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North Korea vs Turkey statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 85.5M in Turkey (ranked 18/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 297,156 sq mi for Turkey (ranked 97th vs. 36th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Turkey ranks 17/197 ($1.36T). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Turkey ranks 66/197 ($15,893).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Turkey
Population
26659144
86002379
Population rank 57/197 18/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$1.36T
2024
GDP rank 106/197 17/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$15,893
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 66/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$45,639
2024
Government debt n/a
$327B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
24%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$3,820
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 92/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$10,928
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 297,156 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
289.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.51
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
34 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
78.4 years
2026

North Korea and Turkey: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Turkey economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Turkey
2024 $34,943,120,000 $1,359,123,768,774
2023 $32,155,360,000 $1,141,242,864,657
2022 $28,971,360,000 $926,097,476,914
2021 $32,301,720,000 $839,938,668,172
2020 $27,728,240,000 $733,628,247,119
2019 $28,222,880,000 $775,853,144,223
2018 $28,536,400,000 $788,356,985,774
2017 $29,105,440,000 $863,874,522,365
2016 $28,882,640,000 $870,818,016,910
2015 $30,723,030,000 $865,460,050,684
2014 $30,554,460,000 $942,343,431,929
2013 $30,588,922,000 $962,167,643,589
2012 $29,890,710,000 $885,327,622,479
2011 $29,005,020,000 $844,192,507,381
2010 $25,995,513,000 $782,545,664,268
2009 $23,356,470,000 $653,894,449,921
2008 - $775,415,944,333
2007 - $685,228,481,017
2006 - $559,668,118,237
2005 - $508,314,210,213
2004 - $410,156,784,496
2003 - $315,392,899,922
2002 - $240,778,008,474
2001 - $202,195,080,239
2000 - $274,748,463,179
1999 - $256,673,939,248
1998 - $276,035,372,655
1997 - $263,817,553,748
1996 - $250,366,965,174
1995 - $234,699,627,004
1994 - $130,650,447,499
1993 - $180,415,757,852
1992 - $159,104,772,992
1991 - $151,034,731,544
1990 - $150,655,500,192
1989 - $107,127,191,329
1988 - $90,875,175,809
1987 - $87,190,081,680
1986 - $75,673,037,037
1985 - $67,232,758,621
1984 - $59,937,602,180
1983 - $61,803,555,556
1982 - $64,369,325,153
1981 - $71,180,180,180
1980 - $68,823,684,211
1979 - $89,616,129,032
1978 - $65,912,500,000
1977 - $58,683,333,333
1976 - $51,450,000,000
1975 - $46,042,857,143
1974 - $35,414,285,714
1973 - $26,000,000,000
1972 - $20,650,000,000
1971 - $16,166,666,667
1970 - $17,863,636,364
1969 - $19,466,666,667
1968 - $17,500,000,000
1967 - $15,644,444,444
1966 - $14,100,000,000
1965 - $11,966,666,667
1964 - $11,177,777,778
1963 - $10,355,555,556
1962 - $8,922,222,222
1961 - $7,988,888,889
1960 - $7,566,666,667

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

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

North Korea and Turkey economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Turkey
2024 $1,319 $15,893
2023 $1,217 $13,375
2022 $1,100 $10,898
2021 $1,231 $9,982
2020 $1,061 $8,798
2019 $1,084 $9,395
2018 $1,100 $9,684
2017 $1,127 $10,756
2016 $1,124 $10,984
2015 $1,201 $11,065
2014 $1,201 $12,209
2013 $1,208 $12,636
2012 $1,186 $11,777
2011 $1,156 $11,374
2010 $1,040 $10,699
2009 $939 $9,077
2008 - $10,913
2007 - $9,767
2006 - $7,990
2005 - $7,332
2004 - $5,980
2003 - $4,650
2002 - $3,591
2001 - $3,052
2000 - $4,199
1999 - $3,974
1998 - $4,331
1997 - $4,197
1996 - $4,041
1995 - $3,846
1994 - $2,176
1993 - $3,058
1992 - $2,744
1991 - $2,649
1990 - $2,690
1989 - $1,949
1988 - $1,686
1987 - $1,650
1986 - $1,461
1985 - $1,326
1984 - $1,209
1983 - $1,276
1982 - $1,360
1981 - $1,537
1980 - $1,516
1979 - $2,013
1978 - $1,510
1977 - $1,372
1976 - $1,228
1975 - $1,122
1974 - $881
1973 - $661
1972 - $537
1971 - $431
1970 - $488
1969 - $544
1968 - $501
1967 - $459
1966 - $425
1965 - $370
1964 - $354
1963 - $337
1962 - $298.2
1961 - $274.4
1960 - $267.1

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

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

North Korea vs. Turkey life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Turkey
2026 74 78.4
2025 73.9 77.8
2024 73.7 77.4
2023 73.6 77.2
2022 73.6 77.6
2021 73.4 75.7
2020 72.8 76.5
2019 72.9 77.7
2018 73 77.5
2017 73 77
2016 73 76.6
2015 72.8 76.5
2014 72.5 76.5
2013 71.9 76.2
2012 71.3 75.6
2011 70.8 74.8
2010 70.2 75
2009 69.7 74.7
2008 69.3 74.4
2007 69 74.1
2006 69.1 73.8
2005 69.2 73.5
2004 69.3 73.2
2003 69.4 72.9
2002 60.9 72.6
2001 60.9 72.3
2000 60.9 71.9
1999 60.9 70.8
1998 60.9 71.1
1997 60.9 70.7
1996 60.8 70.2
1995 60.8 69.7
1994 70.5 69.4
1993 70.8 69
1992 71 68.6
1991 70.7 68.3
1990 70.5 67.8
1989 70.3 67.4
1988 70.1 66.9
1987 69.8 66.4
1986 69.5 65.9
1985 69.2 65.3
1984 68.9 64.8
1983 68.5 64.3
1982 68.1 63.7
1981 67.7 63.2
1980 67.2 62.7
1979 66.7 62.2
1978 66.3 61.6
1977 65.8 60.8
1976 65.3 60
1975 64.8 59.5
1974 64.3 59
1973 63.8 58.5
1972 63.3 58
1971 62.7 57.2
1970 62 56.7
1969 61.4 56.2
1968 60.8 55.6
1967 60.1 55.2
1966 59.4 54.6
1965 58.8 54.1
1964 58.2 53.6
1963 57.6 53.1
1962 57 52.3
1961 56.4 51.6
1960 55.8 50.8
1959 55.2 50.1
1958 54.5 49.2
1957 53.7 49.2
1956 52.8 49.5
1955 51.8 49.1
1954 50.6 48.8
1953 40.3 48.2
1952 32.8 48.1
1951 17.7 47.6
1950 14.2 47.3

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

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

North Korea and Turkey population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Population
North Korea Turkey
2024 26,498,823 85,518,661
2023 26,418,204 85,325,965
2022 26,328,845 84,979,913
2021 26,232,534 84,147,318
2020 26,136,312 83,384,680
2019 26,037,632 82,579,440
2018 25,931,147 81,407,204
2017 25,817,709 80,312,698
2016 25,698,326 79,277,962
2015 25,575,350 78,218,479
2014 25,451,262 77,181,884
2013 25,329,451 76,147,624
2012 25,211,728 75,175,827
2011 25,097,874 74,223,629
2010 24,987,258 73,142,150
2009 24,878,332 72,039,206
2008 24,764,618 71,051,678
2007 24,646,383 70,158,112
2006 24,524,507 70,045,349
2005 24,396,433 69,329,557
2004 24,254,943 68,592,617
2003 24,090,380 67,831,730
2002 23,943,973 67,048,795
2001 23,815,358 66,245,128
2000 23,665,910 65,425,961
1999 23,497,599 64,591,923
1998 23,311,564 63,734,383
1997 23,110,830 62,852,966
1996 22,895,746 61,951,134
1995 22,669,304 61,024,503
1994 22,393,975 60,033,836
1993 22,073,352 58,999,167
1992 21,750,911 57,990,118
1991 21,428,638 57,009,887
1990 21,112,137 56,015,628
1989 20,804,367 54,976,723
1988 20,503,161 53,909,626
1987 20,205,483 52,843,670
1986 19,910,855 51,777,772
1985 19,620,388 50,687,115
1984 19,335,043 49,574,069
1983 19,054,034 48,447,410
1982 18,776,357 47,322,096
1981 18,501,295 46,321,190
1980 18,236,786 45,408,815
1979 17,983,470 44,510,429
1978 17,735,995 43,645,306
1977 17,492,798 42,773,298
1976 17,243,450 41,899,984
1975 16,971,055 41,053,126
1974 16,673,121 40,210,234
1973 16,350,367 39,329,533
1972 15,975,069 38,430,221
1971 15,572,457 37,518,611
1970 15,172,775 36,638,465
1969 14,767,615 35,787,774
1968 14,365,596 34,921,684
1967 13,958,350 34,050,421
1966 13,569,094 33,177,672
1965 13,219,369 32,345,220
1964 12,889,770 31,543,072
1963 12,567,057 30,726,841
1962 12,262,882 29,916,147
1961 11,990,713 29,119,238
1960 11,722,953 28,329,898

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Turkey

Fertility rate
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Turkey
2023 1.78 1.51
2022 1.8 1.63
2021 1.81 1.71
2020 1.82 1.77
2019 1.83 1.89
2018 1.83 2
2017 1.85 2.08
2016 1.86 2.11
2015 1.86 2.16
2014 1.87 2.19
2013 1.88 2.11
2012 1.88 2.11
2011 1.88 2.05
2010 1.89 2.08
2009 1.91 2.1
2008 1.97 2.15
2007 1.94 2.16
2006 1.94 2.19
2005 1.87 2.2
2004 1.9 2.2
2003 1.91 2.2
2002 1.92 2.27
2001 1.94 2.39
2000 1.94 2.49
1999 1.97 2.63
1998 1.99 2.71
1997 2.03 2.74
1996 2.09 2.78
1995 2.15 2.84
1994 2.18 2.87
1993 2.22 2.92
1992 2.29 2.94
1991 2.35 3
1990 2.39 3.11
1989 2.41 3.34
1988 2.47 3.45
1987 2.53 3.54
1986 2.59 3.66
1985 2.65 3.78
1984 2.71 3.91
1983 2.78 4.06
1982 2.85 4.21
1981 2.92 4.35
1980 2.84 4.45
1979 2.85 4.58
1978 2.79 4.69
1977 2.77 4.78
1976 2.84 4.93
1975 3.05 5.09
1974 3.14 5.24
1973 3.35 5.41
1972 3.89 5.55
1971 3.74 5.67
1970 3.85 5.78
1969 3.86 5.87
1968 3.87 5.96
1967 4.05 6.06
1966 3.71 6.15
1965 3.56 6.22
1964 3.55 6.29
1963 3.63 6.34
1962 3.41 6.38
1961 3.26 6.42
1960 3.57 6.38

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

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

North Korea and Turkey demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Turkey
2024 37.3 34
2023 37.1 33.5
2022 36.8 33.1
2021 36.6 32.7
2020 36.4 32.3
2019 36.2 31.8
2018 35.9 31.5
2017 35.7 31.2
2016 35.4 30.9
2015 35.2 30.6
2014 35 30.4
2013 34.7 30.1
2012 34.5 29.8
2011 34.3 29.5
2010 34 29.1
2009 33.7 28.6
2008 33.3 28.3
2007 32.9 27.9
2006 32.5 27.5
2005 32.1 27
2004 31.8 26.6
2003 31.4 26.2
2002 31 25.8
2001 30.5 25.4
2000 30.1 25
1999 29.6 24.7
1998 29.2 24.3
1997 28.8 24
1996 28.3 23.6
1995 28 23.3
1994 27.6 23
1993 27.2 22.7
1992 26.8 22.4
1991 26.4 22.1
1990 26 21.8
1989 25.6 21.6
1988 25.1 21.3
1987 24.8 21.1
1986 24.5 20.9
1985 24.2 20.6
1984 23.9 20.4
1983 23.5 20.2
1982 23.1 20
1981 22.8 19.9
1980 22.5 19.8
1979 22.2 19.7
1978 21.8 19.5
1977 21.4 19.4
1976 21.1 19.3
1975 20.9 19.1
1974 20.7 19
1973 20.7 18.9
1972 20.9 18.8
1971 21.2 18.7
1970 21.4 18.6
1969 21.4 18.6
1968 21.4 18.6
1967 21.4 18.7
1966 21.3 18.8
1965 21.2 18.9
1964 21 18.9
1963 20.8 19
1962 20.6 19.1
1961 20.2 19.3
1960 19.9 19.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Turkey
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$1.15T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
32.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
3.1%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
512,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-4.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
8.71%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
55
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
35.2%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.1%
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
60,787
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.1%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
32
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00005%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
551
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$379B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$155B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$982M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
15,971,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
6.63%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.6%
2024

Energy

North Korea Turkey
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,850 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$23.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
460 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
5.38 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
81.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
12%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
15.3%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
72%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
3,581 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
35.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
19.3%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Turkey
% of world population
0.33%
2024
1.05%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-258,205
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
89.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.79 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
58
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
31
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
75
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
3.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
6.7
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
121
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
97.3%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
15%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
87.3%
2024

Health

North Korea Turkey
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$548
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$104.3
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
78.4 years
2026
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
2.24
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
27.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
15
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
12.8
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
34.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
16.5%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
48
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
30.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
1.69 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Turkey
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.52%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
3,475 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
148,989 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
87,600 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
272,554 mi
2024

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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