Skip to content

North Korea vs Ukraine statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 37.9M in Ukraine (ranked 41/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 223,708 sq mi for Ukraine (ranked 97th vs. 46th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Ukraine ranks 57/197 ($191B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Ukraine ranks 120/197 ($5,038).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Ukraine
Population
26659144
40125599
Population rank 57/197 40/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$191B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 57/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$5,038
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 120/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$18,550
2024
Government debt n/a
$171B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
89.7%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,520
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 86/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$5,370
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 223,708 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
179.4 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
0.98
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
43.2 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
75 years
2026

North Korea and Ukraine: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Ukraine economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Ukraine
2024 $34,943,120,000 $190,741,262,415
2023 $32,155,360,000 $181,221,517,869
2022 $28,971,360,000 $161,989,520,721
2021 $32,301,720,000 $199,765,859,571
2020 $27,728,240,000 $156,617,722,013
2019 $28,222,880,000 $153,883,047,510
2018 $28,536,400,000 $130,891,088,294
2017 $29,105,440,000 $112,090,505,082
2016 $28,882,640,000 $93,355,869,404
2015 $30,723,030,000 $91,030,967,789
2014 $30,554,460,000 $133,503,871,862
2013 $30,588,922,000 $190,498,811,460
2012 $29,890,710,000 $182,591,753,828
2011 $29,005,020,000 $169,333,835,202
2010 $25,995,513,000 $141,209,170,427
2009 $23,356,470,000 $121,552,153,444
2008 - $188,110,390,660
2007 - $148,733,861,386
2006 - $111,884,752,475
2005 - $89,238,865,119
2004 - $67,220,154,164
2003 - $52,010,355,753
2002 - $43,956,163,612
2001 - $39,309,580,983
2000 - $32,375,083,935
1999 - $31,580,639,554
1998 - $41,882,523,345
1997 - $50,151,531,592
1996 - $44,558,831,005
1995 - $48,213,856,469
1994 - $52,549,580,265
1993 - $65,648,559,903
1992 - $73,945,908,384
1991 - $77,350,733,982
1990 - $81,393,558,423
1989 - $82,709,161,099
1988 - $74,703,517,903
1987 - $64,087,694,038

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea and Ukraine economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Ukraine
2024 $1,319 $5,038
2023 $1,217 $4,803
2022 $1,100 $3,946
2021 $1,231 $4,510
2020 $1,061 $3,505
2019 $1,084 $3,423
2018 $1,100 $2,895
2017 $1,127 $2,467
2016 $1,124 $2,047
2015 $1,201 $1,988
2014 $1,201 $2,904
2013 $1,208 $4,130
2012 $1,186 $3,951
2011 $1,156 $3,657
2010 $1,040 $3,040
2009 $939 $2,607
2008 - $4,018
2007 - $3,160
2006 - $2,366
2005 - $1,875
2004 - $1,401
2003 - $1,076
2002 - $903
2001 - $800
2000 - $653
1999 - $632
1998 - $831
1997 - $987
1996 - $870
1995 - $933
1994 - $1,009
1993 - $1,254
1992 - $1,413
1991 - $1,483
1990 - $1,564
1989 - $1,593
1988 - $1,444
1987 - $1,244

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea vs. Ukraine life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Ukraine
2026 74 75
2025 73.9 74.9
2024 73.7 74.7
2023 73.6 73.4
2022 73.6 72.7
2021 73.4 71.6
2020 72.8 73.3
2019 72.9 73.9
2018 73 73.6
2017 73 74
2016 73 73.4
2015 72.8 72.7
2014 72.5 71.8
2013 71.9 71.5
2012 71.3 71.1
2011 70.8 70.7
2010 70.2 70.2
2009 69.7 69.2
2008 69.3 68.3
2007 69 67.7
2006 69.1 67.5
2005 69.2 67.5
2004 69.3 67.5
2003 69.4 67.6
2002 60.9 67.7
2001 60.9 67.7
2000 60.9 67.8
1999 60.9 68
1998 60.9 68
1997 60.9 67.7
1996 60.8 67.1
1995 60.8 67.1
1994 70.5 67.5
1993 70.8 68.3
1992 71 68.9
1991 70.7 69.7
1990 70.5 70.4
1989 70.3 70.8
1988 70.1 71
1987 69.8 71.2
1986 69.5 70.8
1985 69.2 70.4
1984 68.9 70
1983 68.5 69.9
1982 68.1 69.9
1981 67.7 69.8
1980 67.2 69.8
1979 66.7 69.8
1978 66.3 69.8
1977 65.8 70
1976 65.3 70.1
1975 64.8 70.4
1974 64.3 70.6
1973 63.8 70.8
1972 63.3 71
1971 62.7 70.9
1970 62 70.8
1969 61.4 70.8
1968 60.8 71
1967 60.1 71.1
1966 59.4 71.2
1965 58.8 71.1
1964 58.2 71
1963 57.6 70.7
1962 57 70.4
1961 56.4 70
1960 55.8 69.4
1959 55.2 68.7
1958 54.5 67.7
1957 53.7 67.2
1956 52.8 66.3
1955 51.8 65.3
1954 50.6 64.1
1953 40.3 63
1952 32.8 62.1
1951 17.7 61.4
1950 14.2 61.2

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

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

North Korea and Ukraine population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year Population
North Korea Ukraine
2024 26,498,823 37,860,221
2023 26,418,204 37,732,836
2022 26,328,845 41,048,766
2021 26,232,534 44,298,640
2020 26,136,312 44,680,014
2019 26,037,632 44,957,458
2018 25,931,147 45,208,907
2017 25,817,709 45,436,041
2016 25,698,326 45,616,832
2015 25,575,350 45,784,896
2014 25,451,262 45,972,380
2013 25,329,451 46,126,770
2012 25,211,728 46,210,056
2011 25,097,874 46,307,853
2010 24,987,258 46,456,003
2009 24,878,332 46,623,731
2008 24,764,618 46,819,175
2007 24,646,383 47,062,798
2006 24,524,507 47,278,694
2005 24,396,433 47,585,556
2004 24,254,943 47,979,507
2003 24,090,380 48,315,136
2002 23,943,973 48,677,281
2001 23,815,358 49,106,855
2000 23,665,910 49,556,660
1999 23,497,599 49,976,446
1998 23,311,564 50,379,731
1997 23,110,830 50,786,885
1996 22,895,746 51,226,109
1995 22,669,304 51,665,539
1994 22,393,975 52,075,998
1993 22,073,352 52,350,126
1992 21,750,911 52,323,671
1991 21,428,638 52,170,961
1990 21,112,137 52,054,092
1989 20,804,367 51,917,817
1988 20,503,161 51,724,853
1987 20,205,483 51,515,732
1986 19,910,855 51,318,745
1985 19,620,388 51,108,770
1984 19,335,043 50,887,599
1983 19,054,034 50,637,029
1982 18,776,357 50,402,724
1981 18,501,295 50,189,281
1980 18,236,786 49,955,152
1979 17,983,470 49,721,381
1978 17,735,995 49,521,243
1977 17,492,798 49,336,481
1976 17,243,450 49,120,842
1975 16,971,055 48,865,229
1974 16,673,121 48,576,570
1973 16,350,367 48,277,121
1972 15,975,069 47,946,893
1971 15,572,457 47,573,287
1970 15,172,775 47,261,306
1969 14,767,615 46,976,256
1968 14,365,596 46,614,325
1967 13,958,350 46,215,988
1966 13,569,094 45,802,519
1965 13,219,369 45,386,892
1964 12,889,770 44,951,156
1963 12,567,057 44,462,372
1962 12,262,882 43,943,674
1961 11,990,713 43,399,766
1960 11,722,953 42,824,093

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Ukraine

Fertility rate
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Ukraine
2023 1.78 0.98
2022 1.8 0.9
2021 1.81 1.15
2020 1.82 1.21
2019 1.83 1.22
2018 1.83 1.23
2017 1.85 1.3
2016 1.86 1.39
2015 1.86 1.39
2014 1.87 1.47
2013 1.88 1.52
2012 1.88 1.53
2011 1.88 1.46
2010 1.89 1.44
2009 1.91 1.47
2008 1.97 1.44
2007 1.94 1.34
2006 1.94 1.3
2005 1.87 1.22
2004 1.9 1.22
2003 1.91 1.17
2002 1.92 1.13
2001 1.94 1.09
2000 1.94 1.11
1999 1.97 1.13
1998 1.99 1.21
1997 2.03 1.27
1996 2.09 1.33
1995 2.15 1.4
1994 2.18 1.47
1993 2.22 1.56
1992 2.29 1.67
1991 2.35 1.77
1990 2.39 1.85
1989 2.41 1.93
1988 2.47 2.04
1987 2.53 2.07
1986 2.59 2.12
1985 2.65 2.03
1984 2.71 2.08
1983 2.78 2.1
1982 2.85 1.95
1981 2.92 1.92
1980 2.84 1.95
1979 2.85 1.96
1978 2.79 1.97
1977 2.77 1.98
1976 2.84 2.04
1975 3.05 2.05
1974 3.14 2.06
1973 3.35 2.04
1972 3.89 2.13
1971 3.74 2.11
1970 3.85 2.08
1969 3.86 2.01
1968 3.87 2.03
1967 4.05 2.04
1966 3.71 2.04
1965 3.56 1.94
1964 3.55 2.01
1963 3.63 2.11
1962 3.41 2.15
1961 3.26 2.2
1960 3.57 2.29

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

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

North Korea and Ukraine demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Ukraine
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Ukraine
2024 37.3 43.2
2023 37.1 43.1
2022 36.8 42.5
2021 36.6 42.2
2020 36.4 41.9
2019 36.2 41.5
2018 35.9 41.2
2017 35.7 40.9
2016 35.4 40.6
2015 35.2 40.2
2014 35 40
2013 34.7 39.8
2012 34.5 39.8
2011 34.3 39.7
2010 34 39.5
2009 33.7 39.3
2008 33.3 39.2
2007 32.9 39.1
2006 32.5 38.9
2005 32.1 38.7
2004 31.8 38.4
2003 31.4 38.2
2002 31 37.9
2001 30.5 37.6
2000 30.1 37.2
1999 29.6 36.9
1998 29.2 36.5
1997 28.8 36.2
1996 28.3 35.8
1995 28 35.5
1994 27.6 35.2
1993 27.2 34.9
1992 26.8 34.7
1991 26.4 34.5
1990 26 34.3
1989 25.6 34.1
1988 25.1 34.1
1987 24.8 34.1
1986 24.5 33.9
1985 24.2 33.8
1984 23.9 33.6
1983 23.5 33.6
1982 23.1 33.7
1981 22.8 33.7
1980 22.5 33.8
1979 22.2 34
1978 21.8 34.2
1977 21.4 34.2
1976 21.1 34
1975 20.9 33.7
1974 20.7 33.4
1973 20.7 33.1
1972 20.9 32.8
1971 21.2 32.5
1970 21.4 32.3
1969 21.4 32
1968 21.4 31.6
1967 21.4 31.2
1966 21.3 30.6
1965 21.2 30.1
1964 21 29.9
1963 20.8 29.8
1962 20.6 29.7
1961 20.2 29.6
1960 19.9 29.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Ukraine.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Ukraine
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$184B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
71.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.93%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
34.5%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
298,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-17.2%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
9.83%
2021
Services, % of GDP n/a
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
19%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
54.1
2022
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.7%
2020
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
4.3%
2020
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
78
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$4.42B
2018
Total reserves including gold n/a
$43.8B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$12B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
3,382,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
1.13%
2020
Banked people share n/a
87.6%
2024

Energy

North Korea Ukraine
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,508 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$10.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
118.5 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
3.13 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
65.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
8.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
26.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
23.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
2,516 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
12%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
11.7%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
49.4%
2023
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea Ukraine
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.47%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+1,702,358
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
69.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
46.5:53.5
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.94 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.47 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
49.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
36
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
60
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
3.84
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
10.2
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
144
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
100%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
51%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
82.4%
2023

Health

North Korea Ukraine
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$370
2021
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$167.5
2021
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
75 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0.68%
2019
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
3.53
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
26.2 years
2019
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
15
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
8.1
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
24.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
6%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
73
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
24.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
9.24 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Ukraine
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.39%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
5,909 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
159,503 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
37,483 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
105,443 mi
2012

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2022–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2019, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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.