Skip to content

North Korea vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 69.2M in The United Kingdom (ranked 21/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 97th vs. 78th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and The United Kingdom ranks 6/197 ($3.69T). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while The United Kingdom ranks 22/197 ($53,246).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea United Kingdom
Population
26659144
70154914
Population rank 57/197 22/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank 106/197 6/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 22/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$62,009
2024
Government debt n/a
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$39,230
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
750 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
41 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

North Korea and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

North Korea and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
North Korea United Kingdom
2024 $34,943,120,000 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $32,155,360,000 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $28,971,360,000 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $32,301,720,000 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $27,728,240,000 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $28,222,880,000 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $28,536,400,000 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $29,105,440,000 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $28,882,640,000 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $30,723,030,000 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $30,554,460,000 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $30,588,922,000 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $29,890,710,000 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $29,005,020,000 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $25,995,513,000 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $23,356,470,000 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 - $2,945,251,838,235
2007 - $3,104,699,879,952
2006 - $2,719,558,417,663
2005 - $2,551,361,818,182
2004 - $2,429,774,807,763
2003 - $2,061,227,755,102
2002 - $1,790,536,570,743
2001 - $1,656,171,009,069
2000 - $1,671,597,821,153
1999 - $1,693,458,987,219
1998 - $1,660,821,464,061
1997 - $1,569,317,288,802
1996 - $1,425,287,051,482
1995 - $1,349,094,208,616
1994 - $1,140,489,745,944
1993 - $1,061,388,722,256
1992 - $1,179,659,529,660
1991 - $1,142,797,178,131
1990 - $1,093,169,389,205
1989 - $926,884,816,754
1988 - $910,122,732,124
1987 - $745,162,608,269
1986 - $601,452,653,181
1985 - $489,285,164,271
1984 - $461,487,097,632
1983 - $489,618,008,186
1982 - $515,048,916,841
1981 - $540,765,675,241
1980 - $564,947,710,899
1979 - $438,994,070,309
1978 - $335,883,029,722
1977 - $263,066,457,352
1976 - $232,614,555,256
1975 - $241,756,637,168
1974 - $206,131,369,799
1973 - $192,537,971,583
1972 - $169,965,034,965
1971 - $148,113,896,325
1970 - $130,671,946,244
1969 - $116,464,702,803
1968 - $107,759,910,068
1967 - $113,116,888,211
1966 - $108,572,752,102
1965 - $101,824,755,079
1964 - $94,407,558,351
1963 - $86,561,961,812
1962 - $81,247,564,157
1961 - $77,741,965,703
1960 - $73,233,967,692

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

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

North Korea and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea United Kingdom
2024 $1,319 $53,246
2023 $1,217 $49,944
2022 $1,100 $47,057
2021 $1,231 $47,691
2020 $1,061 $40,813
2019 $1,084 $43,159
2018 $1,100 $43,703
2017 $1,127 $40,917
2016 $1,124 $41,258
2015 $1,201 $45,255
2014 $1,201 $47,746
2013 $1,208 $43,607
2012 $1,186 $42,688
2011 $1,156 $42,296
2010 $1,040 $39,778
2009 $939 $39,009
2008 - $47,652
2007 - $50,629
2006 - $44,695
2005 - $42,240
2004 - $40,504
2003 - $34,557
2002 - $30,159
2001 - $28,014
2000 - $28,384
1999 - $28,858
1998 - $28,396
1997 - $26,910
1996 - $24,503
1995 - $23,253
1994 - $19,709
1993 - $18,389
1992 - $20,487
1991 - $19,901
1990 - $19,095
1989 - $16,239
1988 - $15,987
1987 - $13,119
1986 - $10,611
1985 - $8,652
1984 - $8,179
1983 - $8,692
1982 - $9,146
1981 - $9,599
1980 - $10,032
1979 - $7,805
1978 - $5,977
1977 - $4,681
1976 - $4,138
1975 - $4,300
1974 - $3,666
1973 - $3,426
1972 - $3,030
1971 - $2,650
1970 - $2,348
1969 - $2,101
1968 - $1,952
1967 - $2,059
1966 - $1,987
1965 - $1,874
1964 - $1,748
1963 - $1,613
1962 - $1,526
1961 - $1,472
1960 - $1,398

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

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

North Korea vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea United Kingdom
2026 74 81.7
2025 73.9 81.6
2024 73.7 81.4
2023 73.6 81.3
2022 73.6 81.1
2021 73.4 80.7
2020 72.8 80.4
2019 72.9 81.4
2018 73 81.1
2017 73 81.2
2016 73 81.1
2015 72.8 80.9
2014 72.5 81.2
2013 71.9 80.9
2012 71.3 80.9
2011 70.8 80.8
2010 70.2 80.4
2009 69.7 80.2
2008 69.3 79.7
2007 69 79.5
2006 69.1 79.3
2005 69.2 79.1
2004 69.3 78.9
2003 69.4 78.3
2002 60.9 78.2
2001 60.9 78.1
2000 60.9 77.8
1999 60.9 77.4
1998 60.9 77.3
1997 60.9 77.1
1996 60.8 76.9
1995 60.8 76.6
1994 70.5 76.7
1993 70.8 76.2
1992 71 76.3
1991 70.7 75.9
1990 70.5 75.7
1989 70.3 75.4
1988 70.1 75.3
1987 69.8 75.1
1986 69.5 74.8
1985 69.2 74.5
1984 68.9 74.7
1983 68.5 74.3
1982 68.1 74
1981 67.7 73.9
1980 67.2 73.6
1979 66.7 73.2
1978 66.3 73
1977 65.8 73.1
1976 65.3 72.6
1975 64.8 72.7
1974 64.3 72.4
1973 63.8 72.2
1972 63.3 72
1971 62.7 72.2
1970 62 71.9
1969 61.4 71.7
1968 60.8 71.7
1967 60.1 72.1
1966 59.4 71.4
1965 58.8 71.5
1964 58.2 71.5
1963 57.6 70.8
1962 57 70.9
1961 56.4 70.8
1960 55.8 71
1959 55.2 70.8
1958 54.5 70.7
1957 53.7 70.5
1956 52.8 70.4
1955 51.8 70.1
1954 50.6 70.2
1953 40.3 69.8
1952 32.8 69.5
1951 17.7 68.2
1950 14.2 68.6

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

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

North Korea and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
North Korea United Kingdom
2024 26,498,823 69,226,000
2023 26,418,204 68,492,000
2022 26,328,845 67,604,000
2021 26,232,534 66,984,000
2020 26,136,312 66,744,000
2019 26,037,632 66,631,000
2018 25,931,147 66,289,000
2017 25,817,709 65,966,000
2016 25,698,326 65,607,000
2015 25,575,350 65,088,000
2014 25,451,262 64,620,000
2013 25,329,451 64,139,000
2012 25,211,728 63,711,000
2011 25,097,874 63,258,810
2010 24,987,258 62,766,365
2009 24,878,332 62,276,270
2008 24,764,618 61,806,995
2007 24,646,383 61,322,463
2006 24,524,507 60,846,820
2005 24,396,433 60,401,206
2004 24,254,943 59,987,905
2003 24,090,380 59,647,577
2002 23,943,973 59,370,479
2001 23,815,358 59,119,673
2000 23,665,910 58,892,514
1999 23,497,599 58,682,466
1998 23,311,564 58,487,141
1997 23,110,830 58,316,954
1996 22,895,746 58,166,950
1995 22,669,304 58,019,030
1994 22,393,975 57,865,745
1993 22,073,352 57,718,614
1992 21,750,911 57,580,402
1991 21,428,638 57,424,897
1990 21,112,137 57,247,586
1989 20,804,367 57,076,711
1988 20,503,161 56,928,327
1987 20,205,483 56,802,050
1986 19,910,855 56,681,396
1985 19,620,388 56,550,268
1984 19,335,043 56,422,072
1983 19,054,034 56,332,848
1982 18,776,357 56,313,641
1981 18,501,295 56,333,829
1980 18,236,786 56,314,216
1979 17,983,470 56,246,951
1978 17,735,995 56,196,504
1977 17,492,798 56,193,492
1976 17,243,450 56,211,968
1975 16,971,055 56,225,800
1974 16,673,121 56,229,974
1973 16,350,367 56,194,527
1972 15,975,069 56,086,065
1971 15,572,457 55,896,223
1970 15,172,775 55,663,250
1969 14,767,615 55,441,750
1968 14,365,596 55,211,700
1967 13,958,350 54,943,600
1966 13,569,094 54,648,500
1965 13,219,369 54,348,050
1964 12,889,770 54,000,000
1963 12,567,057 53,650,000
1962 12,262,882 53,250,000
1961 11,990,713 52,800,000
1960 11,722,953 52,400,000

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea United Kingdom
2023 1.78 1.56
2022 1.8 1.56
2021 1.81 1.58
2020 1.82 1.57
2019 1.83 1.63
2018 1.83 1.68
2017 1.85 1.74
2016 1.86 1.79
2015 1.86 1.8
2014 1.87 1.81
2013 1.88 1.83
2012 1.88 1.92
2011 1.88 1.91
2010 1.89 1.92
2009 1.91 1.89
2008 1.97 1.91
2007 1.94 1.86
2006 1.94 1.82
2005 1.87 1.76
2004 1.9 1.75
2003 1.91 1.7
2002 1.92 1.63
2001 1.94 1.63
2000 1.94 1.64
1999 1.97 1.68
1998 1.99 1.71
1997 2.03 1.72
1996 2.09 1.73
1995 2.15 1.71
1994 2.18 1.74
1993 2.22 1.76
1992 2.29 1.79
1991 2.35 1.82
1990 2.39 1.83
1989 2.41 1.79
1988 2.47 1.82
1987 2.53 1.81
1986 2.59 1.78
1985 2.65 1.79
1984 2.71 1.77
1983 2.78 1.77
1982 2.85 1.78
1981 2.92 1.82
1980 2.84 1.9
1979 2.85 1.86
1978 2.79 1.75
1977 2.77 1.69
1976 2.84 1.74
1975 3.05 1.81
1974 3.14 1.92
1973 3.35 2.04
1972 3.89 2.2
1971 3.74 2.41
1970 3.85 2.44
1969 3.86 2.51
1968 3.87 2.6
1967 4.05 2.68
1966 3.71 2.78
1965 3.56 2.86
1964 3.55 2.93
1963 3.63 2.88
1962 3.41 2.86
1961 3.26 2.78
1960 3.57 2.69

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

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

North Korea and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea United Kingdom
2024 37.3 41
2023 37.1 40.8
2022 36.8 40.5
2021 36.6 40.3
2020 36.4 40.2
2019 36.2 40.1
2018 35.9 40
2017 35.7 39.9
2016 35.4 39.8
2015 35.2 39.8
2014 35 39.7
2013 34.7 39.6
2012 34.5 39.5
2011 34.3 39.3
2010 34 39.2
2009 33.7 39
2008 33.3 38.9
2007 32.9 38.8
2006 32.5 38.6
2005 32.1 38.5
2004 31.8 38.4
2003 31.4 38.2
2002 31 38.1
2001 30.5 37.9
2000 30.1 37.7
1999 29.6 37.4
1998 29.2 37.2
1997 28.8 37
1996 28.3 36.8
1995 28 36.6
1994 27.6 36.5
1993 27.2 36.3
1992 26.8 36.2
1991 26.4 36.1
1990 26 36
1989 25.6 35.9
1988 25.1 35.7
1987 24.8 35.4
1986 24.5 35.4
1985 24.2 35.3
1984 23.9 35.2
1983 23.5 35
1982 23.1 34.8
1981 22.8 34.5
1980 22.5 34.4
1979 22.2 34.3
1978 21.8 34.2
1977 21.4 34.1
1976 21.1 34
1975 20.9 34
1974 20.7 34
1973 20.7 34
1972 20.9 34
1971 21.2 34.1
1970 21.4 34.2
1969 21.4 34.4
1968 21.4 34.6
1967 21.4 34.8
1966 21.3 34.9
1965 21.2 35.1
1964 21 35.2
1963 20.8 35.3
1962 20.6 35.3
1961 20.2 35.4
1960 19.9 35.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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

National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$3.42T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
44%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
4.36%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
4.93%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold n/a
$175B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
8.24%
1998
Banked people share n/a
99.3%
2024

Energy

North Korea United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
2,128 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
13.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
4,208 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
2.51%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.8%
2023
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

North Korea United Kingdom
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.85%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
83.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.85 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.38 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
91
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
167
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
0%
2025
98.3%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
96.3%
2023

Health

North Korea United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$853
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
4.5
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea United Kingdom
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
1,349 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
263,542 mi
2020

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. 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) (2018, 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.