094 32,086,071
1965 13,219,369 31,149,337
1964 12,889,770 30,232,141
1963 12,567,057 29,342,322
1962 12,262,882 28,481,040
1961 11,990,713 27,650,334
1960 11,722,953 26,851,747

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Thailand

Fertility rate
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Thailand
2023 1.78 1.21
2022 1.8 1.22
2021 1.81 1.23
2020 1.82 1.26
2019 1.83 1.29
2018 1.83 1.32
2017 1.85 1.36
2016 1.86 1.4
2015 1.86 1.45
2014 1.87 1.48
2013 1.88 1.53
2012 1.88 1.56
2011 1.88 1.57
2010 1.89 1.56
2009 1.91 1.57
2008 1.97 1.59
2007 1.94 1.62
2006 1.94 1.63
2005 1.87 1.64
2004 1.9 1.67
2003 1.91 1.67
2002 1.92 1.69
2001 1.94 1.71
2000 1.94 1.73
1999 1.97 1.77
1998 1.99 1.82
1997 2.03 1.85
1996 2.09 1.87
1995 2.15 1.89
1994 2.18 1.93
1993 2.22 1.97
1992 2.29 2.01
1991 2.35 2.04
1990 2.39 2.07
1989 2.41 2.14
1988 2.47 2.17
1987 2.53 2.26
1986 2.59 2.36
1985 2.65 2.45
1984 2.71 2.58
1983 2.78 2.76
1982 2.85 2.94
1981 2.92 3.13
1980 2.84 3.29
1979 2.85 3.45
1978 2.79 3.62
1977 2.77 3.87
1976 2.84 4.12
1975 3.05 4.36
1974 3.14 4.6
1973 3.35 4.85
1972 3.89 5.08
1971 3.74 5.25
1970 3.85 5.45
1969 3.86 5.7
1968 3.87 5.93
1967 4.05 6.08
1966 3.71 6.18
1965 3.56 6.26
1964 3.55 6.31
1963 3.63 6.34
1962 3.41 6.33
1961 3.26 6.32
1960 3.57 6.33

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

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

North Korea and Thailand demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Thailand
2024 37.3 41.1
2023 37.1 40.7
2022 36.8 40.2
2021 36.6 39.7
2020 36.4 39.2
2019 36.2 38.7
2018 35.9 38.2
2017 35.7 37.7
2016 35.4 37.3
2015 35.2 36.8
2014 35 36.3
2013 34.7 35.9
2012 34.5 35.4
2011 34.3 35
2010 34 34.5
2009 33.7 34
2008 33.3 33.6
2007 32.9 33.1
2006 32.5 32.6
2005 32.1 32.2
2004 31.8 31.7
2003 31.4 31.3
2002 31 30.9
2001 30.5 30.5
2000 30.1 30
1999 29.6 29.5
1998 29.2 28.9
1997 28.8 28.3
1996 28.3 27.7
1995 28 27.2
1994 27.6 26.6
1993 27.2 26
1992 26.8 25.4
1991 26.4 24.8
1990 26 24.3
1989 25.6 23.7
1988 25.1 23.3
1987 24.8 22.8
1986 24.5 22.4
1985 24.2 21.9
1984 23.9 21.5
1983 23.5 21
1982 23.1 20.6
1981 22.8 20.2
1980 22.5 19.9
1979 22.2 19.5
1978 21.8 19.2
1977 21.4 18.9
1976 21.1 18.7
1975 20.9 18.4
1974 20.7 18.2
1973 20.7 18
1972 20.9 17.8
1971 21.2 17.6
1970 21.4 17.5
1969 21.4 17.4
1968 21.4 17.3
1967 21.4 17.3
1966 21.3 17.3
1965 21.2 17.4
1964 21 17.5
1963 20.8 17.6
1962 20.6 17.7
1961 20.2 17.9
1960 19.9 18

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Thailand
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$509B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
22.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.52%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.08%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
455,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-1.29%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
0.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
32.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
62.2
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.4%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
100,001
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.18%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
25
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
860
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$520B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$237B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$9.46B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
39,916,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports n/a
5.97%
2020
Banked people share n/a
91.8%
2024

Energy

North Korea Thailand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,851 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$12.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
283.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
3.96 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
79.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
1.02%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
57.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
2,965 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
19.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
3.45%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Thailand
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.88%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+27,509
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
61.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.7:51.3
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
56.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
4.81
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
32.2
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
93
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
91.1%
2022
English speaking
0%
2025
27.2%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
90.9%
2024

Health

North Korea Thailand
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$327
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$32.4
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
77.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.54
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
23.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
34
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
9.2
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
15.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
35
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
7.99 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Thailand
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
2,752 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
86,394 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
76,313 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
436,817 mi
2020

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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