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North Korea vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 97th vs. 117th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea UAE
Population
26659144
11686438
Population rank 57/197 84/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$79,229
2024
Government debt n/a
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

North Korea and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

North Korea and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
North Korea UAE
2024 $34,943,120,000 $552,324,846,835
2023 $32,155,360,000 $522,622,191,967
2022 $28,971,360,000 $511,403,403,676
2021 $32,301,720,000 $422,441,388,700
2020 $27,728,240,000 $357,161,878,829
2019 $28,222,880,000 $433,926,208,305
2018 $28,536,400,000 $440,560,108,918
2017 $29,105,440,000 $403,365,010,211
2016 $28,882,640,000 $381,717,086,453
2015 $30,723,030,000 $381,973,042,886
2014 $30,554,460,000 $424,935,874,745
2013 $30,588,922,000 $409,632,675,289
2012 $29,890,710,000 $392,793,464,942
2011 $29,005,020,000 $368,881,143,635
2010 $25,995,513,000 $307,736,419,333
2009 $23,356,470,000 $253,547,358,747
2008 - $315,474,615,739
2007 - $257,916,133,424
2006 - $222,116,541,865
2005 - $180,617,467,965
2004 - $147,824,370,320
2003 - $124,346,358,067
2002 - $109,816,201,498
2001 - $103,311,640,572
2000 - $104,337,372,362
1999 - $84,445,473,111
1998 - $75,674,336,283
1997 - $78,839,008,445
1996 - $73,571,233,996
1995 - $65,743,666,576
1994 - $59,305,093,980
1993 - $55,625,170,253
1992 - $54,239,171,888
1991 - $51,552,165,622
1990 - $50,701,443,748
1989 - $41,464,995,914
1988 - $36,275,674,203
1987 - $36,384,908,744
1986 - $33,943,612,095
1985 - $40,603,650,232
1984 - $41,807,954,236
1983 - $42,803,323,345
1982 - $46,622,718,605
1981 - $49,333,424,135
1980 - $43,599,160,050
1979 - $31,225,659,621
1978 - $23,775,764,225
1977 - $24,871,775,165
1976 - $19,213,158,779
1975 - $14,720,728,249
1974 - $11,651,505,689
1973 - $4,231,243,616
1972 - $1,415,086,929
1971 - $939,893,600
1970 - $685,986,701

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

North Korea and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea UAE
2024 $1,319 $50,274
2023 $1,217 $49,851
2022 $1,100 $50,760
2021 $1,231 $44,119
2020 $1,061 $37,992
2019 $1,084 $45,939
2018 $1,100 $47,135
2017 $1,127 $43,734
2016 $1,124 $42,721
2015 $1,201 $44,910
2014 $1,201 $52,725
2013 $1,208 $53,247
2012 $1,186 $53,142
2011 $1,156 $51,922
2010 $1,040 $44,795
2009 $939 $37,803
2008 - $50,054
2007 - $45,855
2006 - $44,343
2005 - $38,719
2004 - $33,377
2003 - $29,660
2002 - $27,754
2001 - $27,745
2000 - $29,866
1999 - $25,856
1998 - $24,889
1997 - $27,983
1996 - $28,323
1995 - $27,003
1994 - $25,473
1993 - $25,033
1992 - $25,648
1991 - $25,691
1990 - $26,710
1989 - $23,167
1988 - $21,570
1987 - $23,113
1986 - $23,132
1985 - $29,468
1984 - $32,012
1983 - $34,650
1982 - $39,972
1981 - $44,854
1980 - $42,925
1979 - $34,238
1978 - $29,379
1977 - $35,020
1976 - $31,197
1975 - $27,117
1974 - $23,823
1973 - $9,696
1972 - $3,675
1971 - $2,805
1970 - $2,394

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

North Korea vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea UAE
2026 74 83.4
2025 73.9 83.2
2024 73.7 83.1
2023 73.6 82.9
2022 73.6 80.5
2021 73.4 79.1
2020 72.8 81.9
2019 72.9 82.6
2018 73 82.4
2017 73 82.4
2016 73 82.2
2015 72.8 82.1
2014 72.5 82
2013 71.9 82
2012 71.3 81.9
2011 70.8 81.9
2010 70.2 81.9
2009 69.7 81.7
2008 69.3 81.6
2007 69 81.4
2006 69.1 81.2
2005 69.2 80.8
2004 69.3 80.3
2003 69.4 79.6
2002 60.9 78.7
2001 60.9 77.6
2000 60.9 76.3
1999 60.9 75
1998 60.9 73.7
1997 60.9 72.6
1996 60.8 71.8
1995 60.8 71.4
1994 70.5 71.2
1993 70.8 71.2
1992 71 71.2
1991 70.7 71.1
1990 70.5 71.1
1989 70.3 71
1988 70.1 70.8
1987 69.8 70.6
1986 69.5 70.4
1985 69.2 70.1
1984 68.9 69.8
1983 68.5 69.4
1982 68.1 69.1
1981 67.7 68.6
1980 67.2 68.2
1979 66.7 67.6
1978 66.3 67.1
1977 65.8 66.5
1976 65.3 65.8
1975 64.8 65.1
1974 64.3 64.4
1973 63.8 63.5
1972 63.3 62.7
1971 62.7 61.8
1970 62 60.8
1969 61.4 59.8
1968 60.8 58.7
1967 60.1 57.6
1966 59.4 56.6
1965 58.8 55.5
1964 58.2 54.5
1963 57.6 53.5
1962 57 52.5
1961 56.4 51.6
1960 55.8 50.7
1959 55.2 49.7
1958 54.5 48.8
1957 53.7 47.8
1956 52.8 46.9
1955 51.8 46
1954 50.6 45.2
1953 40.3 44.4
1952 32.8 43.6
1951 17.7 42.9
1950 14.2 42.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

North Korea and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
North Korea UAE
2024 26,498,823 10,986,400
2023 26,418,204 10,483,751
2022 26,328,845 10,074,977
2021 26,232,534 9,575,152
2020 26,136,312 9,401,038
2019 26,037,632 9,445,785
2018 25,931,147 9,346,701
2017 25,817,709 9,223,225
2016 25,698,326 8,935,095
2015 25,575,350 8,505,237
2014 25,451,262 8,059,440
2013 25,329,451 7,693,031
2012 25,211,728 7,391,448
2011 25,097,874 7,104,538
2010 24,987,258 6,869,838
2009 24,878,332 6,707,058
2008 24,764,618 6,302,664
2007 24,646,383 5,624,635
2006 24,524,507 5,009,100
2005 24,396,433 4,664,790
2004 24,254,943 4,428,967
2003 24,090,380 4,192,457
2002 23,943,973 3,956,826
2001 23,815,358 3,723,590
2000 23,665,910 3,493,575
1999 23,497,599 3,266,009
1998 23,311,564 3,040,421
1997 23,110,830 2,817,410
1996 22,895,746 2,597,564
1995 22,669,304 2,434,662
1994 22,393,975 2,328,188
1993 22,073,352 2,222,093
1992 21,750,911 2,114,730
1991 21,428,638 2,006,626
1990 21,112,137 1,898,220
1989 20,804,367 1,789,851
1988 20,503,161 1,681,788
1987 20,205,483 1,574,244
1986 19,910,855 1,467,383
1985 19,620,388 1,377,911
1984 19,335,043 1,305,996
1983 19,054,034 1,235,305
1982 18,776,357 1,166,370
1981 18,501,295 1,099,855
1980 18,236,786 1,015,700
1979 17,983,470 912,010
1978 17,735,995 809,274
1977 17,492,798 710,209
1976 17,243,450 615,866
1975 16,971,055 542,856
1974 16,673,121 489,087
1973 16,350,367 436,399
1972 15,975,069 385,014
1971 15,572,457 335,027
1970 15,172,775 286,536
1969 14,767,615 239,660
1968 14,365,596 199,416
1967 13,958,350 179,700
1966 13,569,094 173,976
1965 13,219,369 167,103
1964 12,889,770 159,692
1963 12,567,057 152,211
1962 12,262,882 144,946
1961 11,990,713 137,989
1960 11,722,953 131,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Fertility rates in North Korea and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea UAE
2023 1.78 1.2
2022 1.8 1.15
2021 1.81 1.16
2020 1.82 1.29
2019 1.83 1.25
2018 1.83 1.29
2017 1.85 1.35
2016 1.86 1.37
2015 1.86 1.42
2014 1.87 1.48
2013 1.88 1.53
2012 1.88 1.53
2011 1.88 1.54
2010 1.89 1.57
2009 1.91 1.58
2008 1.97 1.52
2007 1.94 1.79
2006 1.94 1.96
2005 1.87 2.23
2004 1.9 2.38
2003 1.91 2.49
2002 1.92 2.54
2001 1.94 2.62
2000 1.94 2.73
1999 1.97 2.79
1998 1.99 2.77
1997 2.03 2.83
1996 2.09 3.06
1995 2.15 3.28
1994 2.18 3.76
1993 2.22 3.82
1992 2.29 4.09
1991 2.35 4.25
1990 2.39 4.51
1989 2.41 4.65
1988 2.47 4.77
1987 2.53 4.88
1986 2.59 5
1985 2.65 5.13
1984 2.71 5.3
1983 2.78 5.48
1982 2.85 5.66
1981 2.92 5.81
1980 2.84 5.95
1979 2.85 6.06
1978 2.79 6.15
1977 2.77 6.22
1976 2.84 6.29
1975 3.05 6.35
1974 3.14 6.41
1973 3.35 6.46
1972 3.89 6.5
1971 3.74 6.52
1970 3.85 6.52
1969 3.86 6.52
1968 3.87 6.53
1967 4.05 6.51
1966 3.71 6.5
1965 3.56 6.5
1964 3.55 6.49
1963 3.63 6.5
1962 3.41 6.49
1961 3.26 6.49
1960 3.57 6.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

North Korea and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea UAE
2024 37.3 32.6
2023 37.1 32.2
2022 36.8 31.9
2021 36.6 31.9
2020 36.4 31.8
2019 36.2 31.8
2018 35.9 31.8
2017 35.7 31.8
2016 35.4 31.8
2015 35.2 31.8
2014 35 31.8
2013 34.7 31.7
2012 34.5 31.7
2011 34.3 31.7
2010 34 31.7
2009 33.7 31.6
2008 33.3 31.6
2007 32.9 31.6
2006 32.5 31.4
2005 32.1 30.9
2004 31.8 30.3
2003 31.4 29.6
2002 31 29.1
2001 30.5 28.6
2000 30.1 28.2
1999 29.6 28
1998 29.2 27.9
1997 28.8 27.9
1996 28.3 28.1
1995 28 28
1994 27.6 27.4
1993 27.2 26.8
1992 26.8 26.4
1991 26.4 26
1990 26 25.8
1989 25.6 25.8
1988 25.1 25.9
1987 24.8 26.1
1986 24.5 26.5
1985 24.2 26.6
1984 23.9 26.4
1983 23.5 26.4
1982 23.1 26.4
1981 22.8 26.4
1980 22.5 26.2
1979 22.2 25.8
1978 21.8 25.5
1977 21.4 25.4
1976 21.1 25.6
1975 20.9 25.4
1974 20.7 24.7
1973 20.7 24.1
1972 20.9 23.6
1971 21.2 23.2
1970 21.4 23
1969 21.4 23.1
1968 21.4 23.5
1967 21.4 23.3
1966 21.3 22.6
1965 21.2 22
1964 21 21.5
1963 20.8 21
1962 20.6 20.6
1961 20.2 20.1
1960 19.9 19.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea UAE
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
8,084,000
2020
Banked people share n/a
85.7%
2021

Energy

North Korea UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea UAE
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
98.8%
2024
English speaking
0%
2025
65%
2025
People using the Internet
0%
2012
100%
2024

Health

North Korea UAE
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
2.99
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea UAE
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
2,535 mi
2008

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)

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